chuljin
Lead Service Attendant
It's with some interest that I have been perusing the many documents available at NTSB's docket for the Metrolink 111 incident.
Most of the documents (especially the interviews with emergency personnel) are a source of considerable sadness, and after skimming only a few, I've consciously avoided them.
However (and it's a shame that only tragedy made it public), one document that has been a source of some enjoyment (since it's not related to the incident) is the Metrolink Ventura Sub Track Charts.
One question emerging from that enjoyment, however: how does one interpret the various parameters listed for curves in the 'Horizontal Alignment' area? I've googled and googled, and found many many formulae, but none that do what I'm trying to: take the three parameters listed (Degree Curve, Length Spiral, Length Curve) and turn them into the total number of degrees by which a train's course has changed during the curve. I actually majored in math, but the track I chose (no pun intended) involved very little geometry or trigonometry.
Two uncomplicated examples, both on page 7:
The curve between tunnel 28 and the Chatsworth station:
Curve Number (from the chart): 224
Degree Curve (from the chart): 06°00'00"
Length Spiral (from the chart): 360'
Length Curve (from the chart): 1100'
Heading north of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 90°/270° (i.e. exactly east-west)
Heading south of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 0°/180° (i.e. exactly north-south)
Change in heading (calculated by me from the previous two): 90° clockwise (when heading south).
The curve between the Chatsworth station and the 'straight' section all the way to Burbank Junction ('straight' because it is, to the naked eye, though the chart shows 20+ minor curves):
Curve Number (from the chart): 225
Degree Curve (from the chart): 01°30'00"
Length Spiral (from the chart): 369'
Length Curve (from the chart): 4360'
Heading north of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 0°/180° (i.e. exactly north-south)
Heading south of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 105°/285° (i.e. 15 clockwise off exactly east-west)
Change in heading (calculated by me from the previous two): 75° counterclockwise (when heading south).
As mentioned above, googling found me no complicated formula that I could just drop these into, and the simplistic method of (Length Spiral+Length Curve)/100*Degree Curve yields a bit less total heading change than I actually measured. (I'd expect it to be more, because the full curve degree is only in effect in the 'Length Curve' part, IIUC).
Can anyone more skilled in the science point me to a good document that is, essentially Track Charts for Dummies?
Thanks!
Chris
Most of the documents (especially the interviews with emergency personnel) are a source of considerable sadness, and after skimming only a few, I've consciously avoided them.
However (and it's a shame that only tragedy made it public), one document that has been a source of some enjoyment (since it's not related to the incident) is the Metrolink Ventura Sub Track Charts.
One question emerging from that enjoyment, however: how does one interpret the various parameters listed for curves in the 'Horizontal Alignment' area? I've googled and googled, and found many many formulae, but none that do what I'm trying to: take the three parameters listed (Degree Curve, Length Spiral, Length Curve) and turn them into the total number of degrees by which a train's course has changed during the curve. I actually majored in math, but the track I chose (no pun intended) involved very little geometry or trigonometry.
Two uncomplicated examples, both on page 7:
The curve between tunnel 28 and the Chatsworth station:
Curve Number (from the chart): 224
Degree Curve (from the chart): 06°00'00"
Length Spiral (from the chart): 360'
Length Curve (from the chart): 1100'
Heading north of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 90°/270° (i.e. exactly east-west)
Heading south of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 0°/180° (i.e. exactly north-south)
Change in heading (calculated by me from the previous two): 90° clockwise (when heading south).
The curve between the Chatsworth station and the 'straight' section all the way to Burbank Junction ('straight' because it is, to the naked eye, though the chart shows 20+ minor curves):
Curve Number (from the chart): 225
Degree Curve (from the chart): 01°30'00"
Length Spiral (from the chart): 369'
Length Curve (from the chart): 4360'
Heading north of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 0°/180° (i.e. exactly north-south)
Heading south of the curve (measured by me with a GPS): 105°/285° (i.e. 15 clockwise off exactly east-west)
Change in heading (calculated by me from the previous two): 75° counterclockwise (when heading south).
As mentioned above, googling found me no complicated formula that I could just drop these into, and the simplistic method of (Length Spiral+Length Curve)/100*Degree Curve yields a bit less total heading change than I actually measured. (I'd expect it to be more, because the full curve degree is only in effect in the 'Length Curve' part, IIUC).
Can anyone more skilled in the science point me to a good document that is, essentially Track Charts for Dummies?
Thanks!
Chris