Posted by Todd Wilson on Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 5:40PM :
In Reply to: Got to ask to RR questions posted by Paul (in NY) on Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 3:43PM :
While I am no engineer I think what you are talking about still could happen on a real train with a corner but things are a little different on a real train verses a electric train. Curves arent as sharp as the electric. I think this would/could happen more in say mountain areas verses where I am in the flatlands of Kansas. I have heard storys of trains in the mountains breaking drawbars (Happens in Kansas too!) or do the accordian (SP?) to the train in the mountains from too much dynamic braking. But there are rules and guidelines on how many tons and feet things can be and how much horsepower as to prevent what you are talking about.
As for the rail beside the rail I think thats there to help if say a set of wheels is off the rail and the car is hopping along the ties and comes up on the bridge that it may be guided through the bridge instead of hitting the sides or what ever and not only derailing but damaging the bridge.
Todd
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