Derail Operation -- *Pittsburgh Traction* Video shows this nicely!

[brathke at juno.com]

Jim,

I've always wondered about the subject you raised at the end of your
recent e-mail:

"And if we argue that a derail is still need at the new SHJ to prevent
runaways, what about a car which safely passes the derail under control
only to *run-away* seconds later.  It can then be argued that there
should be several derails in the down-hill tunnel ride!"

I remember thinking about this when I rode 5-Spring Hill inbound.  After
safely passing the derail on Itin Street, the car still had several
hundred feet of steep grade to go down before reaching the level ground
at Chestnut St.

And I thought about it again two days ago when I was driving eastbound on
I-70 in Colorado approaching Denver.  On the last downgrade before the
level ground at Denver, there are warning signs reading, "Runaway Truck
Ramp...5 miles ahead", "...4 miles ahead", etc.  The truck ramp is about
two miles before the end of the steep downgrade, so what happens if the
brakes fail in the last two-mile stretch?  I assume the rationale is that
you have to stop building runaway ramps (or derails) at SOME point.

Bob 2/26



On Fri, 25 Feb 2000 23:56:28 -0800 Jim Holland <pghpcc at pacbell.net>
writes:
>Greetings!
>
>	The function of South Hills Junction changed over the years.  

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