Comments on: Train versus Tornado! http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/ General interest observations and true web-log. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:29:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: HoboKelley http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1552032 HoboKelley Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:01:44 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1552032 Welcome to Hobo Junction Welcome to Hobo Junction

]]> By: TrainDude http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551772 TrainDude Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:59:40 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551772 Much more information about the Train / Tornado event here ... http://centexrails.blogspot.com/2009/07/stormy-rails.html Enjoy. Much more information about the Train / Tornado event here …

http://centexrails.blogspot.com/2009/07/stormy-rails.html

Enjoy.

]]> By: Toxic Asshead http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551574 Toxic Asshead Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:18:57 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551574 Nothing is cooler than a tornado, except maybe a volcano. Nothing is cooler than a tornado, except maybe a volcano.

]]> By: Mark T. http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551511 Mark T. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:06:49 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551511 I suppose that hopper car had to be empty. I started to wonder what it would take to topple a hopper car this heavy. I did a little research and found that a hopper car is probably about 63,000 pounds empty and measures somewhere around 15' by 60' on the side. That would make the side surface area 900 sq. ft. or around 130,000 sq. in. If the track width is 4' 8.5" wide (standard in the States) then I figure that it would take 1,779,750 in-lbs (i.e. 28.25" x 63,000 lbs) of torque to flip an empty hopper car. Since the air load is going to create a focal point at half the height of the car (i.e. 7.5' or 90"), you would divide the 1,779,750 in-lbs torque by 90 inches. That means it would take a combined side air load need to overturn the car is 19,775 lbs. Finally, 130,000 sq. in. divided by 19,775 lbs means an average pressure of only 0.15 PSI. 0.15 PSI sure doesn't sound like much. I hope I did that right. Anybody want to check my math? Don't f*** around with Mother Nature. I suppose that hopper car had to be empty. I started to wonder what it would take to topple a hopper car this heavy. I did a little research and found that a hopper car is probably about 63,000 pounds empty and measures somewhere around 15′ by 60′ on the side. That would make the side surface area 900 sq. ft. or around 130,000 sq. in.

If the track width is 4′ 8.5″ wide (standard in the States) then I figure that it would take 1,779,750 in-lbs (i.e. 28.25″ x 63,000 lbs) of torque to flip an empty hopper car.

Since the air load is going to create a focal point at half the height of the car (i.e. 7.5′ or 90″), you would divide the 1,779,750 in-lbs torque by 90 inches.

That means it would take a combined side air load need to overturn the car is 19,775 lbs. Finally, 130,000 sq. in. divided by 19,775 lbs means an average pressure of only 0.15 PSI.

0.15 PSI sure doesn’t sound like much. I hope I did that right. Anybody want to check my math?

Don’t f*** around with Mother Nature.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551483 Patrick Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:05:27 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551483 # 20 bbjester said, "Actually I live near where this happened last year. Oddly enough that was not hail it was in fact snow." I knew it was snow. January, wow, now it makes sense. # 20 bbjester said, “Actually I live near where this happened last year. Oddly enough that was not hail it was in fact snow.”

I knew it was snow. January, wow, now it makes sense.

]]> By: jescott418 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551471 jescott418 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:42:42 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551471 I mad sense because the tree's were blowing over the same as the train cars. Could have been straight line winds. Center of gravity cold have ben high on some cars and once you get a couple to go over the rest will follow. I mad sense because the tree’s were blowing over the same as the train cars. Could have been straight line winds. Center of gravity cold have ben high on some cars and once you get a couple to go over the rest will follow.

]]> By: bbjester http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551456 bbjester Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:25:01 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551456 Actually I live near where this happened last year. Oddly enough that was not hail it was in fact snow. Sounds strange but this F2 tornado occurred in January, 2008. The first time I saw this vid was this year on a local network's news. Here is a link to the local newspaper archive as proof. http://www.rrstar.com/news/x546810637 Actually I live near where this happened last year. Oddly enough that was not hail it was in fact snow. Sounds strange but this F2 tornado occurred in January, 2008. The first time I saw this vid was this year on a local network’s news. Here is a link to the local newspaper archive as proof. http://www.rrstar.com/news/x546810637

]]> By: nobody http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551428 nobody Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:06:19 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551428 @Mr. Fusion They are safe - it was in black and white. TV has taught us that things only explode in a ball of flames in color. @Mr. Fusion
They are safe – it was in black and white. TV has taught us that things only explode in a ball of flames in color.

]]> By: WmDE http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551424 WmDE Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:47:23 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551424 www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=20080107tor You WILLhave tohave the www on this one so cut and paste! http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=20080107tor

You WILLhave tohave the www on this one so cut and paste!

]]> By: killer duck http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551356 killer duck Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:29:52 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551356 Funny, every time there is a tornado, the people say it sounded like a freight train. Funny, every time there is a tornado, the people say it sounded like a freight train.

]]> By: SimonSez http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551350 SimonSez Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:20:24 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551350 It doesn't seem like a tornado. The trees aren't moving much and I have seen a couple tornadoes here in the Midwest and usually with a tornado that strong the trees will be moving all over the place and branches would be flying off. It could have just been a really weak tornado and the train car wasn't balanced (maybe top heavy) and it turned over. Also that white stuff that looks like snow could be frozen rain from the storm. I have seen stuff like that come down even mid-summer during a weak tornado. It doesn’t seem like a tornado. The trees aren’t moving much and I have seen a couple tornadoes here in the Midwest and usually with a tornado that strong the trees will be moving all over the place and branches would be flying off. It could have just been a really weak tornado and the train car wasn’t balanced (maybe top heavy) and it turned over.

Also that white stuff that looks like snow could be frozen rain from the storm. I have seen stuff like that come down even mid-summer during a weak tornado.

]]> By: cfk http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551349 cfk Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:19:14 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551349 Thanks to #10 for the link which also includes the "Dvorak Current Intensity Chart." I assume this is a scientific method for measuring posts/replies on this blog? ;-) Thanks to #10 for the link which also includes the “Dvorak Current Intensity Chart.” I assume this is a scientific method for measuring posts/replies on this blog? ;-)

]]> By: cfk http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551348 cfk Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:18:27 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551348 Thanks to #10 for the link which also includes the "Dvorak Current Intensity Scale." I assume this is a scientific method for measuring posts/replies on this blog? ;-) Thanks to #10 for the link which also includes the “Dvorak Current Intensity Scale.” I assume this is a scientific method for measuring posts/replies on this blog? ;-)

]]> By: chuck http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551345 chuck Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:12:09 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551345 Was the driver texting during the tornado? Was the driver texting during the tornado?

]]> By: Mr. Fusion http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/10/train-versus-tornado/comment-page-1/#comment-1551310 Mr. Fusion Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:23:01 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=52840#comment-1551310 #11, Adm, It just occurred to me how everyone comments that a tornado sounds like a freight train. Can we be sure the crew didn't just hear themselves? ;) #11, Adm,

It just occurred to me how everyone comments that a tornado sounds like a freight train. Can we be sure the crew didn’t just hear themselves?

;)

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