How much does it cost to raise a railway bridge?
Discussion
bristolbaron said:
That doesn’t fit... 
In Bristol yesterday.
I drive through there on the way to work, wondered why the Police had it closed this morning. Assumed some vagrant/XR activity. It would have been useful if they'd signed "Frogmore Street Closed" a bit further out, rather than when you actually get to it. In Bristol yesterday.There must be bus or goods vehicle drivers on here.
I simply can't understand why we have this continual problem. Bridge strikes happen multiple times a day, possibly hourly at times. Thankfully the majority a 'scrape' but still a strike nonetheless.
What is going through their minds as a professional driver when trying to take a large vehicle through a space it clearly won't fit safely through?
I simply can't understand why we have this continual problem. Bridge strikes happen multiple times a day, possibly hourly at times. Thankfully the majority a 'scrape' but still a strike nonetheless.
What is going through their minds as a professional driver when trying to take a large vehicle through a space it clearly won't fit safely through?
Rick101 said:
What is going through their minds as a professional driver when trying to take a large vehicle through a space it clearly won't fit safely through?
Probably:What's that pedestrian doing?
Is that car really trying to overtake me in a town center?
Damn this lane's narrow for me to pass that hire van coming the other way over on my side.
Where's the next turning I need?
Am I going to get there on time if I get lost here?
Damn, was I supposed to turn some place? These directions are terrible.
Christ I need a piss.
That sort of thing at a guess.
Rick101 said:
There must be bus or goods vehicle drivers on here.
I simply can't understand why we have this continual problem. Bridge strikes happen multiple times a day, possibly hourly at times. Thankfully the majority a 'scrape' but still a strike nonetheless.
What is going through their minds as a professional driver when trying to take a large vehicle through a space it clearly won't fit safely through?
I don’t think that drivers of double decker buses have much of an excuse, even if they are sent on a route that they’re not familiar with, or suddenly get diverted.I simply can't understand why we have this continual problem. Bridge strikes happen multiple times a day, possibly hourly at times. Thankfully the majority a 'scrape' but still a strike nonetheless.
What is going through their minds as a professional driver when trying to take a large vehicle through a space it clearly won't fit safely through?
I’m reasonably sure that they have a height indicator at the inside top of their windshields, 4.39 metres, or 14’ 5”, so if they come to a bridge marked 4.36 metres, they should stop.
Most of the shots you see, it’s obvious that they’ve struck a bridge at more than walking pace, if it was a bit tight, the worst case should have been to ask someone to check as you inch forward.
I once had a job transporting boats overland on an articulated low loader.
One time I was transporting a luxury speedboat across France, to Nice, and I couldn’t use the péage, (toll roads), as the truck and load were too wide.
I used the Routes Nationale, but sometimes had to go around some towns, across country.
I came across a sign saying pont bas, (low bridge), that I thought that I could “almost” do, but to be sure, I had the student that my firm had hired to drive a rental car, with a large sign on it, saying CONVOI EXCEPTIONELL, (Wide load, a French law), and asked him to climb up to the top of the boat and make sure.
With about 3 metres to go, he yelled, “Hold it Frank!”
The steering wheel of the boat was touching the roof of the bridge, I had to climb up and unbolt or maybe unscrew the wheel from the column, and even then I just made it.
When I arrived in Nice, it was checked over, then craned off, and it was signed for as okay.
I’ve often wondered why they can’t just have bright red lights on low bridges and a sensor, or a gantry with a switch for the lights 50 metres from the bridge. The reason I’ve often wondered this is I work near a low bridge and we have a lorry drive straight into it about once every two or three months. They usually end up lent over at 45 degrees, totally jammed. It’s going to just keep happening. The cost of repairs over the years must be immense, and when we have horrendous injuries like happened the other day, surely something should be done? People are going to keep making mistakes.
RobM77 said:
I’ve often wondered why they can’t just have bright red lights on low bridges and a sensor, or a gantry with a switch for the lights 50 metres from the bridge. The reason I’ve often wondered this is I work near a low bridge and we have a lorry drive straight into it about once every two or three months. They usually end up lent over at 45 degrees, totally jammed. It’s going to just keep happening. The cost of repairs over the years must be immense, and when we have horrendous injuries like happened the other day, surely something should be done? People are going to keep making mistakes.
There are bridges with such a warning system.People still drive past the red lights and hit the bridge.
Frank7 said:
I once had a job transporting boats overland on an articulated low loader.
One time I was transporting a luxury speedboat across France, to Nice, and I couldn’t use the péage, (toll roads), as the truck and load were too wide.
I used the Routes Nationale, but sometimes had to go around some towns, across country.
I came across a sign saying pont bas, (low bridge), that I thought that I could “almost” do, but to be sure, I had the student that my firm had hired to drive a rental car, with a large sign on it, saying CONVOI EXCEPTIONELL, (Wide load, a French law), and asked him to climb up to the top of the boat and make sure.
With about 3 metres to go, he yelled, “Hold it Frank!”
The steering wheel of the boat was touching the roof of the bridge, I had to climb up and unbolt or maybe unscrew the wheel from the column, and even then I just made it.
When I arrived in Nice, it was checked over, then craned off, and it was signed for as okay.
The first time you told that story, in this very thread, you weren't able to remove the steering wheel, and you had the student pull on it, or something. One time I was transporting a luxury speedboat across France, to Nice, and I couldn’t use the péage, (toll roads), as the truck and load were too wide.
I used the Routes Nationale, but sometimes had to go around some towns, across country.
I came across a sign saying pont bas, (low bridge), that I thought that I could “almost” do, but to be sure, I had the student that my firm had hired to drive a rental car, with a large sign on it, saying CONVOI EXCEPTIONELL, (Wide load, a French law), and asked him to climb up to the top of the boat and make sure.
With about 3 metres to go, he yelled, “Hold it Frank!”
The steering wheel of the boat was touching the roof of the bridge, I had to climb up and unbolt or maybe unscrew the wheel from the column, and even then I just made it.
When I arrived in Nice, it was checked over, then craned off, and it was signed for as okay.
AW111 said:
RobM77 said:
I’ve often wondered why they can’t just have bright red lights on low bridges and a sensor, or a gantry with a switch for the lights 50 metres from the bridge.
There are bridges with such a warning system.People still drive past the red lights and hit the bridge.
AW111 said:
RobM77 said:
I’ve often wondered why they can’t just have bright red lights on low bridges and a sensor, or a gantry with a switch for the lights 50 metres from the bridge. The reason I’ve often wondered this is I work near a low bridge and we have a lorry drive straight into it about once every two or three months. They usually end up lent over at 45 degrees, totally jammed. It’s going to just keep happening. The cost of repairs over the years must be immense, and when we have horrendous injuries like happened the other day, surely something should be done? People are going to keep making mistakes.
There are bridges with such a warning system.People still drive past the red lights and hit the bridge.
A new school bus run goes under a low bridge, so they took the trouble to take the bus out and check the real clearance.
Cue the first trip and the screams from the top deck as the bus approached and passed under it.
Could they run a different bus type on the service one day?
s2sol said:
Frank7 said:
I once had a job transporting boats overland on an articulated low loader.
One time I was transporting a luxury speedboat across France, to Nice, and I couldn’t use the péage, (toll roads), as the truck and load were too wide.
I used the Routes Nationale, but sometimes had to go around some towns, across country.
I came across a sign saying pont bas, (low bridge), that I thought that I could “almost” do, but to be sure, I had the student that my firm had hired to drive a rental car, with a large sign on it, saying CONVOI EXCEPTIONELL, (Wide load, a French law), and asked him to climb up to the top of the boat and make sure.
With about 3 metres to go, he yelled, “Hold it Frank!”
The steering wheel of the boat was touching the roof of the bridge, I had to climb up and unbolt or maybe unscrew the wheel from the column, and even then I just made it.
When I arrived in Nice, it was checked over, then craned off, and it was signed for as okay.
The first time you told that story, in this very thread, you weren't able to remove the steering wheel, and you had the student pull on it, or something. One time I was transporting a luxury speedboat across France, to Nice, and I couldn’t use the péage, (toll roads), as the truck and load were too wide.
I used the Routes Nationale, but sometimes had to go around some towns, across country.
I came across a sign saying pont bas, (low bridge), that I thought that I could “almost” do, but to be sure, I had the student that my firm had hired to drive a rental car, with a large sign on it, saying CONVOI EXCEPTIONELL, (Wide load, a French law), and asked him to climb up to the top of the boat and make sure.
With about 3 metres to go, he yelled, “Hold it Frank!”
The steering wheel of the boat was touching the roof of the bridge, I had to climb up and unbolt or maybe unscrew the wheel from the column, and even then I just made it.
When I arrived in Nice, it was checked over, then craned off, and it was signed for as okay.
I remember that initially I tried to remove the boat’s steering wheel, but that also the kid with me got into the boat’s cockpit, tied a rope through the wheel, and pulled down on it, to lower it from touching the underside of the bridge, maybe I loosened it enough for that to be done, I honestly can’t recall.
I just remembered that we’d done something with the boat’s wheel to get the truck under the bridge.
Ultimately, I was trying with the post that you quoted, to illustrate that inching through slowly, with another pair of eyes helping, is infinitely better than just slowing down, crossing your fingers, and hoping not to hear a bang.
There is a bridge under the A38 local to me where it has gone from being unmarked for donkeys years (ie over 16'6") to now having a height restriction on it, the exact restriction height escapes me without going to have a look.
Anyway we've discussed this at work and dismissing the possibilities that the bridge has sunk or the road surface has got thicker, the only conclusion that we can come to is because as you go under this bridge you immediately rise up to go over the canal bridge next to it, maybe with the introduction of these 15.65 metre long artic trailers, the extra length means that you can no longer clear 16'6" for the full length of these newly legislated vehicles on our UK roads.
Anyway we've discussed this at work and dismissing the possibilities that the bridge has sunk or the road surface has got thicker, the only conclusion that we can come to is because as you go under this bridge you immediately rise up to go over the canal bridge next to it, maybe with the introduction of these 15.65 metre long artic trailers, the extra length means that you can no longer clear 16'6" for the full length of these newly legislated vehicles on our UK roads.
saaby93 said:
The height warning signs are not accurate either - some drivers 'know' there is an extra foot over that indicated.
Probably the same type of drivers that 'know' they've got time to pass flashing reds at a Level Crossing.I'm not one for pointless rules, but some rules are worth taking note of.
I can't imagine the bus driver above will be feeling particulally clever. It's okay saying everyone makes mistakes with a nonchalant shrug, but if it was 15 decapitated school kids we were talking about, I'm not sure the feeling would be the same.
Steve_D said:
One of the kids onboard said they realised the driver was not on their normal route. It also seems this may have been first day back to school.
So, quite likely new driver and possibly does not normally drive a double decker.
Steve
I KNOW that you’re not excusing the driver Steve, but as I mentioned before, a double decker will usually have a height notice in the driver’s compartment, e.g., if it says “this bus is 4.4 metres high”, and there’s a sign just before the bridge, saying this bridge has a clearance of 4.1 metres, then you don’t proceed.So, quite likely new driver and possibly does not normally drive a double decker.
Steve
I’m guessing that a lot of drivers either just don’t look at any height notice in their cab, or see the bridge, and nonchalantly think, “meh, I can get under that.”
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