Engineering360: "Tank Car Storage: Rarely Popular With Locals"

That was a horrible spill of oil on the ballast between those rails. The EPA will probably make those rails a SuperFund site.

I'm assuming this is sarcasm due to the tiny size of the spill? Even so I'd be concerned about the dripping leaks over the course of a number of years--I could see that amounting to a gallon or so of oil.

Yes, that was sarcasm of course.

Mother Nature breaks down small quantities of oil rather quickly. Sunlight and bacteria are amazingly effective.

So the problem isn't the tankers themselves; it's their appearance in that location and the threat of leaks from them.

1. The first problem can be solved by the artistic community.
2. The second problem can be solved by taking appropriate action at decommissioning.

Let's move on.

A quick update on this story: As of 12/29 Berkshire Hathaway is yielding to local pressure and removing their several dozen tankers from the area. (Berkshire's cars are leased to Iowa Pacific.) Iowa Pacific is still adamant about keeping the rest of the their cars on these tracks.