WhyNot?

Car Versus Train

Category: New Safety Features
Responses: 2 (1 in support, 0 neutral, 1 in opposition)
Number of views: 1549
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Not very appealing. My suggestion is for a new train car that goes in front of the main engine (lead engine) and it is a ramp of sorts to where if a vehicle is on the tracks, this sled the size of a railcar with ramp would bring the vehicle into it. (Link to sketches at bottom of comment.) There the vehicle is met with a series of 7 air bag type systems, which steadily increase in density up to the engines front tip. The air bags would be different styles as well, including thick foam like they use for pole vauting first, then maybe water barrels like they use near bridge embankments, etc. The goal would be to scoop the vehicle up and stop it within the first car with the least amount of trauma possible. Obviously no one intends to get hit by a train, but it happens a lot so even though it would seem like "just stay off the tracks" would work, somewhat frequently it occurs and the results are usually tragic.

A web page with sketches and details is setup on my site at this link:

http://www.sshep.com/train.htm

SteeleS, Jun 27 2005

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Recently a SUV left on the tracks in California (Glendale I believe) by a man who may have been suicidal caused the derailment of a train and its crash into another train. This idea has gone from just a safety device to protect drivers, to a device that could prevent a terrorist from derailing a train. In this tragic event in California, 11 were killed and over 140 were injured. Additional research indicates this may be the 3rd event where a common vehicle derailed a train. Links to this information is provided on the web page I have setup for review. SS

SteeleS, Jul 28 2005