Railroad Question

[CreekyB]

I've seen those You Tube Videos. What happens if they burst a hose during a critical moment? I can't believe health and safety approve of such practices.

That contractor (Herzog) runs the rail here at work. Those machines see an amazing level of maintenance and inspection. Not that you won't still bust a hose that doesn't look bad.... Statistically, crawling into a rail car with a backhoe is among the safest of the things they do in M.O.W. operations.

 

[Stimw]

I've seen them staging cross ties for replacement picking them from the car and placing them on the side of the track.
Fun to watch!

 

[ArlyA]

I was a carman for about 5 years. (worked on cars) While doing that and living along a main line, one summer a steel gang train came to town and switched one set tracks to ribbon. Seen many interesting things being done. This line seen a full train every 20 minutes. It of course was a double or 2 sets of tracks.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My thinking is this. I am told that I should not work under loader. Why? I am guessing, because a hose may burst. But these guys can move a machine around, high in the air, relying totally on the integrity of their hydraulics. I just find that strange. I would not want to be in a 580K that falls sideways off of a rail car wearing a seat belt or not.

Yes, there can be stringent maintenance. But let's say the hose fitting die isn't right for the manufacturer of the particular hose, and suddenly the (new) replacement is an accident waiting to happen. I've heard about such things.

 

[Egon]

My thinking is this. I am told that I should not work under loader. Why? I am guessing, because a hose may burst. But these guys can move a machine around, high in the air, relying totally on the integrity of their hydraulics. I just find that strange. I would not want to be in a 580K that falls sideways off of a rail car wearing a seat belt or not.

Yes, there can be stringent maintenance. But let's say the hose fitting die isn't right for the manufacturer of the particular hose, and suddenly the (new) replacement is an accident waiting to happen. I've heard about such things.

Hydraulics designed with check valves.

 

[LD1]

Yep, makes me wonder if (in the interest of safety) that use piloted check valves.

Same thing aerial lift equipment uses (and probably cranes too). Wouldnt be hard to add that to the loader and outriggers. Then the only way of failure would be mechanical failure of the cylinder rod or cylinder barrel.

Anytime working up high....there is always a risk of some type of failure.