Here's another installment of Idiots and Railroads

The good news is that, in addition to any legal consequences they may face, the morons also lost their truck; will likely lose their insurance coverage (if they were even bright enough to have such); and will have one helluva time finding another insurer (and that will cost dearly).

I wonder how long it's going to be before someone places blame on the railroad for not having a full fence the entire length of the tracks?

All the railroad needs is a no trespassing sign for it's protection. And common sense by a judge. If there is a lawsuit, the RR should sue their insurance company for repairs to the bridge.

I wonder how fast they where going? And how old the bridge is? Must be very brittle steel, if that's what it is, (could it be cast iron?)

Ed Mullan

No, that bridge is steel.
Having three brothers, I can't imagine any idea like this coming up in my family without the phrase "Are you stupid?" coming up. They must have been very drunk, but left at least 4 cans unopened. What a waste of beer and a truck.

It was a nice looking truck.

Maybe he was just following his G.P.S directions

But did the guy driving say, "Hey watch this, hold my beer!" right befor the accident happened!!!!

quote:

I wonder how fast they where going? And how old the bridge is? Must be very brittle steel, if that's what it is, (could it be cast iron?)

If you pause the video at the right frame you can see that the diagonal snapped right where the lacing bars were riveted to the channel. The rivet hole removed most of the steel on both flanges. That made the diagonal very weak in bending and consequently they snapped upon impact by the truck. This type of loading obviously was not considered when the truss was designed.

Look how mangled that truck is. That fool must have going at least 40 MPH.

Jack

quote:

If you pause the video at the right frame you can see that the diagonal snapped right where the lacing bars were riveted to the channel. The rivet hole removed most of the steel on both flanges. That made the diagonal very weak in bending and consequently they snapped upon impact by the truck. This type of loading obviously was not considered when the truss was designed.

Good point, Jack. I read somewhere that this bridge is due for replacement by NS.
I wonder how they repaired this beam, anyone know?

Ed Mullan

I bet the truck is not paid for either and some lending instution will have eat it.

When I read the article, why did I keep hearing the theme song from "Deliverance"?

Guys,

I would say here

"Stupid is as stupid does"

Mike

Years ago, I worked for a fellow in Houston who had a story about a man and his son and a tree they had to bring down. After some discussion, they decided the quickest way to bring the tree down was to tie a rope from the tree to their pickup truck and drive the truck forward. Earl, the son was driving the truck and, with his daddy continuing to urge him on by shouting "pull it Earl!", finally managed to bring the tree down, right across the cab of the truck where it killed him. After hearing the story a couple of times, my co-workers and I all started saying "pull it Earl" when someone would come up with a genuinely stupid idea.

I haven't used this saying for many years, but it does seem to apply in this instance so, "pull it Earl".

Curt