I do not know if people are blind or stupid (which I doubt), but coal trains have been coming through this area for years on their way to the Centralia coal-fired generating plant and to Roberts Bank, British Columbia, for export. Also Portland’s Terminal 5 was originally built for coal export, but that fell through and is now used for potash and clay export.
I have seen it all. I am retired after 38 years with the SP&S (Spokane, Portland and Seattle) Railway and BNSF. There are a lot more dangerous things that come through by truck and train than coal.
Glen A. Jones
Portland