Train plows through semi high centered on track - GIF

Train plows through semi high centered on track in Indiana.

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Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...673#post190056
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...945#post167957
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...701#post139887
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...256#post109943
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...435#post185488

What is amazing about these train crashes is that the train has been on emergency brake since the engineer first saw the truck - maybe 15 - 30 seconds already.

The trailer is not high centered those plastic skirts are flexible. The driver was waiting to turn at the intersection onto the road running parallel to the track. And had probably been sitting there long before the barricades had come down.
A loaded long train can take a mile of more to stop even on the E brakes 10 or 15 seconds would not been enough time to expel much of the speed at all

I wonder what was in the trailer that was so flammable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by schuylergrace

I wonder what was in the trailer that was so flammable.

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That could have been most anything flammable enough to briefly cause a fire at the rear of the trailer. Since there are no evidence of cargo spillage and no warning placards posted on the sides of the trailer, he was not hauling any or enough materials to be hazmat the trailer could have been mostly empty, leaving the construction materials of the trailer to be the prime suspect.it is possible of a high enough magnesium content in the aluminum alloy the rear of the box frame and doors could have been a possible igniter the wood panel covering of the inside on the walls and on the doors, or for all we know he may have had s single pallet of rubbing alcohol or a household cleaner in plastic bottles which could have disintegrated leaving no debris, it could have even been a accumulation of dust or powder from a burst sack of flour that had migrated to the back of the trailer. There are a whole host of seemingly innocuous things that can become flammable under the right conditions.
Ther fire appeared to quickly flare but not in an explosive manor also not very intense or with a lot of sustaining fuel to maintain it

Whatever it was, it apparently spilled out of the truck, and there was enough volume to make a pretty big burst of flames on the other side of the train. And I doubt it was alcohol, given the orange/red flames. I was leaning more toward some sort of flammable solvent(s), but I didn't see any placards. I hadn't thought about dust, though, or the magnesium components of the trailer starting the fire. Good points, Frank.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Frank S

The trailer is not high centered those plastic skirts are flexible.

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It looks to me like his "kick stand" got caught. You can see where the pavement got chewed up just after the impact.

The flashers were on. Driver's door was open. Driver standing outside making a call. Kickstand appears to be too close to the ground or track. So, I would say, the truck was stuck. I guess lucky for the driver he was outside when the train struck.

If it is the feet of the landing lags that has him trapped, and after viewing the video again I concede that being a good probability. Then throw it in reverse and back back up the incline and clear the tracks then drive at an angle to cross the tracks. if the legs have him in a position where he can neither go backwards or forwards loce the power divider in and if equipped the interaxle lock throw it in low gear and hammer on it, it wouldn't be the first time a set of legs were folded up cheaper to replace than the whole trailer. If that fails do like he was probably doing call home and tell wife you are going to be late for dinner.

Well, he's not stuck any more!