Neighbors to North....Explosion

[Maineac]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

The explosion occurred when a runaway train of low flammability crude oil slammed into five stopped propane cars. That will sure do it. Experts will sort it all out and find out the cause. Eyewitnesses said the train came into town going faster than they had ever seen trains move before. This was in Canada where people see trains on the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific moving at very high speeds.

Sabotage and propane are a dangerous mixture. So called tar sands had nothing to do with it. TV networks with low viewer populations will eventually have some commentary on the Lac Megantic propane fire. At that point it will not be news. It will be commentary.

I haven't yet seen where anyone is mentioning tar sands, and most news I've seen addresses the effect of explosion caused by collision with propane tanks, which would burn hot enough to ignite oil. A runaway train with no brakeman operating on grades would undoubtedly "come into town faster than they had ever seen." The sabotage angle seems to be losing some ground with most media outlets other than Fox Entertainment. Bear in mind Rupert Murdoch also owns "News of the World" and the other U.K. rags right up there with the Examiner and stories like "Bat Boy Eats Sister."

Now, you want conspiracy theories? One would be that environmentalists sabotaged the train. Another would be that pipeline advocates sabotaged the train in order to gain political capital for the pipeline and utility corridor? Of course, the ones doing it to purportedly protect people and the environment are probably to blame. Never the ones doing it for a buck. The reality is most likely this was a horrific accident, lacking proper safety procedures. An idyllic little Quebecois town decimated, now 60 missing or dead, and there are those that will immediately attempt to cash in on the political capital on both sides of the fence. One side to shut down rail service for necessary transport, the other rubbing his hands together and getting ready for a big corridor push over the next year or so while the tragedy is still on people's minds. Just watch. But Burkhardt wants service to Searsport, and a massive container port and fuel depot, not Eastport, so this will be an interesting next year or two.

[flycessna]

Again, the truth will come out later. In the end I hope something is learned from this and yes maybe even some new safety measures. But all the safety measures in the world will not eliminate human error. There are no absolutes!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

It seems that all parties are beginning to focus on the specifics.

http://www.kjonline.com/news/propane...ons_2013-07-09....

This will be in tomorrow's Kennebec Journal.