Brings new meaning to the term 'barreling along'. Talk about tense moments for the crew, that M-109 Paladin ain't no parade float!
The driver was still spinning his tires at time of impact.
As far as I gather, no serious injuries. This appears to be the Liberty Hall Rd. crossing at North Goose Creek Blvd. in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
33.00114789698812, -80.03805522213733
https://maps.app.goo.gl/suy75dJk1iTJPAtYA
Cheers, Ed
If anything can be considered fortunate in the incident, the 5th Wheel area was nearest the track centerline and thus the load and the truck pivoted with the impact rather the the armored vehicle being impacted in its mid-line area.
I have no idea what kind of 'guidence system' the truck driver was using, although I feel certain he was using one. GPS systems for TRUCKS need to have much more data included - height and width restriction, weight restrictions, high center railroad crossings and probably other things I can't think of at present. Normal automotive GPS address none of the issues I have mentioned.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Yikes! As tough as those things are after viewing the videos I wouldn't be surprised if that M-109 Self Propelled Gun is a write-off.
SPG's may look like tanks but they ain't tanks.
Just my opinion - these incidents are in no small part the fault of the railroad.
I'd opine that in most cases, the crossing was once a level crossing - no hump at all. Railroads tend to dump more ballast from time to time, raising the level of the tracks, as opposed to removing some of the ballast. So you end up with the hump.
Of course, there are numerous factors involved, local topography, etc.
And that doesn't excuse the driver, GPS stuff, etc, from placing the truck in that situation.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68Just my opinion - these incidents are in no small part the fault of the railroad. I'd opine that in most cases, the crossing was once a level crossing - no hump at all. Railroads tend to dump more ballast from time to time, raising the level of the tracks, as opposed to removing some of the ballast. So you end up with the hump. Of course, there are numerous factors involved, local topography, etc. And that doesn't excuse the driver, GPS stuff, etc, from placing the truck in that situation.
Ever since railroads started using ballast - the track structure is built higher than the surrounding area. Track structure requires good drainage - drainage follows the rules of gravity and water flows from a higher area to a lower area. In open ground there is drainage to both sides of the track structure - it gets more difficult when getting into a built up areas.
In my little town of Sykeville the Old Main Line crosses Main Street at grade just to the East of the station. The track makes a curve following the Patapsco River past the station and over the road and continues further East until the river makes another turn. The track structure around the curve is superelevated with the North rail higher than the South rail - track speed through the curve is 25 MPH.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/sykesville,+md/@39.36398781,-76.96890933,117.88544177a,0d,60y,301.04341024h,75.20543419t,0r/data=CiwiJgokCcb6RRWs4zNAEcb6RRWs4zPAGc6qhtd_LGBAIc6qhtd_LGDAQgIIASIaChZuMkpoM2ZDYUJnOTA2cU5XeVBUbExnEAI6AwoBMA
BaltACD If anything can be considered fortunate in the incident, the 5th Wheel area was nearest the track centerline and thus the load and the truck pivoted with the impact rather the the armored vehicle being impacted in its mid-line area. I have no idea what kind of 'guidence system' the truck driver was using, although I feel certain he was using one. GPS systems for TRUCKS need to have much more data included - height and width restriction, weight restrictions, high center railroad crossings and probably other things I can't think of at present. Normal automotive GPS address none of the issues I have mentioned.
There is a strip mall near where I used to work with one entrance with signage warning about the high breakover angle and it seeemed like every other month a truck would get stuck on it. There was another entrance that was designed for trucks. The Leucadia crossing of the Surf Line was another point where trucks would get stuck despite the signage warning about the high breakover angle.
I'm wondering if a 1 to 3 month suspension of the driver's CDL for getting stuck would help the drivers pay attention to the signage. There's also the question of GPS displays and whether the responsible governments are keeping the GPS mfrs up to date on road conditions.
Obviously Truck Driver lose their ability to read warning signs once they get behind the wheel.
https://youtu.be/PFl9X0g_WyE
Pretty impressive in that the driver ignored signs and several signals including a red light.
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