[modeleng] Re: Train wreck

Hi Hubert

I travelled on a Pendolino recently and my first impression on boarding, was 
that it was like stepping into an airliner - narrow body, small windows, 
high seat backs, overhead luggage lockers.  I found it all a bit 
claustrophobic, especially as my reserved seat didn't even have a window! 
Looking at a blank wall from Euston to Warrington didn't appeal to me, so 
needless to say, I moved to another seat where I could actually see out.

Friday night's crash has changed my opinion of the Pendolino somewhat.
Dreadful as the accident was, I couldn't help but be impressed by the way 
the coaches stood up to the punishment, and by the very low casualties. 
Just imagine the carnage if the train had been made up of mark 1, or even 
worse, wooden-bodied stock.

It will be interesting to see whether the "faulty points" theory proves to 
be the case.

Regards
Ron

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shep" <shep.28@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 10:44 AM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: Train wreck


>
> These new Virgin trains have Italian designed 'Pendolino' coaches, built 
> in
> the UK.   They use a monocoque system of construction and have many safety
> features built in.   The pictures show the coaches spread out on a steep
> slope, but with no visible structural damage.    It would appear that this
> modern design has been a factor in keeping down the fatalities.
>
> Greetings   Hubert
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bede McCormack" <bede@xxxxxxx>
> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 4:57 AM
> Subject: [modeleng] Re: Train wreck
>
>
>> Modern trains- I imagine Virgin was running BR Mark 3 coaches? These
>> tend to scatter along the right of way rather than telescope into each
>> other.  That train was going 95mph and none of the coaches crumpled,
>> remarkable, really.  BR Mark 2s, and definitely 1s would have resulted
>> in huge fatalities... Harrow '52 was a mess with all those Mark 1s.
>> Even that crash at Selby in Yorkshire in '01 killed 'only' 10 after
>> being hit head-on by a coal train.  Yikes!  A coal train!    Recent
>> wrecks here in the States too like the Auto Train crash in Fla in '02
>> seem limited to single digit fatalities.  Too bad plane crashes don't
>> work that way... But then dumb luck must play a role, too, like in that
>> horrible 1998 wreck in Eschede, Germany. That was a bad one.
>> Now I've thoroughly depressed myself...
>> Bede in not-so-balmy Brooklyn
>>
>> On Feb 24, 2007, at 2:47 PM, Shep wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks Allen
>>>
>>> Miraculously there was only one fatality.
>>>
>>> The main line from London to Glasgow will be out of action for at
>>> least a
>>> week, while they retrieve the wreck and try to find the cause of the
>>> tragedy.
>>> At the moment a set of points is suspect.   The train was travelling at
>>> 100mph.
>>>
>>> Greetings from Hubert
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Allen Messer" <al_messer@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: "modeleng" <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 2:15 PM
>>> Subject: [modeleng] Train wreck
>>>
>>>
>>>> Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved
>>>> in the train wreck of the Virgin line.
>>>>
>>>> Al Messer
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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