A loooong time ago there was an editorial in a newspaper where the editor praised the new-fangled "Automobile" because once they were in general use there would be no more drunken cowboys riding their horses up and down the street injuring people.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
CSSHEGEWISCH The GPS screen is quite a distraction in its own right and people will trust it implicitly rather than actually SEE where they are.
Just another step toward driverless cars. People are turning into robots. Sometime ago we had a discussion about driverless cars and trucks, and I argued against them. Now I'm beginning to think they could only be an improvement.
And I second your answer to MC's question.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
I will go with Door #3. The GPS screen is quite a distraction in its own right and people will trust it implicitly rather than actually SEE where they are.
What usually causes rejection here is usually not the revs (too many or too few = gap grading or separation), it's how many extra gallons of water are shot to the mix at delivery (and the resulting headches from that with slump, spalling and fines that the finisher wants to cheat with or fool the pump truck with.)
Latest bets here have to do with a wrong-way head-on crash on the Interstate freeway nearly just outside my window resulting in a fatality. Was it: (1) Wacky Weed (with extra credit if it was a DPS or APS student) or was it (2) somebody that was too old to drive (extra credit if the DMV screening failed)or was it (3) an i-zombie with outdated GPS data
5 lane freeway was a parking lot for hours.
BaltACD Paul_D_North_Jr Here in Pennsylvania, for PennDOT projects, after arrival but before discharge the barrel of the truck is required to turn 30 revolutions at a rate of from 6 to 10 rpm to ensure thorough mixing. While in transit a rate of around 3 rpm is typical. The concrete mix must be discharged before a total of 300 revs have occurred. - PDN. Is that 300 revs from the time of loading or 300 revs from the time of arrival at the discharge site? From my observations of some of the Penn Dot projects I am surprised they can count to 300.
Paul_D_North_Jr Here in Pennsylvania, for PennDOT projects, after arrival but before discharge the barrel of the truck is required to turn 30 revolutions at a rate of from 6 to 10 rpm to ensure thorough mixing. While in transit a rate of around 3 rpm is typical. The concrete mix must be discharged before a total of 300 revs have occurred. - PDN.
- PDN.
Is that 300 revs from the time of loading or 300 revs from the time of arrival at the discharge site? From my observations of some of the Penn Dot projects I am surprised they can count to 300.
NTSB review of cab video shows truck entered crossing with gates down.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/truck-tracks-despite-gates-struck-amtrak-train-u-180358965.html
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
300 revs from the time of loading.
FOrtunately, there's a mechanical counter on the truck - which sometimes malfunctions, or the driver forgets to reset it after the previous load, or resets it while in transit after leaving the plant (you can't fix stupid . . . ). After a few loads have arrived with correct counters, you can usually figure out about how many revs have occurred on averatge by the time the truck gets to the job site, and then go from there. I've never had one of those ever get anywhere close to 300 - as I recall, 220 or so was the highest count of estimated revs while in transit plus actual revs while at the site.
ccltrains Thinking back in history I had a personal encounter with a VIP train. I was working at Point Concieption California and was driving to a general store to get lunch. Had to cross the Southern Pacific coast line and when approaching the crossing I had to stop for a Fairmont Speeder. It was loaded with people who were inspecting the track in great detail. After picking up my lunch I was stopped at the rail crossing for a passenger train. On the open end vestible of the last car was Nikita Kruschev. We waved to each other.
Thinking back in history I had a personal encounter with a VIP train. I was working at Point Concieption California and was driving to a general store to get lunch. Had to cross the Southern Pacific coast line and when approaching the crossing I had to stop for a Fairmont Speeder. It was loaded with people who were inspecting the track in great detail. After picking up my lunch I was stopped at the rail crossing for a passenger train. On the open end vestible of the last car was Nikita Kruschev. We waved to each other.
Khrushchev on SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvZ4fMlFU5g&t=22m10s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNE2JXL3-nY&t=28m9s
and earlier on PRR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvZ4fMlFU5g&t=13m51s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNE2JXL3-nY&t=14m25s
Paul_D_North_JrHere in Pennsylvania, for PennDOT projects, after arrival but before discharge the barrel of the truck is required to turn 30 revolutions at a rate of from 6 to 10 rpm to ensure thorough mixing. While in transit a rate of around 3 rpm is typical. The concrete mix must be discharged before a total of 300 revs have occurred. - PDN.
Here in Pennsylvania, for PennDOT projects, after arrival but before discharge the barrel of the truck is required to turn 30 revolutions at a rate of from 6 to 10 rpm to ensure thorough mixing. While in transit a rate of around 3 rpm is typical. The concrete mix must be discharged before a total of 300 revs have occurred.
switch7frgTo get concrete add sand ,gravel and water. [and] put in a "mixer truck"== hence a ready mix truck.
Yeah, but if you want to be that pedantic, a 'cement mixer' mixes the cement with the water and aggregate -- what comes out of it hardens into concrete...
... and a ready-mix truck doesn't combine the ingredients; that's done under process control in the plant that filled the truck. All the rotating drum does is keep the concrete from segregating while it is in transport and before it starts to chemically set. Hence the name: the 'mix' is 'ready to pour' as dispensed from the turning drum into chutes or Schwing pumps or whatever.
There is a difference there, (ie)cement is just powder. To get concrete add sand ,gravel and water. is put in a "mixer truck"== hence a ready mix truck. That garbage truck almost looks like a mixer truck.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
mudchicken . . . The "gates not working" is a common cop-out after an incident. Generally proven to be a false statement after investigation and the newsworkers rarely follow up with this, they've already moved on.
NP EddieALL: The reference to the emergency notification signs is 49CFR Subpart "E"Section 234.301 and 303 (correct me if I am wrong). Many people, including myself, see the same things each day and thus become oblivious to their surroundings. In listing to Anoka County, MN Central Communications police calls, many people just call 911 to report a crossing issue. I would call 1 800 832 5452 (BNSF) or the Minnesota Commercial telephone number for crossing malfunctions. As indicated on a prior post, the Emergency Notification Sign is on the crossbuck. Ed Burns
The reference to the emergency notification signs is 49CFR Subpart "E"Section 234.301 and 303 (correct me if I am wrong). Many people, including myself, see the same things each day and thus become oblivious to their surroundings. In listing to Anoka County, MN Central Communications police calls, many people just call 911 to report a crossing issue. I would call 1 800 832 5452 (BNSF) or the Minnesota Commercial telephone number for crossing malfunctions. As indicated on a prior post, the Emergency Notification Sign is on the crossbuck.
Ed Burns
Local 911 Centers all have the appropriate railroad's Emergency number that is listed on the DOT ID# plates - and they do know how to contact the railroads.
ALL:
zugmannUsually when a train is working an industry next to a crossing. Oh well, better safe than sorry.
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ruderunner Overmod A particularly alarming thing to me is the type of vehicle involved, which can easily be converted into a substantial IED by loading premade devices resembling 'garbage' items without much suspicion; this might be done unwittingly by a legitimate crew on a particular day, and the vehicle then hijacked close in space and time to the target crossing and detonated remotely. It might be interesting to consider the blast radius of a substantial amount of boosted ANFO surrounded by general metallic junk in one of these reinforced truck bodies. If anyone is interested in what Overmod is taking about, Google Myth busters cement truck...
Overmod A particularly alarming thing to me is the type of vehicle involved, which can easily be converted into a substantial IED by loading premade devices resembling 'garbage' items without much suspicion; this might be done unwittingly by a legitimate crew on a particular day, and the vehicle then hijacked close in space and time to the target crossing and detonated remotely. It might be interesting to consider the blast radius of a substantial amount of boosted ANFO surrounded by general metallic junk in one of these reinforced truck bodies.
A particularly alarming thing to me is the type of vehicle involved, which can easily be converted into a substantial IED by loading premade devices resembling 'garbage' items without much suspicion; this might be done unwittingly by a legitimate crew on a particular day, and the vehicle then hijacked close in space and time to the target crossing and detonated remotely. It might be interesting to consider the blast radius of a substantial amount of boosted ANFO surrounded by general metallic junk in one of these reinforced truck bodies.
If anyone is interested in what Overmod is taking about, Google Myth busters cement truck...
It was the highlight of the penultimate episode of the series (the very last one was a restropective with the cast members). The video was done with a very high speed camera and the expanding spherical shock wave was clearly visible. I wouldn't want to be closer than a half mile from that blast unless it was in a properly designed bunker.
One of the more interesting secure movements I observed was when driving down I-15 a while back. Came across a Suburban with a lot of antennas mounted on it (several HF), then a very plain white truck a half mile in front and another Suburban festooned with antennas. Presumably the truck was on its way to one of the Navy bases in San Diego.
tree68 BigJim I can't speak for the Buckingham Branch RR that leases this track from CSX, but, I do know that on the NS there is a placard mounted on the crossing gate pole that has an 800 phone number to call if there are any problems with the gate or a vehicle gets stuck on the track. I believe that was a mandate. We even have them on some of our trail crossings - no vehicles at all. And, I believe they all have to be blue, with the same format.
BigJim I can't speak for the Buckingham Branch RR that leases this track from CSX, but, I do know that on the NS there is a placard mounted on the crossing gate pole that has an 800 phone number to call if there are any problems with the gate or a vehicle gets stuck on the track.
I believe that was a mandate. We even have them on some of our trail crossings - no vehicles at all. And, I believe they all have to be blue, with the same format.
The "gates not working" is a common cop-out after an incident. Generally proven to be a false statement after investigation and the newsworkers rarely follow up with this, they've already moved on.
BigJimYou would be surprised at how many people did while I was working!
Usually when a train is working an industry next to a crossing. Oh well, better safe than sorry.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
EuclidI doubt that the general public is very likely to take on the responsibility of calling...
I doubt that the general public is very likely to take on the responsibility of calling about a malfunction of the signals based on that tiny sign. They would probably just call the police. I wonder if the reported malfunction in this case was a false activation or a failure to activate. Prolonged false activation can get people used to the idea that they may go around the lowered gates if no train is approaching.
tree68And, I believe they all have to be blue, with the same format.
BigJimI can't speak for the Buckingham Branch RR that leases this track from CSX, but, I do know that on the NS there is a placard mounted on the crossing gate pole that has an 800 phone number to call if there are any problems with the gate or a vehicle gets stuck on the track.
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...
Do you think AMTK No. 4 and 145 will be scrapped?
tree68One source said a congressman was doing CPR on the conductor. I'm presuming they meant engineer, but the only fatality reported was in the truck.
Local news reported that there were a number of congressmen on board that were doctors and tried to save the life of the garbage worker on the truck. There were also people that lived in the area that came to help, one even taking off some of his clothing to keep injured warm.
Later newspaper reports have mentioned neighbors saying that the gates had malfunctioned the day before the accident. One lady stated that no one knew who to call about the malfunction.
I can't speak for the Buckingham Branch RR that leases this track from CSX, but, I do know that on the NS there is a placard mounted on the crossing gate pole that has an 800 phone number to call if there are any problems with the gate or a vehicle gets stuck on the track. My big bone of contention is that this fact is not known the the general public. The RR's don't advertise it and the news media have no idea it's there, even though I have reported it to a local news channel several years ago. A public service announcment needs to be made addressing this issue.
Overmod SAMUEL C WALKER Any person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement? A particularly alarming thing to me is the type of vehicle involved, which can easily be converted into a substantial IED by loading premade devices resembling 'garbage' items without much suspicion; this might be done unwittingly by a legitimate crew on a particular day, and the vehicle then hijacked close in space and time to the target crossing and detonated remotely. It might be interesting to consider the blast radius of a substantial amount of boosted ANFO surrounded by general metallic junk in one of these reinforced truck bodies. The fact of the collision speaks adequately to any professionalism in surveillance or law-enforcement supervision. Compare what was done on special 'express' runs back around the turn of the 20th Century, with appropriate personnel watching each switch or crossing for potential intrusion. It would be unfair to use only 'local' law enforcement for this purpose; you wouldn't do this with the number of separate police cruisers and teams corresponding to all the road crossings, but you'd want some sort of personnel, perhaps Secret Service people or FBI agents, with radios and cameras at every one close to and during train time. And yes, I would arm them, and yes, with fairly substantial weapons capability, but concealed from the public.
SAMUEL C WALKER Any person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement?
The fact of the collision speaks adequately to any professionalism in surveillance or law-enforcement supervision. Compare what was done on special 'express' runs back around the turn of the 20th Century, with appropriate personnel watching each switch or crossing for potential intrusion. It would be unfair to use only 'local' law enforcement for this purpose; you wouldn't do this with the number of separate police cruisers and teams corresponding to all the road crossings, but you'd want some sort of personnel, perhaps Secret Service people or FBI agents, with radios and cameras at every one close to and during train time.
And yes, I would arm them, and yes, with fairly substantial weapons capability, but concealed from the public.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
Recall, too, the recent incident where a bulldozer was parked on the tracks, far from the nearest crossing.
As Sam notes: Where there's a will, there's a way.
That said, I suspect that in the end we'll find that this was just another grade crossing incident. I don't know what time the scheduled Amtrak trains pass through there, but this train was likely "off cycle," meaning that the driver wasn't alarmed because he thought it was "just another slow moving freight."
AFAIK, We haven't heard if the truck was stuck, or entered the crossing after the signals activated.
SAMUEL C WALKERAny person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement?
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