Just watched a show called Smash Lab on the Discovery Channel. Whole show was devoted to the possibility of placing air bags on the front of a locomotive to minimize damage to a vehicle hit.
Used a Geep painted Fillmore & Western #3502.
First had the locomotive with some rolling stock get up to 25mph, cars were seen rocking on the track. It hit the car, measured at 7.4 G's, almost twice the G's experienced during space launch. Showed the front coupler was right where the passenger's body would have been.
About an hour of various tests done for different set-ups for the locomotive air bag device.
They went with 4 large bags on a pivot mounted on the front. Because the bags didn't deflate as planned, the car bounced and was hit a second time. It was then pushed off to one side where an embankment beside the track caused the car to flip. Did get the G's down to 4.1.
Used a Geep painted Fillmore & Western #3502.
First had the locomotive with some rolling stock get up to 25mph, cars were seen rocking on the track. It hit the car, measured at 7.4 G's, almost twice the G's experienced during space launch. Showed the front coupler was right where the passenger's body would have been.
About an hour of various tests done for different set-ups for the locomotive air bag device.
They went with 4 large bags on a pivot mounted on the front. Because the bags didn't deflate as planned, the car bounced and was hit a second time. It was then pushed off to one side where an embankment beside the track caused the car to flip.
Did get the G's down to 4.1.