Mother Nature! Was working with the team that implemented the Chessie System's Terminal Service Center at Newport News, VA in the early 1980's. The implementation required a on the ground walking check of all the tracks in Newport News. The terminal was using a 'side card' system to keep track of cars for the operation of the terminal prior to the Terminal Services Center concept. The walking checks discovered a cut of 10 cars on a track that was 'off the beaten path' in the yard - the cars had trees growing about 20 feet high out of the 'coal' the the hopper cars contained. According to the side cards that were attached to the cars, they had arrived the terminal about 4 years prior and had been 'lost' ever since. Mother Nature always wins.
