remembering SP nuclear shipments
Author: ron
Date: 01-08-2019 - 11:25
In the early 1970's an eastbound train about seventy cars long (Eureka bound) rolled into Schellville yard and waited for the NWP crew to arrive . I walked along side the unattended train and saw a cone shaped vessel on a flatcar with hazardous nuclear placards on it . It had three idler flatcars on each end of it and warnings posted to stay back three cars. I assumed it was a nuclear fuel shipment going to the PG&E nuclear plant in Humboldt bay. Looking back the scene seemed so unbelievably casual. What do SP train crews remember about nuclear shipments. Where their special placements of cars? Special handling? Speed restrictions? RR police? Where any local agencies notified? It's almost as though if no one knew no one cared.