Re: "Load Test" Lobato Bridge

Another load to think about is brakes, which normally may never be set on the bridge, but... What if a kid or railfan is out there where he/she shouldn't be? How much more stress is caused by an emergency application, even at 5mph? It certainly is a lot different stress than a static weight!

I have seen this in real life on an NP branch. A gal tried to walk her horse across a long and tall trestle. It fell through and was high centered, all 4 legs between the ties. She frantically flagged the train, before the bridge, but it was downgrade with lots of loads and the horse was totally mangled. It was an emergency stop on a trestle and pretty scary.

Steve