Answer, when the BNSF at Eola yard in Aurora, IL dumps at least several EPIC container cars on the ground that were carrying New York City “c - - p” to a unidentified site out west. I saw this first hand today on my weekly trip to Eola. There were car wheel sets all over the place as well as the remnants of the spine cars used to carry the containers and also about six or so of the containers themselves. There was a bit of a “stink” in the air but not all that bad actually. Does anybody know anything about the derailment itself and/or where these cars eventually are destined for and how they dispose of the “c - - p” from New York. Lastly I heard the yardmaster at Eola tell his people switching the remaining EPIC cars to be very careful as he did not want a repeat of the other day and that he wanted the “s - - t” cars out of there as soon as possible. Thanks to anybody who can breathe some fresh air into my search for information.
I heard about coal cars on the ground there last week, Jim, and Hulcher was clearing out from that on Monday when Pat and I were out that way. So the derailment in question must have happened after then–probably within the past day or two–in the same spot.
By the way, Jim, it’s a good thing you weren’t around when the incident happened…I would have hated to hear about the s…t hitting the fan!
While, I don’t know anything about your derailment…I have been on Epic wrecks before. And well, lets just say it was an experience I’d rather not repeat. Especially the ones that have baked in the August sun for a week or so. [xx(]
[(-D] Good one Carl, thank goodness it was a relatively cool day at Eola yesterday (71F) and no rain, so the smell was not all that bad unless you were down wind, which I wasn’t.
If the EPIC cars were container versions in 1 TEBU units, they may have been headed to SE Colorado on BNSF to Grote on the La Junta Sub between Lamar and Granada (Carlton on a highway map on US-50) or, if in covered hoppers, to Amity to the elevator there.
They are spread in the onion/alfalfa/corn/milo/soybean fields where there isn’t that much topsoil and used as a soilbuilder. This has been common practice for 30+ years plus the dirt from the feedlots gets spread there as well.
