CAUGHT ON CAM: train strikes flatbed 18 wheeler!

[dash1]

I always wonder what the engineer on that train is thinking as it is barreling down on a collision like that.

"Wishing he was home in bed dreaming about Casey Jones".

[Hmac]

I have a friend who works for CSX "Maintenace of Way", he's told me that engineers almost never apply emergency braking due to the very real chance of derailing cars. He said that in most cases they will apply the breaks but depending on whats on the track its sometimes best to hit it with enough force to knock it clear to further avoid a derailment. I don't know anyone who could confirm the information, but it seems plausible.

I heard a Burlington Northern specialist speak at a regional Coroner's conference a few years ago, and he said that same thing. The other thing that I recall is that he ran through a mathematical correlation that demonstrated that a 20-car train hitting a car on the tracks had about the same energy relationships as a car hitting a soft drink can in the road.

[SilverBullet432]

Looked like casing or drill pipe to me. Regardless, what a mess.

Years ago I was pulling a pipe trailer for my brother with about 2000' of drill pipe when the trailer started fishtailing on me going down I-90. In my worst nightmares, that's kind of what I imagined it would have looked like had I lost that trailer. Fortunately, I was able to get it shut down without incident. I did, however, come very close to shitting my pants.

5" casing pipe. the pipe alone was worth at least $85,000

what i was told as a possible cause, is that he was crossing when the arms came down across the trailer and didnt allow him to cross. there are several pipe yards in that area.

[Honu]

kinda wonder what makes anyone STOP on train tracks ? and not short if traffic is ahead ? just amazes me

[Pork Chop]

We're on the UP main line, and 200 car coal trains rumble through here at 60 mph. Through towns and all. I wasn't aware they slow down for anything, ever.
They average one every 3-5 minutes, so if you put something in their way, it won't be there long. I've seen them try to stop for things like that, but 55,000,000 lbs takes MILES to stop.

[Ryno12]

We're on the UP main line, and 200 car coal trains rumble through here at 60 mph. Through towns and all. I wasn't aware they slow down for anything, ever.
They average one every 3-5 minutes, so if you put something in their way, it won't be there long. I've seen them try to stop for things like that, but 55,000,000 lbs takes MILES to stop.

They're gearing up to start reusing a rail that's been defunct for about 10 years now. This week they've been replacing ties. It's a stones throw from my house and I'm really looking forward to it.

Sent via Tapatalk

[HackerF15E]

5" casing pipe. the pipe alone was worth at least $85,000

what i was told as a possible cause, is that he was crossing when the arms came down across the trailer and didnt allow him to cross. there are several pipe yards in that area.

What RR crossing gate is so strong that a truck could not break it by driving right through it?

The damage sure as heck would have been less severe/costly than what ended up happening.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

What RR crossing gate is so strong that a truck could not break it by driving right through it?

The damage sure as heck would have been less severe/costly than what ended up happening.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe he was on the phone. Maybe he is the kind of guy that lions, tiger and bears used to cull from the herd.

There was a school bus accident in Chicago (IIRC) a few years ago. Substitute driver didn't believe the kids when they started screaming that they weren't clear of the tracks. Sometimes stupid hurts, but the wrong people.

[Pork Chop]

What RR crossing gate is so strong that a truck could not break it by driving right through it?

The damage sure as heck would have been less severe/costly than what ended up happening.

People vapor lock over trains. There's a crossing 1/4 mile from our shop. Last year, a truck started across and the arm came down between his cab and trailer. The guy was still trying to lift the arm out of the way WHEN THE BIG, SCREAMING COAL TRAIN HIT HIM!

The damn arms snap right off, BY DESIGN!

Darwin was on to something.

[Texas42]

Wasn't so long ago a bunch of veterans got killed the same way.