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 Replies: 35 / Views: 23,840 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
Somewhere in my collection I have a cent and a nickel that I crushed with an oncoming commuter train when I was a kid. The train was pulling into the station so it was going slow. I stood nearby and remember actually hearing the clicking sound as the train ran over my coins. I wish I could remember where I put those coins...
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
wheatiefan-
that's one way to improve the appearance of a zincoln.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
I've heard people claim you can derail a train with a coin, but that's just absurd. The rumor I heard is that if you put a cent in front of and behind each wheel (right up against it) of a stopped train, they act as a steep incline, and it won't move. The explanation is that this is why a stopped train backs up first, to allow a couple inches of slack before having to move each new car. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
The rumor I heard is that if you put a cent in front of and behind each wheel (right up against it) of a stopped train, they act as a steep incline, and it won't move.
The explanation is that this is why a stopped train backs up first, to allow a couple inches of slack before having to move each new car.
Sure wish a train expert was around here for that one.  I live in a place where several frieght trains go in several directions. Also, several commuter trains going in several directions. Now retired but used to take them every day. In the train yards, not far away, all sorts of STUFF gets on the tracks and not much stops them. Not even the idiots that get their cars or trucks on the tracks. Not sure why I don't put some coins on them now. Neighbor a few houses from me works in the yards so I'll ask him. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Regardless if the locomotive is AC or DC propulsion, the locomotive consist should never have to back up to get a run at it. Only exception to this might be ice or wet track. But, locomotives have sanders that spit a little sand in front of the wheels to aid in traction. Yes, it IS possible for a locomotive to "wheel hop" in low traction or high traction/high load conditions.
Locomotive wheel is not flat. There is actually a slight taper to the wheel from inside at rim tapering to the outside. Properly maintained track is actually and inverted "U" shape. Approximately 1" of the wheel is in contact with the track.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
802 Posts |
I'm not sure if anyone said this already, but I've done this successful as a kid. At first we lost about 50 cents trying it throughout the weeks, then we had an idea... We used a bunch of duct tape and it stayed put, and that was the end of that. I'd try duct tape :) It worked for me!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Why not just hold it with your fingers? Then it couldn't get lost. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Oh you guys!
Hang on for a few hours and I'll have some answers for you.
My husband has been working in the rail industry for 17 years. He's and engineer but not the kind that drives the train. He worked on the development of the lubrication system which saves on fuel.
I am pretty sure that the reason the tracks look shiny is because they are frequently subjected to a grinding machine which does just what you think it would do to make sure the rails are true and safe.
I don't think a penny could cause a derailment. There is very little that will stop a train. When you see pictures of an accident and the train appears to have been stopped by a car parked on the tracks -- well, it wasn't. The engineer tried to stop and almost made it, or that picture was taken about a mile from impact.
He's in a meeting with a bunch of other rail pros so I'll text him and try to get some answers.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
It took longer than I expected to hear from him but here's the info.
The rail is flat, the portion of the wheel that rides the rail is actually "V" shaped and it will lean inward a bit so the pennies will shoot out away from the train. He thinks they could go 8 to 10 feet but that they could also get caught up and go for a full revolution and it could be 30 or 40 feet before they get pitched away from the train.
He says that the engine cars weigh between 280,000 and 360,000 pounds and is pretty sure that a penny will not cause a derailment but a half dollar....well, that's just wasting money. LOL
I was kind of surprised. I thought that they might fly out a bit farther than 10 feet but he didn't think so. So there you have it.
Have fun.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Grandpa had coal and grain trains run through his property, so I fiddled around flattening a few cents.
When I was a teen, I tested out coins vs a steamroller. I'll let you guess what happened.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
My mother's father used to work on the railroad and my mother gave me a flattened out penny that was given to her by her father and she said that he said it was run over by a train. It is really flattened out. I'll have to dig it out someday and post a photo. I haven't looked it in many years, but from what I remember, no image of the coin can be seen on it.
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Valued Member
United States
372 Posts |
If you live near Spencer,N.C. where the train tracks cross the Yadkin River, The Railroad will arrest you for trespassing. since they own the Right of Way on the side of the tracks. Recently a Metal Detectorist was crossing the track and The Railroad Police snatched the Detector out of his hand and then call the Police . Can you imagine this for the last 100 years or more, people have been crossing the tracks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
They are just trying to protect people, but they could have just given him a warning instead. Maybe they liked his metal detector and wanted to keep it?  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
The Railroad will arrest you for trespassing. since they own the Right of Way on the side of the tracks. Recently a Metal Detectorist was crossing the track and The Railroad Police snatched the Detector out of his hand and then call the Police . In Ahia, they might be able to enforce their right-of-way if it's not just an easement. Even with owned property, the rule is the trespasser must first be told to leave the property in the presence of a policeman/sheriff. If he still doesn't leave or returns, then he's committing criminal trespass. is a "railroad police"? Sounds like private security. Steal my metal detector? Good way to lose your job. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
The Railroad will arrest you for trespassing. since they own the Right of Way on the side of the tracks. Not even a slight possibility where I live. We have commuter trains criss crossing all over the area. Major train freight yards in several directions. By me you can't walk more than a mile without crossing or walking along side RR tracks. And if that isn't enough, I'm a few miles from an airport, trucking companies, a steel mill and almost any type of factory imaginable. If anyone wanted to arrest someone for walking along or crossing a train track, they would end up arresting a million people a year here. |
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Posted 01/11/2012 11:02 pm
