by NH2060
We've all heard the same argument(s) before. But this one is a bit more informed:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local ... 79371.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think the question should not necessarily be "Are "push pull" trains less safe than locomotive hauled trains in a grade crossing accident"" but rather "Are double decker push pull trains less safe than single level/shorter-in-height multilevel cars?" Single level/MLV cars have a lower center of gravity than double decker cars and therefore might not be subjected to the same risks that double decker cars might encounter. If a train of NJT MLVs collided with a similar shaped/sized vehicle I would think the weight/center of gravity alone would make for a different outcome.
What might also be a factor in this particular accident is the shape of the nose on the cab car. The angle at which the nose made contact with the trailer might have been the difference between pushing the trailer out of the way/crumbling it and derailing/spinning around 180 degrees(!). Just from looking at the aerial video shots this was clearly a violent crash. But in spite of what happened with the cab car the cars themselves appear to have held up very well.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local ... 79371.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think the question should not necessarily be "Are "push pull" trains less safe than locomotive hauled trains in a grade crossing accident"" but rather "Are double decker push pull trains less safe than single level/shorter-in-height multilevel cars?" Single level/MLV cars have a lower center of gravity than double decker cars and therefore might not be subjected to the same risks that double decker cars might encounter. If a train of NJT MLVs collided with a similar shaped/sized vehicle I would think the weight/center of gravity alone would make for a different outcome.
What might also be a factor in this particular accident is the shape of the nose on the cab car. The angle at which the nose made contact with the trailer might have been the difference between pushing the trailer out of the way/crumbling it and derailing/spinning around 180 degrees(!). Just from looking at the aerial video shots this was clearly a violent crash. But in spite of what happened with the cab car the cars themselves appear to have held up very well.