±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 590
Total: 590
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Photo Gallery
06: Community Forums
07: Home
08: Community Forums
09: Your Account
10: Photo Gallery
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Member Screenshots
14: Community Forums
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Member Screenshots
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Community Forums
28: Photo Gallery
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Home
35: Member Screenshots
36: Photo Gallery
37: Your Account
38: Home
39: Photo Gallery
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Photo Gallery
44: Community Forums
45: Downloads
46: News Archive
47: Downloads
48: Community Forums
49: Community Forums
50: Member Screenshots
51: Community Forums
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Member Screenshots
56: Photo Gallery
57: Community Forums
58: Member Screenshots
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Community Forums
62: Photo Gallery
63: Community Forums
64: Photo Gallery
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: Community Forums
72: News Archive
73: Home
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Member Screenshots
78: Photo Gallery
79: Photo Gallery
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Home
87: Your Account
88: Home
89: Community Forums
90: Photo Gallery
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Member Screenshots
94: Community Forums
95: Downloads
96: Photo Gallery
97: Home
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Photo Gallery
101: Community Forums
102: News Archive
103: Home
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Home
108: Photo Gallery
109: Member Screenshots
110: Home
111: Photo Gallery
112: Community Forums
113: Photo Gallery
114: Community Forums
115: Home
116: Member Screenshots
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Home
121: Photo Gallery
122: Home
123: Community Forums
124: Community Forums
125: Home
126: Photo Gallery
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Photo Gallery
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: News
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Home
139: Photo Gallery
140: Home
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: News
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Statistics
149: Community Forums
150: Member Screenshots
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Downloads
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Home
160: Photo Gallery
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Your Account
166: Home
167: Community Forums
168: Downloads
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Home
172: Photo Gallery
173: News Archive
174: Downloads
175: Community Forums
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Your Account
180: Community Forums
181: Photo Gallery
182: Member Screenshots
183: Community Forums
184: Photo Gallery
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Home
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Photo Gallery
194: News Archive
195: Downloads
196: Home
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Downloads
202: Photo Gallery
203: News Archive
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Home
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Home
212: Community Forums
213: Downloads
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Photo Gallery
217: Home
218: Photo Gallery
219: Member Screenshots
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Photo Gallery
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Community Forums
230: Photo Gallery
231: Member Screenshots
232: Community Forums
233: Home
234: Member Screenshots
235: Home
236: Community Forums
237: Home
238: Community Forums
239: Downloads
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Photo Gallery
243: Community Forums
244: Member Screenshots
245: Member Screenshots
246: Community Forums
247: Member Screenshots
248: Member Screenshots
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Home
253: Community Forums
254: Home
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Member Screenshots
264: Downloads
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: Photo Gallery
268: Community Forums
269: News Archive
270: News Archive
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Home
274: Home
275: Your Account
276: Home
277: Community Forums
278: Downloads
279: Member Screenshots
280: News Archive
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Home
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Community Forums
294: Community Forums
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: Member Screenshots
298: Member Screenshots
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: Member Screenshots
302: Photo Gallery
303: Community Forums
304: Photo Gallery
305: Photo Gallery
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Member Screenshots
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Downloads
315: Community Forums
316: Home
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Home
321: Photo Gallery
322: Community Forums
323: News
324: News Archive
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Home
329: Photo Gallery
330: Home
331: Photo Gallery
332: Downloads
333: Community Forums
334: Photo Gallery
335: Downloads
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Home
339: Community Forums
340: Downloads
341: Community Forums
342: Home
343: Home
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Member Screenshots
348: Community Forums
349: News
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Photo Gallery
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: News Archive
356: Photo Gallery
357: Downloads
358: Home
359: Home
360: Community Forums
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Your Account
365: Member Screenshots
366: Community Forums
367: Photo Gallery
368: Community Forums
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Photo Gallery
374: Home
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Home
379: Community Forums
380: Home
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Home
384: Photo Gallery
385: Community Forums
386: Photo Gallery
387: Home
388: Community Forums
389: Home
390: Community Forums
391: Photo Gallery
392: Photo Gallery
393: Home
394: Photo Gallery
395: News
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Downloads
399: Community Forums
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Community Forums
404: Community Forums
405: Photo Gallery
406: Home
407: Home
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Photo Gallery
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Home
417: Community Forums
418: Home
419: Your Account
420: Community Forums
421: Member Screenshots
422: Community Forums
423: Home
424: Member Screenshots
425: Home
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Downloads
429: Community Forums
430: Photo Gallery
431: Downloads
432: Photo Gallery
433: Member Screenshots
434: Downloads
435: Photo Gallery
436: Home
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Community Forums
440: Home
441: Home
442: Member Screenshots
443: Photo Gallery
444: Photo Gallery
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Community Forums
448: Community Forums
449: Home
450: Photo Gallery
451: Community Forums
452: Your Account
453: Home
454: Community Forums
455: Downloads
456: Community Forums
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Photo Gallery
461: Community Forums
462: Downloads
463: Home
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Home
471: Community Forums
472: Home
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Community Forums
476: Community Forums
477: Home
478: Community Forums
479: Community Forums
480: Home
481: Community Forums
482: Home
483: Photo Gallery
484: Community Forums
485: Home
486: Community Forums
487: Photo Gallery
488: News Archive
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Member Screenshots
492: Member Screenshots
493: Downloads
494: Community Forums
495: News Archive
496: Downloads
497: Community Forums
498: Photo Gallery
499: Home
500: Photo Gallery
501: News
502: Photo Gallery
503: Home
504: Home
505: Community Forums
506: Supporters
507: Home
508: Member Screenshots
509: Home
510: Statistics
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Home
514: Community Forums
515: Home
516: Community Forums
517: Home
518: Photo Gallery
519: Home
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Photo Gallery
523: Community Forums
524: Photo Gallery
525: Downloads
526: Member Screenshots
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Photo Gallery
538: Community Forums
539: Member Screenshots
540: News
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Photo Gallery
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Community Forums
547: Photo Gallery
548: Community Forums
549: Photo Gallery
550: Community Forums
551: Member Screenshots
552: Home
553: Home
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Home
557: Community Forums
558: Community Forums
559: Downloads
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Community Forums
565: Community Forums
566: Home
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Community Forums
572: Home
573: Downloads
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Photo Gallery
578: News Archive
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Photo Gallery
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Community Forums
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:18 pm
Post subject: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Hi Guys-
Just when you thought I could not think of another railway question, yet another comes to my pointy little noodle! I've been studying all the photos I can find of freight on flatcars and, I cannot see what holds said freight in place. If the freight is vehicles, I can see blocks/chocks placed front and back of the tires, what is holding them (block/chocks) in place? On some, not all, flat bed trucks, I can see tie down rings and places to drop a peg to stop a block from slipping. I dont see anything like this on any railway flatcars. On the sides of the Dragon flatcars are rings which, obviously, are meant to serve as tie down points for frieght although, these would not help to hold wheel blocks/chocks. I mean to say, the railway flatbed is featureless so, if you put a block in front of a vehicle's wheel, what is there (on the flatbed) to keep the block from sliding?
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/) Rolling Eyes
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:30 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

- geoffsteer
Hi Guys-
Just when you thought I could not think of another railway question, yet another comes to my pointy little noodle! I've been studying all the photos I can find of freight on flatcars and, I cannot see what holds said freight in place. If the freight is vehicles, I can see blocks/chocks placed front and back of the tires, what is holding them (block/chocks) in place? On some, not all, flat bed trucks, I can see tie down rings and places to drop a peg to stop a block from slipping. I dont see anything like this on any railway flatcars. On the sides of the Dragon flatcars are rings which, obviously, are meant to serve as tie down points for frieght although, these would not help to hold wheel blocks/chocks. I mean to say, the railway flatbed is featureless so, if you put a block in front of a vehicle's wheel, what is there (on the flatbed) to keep the block from sliding?
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/) roll
It probably varies from country to country based on local custom. In The US on some older flat cars they would nail the blocks into the wood deck

_________________
Bob Smart (bsmart@xecu.net)
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:30 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

They are could be nailed into the flatcar, or the weight of the vehicle applies pressure. Chains can be applied to the tow hooks or around axles and then ratched down, to keep the vehicle from shifting.

HTH
Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:35 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Depends on who you are talking about.

In the US, railroad rules require chains fore and aft. Depending on the type of flatcar and what you are loading on it (wheel or track, etc.), it may also require chocks and bracing. The chocks and bracing are normally nailed to the car decking using long spikes. The rules are fairly strict, and we always wondered if the railcars were actually going to be upside down at some point.

In Europe, they don't always require chains to secure the load. This may have something to do with the generally smoother roadbeds on Euro railways, and may also reflect the generally shorter distances for rail movements in Europe. I believe that the distance of the move can come into play; i.e., shorter moves require less extensive tiedown or blocking. Perhaps some of the folks here have experience with military rail movements in Europe and can comment further.

I recall reading that German armor was only secured by chocks fore and aft, during WWII. I'm less sure, but I believe that still holds true.

C

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:39 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?Thanks Guys.

Hi Don & Bob-
Nailed down? I must admit, I never thought of that, probably to simple and obvious. On the one hand, nailing down the blocks would cause wear and tear on the flatbed's wooden floor. On the other hand, it would not cause sufficient wear and tear to force the replacement of the wooden floor on anything like a frequent amount of occasions. Actually, being able to nail down blocks is most likely the reason for the flatbed having a wooden floor in the first place.
Thanks for your help, Don and Bob-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
L.Delsing
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 960

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:14 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

For Leopards and YPR-765's you need a total of 8 chocks / blocks. Two in front of the track, two at the back against the track and and then 4 chocks / blocks to prevent sideways sliding. These will be placed at the inside of the track under the first and last roadwheels. So it can not move forwards, backwards or sidewards.

These last mentioned chocks / blocks are hanging at the back of the turret of the Leopard 2A5/A6.

Correct placement of these things is checked by railroadpersonnel and if OK nothing more is required. Of course the parking brake of the vehicle must be engaged.

Regards,
Lesley
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:19 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

- C_Sherman
Depends on who you are talking about.

In the US, railroad rules require chains fore and aft. Depending on the type of flatcar and what you are loading on it (wheel or track, etc.), it may also require chocks and bracing. The chocks and bracing are normally nailed to the car decking using long spikes. The rules are fairly strict, and we always wondered if the railcars were actually going to be upside down at some point.

In Europe, they don't always require chains to secure the load. This may have something to do with the generally smoother roadbeds on Euro railways, and may also reflect the generally shorter distances for rail movements in Europe. I believe that the distance of the move can come into play; i.e., shorter moves require less extensive tiedown or blocking. Perhaps some of the folks here have experience with military rail movements in Europe and can comment further.

I recall reading that German armor was only secured by chocks fore and aft, during WWII. I'm less sure, but I believe that still holds true.

C


Are flatcars loaded with vehicles ever 'humped'? ( Do they do that in Europe at all?) I know some types of cars are labeled 'DO NOT HUMP' and I always figured it was because of the shock loads involved in the process.

For those that don't know Hump yards are freight classification yards that are used to make up and break down trains. It centers around a large 'hill'. The train is pushed up the back side of the hill (or hump) by a switching locomotive. At the top each car is disconnected in turn and allowed to drift down the front slope where the tower personnel watch it and throw various switches routing the car into the stub track where they want it. I've seen a hump yard that had several cars all rolling down the slope at the same time with the appropriate switch being thrown just before the car gets to the point of the switch and each car slamming into the cars already on the stub when it reached the end of the run. There are brake plates along the rails that can be used to control the cars speed as it rolls down the slope but I understand that there is a reluctance to use them any more than absolutely neccesary since it slows the process of building trains.

If the cars have to be 'humpable' that could be another reason the more extensive chaining is required in the U.S.

_________________
Bob Smart (bsmart@xecu.net)
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:23 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

LOL....okay .

Its my understanding that it is due to the poorer condition of the US rail system.

European Rail system is far better maintained.

Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:31 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Here is a photo I took in 1993 at Ft Hood. We were railloading to Ft Bliss and Operation Roving Sands.

This is a typical tie-down scenario in the States.



Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:51 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

- bsmart

Are flatcars loaded with vehicles ever 'humped'? ( Do they do that in Europe at all?) I know some types of cars are labeled 'DO NOT HUMP' and I always figured it was because of the shock loads involved in the process.


Hi all,

Bob, military vehicles are nearly always carried as 'unit trains'* rather than a collection of individual cars. This is because most equipment moves more than one or two vehicles/railcars, but rather a full unit's worth of vehicles. So 'humping' is unlikely, since 'unit trains' usuually have a dedicated locomotive and the cars are rarely uncoupled from each other.

According to the schools and manuals, the chains, etc. are required in the US because the US rail system tolerates a greater amount of variation in roadbeds...in other words, our roads are bumpier. There are a variety of reasons for this, not just "lower quality".

The rules differ for military/DOD steel deck flatcars (chains only) and standard wood deck cars (chains and chocks). The DOD flatcars are designed to use the chains in the most efficient way, and are often the only way to move tanks and BFVs. What Dontos shows below are DOD steel deck flats, so no blocking/bracing is needed.

The rules are very tight, because of past experience and previous problems. For example, most people don't know that a rubber tire sidewall rubbing against a wood bracing block can actually start a fire...but it has, and it can. So there are requirements for separating the two (tarpaper, believe it or not). I've seen pictures of what happens when a vehicle or part of a vehicle (turret, crane, cargo, etc.) comes adrift during rail transport, and it ain't pretty. If you are lucky, no one gets kilt...and the best result is just extensive damage to unit property. Unlucky? Well, that can get really ugly.

C

* A 'unit train' is a railroad term for a train that has only one or two types of cars, that travel as a unit. In the western US, you can often see unit trains made up of 50-70 hopper cars, that carry coal from mines to power plants. There are other types, too.

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:55 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

I love this board....I'm learning a ton of stuff about trains here that I never even thought of!

...just sayin'.....

Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:23 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

"According to the schools and manuals, the chains, etc. are required in the US because the US rail system tolerates a greater amount of variation in roadbeds...in other words, our roads are bumpier. There are a variety of reasons for this, not just "lower quality"."

Jeff Button - Make sure you pay attention in class. You are going to be our designated transportation expert in the future.

_________________
Bob Smart (bsmart@xecu.net)
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:32 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Hi Folks!

As best I can remember, every rail movement I was part of, the requiered number of flat cars would be placed against a ramp at the end of the rail line and each vehicle would drive from the ramp crossed all the flat cars until it reached the one it would be traveling on.

My 2 cents,
Sgt, Scouts Out! Smile

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
binder001
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 25, 2006
Posts: 363

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:17 am
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

[quote="C_Sherman"][quote="bsmart"]
I've seen pictures of what happens when a vehicle or part of a vehicle (turret, crane, cargo, etc.) comes adrift during rail transport, and it ain't pretty. If you are lucky, no one gets kilt...and the best result is just extensive damage to unit property. Unlucky? Well, that can get really ugly.

Back in the late 1960s I remember TV footage of a "problem" on the old Rock Island Railroad thru Lincoln, NE. The showed what happened when the barrel of an "Army tank" swung free and was perpendicular to the tracks. In fact the "tank" was an M109 SP 155 and that great big tube was knocking over signs and signals all thru the town until someone could get the train to stop. The RR had to reset most of their crossing signs and signals on that side of the right-of-way!
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:46 am
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

In the 80's, in Germany, a situation occurred when the unsecured gun tube of a US M60 clipped a pole and then spinning wildly, slammed into a tunnel embankment causing the tank to dislodge and then the train derailed.

Not sure of exactly when, but 'rumor' had it ocurring in the Frankfurt (South) rail tunnel as the train headed to Graffenwohr.

Having been in 3rd Armored Div, I rode the train on many occassions and everytime we went thru that particular tunnel there was mere inches clearence, between the tanks and the tunnel.

On one occassion, we were held on a side rail near the Frankfurt Haupt Bahn Hof, because it was believed (by parties unknown) that our M1A1's would hit the tunnel walls. 9 hour delay, seemed a lifetime.

Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum