Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
11. Thank you :)
Wed Apr 24, 2013, 10:46 PM
Apr 2013

I think I saw the one you posted below, too. Here's the site that has both, and fourteen more.

I was mistaken, too, about that spur line, where the overturned rail car had been stopped. I thought that spur was unused, because some of the images, especially on Google Maps, showed the rails covered in dirt, ties covered or missing, and tractor-trailer rigs parked on the tracks behind the buildings.

The tracks must have been at least partially usable or that filled rail car wouldn't have been there, whether to be filled or offloading.

The gray-roofed building appears to be the one that blew up, and you can place its relative location from those aftermath aerials that show that curve in the road to the west. Here it is in Google Maps:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=West,+Texas&hl=en&ll=31.816211,-97.088054&spn=0.000944,0.001557&sll=31.168934,-100.076842&sspn=15.537139,25.510254&t=h&hnear=West,+McLennan,+Texas&z=20

It's mind-blowing what it did to everything, including those rails. They didn't break apart, just pinched together for width of the explosion. I have wondered if the raised bed might have deflected some of the blast and shockwave, such that the apartments didn't get the absolute full force of it all. I know it's not much, yet rail beds are often at least six feet at their peaks, if not higher. Google's Terrain maps aren't detailed enough for me to see elevations.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

That's one piece of the puzzle. LeftInTX Apr 2013 #1
From the view of one aerial looking down and due north, kentauros Apr 2013 #3
Good sluething! LeftInTX Apr 2013 #6
Good job white cloud Apr 2013 #7
Here's the pic LeftInTX Apr 2013 #8
Since you're dealing with a RWNJ LeftInTX Apr 2013 #9
Thanks Much white cloud Apr 2013 #10
Thank you :) kentauros Apr 2013 #11
Those pinched rails are something! LeftInTX Apr 2013 #12
Thanks white cloud Apr 2013 #13
You're welcome. kentauros Apr 2013 #15
Look at this story white cloud Apr 2013 #14
How socially irresponsible of the assistant Texas state fire chief. TexasTowelie Apr 2013 #2
In one of the videos made live at the scene, there is a yellow flame and a deep orange on DhhD Apr 2013 #4
When AN deflagrates white cloud Apr 2013 #5
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Texas»Rail car with ammonium ni...»Reply #11