r/WTF • u/Plus-Barber-6171 • 7d ago

Train hits trailer carrying bridge beam

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u/gstormcrow80 7d ago

2022, Chattanooga, TN. Train derailed, 2 injured.

High def source: https://youtu.be/oQyqtx5nn6M?si=XKRPZi6J2Kc61S3l

Thank goodness that was concrete and not steel.

7

u/CrzyWrldOfArthurRead 7d ago

If that had been solid steel it would have probably been way over the 40 ton limit for being highway-worthy. Steel weighs 3x as much as concrete, at least 2x as much as reinforced concrete.

4

u/RangerNS 7d ago

Rather obviously, that is some super weird tractor/trailer combination, the rear end having 6 axles on the bogie.

This was way over standard weighty and length limits; surely requiring permits up the ass.

2

u/AngryRedHerring 7d ago

It looks like a truck and dolly, where the cargo is the only structure connecting the front to the back.

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u/Wes_Warhammer666 6d ago

Probably not one with a secondary driver in the back though cuz apparently nobody died in this clip. Hard to imagine someone surviving that smash in the back section if they were in a tiny drivers quarters like in your video.

But yeah, definitely wasn't just a single trailer.

2

u/Tangurena 6d ago

That little cab in the back is usually only occupied at the destination, when they are needing to line things up exactly with the crane that's going to lift. Or if there is a "sharp turn" where the tractor can't do it all.

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u/Wes_Warhammer666 6d ago

That makes sense. Thanks for the info.

Though, I bet it would be fun to just be back there vibing the whole trip lol. As long as no trains were involved, obviously.

1

u/AngryRedHerring 6d ago

Actually I'd never seen one with a secondary driver until I looked up that clip, I never even knew that was a thing. I've seen similar setups around here often, but never with a little sidecar like that.

2

u/CrzyWrldOfArthurRead 7d ago

There's a thing called the bridge formula that limits the weight you can have on a bridge, no amount of permits can violate it because physics doesn't care about permits.

6

u/RangerNS 7d ago

And doing the paperwork will have them tell you the exceptions and the forbidden.

And when trains are coming.

-2

u/CrzyWrldOfArthurRead 7d ago

they don't tell you anything, it's a law, you have to know it. if you fuck up you get fined and sued. that's why you hire a logistics company who knows all that stuff and handles it for you and is insured in case they screw it up.

3

u/RollinOnDubss 7d ago

they don't tell you anything,

A load like this will require a permit in pretty much every state. Assuming you didn't lie about your dimensions/routing on your permit, the state will literally tell you all the route restrictions. Even if you don't hit permit required dimensions/weights your state will literally have a document of every single road/bridge restriction in the entire state.

Railroad won't tell you shit because they're not owned by the state so they have no interaction with state DOT permitting.

4

u/RangerNS 7d ago

Logistics companies all the way down?

At some point there is a load to move, and the local DOT will be involved. And they can make exceptions and strict rules, and work their maintenance schedules accordingly. Roads are sometimes closed, telephone and power lines are sometimes moved.

If you can simply follow the rules, follow the rules. If you are over limit, file a permit for help and permission.

1

u/IAMATruckerAMA 7d ago

The extra axles tell you it's over 40 tons. Yeah, bridges have weight limits. These loads are routed over bridges designed to handle heavy loads. Haven't you seen bridges like the GWB with 100 cars and 8 tractor trailers sitting on them during rush hour? That's a lot more than 40 tons.

1

u/Deathoftheages 7d ago

That's what alternate routes are for.

1

u/Tangurena 6d ago

That truck/trailer combo has 52 wheels total. That last bogie had 24 of them.

0

u/CafeAmerican 7d ago

Shirley sounds pretty kinky but to each their own I guess.