Always be Vigilant
Always pay attention when you are working around places that have been worked by someone else before you. Hazards are everywhere.
Comments (8)
Something strange with this piece of rock?
Someone hiding drugs in there?
Story time.
In 1973, a train carrying ordnance exploded in the Roseville Railyard. At the time, the area was sparsely populated.
In 1997, Union Pacific began an expansion of the railyard. As they were grading areas of expansion, they dug up several unexploded 500 lb. bombs. EOD team from nearby Beale Air Force base was called in to dispose of the UXO. In the time since the original explosion, many houses were built around the railyard, Over 500 homes needed to be evacuated.
Talking to some old-timers in the area, they were not surprised with finding the UXO. The railyard is the largest west of the Mississippi, and the railroad was losing a ton of money every day it was shut down. The oldtimers said the railroad bulldozed the area flat and began replacing the track. They never search for bombs that didn't explode.
I was working at the fire station about 2 miles away. For some reason, EOD decided to do the countercharges at night—nothing like waking up at 2 AM with a 500 lb bomb exploding.
Oh My!
