Mega Disasters - "Glow Train" Part 1/4

[betatalk357]

Everyone is missing the bigger picture. Chernobyl happened back in '86... it's now 2011, going on 2012. The entire area is still toxic, forests have warning signs telling people not to eat the fruit, berries, or mushrooms. In the Ukraine, many towns are abandonded and many people have cancer, died from cancer, and children are having higher rates of thyroid, liver, and reproductive cancers due to Chernobyl.

[betatalk357]

@betatalk357 Forget nuclear transport; do you really want to make a material that can contaminate the world for many years to come, for the sake of energy demand? After we expend all this energy, what are we supposed to do with a radioactive Earth? And Yucca Mountain Storage is bullshit. Those caskets will rot, leaking the radioactive material into the ground, water tables, or be evaporated into the air.

[betatalk357]

@betatalk357 By the time that happens, the politicians who allow the use of nuclear power and waste storage will be dead so the government won't have to take the blame. But people will still have to deal with radioactive contamination.

[atilla3547]

(BS fear mongering??) I doubt you would be more aware of the situation than what has been researchd in this documntary for the awareness of the GLOBAL public. More educational than paranoid over-dramatisation what would yous' know about Nuclear energy waste disposal and how safe/dependable it is, as if disaster wouldn't be possible.Too many self confident,ignorant weirdos. I commend the History Channel and SantaFebuff for an attempt to keep people informed with the facts so many choose to ignore

[nikosjk1]

@EmperorMarcusNovius: BS, your totally off base, car dependency doesn't have anything to do with it, US trains carry freight for the most part, investment is made by the freight railroads, if the train is traveling on major routes the track will be in as good of shape as any European line.

[atomicnortherner]

I love how the american media massivly over dramatise everything

[thefinalfrontier1701]

@atomicnortherner It's called propaganda. The lefties here want to entice the public into thinking nuclear energy is a bad thing and we need to use solar power. It's just an excuse to make us pay more for electricity and taxes... which means fatter wallets for the government.

[atomicnortherner]

@thefinalfrontier1701 I agree, take Japan, one of the most earthquake prone places in the world and they build a nuclear powerstations on it, then everyone says "see told you nuclear was dangerous" if they built a coal powered powerstation right ontop of a deep excavation coal mine it would all cave in and everyone would say it was daft to build it there, its the same thing. The media, governments and power suppliers dont want nuclear as they will lose billions. The brainwashed will say im wrong

[rwerk66]

@atomicnortherner

No, the informed will say you are wrong!!!

The US sits on fault lines, most of which were not even known when the reactors were built over them.

Just because a earthquake has not happened in your lifetime does not mean it is not going to happen tomorrow.

What is daft is that the US invented a whole statistical method to pretend that these things will not happen, when in fact they do.

Your last sentence shows where your allegiances lie.

[rwerk66]

@thefinalfrontier1701

Solar is great because I can stop paying for electricity.

Nuclear would mean the people would have to pay billions for something they can get for free.

You want to fatten the power companies with Taxpayer funds? that's what you are supporting!!!

[rwerk66]

@atomicnortherner

Yes they do, most of the facts in this documentary are valid though.

Seems most Americans only watch melodrama, so that's what the program makers use.

This makes the facts and the possibilities no more or less true than the 'Air Crash Investigation' documentaries are when they over-dramatise.

If someone had made a dramatised doco about the possibility of Fukushima what would the bloggers have said?

[Balnazzardi]

...into the hands of terrorists or that it could be used to create plutonium for nuclear weapons.

[Balnazzardi]

Russia on former Soviet Union countries, because the reactor type of Chernobyl was unique, only used in the are of Soviet Union...the reactors that are used in other countries are totally different type, that kind of massive meltdown is simply not possible, and there are many fail-safe systems, and if still everything that could possible go wrong would go wrong, the radiation wouldnt get out of the powerplant.

so the real danger are not powerplants, its the radioactive waste that could get...

[Balnazzardi]

second of all there wasnt a outer "cover" building to keep the explosion and radiation inside the powerplant, like all the western (and today every) powerplant have.

And the most stupid thing they did, was that they shutdown the emergency system, that would have shutdown the reactor in time before meltdown could happen, they had to shut it down, so they could run the test.

That kind of massive accident couldnt even happen with the reactors that are used in USA or any other countries outside of

[therealrofus100]

my friend works at a powerplant he says it would heve to be a real big explosion to set off one of those trains a crash or derailment cant set that off

[bodybait]

Of course 38,000 people sacrifice their lives just to get around. Here these people are worried about RR track safety. Which I might add is lagging because we spend money on roads rather than RR.

[Ultraplast1978]

Nuclear energy is not safe, it is not clean, and it is not cheap. 

[MokomaSusi]

@Ultraplast1978

"is not safe"

Yes, it is when compared to coal.

"it is not clean"

If compared to what? Again, coal power emissions kill more people.

Many countries are building or thinking of building new nuclear powerplants.

[Ultraplast1978]

@MokomaSusi Nuclear power has been around for decades, so "thinking" about building nuclear plants is not a relatively new idea. If you think nuclear power is safe, then I refer you to the Chernobyl disaster, which was tame compared to what almost occurred. Many killed, an entire city made a ghost town, raditation poisoning, birth defects....Also, when did I mention coal? And as for nuclear power being clean? Raditation is not "clean." Trying to dispose of radioactive waste is NOT clean.

[DWaves47]

@Ultraplast1978 "It is better to be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." OK, your just ignorant (GO LOOK UP ignorant before you get PISSED OFF) so go search "Professor Richard Muller of the University California, Berkeley" here on YouTube and watch this series "Nukes 1of6: Isotopes and Nuclear Fission." I have watched the fore mentioned series and many others and I took notes.

[Ultraplast1978]

@DWaves47 And yet you still made a comment...maybe you should take another look at that quote of yours. Who cares if you took notes off of youtube? Who cares if you listened to Muller? Nuclear energy is dangerous, you can take precautions, but the risk does not outway the benefits for accidents can and do occur and safer alternatives do exist, nuclear waste is not "clean," disposing of it is costly, and because it gets buried in the ground does not mean it goes away.

[DWaves47]

@Ultraplast1978 Well you proved me wrong. Your not ignorant your just plain stupid and to lazy to educate yourself. So go stick your head back up your ass.

[Ultraplast1978]

@DWaves47 And you are still making comments. I guess you didn't take a closer look at that quote of yours.

[DWaves47]

@Ultraplast1978 Yea I took a look at my comment and I'm right YOUR STUPID! Go educate yourself first so you can make an intelegent comment!

[Ultraplast1978]

@DWaves47 I said quote, your comments make you seem stupid, and your comments are far from intelligent (which is not spelled intelegent). You take notes off of vids you see on youtube, bravo. Prove to me how containment is cheap and that radioactive waste is clean; TMI leaks radiation all the time. The cost of a new automic reactor alone is estimated at 10 billion dollars. Show me how the mining and milling is cheap and good for the environment.

[DWaves47]

@Ultraplast1978 My comments seem stupid that’s your opinion because you’re anti-nuclear. I took notes from a lecture done by a professor at UC Berkley. At least I watched and learned. TMI doesn’t leak radiation. I have never heard of an “AUTOMIC reactor” but I have heard of a nuclear reactor. As for the waste it should be reprocessed not stored by that’s the policy of the U.S. and I don’t agree with it. So answer this question when fission happens was it the most toxic element that is produced?

[Ultraplast1978]

@DWaves47 Your comments do not seem stupid because I am anti-nuclear, they are stupid. TMI does leak radiation. I grew up around the plant and know of it well. When the meltdown occurred in 79, many animals died and people got sick. The cancer rate is extremely high in the area, but of course, so called studies have not shown a link between the two. Since then there have been several episodes. Course,what do we know ? We aren't too intelegent round these parts! Must be the water.

[DWaves47]

@Ultraplast1978 Can't answer the question can you. I'll put in quotes to make it clear.

"So answer this question when fission happens was it the most toxic element that is produced?"

[Ultraplast1978]

@DWaves47 Anyone can answer that by looking it up on wikipedia. You, however, cannot answer the questions I poased to you. Because you don't agree with the policy....failed again.

[DWaves47]

@Ultraplast1978 Sorry but it is you that has failed. You are to lazy or to stupid or both to educate yourself. Let me guess your an anti-nuclear liberal living off the Gov. Well go get your Gov hand out that my taxes pay for, your a BUM.

[Ultraplast1978]

@DWaves47 Out of all the comments you made, the last one was the most hilarious. Keep guessing, for that is the best you can do.

[Balnazzardi]

@Ultraplast1978 Well nuclear power is safe, if the power plants and reactors are designed and build correctly, and you dont do stupid test that are strictly forbidden to do with the reactor.

I mean everything that could be done wrong, was done wrong in Chernobyl 1986....the reactor type first of all was known to be unstable at such power levels where the test was done,the designers of the power plant had strictly forbidden to do such a test and yet they did it.

[Ultraplast1978]

@Balnazzardi You are right, radioactive waste is dangerous. I take it you also believe that there have been no casualties from TMI. The high cancer rate of the Middletown area has never been attributed to the plant, so they say.

[Samsgarden]

This show is gay and it contributes to the longstanding anti nuclear farce.

[0311jonesy]

My biggest concern is that these trains would become an easy target for terrorists. It's impossible to secure our entire rail system.

[MEareCAT]

this is why Humans are responsible for ruining th Planet. Pathetic excuses for this disgusting species will not work with me btw ;)

[Hoffasgrave]

@MEareCAT my only question to you is, what is your species like?? 2 questions really, What won't work with you???

[geonerd]

Crap journalism at its finest.

[SAMIEWALLFORD756]

I dislike this enquiries of envrionmental accidents like trains crash, bus crash and etc. Because I'm got sick of that, I'm not deal with it to watch that anymore. Like normal way to stay pay-attention to where r going than dream of image. They didn't wake-up and stop where are going! These is... That will could happening! That scare.

[davidneibig]

All of britain's nuclear waste is transported by rail and has always been transported by rail. It is carried in flasks, that are carried with more precaution than other freight trains. They tested one of the flasks by running a 250 tonne freight train into one at 100mph and the flask was completely safe afterwards. For a country that has a nuclear power plant that actually had a meltdown on the edge of a city (Three Mile Island in Harrisburg) complaints seem like a massive double standard.

[inkyguy]

I'm sorry but I find it hard to believe that "each there are 3,000 accidents or derailments in the United States." That is almost 10 a day! I think the general population would notice 10 accidents or derailments a day. That must be an error in the narration. I would appreciate if anyone could correct or clarify this statistic.

[SantaFebuff]

@inkyguy Yes, there are about 10 a day. Just most of them are so minor, they are probably just a locomotive or car just popped off the rails that cane be place back on with a portable jack. It's hard to find massive wrecks.

[Rickyrab]

@SantaFebuff

lol lazy cheap low-maintenance freight railroads

No wonder they're insisting that the high speed rail tracks be 30ft from their lines....!

[kagoshimadavid]

@inkyguy I checked with department of train statistics. there are more than 10 a day, they include missing the toilet seat, catching wrong train etc.etc.

[nixrate]

@inkyguy i could believe it. 3000/1500000=0.002% crashes/accidents big or small.

[jonowev]

This show is a typical load of overdramatic, americanised crap

[JetMechMA]

@EmperorMarcusNovius I'm all for investing in our nation's rail infrastructure, but the part you said about becoming less dependent on cars, is non-sequitur. Cars have nothing to do with trains. What you're asdvocating is taking away a persons independence. That's just wrong.

[Rickyrab]

@JetMechMA

And how would investment in rail and reducing car dependence take away a person's independence? One can argue that it increases independence by giving people more travel choices.

[JetMechMA]

@Rickyrab You are right, of course. My reading comprehension was off a little. Having more travel options would be better. Aviation is my life...but I plan on taking a day trip on a train next month. Rode a train for the first time last year and loved it. Total expenditure was $52 dollars....and they did the driving.

[newchihuahua]

whats the music at the first minute?

[3ddifusion]

@ zmcginnful; You raise an important issue about the life of a disposal cell/site. Radioactive disposal sites are designed to last until the waste has decayed down to below the original radiation levels found in the uncontaminated soil.

[cagedtigersteve]

Drill Baby Drill! That the solution.

[wattman72]

@cagedtigersteve Fan of BP are ya?

[zmcginnful]

Sure, these nuclear containers are able to sustain a train wreck. The problem arises with the actual "permanent" disposal of nuclear wastes. What happens when this waste becomes so great that it get "disposed" of by other means. St. Louis, MO - one can actually climb to the top of Weldon Springs - a nuclear disposal sight very near residential areas. The life of these disposal cells is only about 1,000 years. What happens when the disposal cell expires.

[FortegoLite]

Trains are reliable and awesome. Idiots.

[jackmanlol]

lol this show is rediculous

[cdlmn63]

the real side to this any train carrying nuke waste can only travle up to 45 MPH thats it

[TheJWS]

oh, only a freight train carrying nuclear waste through a suburb at 45 MPH? thats ok with me.

[vollyballchick91]

Another good reason not to believe everything you see on tv. The caskets they transport this material in are capable of surviving a train wreck unscathed, which is probably why there hasn't been an accident yet and most likely there wont be. The scenario presented seems a bit unlikely because I would doubt they would actually ship it right through the downtown district of a city, the caskets would somehow have to rupture, finally I believe they have to notify the city prior to it passing through

[geonerd]

Rail transport of nuke waste is not to be taken lightly, but this show is just so much BS fear-mongering.

[tmzilla]

haha american rail

Transport by Zeppelin would be safer?

[lamz0rs]

I don't think it's "that" bad, I mean the other mega disasters are like extinction of mankind.

[mrtrainboy019]

5:12 Derailment

[chrisinmo67]

I beg to differ with you on the upkeep of railroad tracks in the US. Railroad companies are very large and successful companies which spend quite a bit on maintenance. These are freight trains. Very important and very profitable to operate. Passenger rail service is essentially dead in the US. No one wants to spend days in a train when they can make the same trip in a jet in a matter of hours.

Tracks in the US are well maintained and statistically there are very few accidents.

[Zimika]

My favorite part about this lovely plan of the governments is they don't even care about how it is going to effect the state. They only care how it is going to effect the rest of the country. For one who ever it was that thought up this plan is a moron. For two they shouldn't be shipping it at all. Most importantly the states that actually use nuclear waste should have to store their own. Nevada doesn't even use nuclear power why should we have to store it?

[vollyballchick91]

@Zimika - Your comment seems highly uneducated and lacking in any basic knowledge of the current situation of the nuclear waste in the United States. The repository in the Yucca I safer than having the stuff littered throughout the country sitting next to the nuclear power plants and as for idea of the states dealing with it all I have to say is how? would you prefer it to be in a populated area rather than in the middle of a desert with virtually no one for miles?

[Zimika]

Apparently you don't know very much yourself. For one why should Nevada have to store other states waste. The state of Nevada is not a desert wasteland that the government can do whatever they want with. Do you have any idea how much water lies under Yucca Mountain that is now completely contaminated? The state pays to bring water in from other states for Las Vegas and other places. If the water wasn't contaminated then we would have extra money and the state wouldn't be going broke.

[Zimika]

If it wasn't a toxic wasteland it might be populated. A state that uses the nuclear power can store the waste. Why should Nevada be the dump station for everyone's garbage? Your defending all these other states that want the waste gone and say that I am selfish yet you don't think of the state of Nevada's standing what so ever. The funding for Yucca Mountain has been cut and the licensing might not even get passed. So that means that the containment facility might not ever be completed.

[mongo5888]

I assume you are not American?

[AnimeShinigami13]

OMG! The glow train is one of my favorite mega disasters!

[terencelaoshi]

Great episode ... any chance of seeing more of it?

[dancortese1987]

do you have the rest of teh episode???

[SantaFebuff]

Yes, I do. I haven't been on since yesterday, so I haven't had time to put it one there. Remember, I'm only doing 10:00 minute intervals because I don't want to overload the up-loader. Don't you worry. I'm working on it right now.