Sample Post of Text Formatting with Pictures & .gifs

[Pete Masterson]

That's a cute story -- and correct as far as the standard gauge rail spacing. However, the size of the rockets, if they moved by rail (as is likely) are limited by a specification called "Plate C" that sets the standard for the maximum size for all rail cars and shipments throughout the U.S. for _unrestricted_ movements. There are also (smaller) "Plate B" requirements that apply to certain northeastern railroad lines. 

The rockets were made in Utah and there are many routes that do not require passing through any tunnel to get from Utah to Cape Canaveral -- but "Plate C" requirements are everywhere. Trackside structures, overpasses, tunnels, and bridges all comply (at a minimum) to Plate C standards. However, extra wide loads can be accommodated by rail ("exceeds Plate C") but special routing and extra costs apply. So, building a rocket to fit within the Plate C requirements is simply good sense and a considerable savings to the taxpayers. 

Likewise, our Blue Birds _could_ be 12' wide... but we'd have to get special passes and have "wide load" pilot cars with us where we travelled. Hardly practical.

Super-sized shipments do regularly move by rail, including "nuclear reactor vessels" that have moved from manufacturing facilities (in Pennsylvania) to nuclear power plants in years past. These were truly huge components that often required moving telephone poles and other trackside fixtures -- and also were moved by specially assigned engines and crews to carefully handle these expensive and extremely heavy devices. Indeed, the nuclear reactor vessels that went to the PG&E plant near San Luis Obispo were actually moved by rail to the LA harbor, then transferred to barge to bring up the coast because there was a tunnel that could not accommodate the shipment, blocking an all-rail route.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jan 12, 2008, at 1:54 PM, Michael Bulriss wrote:

If I did this correctly, this post is for example of what is possible with the new features.  It is not meant to encourage jokes or trivia to be posted to the forum.
Reminder:  You will only see the gifs and jpgs if you receive individual emails.  If you are on digest format, you should see plain text.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

      A bit of trivia!         Railroads  <snip>