Safety idea

ebackhus · 01-09-2009, 12:42 PM

I'm watching Discovery Science and they're showing a program about trains. In this episode a train wreck in Germany was responsible for killing over 100 passengers. During the CGI remake it was said that the first two cars made it past the derailment but the remaining cars were pushed into the bridge that was collapsed by a derailed car by an engine at the back. Why not just make that last engine go full reverse when a derailment is detected?

**40sondacurb** · 01-09-2009, 01:56 PM

What's the difference between that and just putting the breaks on all the cars?

**SABL** · 01-09-2009, 02:11 PM

You have great taste in programming!!

I think most railcars do have brakes..... but with steel on steel were not talking much friction. Depending on speed, it can take miles to get a train to a complete halt. The rear engine going in reverse would have little effect on the outcome unless the unit had the mass and power to counteract any forces already in place.

ebackhus · 01-10-2009, 11:47 AM

Just add emergency retro thrust jets. :) Everything is better with jet engines.

DonaldG · 01-10-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebackhus

Just add emergency retro thrust jets. :) Everything is better with jet engines.

They tried putting retro rockets on a Hercules that was going to rescue some hostages in the desert. The idea was that as soon as the wheels hit the ground, rockets fired as massive breaking system.

On the first and only trial, it was 100% successful. The aircraft came to a a halt in about 50 feet. The problem was, the pilot hit the 'stop' button too soon and fired the rockets while it was still about 50 feet up in the air...

Perhaps one of you 'You Tube'ers can find the film of it... It is a real Opppppps moment.

**40sondacurb** · 01-10-2009, 08:00 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiLAzyIo7

won't it need a lot of space to take off again anyways?

DonaldG · 01-11-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40sondacurb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiLAzyIo7

won't it need a lot of space to take off again anyways?

"The URL contained a malformed video ID."

**40sondacurb** · 01-11-2009, 08:56 AM

That's a first. search Hercules + retro jets

DonaldG · 01-11-2009, 11:08 AM

You left the M off the end of the link - This is the one I was refering to...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiLAzyIo7M

01-09-2009, 12:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,249 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Safety idea I'm watching Discovery Science and they're showing a program about trains. In this episode a train wreck in Germany was responsible for killing over 100 passengers. During the CGI remake it was said that the first two cars made it past the derailment but the remaining cars were pushed into the bridge that was collapsed by a derailed car by an engine at the back. Why not just make that last engine go full reverse when a derailment is detected? __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

01-09-2009, 01:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	Re: Safety idea What's the difference between that and just putting the breaks on all the cars? __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

01-09-2009, 02:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
SABL Moderator Relaxation Room Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Galena, Ohio Posts: 1,205 OS: WinXP SP3	Re: Safety idea You have great taste in programming!! I think most railcars do have brakes..... but with steel on steel were not talking much friction. Depending on speed, it can take miles to get a train to a complete halt. The rear engine going in reverse would have little effect on the outcome unless the unit had the mass and power to counteract any forces already in place.

01-10-2009, 11:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,249 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Safety idea Just add emergency retro thrust jets. :) Everything is better with jet engines. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

01-10-2009, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	Re: Safety idea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiLAzyIo7 won't it need a lot of space to take off again anyways? __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

01-11-2009, 08:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	Re: Safety idea That's a first. search Hercules + retro jets __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

01-11-2009, 11:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
DonaldG Manager Home Support, Assistant Manager Articles Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somerset, UK Posts: 10,164 OS: XPsp2 Laptop & Vista Ultimate Desktop My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Safety idea You left the M off the end of the link - This is the one I was refering to... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiLAzyIo7M __________________ . Lest we forget... "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." Submit New Articles Here TSF's Photographer's Corner .