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Swedes buying a Moose Catcher for trains?

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Swedes buying a Moose Catcher for trains?
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 12, 2004 1:19 PM
From UTU site

Train nose-cone to deflect moose
SOMERSET, U.K. -- A Somerset engineering firm has developed a moose-proof device to help a Swedi***rain company keep its trains running to time, according to the BBC.
W and J Tods of Crewkerne designed the detachable nose-cone protector to fit on to the front of trains.

It acts as an impact-absorber, repelling the moose without injuring them while keeping passengers safe.

Every year engines on the Arlanda Express Airport rail link in Stockholm go out of service after hitting moose.

Tom Hitchings, Director of Tods Mass Transit Business, said: "In the event of one of these animals -- which can weigh up to 1.5 tons -- being hit at speeds of 125 mph, the impact is absorbed and deflected and a major catastrophe is avoided."

A contract for 20 of the nose cones has been secured.

(This item appeared on the BBC website Aug. 12, 2004.)

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, August 12, 2004 2:15 PM
I love it!

Mook

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, August 12, 2004 2:33 PM
Bounce a moose, uninjured, at 100+? That's techology!

LarryWhistling
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Posted by joseph2 on Thursday, August 12, 2004 2:53 PM
Depending on which end of the moose gets hit,the nose cone could be called a moose gooser.
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Posted by choochin3 on Thursday, August 12, 2004 4:46 PM
[(-D][#oops]
I'm out Choochin!
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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, August 12, 2004 8:37 PM
Alaska Railroad ought to investigate! or at least watch.
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Thursday, August 12, 2004 8:55 PM
I just hope the moose don't get used to the friendly trains. They'll start to gather and use it as a thrill ride.

Perhaps if this doesn't work they will resort to a less humane solution. Placing a large pointed rod on the front of the train would be very effective, and would thin the herd in the process.

Moose kabobs are now being served in the dining car.[:O][:P][dinner][:-,][(-D][:D][;)]
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Posted by athelney on Thursday, August 12, 2004 11:13 PM
Maybe CN should invest in a few for the northern routes the've just inherited from BC Rail !!!!
Thinks !! Never seen any moose last time I was in Crewkerne !!!
2860 Restoration Crew
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Posted by dknelson on Friday, August 13, 2004 8:21 AM
Reminds me of one of Mark Twain's tall tales ... about the train that was so slow that he suggested to the conductor that they should take the cow catcher from the front of the locomotive and put it on the back of the last car, because at the speed they were going "we aren;t going to catch many cows ... but there is nothing to prevent from from climbing onboard at the back door."
Dave Nelson
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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, August 13, 2004 1:28 PM
Build a better Moose-trap and the world will beat a path to your door.[:D]
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Posted by Mookie on Friday, August 13, 2004 1:55 PM
[tdn]

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Friday, August 13, 2004 2:21 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

[tdn]


[%-)]
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Posted by Mookie on Friday, August 13, 2004 2:23 PM
ok - maybe Groan would be better?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Modelcar on Friday, August 13, 2004 4:24 PM
....Yea, 1.5 tons @ 125 mph.......We need some of those engineers to stop by here if we're making stuff to go to Mars....

Quentin

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Posted by vsmith on Friday, August 13, 2004 4:40 PM
What! No pictures? How am I going to model this?

What are they gonna call this new invention?

Deflecta-Moose

Lose-A-Moose

No-Moose-Caboose

The Moose-cone

The Moose-cavator

The Mooscoop

The Moosinator

The Moose-capult

Swat-a-Moose!

The Jimmy Durante Memorial Express

or my favorate..

Moose-B-Gone !!!

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 13, 2004 7:26 PM
vsmith--

[(-D][(-D][(-D][bow][bow][bow][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[tup][tup]
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Posted by morseman on Friday, August 13, 2004 7:38 PM
in the rr hobby store the other day a CN engineer was discussing the problem they have with moose on the tracks. In the winter the snow is very deep so the moose use the roadbed for their highway., and with a train coming they can't out run it. One engineer started to blow the horn and the moose turned around and charged into the engine causing serious damage to the engine. Engineers are told not to blow the horn but just keep going. Several years ago when traveling on the Canadian, a conductor told me that if they hit a moose in the Rockies they hose down the front of the engine at New Westminster before coming into Vancouver as it's a pretty gruesome sight for passengers to see all the blood and gore. In Newfoundland the transport trucks have a heavy steel grill installed in front of their radiators to protect the trucks. those who have these grills get a reduction on their insurance.
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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, August 13, 2004 7:55 PM
What would Rocket J. Squirrel and Boris Badinov have to say about this?
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 13, 2004 11:18 PM
Ooh, Natasha!

Boris, dahling.

We tell Fearless Leader. Mebbe he give us orders to take moose and squirrel for little train ride.

No, Boris dahling. Everyone know moose and squirrel already trained.

Natasha, you idiot. Not THAT kind of training......

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