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Post by af3020 on Mar 27, 2024 20:56:35 GMT
Ok, I think I fixed it.
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Post by af3020 on Mar 27, 2024 20:57:10 GMT
Double post - sorry.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Mar 27, 2024 21:31:08 GMT
This YouTube video tells quite a story. If you look at it and compare it with the news - particularly the information concerning the emergency stopping of traffic you can see how the traffic stops first in one direction and then in the other. You can also see the flashing vehicle lights on the bridge which is most likely where the men who were killed were working. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEkRjlSgIIQTwo cars got across just 1 minute before the bridge collapsed. They should both buy a lottery ticket. One minute later and they are dead.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Mar 27, 2024 21:43:28 GMT
….Several years ago the MD state government decided not to install so called bumpers on other sides of the two main bridge piers which bracket the shipping channel because it was deemed to be too expensive. I wonder if they think it was too expensive now?! I’m asking because I don’t know, would “bumpers” on the bridge piers really be able to stop a vessel as massive as a cargo ship?
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Post by atsda on Mar 27, 2024 22:15:48 GMT
My son and his family traveled 4 times over the bridge on the day of the collapse for a kid's doctor's appointment and outing; he also uses it routinely to commute to work. At the time of the collision, only a few repair workers were on the bridge. Two were saved; six are missing and presumed dead. I am greiving for the families. What immediately came to mind was that perhaps some of those guys would have gotten off work in time to get home to see their kids off to school before sleeping - I am hhaunted by this thought. We were going to use the bridge to get to an appointment next week. There are many practical items to think about that are related to the occurrance; that is rail service back up, the impact on about 165,000 port workers, the electrical engineer onboard, the pilot, and if we are ready to do a rebuild - do we have the materials and skills? Alfred
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Post by runamuckchuck on Mar 28, 2024 0:39:01 GMT
….Several years ago the MD state government decided not to install so called bumpers on other sides of the two main bridge piers which bracket the shipping channel because it was deemed to be too expensive. I wonder if they think it was too expensive now?! I’m asking because I don’t know, would “bumpers” on the bridge piers really be able to stop a vessel as massive as a cargo ship? Bumpers are a bit of a misnomer IMO as they are really rather large circular or oblong heavily reinforced concrete columns sunk to bedrock (I suppose) that are meant to stop or deflect a ship from making a direct hit on a bridge pier/support. However given the huge size and weight of these container ships I suspect the best practice is not to place the bridge supports so close to the shipping channel if at all possible. Perhaps the new bridge will be a suspension bridge which may not be as susceptible to this kind of accident. But right now the main issue is to get the shipping channel cleared quickly. With all due respect and consideration to the deceased and their families.
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Post by redjimmy1955 on Mar 28, 2024 11:58:20 GMT
Ah...."the bumpers"! They wouldn't be much help deflecting or even stopping (lol) a nearly 1000 foot ship! Why? It's because the inertia of the ship itself requires (from news reports) about a couple of miles to slow down. Cannot stop on a dime. The ships inability to stop where one would like it, is the same as a train. Factor of its' speed; weight; weight of cargo and probably one or two other components of the laws of physics.
Add to the ships woes are the current and tide in the harbour....those will eventually push any water borne vessel where the King Neptune chooses.
And now we get the mentally ill conspiracy theorists convinced this was due to some type of terrorist attack, or even hackers jamming the ships' electronics.
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Post by trainman9 on Mar 28, 2024 18:45:01 GMT
….Several years ago the MD state government decided not to install so called bumpers on other sides of the two main bridge piers which bracket the shipping channel because it was deemed to be too expensive. I wonder if they think it was too expensive now?! I’m asking because I don’t know, would “bumpers” on the bridge piers really be able to stop a vessel as massive as a cargo ship? Several prominent engineers have said that no bridge could withstand a it of a 95000 ton vessel
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Post by curtis on Mar 28, 2024 20:14:40 GMT
First -- Bumpers. They are not meant to STOP a ship. They are there to deflect the ship which they would have done. They are also not right next to the piers but are in front and back of the piers. You would assume that a ship could still get between a bumper and the pier but a ship can NOT change course on it's own or with the tide to do this.
Second and more important -- MTH gets all its trains thru the port. Expect DELAYS on new products, this also includes the containers now on the water on their way here. They will be diverted to other ports which will raise shipping cost and then add LAND shipping cost.
Please keep the workers families in your prayers.
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