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another grade crossing vs Amtrak

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
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another grade crossing vs Amtrak
Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 3:33 AM

coast Starlight nails SUV pulling trailer that hung up on grade crossing south of San Jose.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Amtrak-Train-Strikes-Truck-in-San-Jose-142392485.html 

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  • From: US
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Posted by PNWRMNM on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 6:24 AM

Streak,

The article says vehicle was a tractor trailer and has no mention of vehicle being hung up. Are you trying out for a job in the mainstream media?

Mac

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 7:08 AM

PNWRMNM

Streak,

The article says vehicle was a tractor trailer and has no mention of vehicle being hung up. Are you trying out for a job in the mainstream media?

Mac

NO MAC I do check my facts.  My original post pictures was used since it had more pictures. This article and another shows it an Izzu pulling a trailer that hung up on the track.  

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/amtrak-train-collides-suv-launching-vehicle-200-fe/nLRMq/

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  • From: US
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Posted by PNWRMNM on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 7:42 AM

Streak,

Oh, It was the mainstream media that doesn't know a tractro trailer rig from an SUV and a trailer. That explains it. Photos in second article do not look like an 18 wheeler to me.

Mac

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
another grade crossing vs Amtrak
Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 10:27 AM

MAC:  It is amazing how our media completely blows it. The footage clearly shows Isuzu in 2 photos. Tried to send a comment to the TV station for it to check its facts but would not take. And that was clearly a car not TT.

Now for some speculation:  The 2 dual tire wheels shown do not appear ro have come from the Isuzu but the trailer. I could not find a picture of another axel from trailer. The debri especially on the front of P-42 #20 appears to be from a pre fab building.  Have seen these buildings on trailers behind a pick up.  The buildings around here are usually a fiber optic relay station.

The driver instead of backing up probably tried to power over the tracks (bad idea) further hanging the trailer up. The trailers I have seen are low clearance anyway ( 12 - 15" ) and the hitch to trailer axel distance is long. A set up to hang up on reaised track.

Another possibility is that hitch to trailer axel distance short and the rear of trailer dragged stopping Isuzu on tracks in fact that has a higher probability ??? Picture of road approach showing drag marks would confirm.

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  • From: US
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Posted by PNWRMNM on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 11:21 AM

Streak,

I generally agree but having looked at the raw video there are two dual tire axles that I think are from the trailer. One is near the SUV, the other is on the opposite side of the track near the private crossing where the Ax took place.

A few seconds of video seemed to show a trailer court across the tracks from the highway. That and the lack of "stuff" indicates to me that it was a travel trailer, but the tires and axles are heavier than what I would expect for a travel trailer.

My guess is that the slope coming in from the highway is relatively gentle, as shown in the video. Coming out, the road starts at a lower elevation, is probably steeper up the slope, and the grade change at the top is probably much more abrupt. That is probably what got them. Backing off should have worked, but who knows?

Mac

Mac

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