30 Tons Ammonium Nitrate “Missing”

[4T5GUY]

A rail car full of bulk bags of ammonium nitrate was empty two weeks later. It was full, (30 tons,) when it left Wyoming but was empty at a rail stop in the Mojave Desert. Seals on doors were still intact.

The initial assessment was “a leak through the bottom gate on the rail car developed.” Ummm OK but where are the pallets and the bulk bags? That’s more than a “leak”.

I’m not a paranoid person but @ 61,000 lbs of ammonium nitrate has gone missing and that’s way too much to be unaccounted for.

Hopefully it was hard working farmers/ranchers that have it but I’m doubtful.

Jim

 

[sophie]

How does something like this happen? Sounds bogus to me. Is there no accountability anymore? Where did the Ammonium Nitrate go?

 

[326MOD10]

I would start looking at the beginning for the answers.

It is not good if it is missing but if the seals were not broken, and they are for sure the original seals, then my guess would be it wasn't in there to begin with.

There is either an overage of ammonium nitrate at the original shipping point, somebody stole it (which is not good) or somewhere on that train, or in the yard, is a car full with no ties on it.

I don't believe it can just slip through the cracks of the rail car.

 

[Rudi]

A very bad situation. Esp. with a mass invasion of military age men.

 

[lkabug]

And it took weeks to report to Federal Authorities after discovering it missing?
Something sure smells like fertilizer here!

 

[4T5GUY]

I suppose I should have read other articles.

Another one states it was in a rail car that sounds like a belly dump.

I’ve repeated and contributed a false story. The article I first saw showed bulk bags on pallets. Looks like I’m part of this media misinformation that is common these days.

Jim

 

[Autonomous]

Assuming it was in a hopper car, it is not unusual for the contents to leak past a gate due to a defect or sloppy procedure.
For all the gates to leak is very, very unusual.
A lot of RR employees have access to routing and location of RR cars. Shippers and receivers can access some of this information too. Sometimes these employees are known to work with thieves.

 

[Faulkner]

If it leaked out they may have to start bush hogging the railway between Wyoming and the Mojave.

 

[Chuck24]

Sp

Look for some really, really green grass

 

[arjay]

Sounds like it leaked out along its trip.Should be some good weed growth lol

 

[LVSteve]

I suppose I should have read other articles.

Another one states it was in a rail car that sounds like a belly dump.

I’ve repeated and contributed a false story. The article I first saw showed bulk bags on pallets. Looks like I’m part of this media misinformation that is common these days.

Jim

It's easy to get caught. The newspaper or webpage insists on having a picture, but there is no guarantee that it is correct and/or relevant.

 

[Rustyt1953]

By summer's end they will be able to shoot a Tarzan movie along that stretch of track.

 

[Secundius]

“Tanneries” is a binary explosive, composed of ~94% Ammonia Nitrates” and an oxidizer! So the question is what is it likely to be used for, when the “oxidizer” in question can be legally bought anywhere and by anyone, including by the kid that mows your lawn…


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[Narragansett]

Well, I had not heard about this, and have done no fact checking, but if that is the best story they can come up with, we have problems. You know that you will never get a truthful answer, until some bridge comes down, and I doubt the seals were unbroken.

Leaked out through the floor boards eh? That's a good one

 

[27 Man]

Missing ammonia nitrate is troubling. As an Oklahoman, I remember the 1995 OKC Federal building bombing with a bomb composed of ammonia nitrate.

 

[Doug M.]

"ANFO" - Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil (diesel, iirc).

 

[Muss Muggins]

Link to the OP’s source?

 

[LVSteve]

Link to the OP’s source?

May not be the OP's source, but it is accessible.

California Officials Investigating Loss of 30-Ton Shipment of Explosive Chemicals | KQED

 

[4T5GUY]

LVSteve was correct.

The first article I saw had a picture of bulk bags on pallet’s. There was no mention of it being a stock image.

The whole thing still sounds weird.

Jim

 

[Tom S.]

In other news, railroad officials hire landscaping crews to cut down newly formed jungle along the Wyoming to Mojave route.