States balk at keeping oil train info from public

[MineralMan]

2. The main Union Pacific freight line between St. Paul, MN and Chicago

runs two blocks from my house in St. Paul. A four-track crossing is on one of my routes from my home to other places According to reports, there are four trains per day that use this route, and I seem to encounter one of them every time I drive that way. Not really, but on a regular basis. Apparently this route is not used for transporting crude oil, since I've never seen tank cars as part of the very long trains that block my way.

Until yesterday, I really didn't know where the trains I saw were going to or coming from, so I traced the route using Google maps. Most of the rail cars I see are bulk hopper cars and closed box cars, with some container transport cars mixed in. The line serves the main shipping center for 3M in St. Paul, which is why there are four tracks at the crossing. Lots of backing and switching going on on that section of the line, I guess.

I keep the number for the UP maintenance headquarters on a 3M sticky note on my desk, because that crossing's signal is always breaking, failing safe with the arms down. So, I call, and someone shows up and fixes it.

But, no oil tank cars on that route.