Released by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake Public Affairs Office--

By Barbara Lupei

What does an April 1973 train explosion that included 21 boxcars full of Mk 81 bombs in the railroad yard at Roseville, Calif. have to do with the people, places, and things of China Lake today? The answer is…an investigator. The explosions lasted about 32 hours, and resulted in eight buildings burned to the ground, 600 rail cars destroyed or damaged, and 48 people injured.

Jack Pakulak, a China Lake chemist, was called in to help solve the mystery of the bomb train explosion. Did a bad bomb, a yard fire, a tank car fire, overheated-break shoe or sabotage cause it? Was it a coincidence that this catastrophic accident was followed by a similar incident in Benson, Arizona? Was it even safe to transport bombs by rail to the ships that would carry them to Vietnam?

Pakulak will tell his story of the bomb train investigation on Thursday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the Technical Library of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD). The event is open to all WD employees.

The library is proud to provide this knowledge-sharing program that preserves the past, enhances the present and inspires the future. Location is just inside the north gate of the Michelson Lab compound, Building 02496. For access or more information, call 939-4668.

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Photo cutline: Jack Pakulak, retired research chemist.
Photo by Mary Ray