bretylium wrote:Desertdweller wrote:Wheel chocks and portable derails can fail if struck by cars moving faster than walking speed. The things are made of cast iron and simply break off. I've also seen wheels hit flip-type derails, hop over them, and land back on the rail.
The only things I've always seen work are split-point derails (basically a switch with only one point and a frog) or a sturdy bumping post.
Les
We have an engineer who ran over flip derail, didn't even derail then reported the derail as defective to management. Needless to say he blew himself in and his conductor was pissed, but this guy isn't quite right to begin with....
I've seen it too. I posted it elsewhere on RR.net, but I was working WA-6 (near Lane) in Waverly yard, Newark, NJ. A drill crew asked for permission to come down, said he didn't need the switch for the main track. I said OK, watched them pull down, when the engine went bump bump and stopped with the hop toad derail under the center of it. The lead truck had gone over it and stayed on the rail. I reversed the switch, which took the derail off. Lucky me.