Low Railroad Overpasses and Tall Trucks/RVs = Destruction

[HBarlow]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3c0_1351184890

There are many old and low railroad bridges on secondary highways and in older parts of some cities and towns. This one apparently in Durham, NC even has a sensor that trips a flashing caution light when tall vehicles approach.

A couple of fools with fifthwheel trailers apparently thought they cleared. What they cleared was their television antennas, roof vents, and air conditioners. Very disappointing when they reach their destination and enter the trailer.

 

[JJPage]

Good video!

Unfortunately, I sort of know what those driver's must be feeling... In the late 70's I was hauling a backhoe into the shop for repair, the hoe was breaking off from the tractor, so we had chained the hoe to the tractor with the boom in the up position, this did not allow it to rest on the trailer bed as usual. I went under a skywalk that I have previously driven under many times, I had forgot the boom was chained up until seconds before it struck. Fortunately, it did no further damage to the backhoe, and only removed paint from the steel girder skywalk. But I had an awful sick feeling for a few moments.

 

[BIGNASTY]

The part that gets to me is that they DONT EVEN SLOW DOWN TO TAKE A LOOK just go for broke!!!!!

 

[Bill Stockard]

There's a low railroad bridge in a nearby town on a state highway that is 13' clearance. There is a series of very big yellow highway signs for several miles waring about the low clearance ahead and to take a detour via another route and flashing yellow warning lights near the overpass for vehicles that trip the over height sensors. I haven't seen one hit the overpass, but there are scrapes all across under the huge steel girders that support the railroad. Evidently drivers either don't know their load height, can't read and/or ignore the flashing lights. Amazing!



I know the height of my truck/camper combination and have it on a label on the dash in case I forget and pay attention to the overhead clearance signs.



Bill

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

... they... just go for broke!!!!!

:-laf:-laf:-laf Good one BIG!!!

 

[Wiredawg]

Harvey/Bill

I really have to watch height w/ my new Cyclone rv... it's 13' 4" tall. My Travel Travel Supreme was 12' 6" after axles moved under springs. Had a scary experiece once... we were coming back to Maryland about a month after 9/11... got screwed up coming in form Manasas took the wrong exit and got dumped into down town DC. Vivina and I drove around trying to navigate over to 395. We ended up approching this arch bridge that said 12' 8", but it had just been resurfaced and the road was taller... didn't hlep there was about 30 cars behind us. Sooo, I had Vivian stand on the truck tool bax while I eased under the center of the bridge... I'm sure we just cleared by less than an inch, but no scrapes. That's why I physically measure my rigs.

I think I'll stay clear of Raleigh/Durham though!

Heading out to Lake Livingston Fri to meet up with Larry and Denise Willard for 4 days. Y'all take care.

C-ya,

Ron

 

[Bill Stockard]

Harvey/Bill







Heading out to Lake Livingston Fri to meet up with Larry and Denise Willard for 4 days. Y'all take care.



C-ya,



Ron

Hey Ron,



Tell Larry and Denise hello and welcome to Texas for us.



Bill

 

[NIsaacs]

Cool video, I like the 2 hay haulers I sanded the lifting eyes off a log loader cab on I-10 east of Redlands, California on a low bridge about 30 years ago:-laf



Nick

 

[JR]

I bet there was as big an accident in them boys drawers when their face bounced off the steering wheel from the impact :-laf

I was driving down the freeway one day several years ago when I noticed a big tri axle dump merging just ahead of me. He had just come from dumping a load of stone at a culvert project right at the end of the exit ramp. He had the hammer down & grabbing gears trying to get up to speed to merge. Only probem was he forgot to lower his dump. I slowed down and began waiving my hand out the window and tooting my horn trying to get his attention. He never even looked over at me. I stayed by his side as long as I dared but sped up at the last second as we went under an over pass. There was NO way I was gonna be behind that. The top of his dump bed hit so hard it picked the front of the truck up in the air and spun the cab 90 degrees before slamming to the pavement drivers side down. Ripped the bed clean off the truck it was standing on the pavement almost vertical and resting against the overpass. I pullled over immediately and backed up, thinking I just saw someone get killed. Amazingly, he crawled out through the busted rear window of the cab on his own and I helped him over to the grass where he passed out. He was bleeding from his head pretty bad and was cut up from the broken glass. The ambulance was there withen minutes and they carted him off, I never did hear how he turned out.

 

[jgillott]

I bet there was as big an accident in them boys drawers when their face bounced off the steering wheel from the impact :-laf
I was driving down the freeway one day several years ago when I noticed a big tri axle dump merging just ahead of me. He had just come from dumping a load of stone at a culvert project right at the end of the exit ramp. He had the hammer down & grabbing gears trying to get up to speed to merge. Only probem was he forgot to lower his dump. I slowed down and began waiving my hand out the window and tooting my horn trying to get his attention. He never even looked over at me. I stayed by his side as long as I dared but sped up at the last second as we went under an over pass. There was NO way I was gonna be behind that. The top of his dump bed hit so hard it picked the front of the truck up in the air and spun the cab 90 degrees before slamming to the pavement drivers side down. Ripped the bed clean off the truck it was standing on the pavement almost vertical and resting against the overpass. I pullled over immediately and backed up, thinking I just saw someone get killed. Amazingly, he crawled out through the busted rear window of the cab on his own and I helped him over to the grass where he passed out. He was bleeding from his head pretty bad and was cut up from the broken glass. The ambulance was there withen minutes and they carted him off, I never did hear how he turned out.

The very same thing happened here on Rt. 119 about 20 years ago. I didn't see it happen, but can just remember seeing the bed laying in the middle of the lanes.

 

[JR]

The very same thing happened here on Rt. 119 about 20 years ago. I didn't see it happen, but can just remember seeing the bed laying in the middle of the lanes.

It sure was a violent impact. By the time he slammed the overpass I made sure I was a good 100 feet or more in front of him. What I remember most about the whole deal was the concussion of the cab slamming into the pavement. I couldnt believe my eyes when he crawled outta that thing on his own will power. Of course, at that point its nothing but instinct and adrenaline that keeps you going. It was one accident Ill not forget.

 

[jelag]

JJ there is a low bridge in Spokane off of Trent... I think once a month a semi tries to go under this train trestle and gets stuck... . My RV is 12'6" and I've seen 2 friends knock off their AC units. . I'm very careful.....

 

[JJPage]

JJ there is a low bridge in Spokane off of Trent... I think once a month a semi tries to go under this train trestle and gets stuck... . My RV is 12'6" and I've seen 2 friends knock off their AC units. . I'm very careful.....

There are a couple in the area of Trent and Napa, also downtown on Stevens between 1st and 2nd. Having reported to work at 2nd and Stevens for the last 32 years before retirement a year ago, I have seen my share of semis stuck under that one.

The one I struck 30+ years ago, was the enclosed Skywalk on Lincoln, I believe between Riverside and Main. Not sure if any pedestrians were using it at the time...

 

[WalterJ]

BIGNASTY: Unrelated query---pls. share your decision to purchase Extreme air comp. , vs Viair or Kirby. I'm nearly in the market for having a good onboard air comp. , useful @ 120psig for tires, emergency impact gun use. Thanks, Wally

 

[DZink24]

there is a RR bridge near Syracuse, NY that is 10'9". yes, posted 10'9", with NO safety height built in. several years ago, there was a multi fatal tour bus accident at the bridge. we all know tour buses are way higher than 10'9", and we all know the passengers sit up higher than the driver. . you do the math. .

 

[BIGNASTY]

BIGNASTY: Unrelated query---pls. share your decision to purchase Extreme air comp. , vs Viair or Kirby. I'm nearly in the market for having a good onboard air comp. , useful @ 120psig for tires, emergency impact gun use. Thanks, Wally

A coworker had one on his truck we went RV camping as a group (6 to 10) trailers at least 1 time a month in the Sierras when we lived in Ca. We stopped for breakfast and when we came out one of the the trailers had a flat. The guy with the Extreme air pulled up near him and fired it up. He pulled out an air jack and a 1/2 in impact and had the tire changed in no time flat he didn't have to wait until it built up pressure to get the lug nuts off he just went one after the other. On both of our set ups we have an air tank off of a BIG TRUCK they call it a 5gal size (dont ask me how they figure that) it takes no time at all to fill it to use with the compressor. I have a stock trailer now and at times im in some pretty nasty places and when a flat happens I dont want to be messing around get it changed and move on with this air compressor you can do that. FIL BIL and Son have put them on their trucks also. I have busted off the lug nuts on my International with it and a 1in impact but had to build air for that. Son was a Glamis freak when we lived in So Ca he and his bud's would always need some air for something he used his A BUNCH and it still built air just as fast as new.

The Kirby looks like a nice set up but the motor compartment is pretty full now and I dont want to mess around with that in the way also.

 

[BruteForce]

My rig is 14'1" at its peak. I drove to Oregon two years ago and had to map it out thoroughly. Oregon has plenty of 8-11' bridges that I had to navigate around. Fortunately, here in Utah, most bridges are 14'6" or taller. .

 

[RVTRKN]

A long time ago when I was in the Army, I was the lead mechanic out of three, on a convoy from Ft Hood Texas to San Antonio on I-35 with always breaking down 10 ton trucks with Dragon Wagons, to pick up some heavy equipment and return with them to Ft Hood. They were so tall that we had to stop traffic on the interstate so we could go through the center of the bridge into the ditch to get the loads to lean over and just clear the under side of them. We did this several times along the route, but the scariest thing was me stopping the traffic on the interstate.

 

[Wingate]

Bill, I cannot tell you how many trucks have been transformed into convertibles at the Green St. Bridge in Longview... . I also remember a time when two customers got brand new Cat Backhoes due to haul drivers trying to stuff them under that bridge!!... All he could say was. . OOPS!!. .

 

[Bill Stockard]

Bill, I cannot tell you how many trucks have been transformed into convertibles at the Green St. Bridge in Longview... . I also remember a time when two customers got brand new Cat Backhoes due to haul drivers trying to stuff them under that bridge!!... All he could say was. . OOPS!!. .

I vaguely remember the bridge, but I don't remember whether it is it south or north of Cotton Street.



Bill