Im sure they knew what they were doing, They were trying to save money on buying an extra set of hose guards by letting the train cut them in half. The hose might be another problem altogether.
Now that's just funny. More than likely a local code that was required.
I'm sending that to my youngest brother, Ralph - He's the B.C. & F.M. - (Battalion Chief - Fire Marshal) of a pretty large town and they do have plenty of trains in the area. Great photo !
Steve, we'll be able to hear your brother laughing clear over to Ohio!! I do not believe my eyes!!
Thanks Ralph! I blew my cookie all over the keyboard!
Mike B is probably right.
Anyway, thank you for my laugh of the day!
Take care of you.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
I believe those were very common in the days when streetcars were a common urban feature. Most jurisdictions still have laws prohibiting crossing fire hoses.
When I was in the Marine Corps, we had a saying: Good initiative, bad judgement. Basically it was the military way of saying "Well bless your heart, you tried your darndest." I believe that phrase applies here.
Headline: Passenger train de-rails, NTSB expects to release it's findings in 24 - 36 months: Lawyers standing by!
Could that cause de-railment?
Norm
When I worked as an engineer for the Milwaukee RR here in Kansas City, Mo., we had the same problem with the belt line through the middle of town. Two industrial tracks on the north and south and four mainlines through the middle.
It was dry and hot, like it is now, and a train working the hill hard started a grass fire on the north side of the mainline. Rather than hooking the hoses to the hydrants on the north road,the fire department hooked up on the south side and ran the hoses across six live tracks. Nobody, police, fire bothered to call the dispatcher of this and an eastbound Rock Island freight came down the hill at 40 MPH and a Santa Fe went up the hill at the same speed.
The fire department ended up with 16 hoses.
Joe R.
Norman, Yes, that could cause a derailment. PROBABLY, it would not. The fiberglass would crush and shatter under the shock of being hit and the hoses would be shredded for about a foot on each rail before being ripped apart. However, if the weight distribution were "just wrong", it would be possible to derail the train. Especially if the engine were pushing a light load of cars.
About twenty years ago, I just happened to go by the scene of a derailment in San Jose CA minutes after it occurred. Three homes demolished. Not a pretty sight. One fellow rudely awakened from his recliner. Recliner destroyed, no one seriously injured.
Scary.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Fun watch as a train runs over a fire hose working a fire!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0O7DP3i0ao
Guess who won, the train or the hose?
Fire trucks should carry a few torpedoes to warn approaching trains.
Dan T, that video was interesting to watch. One other possibility I have envisioned, is how nasty it could get if a piece of the hose were to catch onto a speeding train. Fire hose has an extremely high tensile strength and could rip a medium size building down if it got a hold of it. It could easily kill anyone that got in the way. The wheels and weight would likely cut most way through the hose running over it, however a solid remnant of the hose catching onto a rail car could be disastrous.
Thanks all!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
But ralph, its just the Toonerville Trolley, and it is empty, today !!