When train derails, what becomes of dumped grain?
Contracted salvage company has options: feedlots or landfills

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

October 9, 2003 -- The news media spotlighted the recent train derailment in Oklahoma, which dumped tons of wheat onto the ground, but some may wonder what becomes of the dumped grain?

On Sept. 29, in Norman, Okla., a Galveston-bound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train hauling grain derailed, sending 31 railcars off the track and dumping wheat across the tracks and the surrounding area. No one was injured in the accident.

The business of cleaning up this type of spill is generally handled by a grain salvage organization. According to Ben Boerner, president of the Texas Grain and Feed Association, there are a number of salvage companies that will conduct the "mop-up" and find buyers for the spilled grain.

"Depending on the damage to the product, the salvage company will contact buyers for the grain such as feedlots or landfills," explained Boerner.

Don Jones, owner of Houston Grain Trading Co., explained that the railroad is financially responsible for the clean-up. "The railroad hires a salvage company, sells the recoverable grain to that salvage company and then they in turn finds a buyer for the grain."

A quick clean-up is imperative because in many cases the railroad's main line is shut down. In the Norman derailment the track and intersection was closed for a day and a half. Normally about 36 trains travel this north-south section of the railway.

According to Joe Faust with Burlington Northern Sante Fe, the first step the railroad takes is to call in a company that specializes in getting the cars back on the tracks. A grain salvage company is then called in to determine what grain can be salvaged and the search for a buyer begins. Any contaminated grain will be discarded.

In the recent derailment in Norman, four of the cars that derailed did not overturn and spill their contents. Faust explained the grain in those cars will continue to their destination.

(Briskin is a reporter in Country World's West Central Texas area.)