Saturday, November 02, 2024
A 14-year-old won $10,000 for his award-winning investigation into train derailments.
The project won his regional science fair, then took him to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, where he competed with 29 other middle schoolers.
He also chose a research topic that resonates across the US. Last year there were 1,301 train derailments across the country, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration.
As he studied the trains there, he paid special attention to the giant springs in their suspension systems. Some of the springs were brand new, while others were old and rusty and had visibly collapsed over time, with less space between each coil.
he built three sets of model railroad tracks out of foam and fitted them with three different types of springs: fresh new springs, midlife springs, and old, worn-out springs. This mimicked the different suspension systems he'd seen at the train tracks near his home.
Then Montelongo ran a model train on the different sets of tracks, measuring the vibration and bounce in the springs. He then attached weights to the train to see how an unevenly distributed load would affect the tracks.
"All the springs that were completely worn out were really bouncy and shaky," he said.
"Those caused a lot of derailments," especially when the train was carrying uneven weight, he added.
I'll just throw a wild ass guess out there... the train companies already KNOW this causes derailments, but claim it's too expensive to prevent by replacing springs
there's a pedestrian bridge in the South Side of Chicago that recently hit the news... because bikers are using it.
Back in 2021, CBS News Chicago reporter Meredith Barack reported on the same problem of motor vehicles taking over the 41st Street pedestrian bridge. Neighbors cannot understand how and why the problem continues.
Residents said part of the problem is that security gates on the bridge are still open after 10 p.m., leaving the bridge wide open for motorcyclists to get onto. The neighbors said maybe if the city would lock the gates at night, it would prevent the problem.
eight retired former-Metrolink F59PHI locomotives, rendered inoperable were sent south to México’s San Luis Potosà shops for rebuilding for use on a new passenger operation
Even the best locomotives wear out, or with the implementation of stricter air quality standards, become unusable. Tired, with engines unable to be retrofitted to meet newer air standards, they were sidelined and ultimately sold.
Denver food trucks are officially barred from parking in the prime business area in Lower Downtown on weekend nights to curb downtown violence... through there is no connection between the gourmet food trucks, and crime
The decision was outlined in a notice handed to food truck owners, titled "Food Truck Exclusion Zone." It went into effect on Sept. 5.
DPD said it is part of a broader effort to enhance safety following a series of downtown shootings. DPD contends that the presence of food trucks contributes to violence, as people leaving bars in the LoDo district often congregate around them, leading to altercations.
In July, DPD also implemented designated rideshare pickup zones with similar safety.
A similar measure was implemented after a downtown shooting in 2022, and many food truck owners say they barely survived the fallout. Numerous operators watched as some fellow food truck businesses were forced to shut down due to the impact.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/denver-police-ban-food-trucks-lodo/73-3dd44d85-c226-44a9-ac47-d4c354f0e019
officials haven’t provided clear data on the effectiveness of the policy, food truck operators are voicing concerns over declining sales.
"If there is a shooting, they come close the food trucks. If there is a fight, they come close the food trucks. They don't close the nightclubs. They don't close the bars… They have to blame something. Who's the easy target? It’s the food truck,” he said.
9NEWS asked the Denver Police Department (DPD) for crime data, which showed there were 11 fewer calls for service in the area during the same September-October period last year when food trucks were still allowed to park.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/denver-food-truck-exclusion-zone-crime/73-e211db5a-2d63-4c56-af44-746024d5561f
Here's a theory... lower downtown restaurants don't want the competition from food trucks, and pressured the city to move the trucks out of the prime area for getting walk up customers
DPD said it is part of a broader effort to enhance safety following a series of downtown shootings. DPD contends that the presence of food trucks contributes to violence, as people leaving bars in the LoDo district often congregate around them, leading to altercations.
In July, DPD also implemented designated rideshare pickup zones with similar safety.
A similar measure was implemented after a downtown shooting in 2022, and many food truck owners say they barely survived the fallout. Numerous operators watched as some fellow food truck businesses were forced to shut down due to the impact.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/denver-police-ban-food-trucks-lodo/73-3dd44d85-c226-44a9-ac47-d4c354f0e019
officials haven’t provided clear data on the effectiveness of the policy, food truck operators are voicing concerns over declining sales.
"If there is a shooting, they come close the food trucks. If there is a fight, they come close the food trucks. They don't close the nightclubs. They don't close the bars… They have to blame something. Who's the easy target? It’s the food truck,” he said.
9NEWS asked the Denver Police Department (DPD) for crime data, which showed there were 11 fewer calls for service in the area during the same September-October period last year when food trucks were still allowed to park.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/denver-food-truck-exclusion-zone-crime/73-e211db5a-2d63-4c56-af44-746024d5561f
Here's a theory... lower downtown restaurants don't want the competition from food trucks, and pressured the city to move the trucks out of the prime area for getting walk up customers
U.K. police found four stolen Mercedes in a shipping container, leading to the recovery of $8.3 million in missing sports and luxury cars in Thailand, some were stolen as long as 8 years ago
They were initially purchased using fraudulent means before being quickly air-freighted to Bangkok, where they were then sold again through actual dealerships.
Why cars from the U.K., though? The fact that they’re right-hand drive, like Thai cars
Most of the vehicles were mid-to-high-end sports cars, like Nissan GT-Rs, BMW M4s, and Porsche Boxsters. There was even a Civic Type R and Mustang convertible in the mix. However, the indisputable crown jewel of the collection was a Lamborghini Huracan Spyder. Most were taken from dealers, but the Lambo was stolen from someone who ran a supercar rental business.
Why cars from the U.K., though? The fact that they’re right-hand drive, like Thai cars
Most of the vehicles were mid-to-high-end sports cars, like Nissan GT-Rs, BMW M4s, and Porsche Boxsters. There was even a Civic Type R and Mustang convertible in the mix. However, the indisputable crown jewel of the collection was a Lamborghini Huracan Spyder. Most were taken from dealers, but the Lambo was stolen from someone who ran a supercar rental business.
Jamie Kitman is still writing, and now, is adding an column to Hagerty... it's been a while since I've seen his articles, as Automobile Magazine tanked, and I don't subscribe to Road and Track anymore
Automobile Magazine was one of my favorites!
He also had columns in Autoweek, Jalopnik, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Politico, The Nation, Harper's, and Vanity Fair
Friday, November 01, 2024
Two longtime truckers with more than 10 million miles between them have embarked on a cross-country trip from Seattle to Washington D.C. with the Capitol’s Christmas tree in tow.
John Schank and veteran transporter Fred Austin are the ones taking on the big job for Lynden Transport. This specific 74-foot Sitka Spruce was harvested from Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, and the harvest celebration just wrapped up in the town of Ketchikan. (I've been there, in the fjord there at least, it's near a Navy testing area, SEAFAC)
John Schank has 40 years of service on the Dalton Highway connecting Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay. Schank has racked up 6.1 million miles of accident-free driving
Fred Austin is a seasoned pro apparently nicknamed “Icon of the Alcan” for his experience on the Alaskan Highway, which connects the state to the contiguous U.S. by running through Canada. He started in 1975 when construction began on the Alaska oil pipeline in Fairbanks, and now, at 90 years old now with roughly 4 million miles under his belt, he’s a driver trainer and mentor at the logistics firm’s training center.
Lynden’s sister company Alaska Marine Lines then shipped it via barge to Seattle where the tree and trailer hitched up to the duo’s Kenworth T680. It’s now on the way to the U.S. Capitol Building’s West Lawn
Opened in 1956, Cedar Hill Roller Rink (Texas) has the unique distinction of being the oldest continually operating roller skating rink in Texas, and the oldest continually operating business in Cedar Hill.
David “Super Dave” Candanoza, has worked the front entrance, the concession stand, the skate counter, being the DJ and also the game announcer. He bought the rink in 2006. Dave is undoubtably the heart and soul of the rink.
