by BlueLight » Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:23 pm
As someone who drove tankers (smooth bore, and baffeled), the driver should have known better. No doubt that the driver had to button hook his tractor to make the turn into the crossing. Now the tractor might have been streight as crossed the tracks. However, the tanker is still on an angle to the tracks as it complete its turn. If the grade was high, the dollies would have struck the ground as the tractors tandems crossed the tracks. As soon as the driver heard the sound of dollies scrapeing, he should have backed up and found another crossing. I surmise that the driver continued forward movement and got stuck. If I pulled a bonehead move like that, I would have backed it off the grade. If I could not back up then I would have kept moving foward bending the dollies till I cleared the tracks. Yes, I would have been in hot water with the company, might even be fired. However, replacing bent dollies is preferable to replacing an $85,000 tanker. Remember Rule of Life #1: Stupid is supposed to hurt!
“To alcohol - The cause of - And the solution to all of life's problems” Homer Simpson.