Crude oil by train

grahame

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Crude oil by train

« on: September 25, 2018, 14:45:56 »

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/408125-trump-admin-rolls-back-obama-oil-train-safety-rule

Quote

The Trump administration on Monday repealed a mandate that would have required trains carrying crude oil to use special brakes with new technology.

[snip]

The mandate to phase out traditional air brakes for crude oil use was part of a comprehensive rule that the Obama administration wrote in 2015 to try to improve the safety of crude oil trains.

[snip]

Congress, in the bipartisan Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2016, told the PHMSA to conduct a new cost-benefit analysis of the brake provision. If the costs outweighed the benefits, the PHMSA was required to repeal it.

How much crude oil is carried by train in the UK^▸ ? Do we have any comparable issues? Nuclear waste / extra safety for that spring to my mind - "the Bridgwater Flasks".


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IndustryInsider

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Re: Crude oil by train

« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2018, 15:00:41 »

Not quite answering your question, but here's a link to the famous 'pink pages' covering dangerous goods transportation for those that might be interested...

https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/gort3053%20iss%206.pdf


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broadgage

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Re: Crude oil by train

« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2018, 15:44:22 »

This sounds to me like a knee jerk reaction by the previous president, to an oil train runaway a few years ago.
I don't blame the new president for abandoning the plan.

IMO^▸ , existing types of train brakes in the UK^▸ and in the USA, work fine and have an excellent record of reliability provided that the limitations are understood, and rules are followed and commonsense applied.

In the accident to which I suspect that this is a response, and train of crude oil tanks was left unattended for many hours on a gradient. The locomotive stopped and was therefore unable to supply air to the brakes which "leaked off" and the train ran unhindered to its destruction.

The remedies are obvious.
Avoid leaving trains unattended on gradients
If you must leave the train on a gradient, apply handbrakes or wheel scotches.

Returning to the UK, I am not aware of any significant volumes of crude oil moved by rail. Generally by ship and then by pipeline. Petrol and other oil products are routinely moved by rail. Petrol is a considerable fire risk, but less toxic than crude oil.
Nuclear flask trains are given special attention and not left unattended.


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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU^▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.

eightonedee

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Posts: 1535

Re: Crude oil by train

« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2018, 21:43:08 »

I can remember when there were a few oil tankers at Wareham for the Wytch Farm oil field. I've googled and found this for anyone interested-
http://www.wimrail.org.uk/mag/Corkscrew089.pdf


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Puffing Billy

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Posts: 113

Re: Crude oil by train

« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2018, 22:10:28 »

I can reveal that Lindsey Doyle regularly travels by train.


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Tim

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Posts: 2738

Re: Crude oil by train

« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2018, 09:09:32 »

The tanks concerned, DOT-111 tanks, are known (by NTSB, the regulator) to have poor safety performance and be at risk of rupture in a crash. Money and tightening of regulations may well be needed even of the brakes are not the real issue.


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