Western Railroad Discussion > Fire warps tracks!

ST. MARYS, Kansas (AP) -- An early morning fire that destroyed a northeast Kansas grain cooperative also damaged several downtown buildings and warped Union Pacific railroad tracks nearby.
The fire at the co-op in St. Marys started around 2 a.m. Friday. Pottawatomie County fire supervisor Bruce Brazzle says the blaze appears suspicious because the co-op was in the process of being demolished and there was no power to the building.
Brazzle says several businesses along Main Street sustained melted windows and roof damage that could cost millions of dollars to fix, but no estimates were immediately available.

http://www.ksn.com/mostpopular/story/Fire-destroys-grain-elevator-in-St-Marys/gioC--0u4EykM4_bmBxF1g.cspx

Ron Toman
Olathe, KS

From the scene, next to the tracks.

Ron Toman
Olathe, KS

---

Not a good week for the KP.

steel expansion from the heat ... ballast not enough to control movement

elevators going south

Next to the UP mainline in Coyote CA just south of San Jose, there is an ancient former SP warehouse full of feed store and farm related "stuff" and junk. Place is the classic example of "major fire trap". If it ever gets torched, we are sure the tracks next to it will melt because this will be one helluva HUGE inferno. We are amazed that the place has lasted as long as it has.
C.

Carol Voss
Bakersfield, CA

Aren't those silo's in danger of explosion?

mustraline Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Aren't those silo's in danger of explosion?

If no grain is being moved then the danger is minimal.
Grain dust is created when grain is moved.
Grain dust is what explodes.

That's a pretty big grain silo to be closing down. How come? I thought grain prices were good, both wheat and corn. Big elevator = bigger trains, which the RR wants.

Must have fixed the tracks heard dispatcher give out track warrants this morning for the KP.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That's a pretty big grain silo to be closing down.
> How come? I thought grain prices were good, both
> wheat and corn. Big elevator = bigger trains,
> which the RR wants.

This was an old, mostly wood structure that was being torn down. Not useful in today's climate.

Fred in Wichita

---