Re: California 2-footers

Kerr-McGee Corp, and Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp no longer exists. The current operator of all the mining and manufacturing in Searles Valley is Searles Valley Minerals, Inc.

I think the waste pile where a loco "might" be located is at the east side of the West End Plant. It covers an area of several acres and comprises 1000's if not 10's or 100's of 1000's of tons of lime and other waste salts.

In general, Searles Valley Minerals, Inc., does not allow access to its operations. These are 24 hr/day, 365 day/yr heavy manufacturing operations. For special reasons they will allow individuals and small groups within the operations accompanied with employee guides.

I suggest you look very critically at the satellite images before getting very excited about looking for a lost loco. That stuff is nasty at best. I always remind people about lime, when it gets damp or wet it eats meat and it doesn't care whether it is alive or dead.

I worked in the Trona plant for more than 20 years and had experience with West End after K-M purchased it.

Max Cox