Last Friday's Numbers show

[DesertRat]

Just wondering of any of you saw the rerun of the Number$ show about a collision between trains. I'm mainly curious if it's so critical that the engineer is supposed to know how heavy the train has to be in order to figure how much stopping distance is required. That was a key part of the solution to the crime that led to the accident.

 

[the_traveler]

I didn't see it, but I think that is part TV license!

Are you supposed to know how much stopping distance is required in your car and in your wife's car - so when a kid runs out between cars, you know whether to slam on the brakes or floor it! Don't forget that stopping a train is not how many inches or feet - it is how many hundreds or thousands of feet!

 

[mercedeslove]

I say it should be, if something happens in an emergency situation they would need to know this, or have an idea.

 

[the_traveler]

I say it should be, if something happens in an emergency situation they would need to know this, or have an idea.

So why should a freight even attempt to stop when a car enters a grade crossing 1/4 mile ahead of the train - when it might take a mile to stop the train? :huh:

 

[gswager]

So why should a freight even attempt to stop when a car enters a grade crossing 1/4 mile ahead of the train - when it might take a mile to stop the train? :huh:

Probably less energy to be impacted at lower speed.