One aspect of Canada’s nuclear story not often discussed is the role Chalk River played in supplying plutonium and uranium 233 to the USA during the 1960s. Eggleston in his book “Canada’s Nuclear Story” (page 206) states that the Chalk River extraction plants produced approximately 17,000 grams of plutonium and 515 grams of uranium 233 from over 1,000 fuel rods irradiated in NRU and NRX. Some of the material was sent by truck to Savanah River. In addition, uranium nitrate solution containing about 26,000 kilograms of depleted uranium and 100 grams of plutonium was sent in tank cars to Oak Ridge.
Doreen Joyce recently visited the Society for the Preservation of Canada’s Nuclear Heritage Inc. holdings at 51 Poplar as part of the Seniors Friendship Club. She shared an anecdote about some of the train shipments. Doreen and her husband Bob arrived in Deep River in 1957. Bob had been hired and trained as a Radiation Surveyor. Two Radiation Surveyors were usually assigned to accompany each train shipment bound for Oak Ridge in case any unusual event occurred during the trip. Their “accommodations” for the trip were the less-than-palatial caboose at the end of the train. During the hot summer months the caboose often felt as hot as the shipments they were escorting.
Bob Joyce’s co-worker for many of the trips was Tom Neill. Tom had done a number of the trips to Oak Ridge before Bob was assigned to them and knew the route very well. He knew how long the train stopped at the various towns along the route and where the local beer stores were located. At some of the stops he would make a dash and purchase a cold six-pack to last them to the next stop. Doreen did not recall hearing that Tom was ever left behind by the train.
The Society has accumulated a large collection of artifacts, photographs and documents over the last three years. Anecdotes like the one related by Doreen help to give a more rounded history of the industry and are always very welcome. The Society would be very pleased to hear from others who would be willing to contribute stories of their experiences. Contact any member of the Society Executive or send your story to info@nuclearheritage.com.
