Danger, evil nuclear trains will kill us all - media story

[mumrar]

As always, the media don't need much of an excuse to have a go at rail transport, but just take a look at this incredibly stupid article that got front page of the Birmingham Mail!

Danger danger!

I've left a comment, yet to be included, so let's see. Unusually, the most rational and sensible comment that is pro-rail, is the highest scoring.

 

[generalvegitable]

... and yet there is a house literally just next to the line that goes into dungeness power station which nobody seems to care about

 

[gordonthemoron]

- Sellafield
+ Windscale

BR did a crash test which showed that the nuclear flasks are indestructable. It's be far worse if taken by road, I have driven behind one of the road transporters and they only do 20mph.

I didn't read the messages, but the MP is a complete idiot

 

[sprinterguy]

The media truly have an unparalleled ability to make a mountain out of a mole hill when it comes to railways. The local papers in Sunderland ran exactly the same story a few years ago when a journalist conveniently “discovered” the Sellafield to Hartlepool nuclear flask train, despite the fact that it had been running without incident for years beforehand. :roll: Perhaps it’s time for somebody to dig out the old footage of a “Peak” being run into a nuclear flask in the eighties again for public viewing to show just how infinitesimal the risk from the flask trains is.
-----------------------------
EDIT: Had a look at the comments below the story as well now, and it's good to see some sensible pro-rail responses. And the video of 46009 being run into the flask at Old Dalby has indeed surfaced

 

[mumrar]

Perhaps it’s time for somebody to dig out the old footage of a “Peak” being run into a nuclear flask in the eighties again for public viewing to show just how infinitesimal the risk from the flask trains is.

Just type 'nuclear flask crash' into youtube and it's freely available for all to see. Someone linked to it in the comments on the story.

 

[90019]

Just type 'nuclear flask crash' into youtube and it's freely available for all to see. Someone linked to it in the comments on the story.

I think the best bit is the greenpeace response

They clearly have no idea at all what they're talking about. Nothing particularly new there though

 

[Geezertronic]

ffs, looks like another numpty MP is trying to make a name for themselves. I'm going to the Birmingham Post, I could have sworn I saw a pig flying

 

[scotsman]

Well done that man..........the trains are run in 'secret' (i.e. you can't get the running times from anyone) to protect them.

 

[mumrar]

I think the best bit is the greenpeace response

They clearly have no idea at all what they're talking about. Nothing particularly new there though

This is the same Greenpeace who, at the time of the 1984 test claimed the loco's engine was unbolted (if you look closely, the engine flys out of the roof because the JNA digs into the ballast and is on it's side as the loco's underframe slams down on to it), the loco crumpled easily (it is the heaviest loco to ever run on BR), the carriages had weights to keep them down and the flask was positioned at a favourable angle.

 

[ainsworth74]

Perhaps it’s time for somebody to dig out the old footage of a “Peak” being run into a nuclear flask in the eighties again for public viewing to show just how infinitesimal the risk from the flask trains is.

It is certainly impressive footage. But I'm not sure it would help, I've seen somewhere on the internet some nut trying to discredit it by saying things like the engine block on the peak wasn't bolted down to ensure that it wouldn't damage the container and so on. Therefore they concluded test was false and we are all going to die in a nuclear accident :roll:

Edit: Ah I see mumrar got there before me

 

[Aictos]

Surely the MP has better things to concern themselves with?

It's been proven beyond a doubt that transporting such loads by rail is far safer then by road by means of BR crashing that loco into a wagon and it's far better to have the stuff transported by rail then to clog up the roads with lorries restricted to 20mph.

The article shows how poorly researched it was, still as the old press mantra goes "never let the facts get in the way of a good story"!

 

[90019]

This is the same Greenpeace who, at the time of the 1984 test claimed the loco's engine was unbolted (if you look closely, the engine flys out of the roof because the JNA digs into the ballast and is on it's side as the loco's underframe slams down on to it), the loco crumpled easily (it is the heaviest loco to ever run on BR), the carriages had weights to keep them down and the flask was positioned at a favourable angle.

That's the response I mean

 

[YesToHS2]

- Sellafield
+ Windscale

BR did a crash test which showed that the nuclear flasks are indestructable. It's be far worse if taken by road, I have driven behind one of the road transporters and they only do 20mph.

I didn't read the messages, but the MP is a complete idiot

Some one recently posted a video of that test crash on twitter. Spectacular crash but the media said it was fake and made all sorts of claims about it.

You have to love the media when it comes to scare stories.

I love this statment "Greenpeace has claimed that 350,000 people would need to be evacuated if a nuclear waste train derailed or was targeted by terrorists and that 8,000 people could die from the long-term effects of radiation.i"

Terrorist target. Erm perhaps that is why it was done in secret? Did the members of Greenpeace not watch "what the greens go wrong" on channel 4 last week. A million people are yet to from the effects of Chernobyl.

 

[mumrar]

That's the response I mean

Couldn't tell if you meant Greenpeaces response in the article, or the video, sorry.

 

[DarloRich]

perhaps someone ought to write to Mr McCabe and let him have some of the facts:
mccabes@parliament.uk or his website @ http://www.stevemccabe-mp.org.uk/

I thought an opening line of Dear Mr McCabe, are you perhaps the most cretinously stupid person ever to walk the face of the earth? Well done for pointing out the existance of these trains to the terrorist groups you are so worried about! Congratualtions! You can put a nice new star sticker on your al-queda helpers name badge!

Shall we transfer all the material to the roads? Much safer there isnt it? Perhaps we should just dig a pit near to the power station and dump it all in there - yes that seems like a good idea or shall we dump it in the sea? Which one do you fancy? We could transport it quickly and safley by rail to the storage site or perhaps not.

Please come back with a more sensible option for moving this waste - or even when you have grown a brain.

 

[GB]

Well done that man..........the trains are run in 'secret' (i.e. you can't get the running times from anyone) to protect them.

Um, no they are not and yes you can.

 

[scotsman]

Sent him one

 

[LE Greys]

- Sellafield
+ Windscale

BR did a crash test which showed that the nuclear flasks are indestructable. It's be far worse if taken by road, I have driven behind one of the road transporters and they only do 20mph.

I didn't read the messages, but the MP is a complete idiot

Found a YouTube link for it. There were some questions about it at the time, but it's certainly a spectacular death for the Peak.

 

[142094]

The story in Sunderland a few years back only came about as there was a problem with the brakes on one of the wagons and Sunderland station had to be evacuated. I do remember a few years back an article in The Sun or something similar where a reporter had been able to get close to one at a depot, but this story takes the biscuit.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

According to the linked article in the Birmingham Mail, the bloke 'thought' he saw it. I'm not an expert on freight trains/wagons, but is there anything it could be mistaken for, such as, I don't know, a regular freight service?

Nuclear trains regularly pass through Preston on-route to Sellafield (I don't know if they are full or not), but I've never seen people turn luminous green as it passes and set out to destroy mankind after it passes. Surely these wagons are checked regularly because of the potential danger of its load?

Nice to see a MP and Greenpeace blowing this out of all proportion

 

[S19]

Pfffft. Any excuse to have a go at the nuclear industry at the moment.

Some people really do clutch at straws sometimes!

 

[TomBoyRacer]

And the more it gets publicised, the more likely something will go wrong.

I don't believe the '84 crash was rigged. It's certainly plausible but I believe BNFL would never get insurance or permission to transport materiel from site to site without a lengthly safety case study and heavy risk mitigation. The crash I think was just publicity and nothing more.
As the chap who contacted the paper runs a local blog and is in a trusted postition at the university he is an influential member of society and this is probably why this story is being run. Not to mention a slow news day (I've lost mention of the number of times I've read about the 'new drug' Crystal meth hitting the streets). As many people have pointed out this is not new news. Whether there is a ban on Nuclear trains travelling through the centre of Birmingham I cannot say as I don't know. Also, how did he know that the train didn't use the camp hill line which would have diverted the train away from the city centre and runs through cuttings for much of it's length which I dare say would lessen the spread of any radioactive fallout.

Oh and not to want to sound pedantic, but it's a wagon not a carriage.

 

[Ferret]

I left a comment on the bloke's blog. At some point, I may even write to the MP and point out what a fool he's made of himself. You see, I'm sure it was Labour who, while in Government, decided that we'd continue to use nuclear power. So, just how did this pillock propose we move this waste around the network? I feel really sorry for the people of Selly Oak.

 

[nedchester]

Found a YouTube link for it. There were some questions about it at the time, but it's certainly a spectacular death for the Peak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9QBsTXbRhk - more about the crash

 

[scotsman]

According to the linked article in the Birmingham Mail, the bloke 'thought' he saw it. I'm not an expert on freight trains/wagons, but is there anything it could be mistaken for, such as, I don't know, a regular freight service?

Nuclear trains regularly pass through Preston on-route to Sellafield (I don't know if they are full or not), but I've never seen people turn luminous green as it passes and set out to destroy mankind after it passes. Surely these wagons are checked regularly because of the potential danger of its load?

Nice to see a MP and the Green People blowing this out of all proportion

I've seen his picture - that is your standard flask case. There's nothing to say that there's no flask within

 

[chris89]

Guessing what comes from a No-News day sadly and to try and make people paraniod about nuclear power and make them want Wind more.... Also Greenpeace after what ever publicity they can get but my thoughts on them can't really be put on here.

Only time i've seen nuclear flasks was when my train passed one being hauled by two DRS Class 37's at Carstairs junction.

Chris

 

[Darandio]

Only time i've seen nuclear flasks was when my train passed one being hauled by two DRS Class 37's at Carstairs junction.

And I bet it put the absolute fear of god into you.

 

[chris89]

And I bet it put the absolute fear of god into you.

Haha Didn't at all i was more Supprised to see them Got no fear of Nuclear power lived within 25miles from Hinkly Point powerstation.

Chris

 

[Sadsmileyface]

Just wait till they learn about all that aviation fuel speeding around in significantly less than indestructible containers.

I mean, one crashed only eighteen months ago in Ayrshire.

 

[Donny Dave]

I mean, one crashed only eighteen months ago in Ayrshire.

Guess you haven't looked at the news today then!!!! hock: