FGW HST hits tree

[Old Timer]

I...However, it does seem to contain, most eloquently, my original comment to the effect "don't believe everything you read in the papers".

On that fact I think we can say we are in definite agreement.

From a personal point of view it is sad that there are practically no unibiased newspapers these days and thus it is impossible to get a balanced view.

 

[boing_uk]

By the way THIS and THIS is what a well maintained Railway looks like

I can only observe as an outsider looking in and really just as an Engineer looking out the windows on my daily commute, but the things that struck me most about those videos, compared to railways in the UK are:

for the most part, sleeper ends visible and no ballast in the four-foot
no rails, S&C components, sleepers etc piled up on the cess's or six-foot
no random piles or bags of ballast dotted around
no visible foliage in the ballast
ballast faily evenly applied to the shoulders
particularly in the first video, a tidy, gravelled, walkable cess
little trackside foliage

The reason I noticed these things, purely from an uneducated POV, is that on my commute, apart from the trees which invade the carriage if the hopper windows are open, Ive noticed so much material dotted around the trackside that is there, unused, in the grass/hedges, no wonder NR costs so much to run if theyre spending money dumping materials here there and everywhere.

PS Sorry to drift WAY off topic.

 

[moonrakerz]

On that fact I think we can say we are in definite agreement.

From a personal point of view it is sad that there are practically no unibiased newspapers these days and thus it is impossible to get a balanced view.

Agree.


From yesterday's "Salisbury Journal".

(159 on a 75mph stretch)

I can live with "bias" but there really is no excuse for garbage like this - even more so when it involved a fatality.

 

[crewmeal]

Sadly we live in a world of press sensationalism. It's the same in aviation with headlines like ''Death defying jet plunges 5000 feet to avoid a bird'' When in reality it did a right turn to avoid a flock of birds!!

Perhaps we should have a vote on which paper comes up with the best bull story. My vote would be the Daily Mail

 

[SouthernCDiv]

Just as a matter of interest, the impact speed between HST and Tree was an astonishing 110mph hock:

 

[devon_metro]

Just as a matter of interest, the impact speed between HST and Tree was an astonishing 110mph hock:

No it wasn't.

 

[TGV]

What was it then?

 

[devon_metro]

~90mph

 

[asylumxl]

~90mph

What if the tree had been travelling at 20mph towards it? He did say impact speed.

 

[TGV]

The maximum speed of that species of tree is only 12mph so...

 

[asylumxl]

The maximum speed of that species of tree is only 12mph so...

Just being padantic about the definition of impact speed.

And do you have any proof this tree is limited to 12mph? Tsk tsk

 

[TGV]

I wouldn't worry about apologising for being pedantic. Otherwise everyone on this forum would be constantly apologising!

Evidence of maximum tree speeds - yes I could quote my source, but that would be getting off topic...

 

[dubscottie]

I would point out that in the case of a tree impact like this, the force is not going where most of the force usually goes when an HST hits something, which is the sharp angle at the lower front.

Fibreglass can win against steel; remember the HST that hit a 47 in, I think, Edinburgh some years ago after one of them ran away a short distance?

The HST was more or less intact; the 47's cab was more or less totally destroyed.

Can't remember exactly when it was, but it must be about 15 - 20 years ago now; pictures were circulating of the results.

It was 37113 which ran away from Waverley and struck 43180 at Abbeyhill Junction. HST cab was a write-off as was 37113..

http://jmcp.fotopic.net/p54397617.html

http://www.garyschofields-railwaypics.fotopic.net/p55597731.html

 

[455driver]

I wouldn't worry about apologising for being pedantic. Otherwise everyone on this forum would be constantly apologising!...

Especially me

Evidence of maximum tree speeds - yes I could quote my source, but that would be getting off topic...

I agree, this is starting to "branch" off and we are getting away from the "root" of this thread.

 

[Vulcan]

I agree, this is starting to "branch" off and we are getting away from the "root" of this thread.

"leaf" it out!

 

[jon0844]

The maximum speed of that species of tree is only 12mph so...

Even with the tilt profile it obviously had?

 

[starrymarkb]

Perhaps we should have a vote on which paper comes up with the best bull story. My vote would be the Daily Mail

Front page of The Sport - "Peter Mandelson is a SPACE Alien"

 

[asylumxl]

Even with the tilt profile it obviously had?

Did you know trees are actually far more clever than you'd probably think?

Photosynthesis is actually a form of quantum mechanical computing!

So the tree is more advance than the HST .

 

[jon0844]

So, you're saying we should write off the HST and keep the tree?

 

[Old Timer]

Front page of The Sport - "Peter Mandelson is a SPACE Alien"

Haven't we had "London Bus found on the Moon" in one of the rags at some time in the past ?

 

[Greenback]

Haven't we had "London Bus found on the Moon" in one of the rags at some time in the past ?

Sunday Sport, I believe, in the late 80's.

Well, I was young then...

 

[moonrakerz]

Sunday Sport, I believe, in the late 80's.

Well, I was young then...

Was that before or after they found a Lancaster bomber there as well ?

If I remember correctly the Lancaster then "disappeared" which led to stories of a "cover-up" and many conspiracy theories followed on :roll::roll::roll:

 

[Oswyntail]

Was that before or after they found a Lancaster bomber there as well ?

If I remember correctly the Lancaster then "disappeared" which led to stories of a "cover-up" and many conspiracy theories followed on :roll::roll::roll:

IIRC it was a Wellington. So much more probable

 

[moonrakerz]

IIRC it was a Wellington. So much more probable

Don't be silly ! A Wellington was only twin engined - didn't have the range !!

 

[Old Timer]

Was that before or after they found a Lancaster bomber there as well ?

If I remember correctly the Lancaster then "disappeared" which led to stories of a "cover-up" and many conspiracy theories followed on :roll::roll::roll:

Sounds like a 57 Squadron target !

PS - An "In-joke" any ex 57/630 Squadron member will recognise