Pushing a train

[Plu]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/ju ... an-trapped

This seems almost... unreasonable. Very impressive if they actually pulled it off, although I see no way that 40 people can even budge a 32-tonne train.

[surly74]

the suspension will make the amount of weight less than the 32 tonnes they have to move.

[Johan]

the suspension will make the amount of weight less than the 32 tonnes they have to move.

Exactly. They didn't push it so much as they caused it to pivot on its suspension. Still impressive, but way less than 32 tons of force required.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

I worked for a company who built equipment to repair rail cars, commuter lines in particular. They're not bolted to the suspension at all. Gravity holds the car down on the wheels so essentially they rocked a big empty bus over a bit and little.more, but still impressive.

[stromboli]

Sprung weight versus unsprung. Everything above the suspension is designed to be considerably less than the unsprung weight- wheels, carriage, motors, etc. The sprung weight is also movable because of the suspension, so the car could be rocked away from where the lady was trapped.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

I'd be FAR more impressed if the story had been about pushing a 32 tonne train up a mountain with a rope. :shock:

[mykcob4]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/22/tokyo-train-passengers-rescue-woman-trapped

This seems almost... unreasonable. Very impressive if they actually pulled it off, although I see no way that 40 people can even budge a 32-tonne train.

Jack Lelanne use to pull a train every year untill he was 60+ years old. The weight of the train isn't it's stand still weight because of the suspention(sp). Hence trains are very economical. Now if those people want to inpress me they should stop that train. That would be doing something.
BTW Jack L. Use to tow a tug boat across San Francisco Bay every year with his teeth. He was a marvel. No steroids, no wieght training, just exercise and diet.

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/01/23/jac ... idnt-know/