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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 12,244 Likes: 12
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 12,244 Likes: 12 |
There was a time when my uncle was losing a mailbox every week or two. Kids in cars with bats were the problem. He rebuilt the post for the mailbox with brick and mortar, with a large shiny brand new mail box perched right on top. It was a beautiful job, and it was no more than 2 days before the first attack.
In the morning, there was found half a wooden bat, a lot of automotive glass, and a small scuff in the side of the mailbox. You see, when he mounted the box, he did so by in embedding a large piece of 1/2" steel angle 6" × the length of the mailbox , into the brick column, cut a 1/2" slot in the bottom of the mailbox on the right side, and attached the mailbox with liquid nails, slid over the angle.
No one ever got caught, but it never happened again either. My mailboxes (on treated 4x4's) have been run over by fools failing to maintain control of their vehicles twice in the past two years. No payment / reimbursement from either driver. Last rebuild went in on treated 6x6 set in concrete. If they blow through the PT 6x6, I will throw a white oak log on the saw mill for the next iteration.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 904
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
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i set 4 t posts and mounted a board with u bolts between the posts. the mail box is mounted on the board so the t posts are a few inches above the mail box.
haven't lost a box since I built that 10 years ago.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,653 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,653 Likes: 5 |
Anyone else betting that the brain damage was done before he got to the tracks?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,436 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,436 Likes: 2 |
What is going to be the cost to fix stupid ? Methinks he fixed it himself!
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260 |
UP will end up paying a claim just to get rid of him. Actually, no, they won't. UP never settles out of court on trespasser cases (which includes crossing accidents) and they have very good lawyers. Used to be common practice to settle, but the lawsuits got too popular and expensive. He won't be getting a dime from UP unless he can prove that the train swerved off the tracks to hit him.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260 |
There was a time when my uncle was losing a mailbox every week or two. Kids in cars with bats were the problem. He rebuilt the post for the mailbox with brick and mortar, with a large shiny brand new mail box perched right on top. It was a beautiful job, and it was no more than 2 days before the first attack.
In the morning, there was found half a wooden bat, a lot of automotive glass, and a small scuff in the side of the mailbox. You see, when he mounted the box, he did so by in embedding a large piece of 1/2" steel angle 6" × the length of the mailbox , into the brick column, cut a 1/2" slot in the bottom of the mailbox on the right side, and attached the mailbox with liquid nails, slid over the angle.
No one ever got caught, but it never happened again either. My mailboxes (on treated 4x4's) have been run over by fools failing to maintain control of their vehicles twice in the past two years. No payment / reimbursement from either driver. Last rebuild went in on treated 6x6 set in concrete. If they blow through the PT 6x6, I will throw a white oak log on the saw mill for the next iteration. We did battle with the mailbox bashers here about 20 years ago. I finally mounted ours on a 6x6 steel post, set in concrete, with same steel stock for tee platform and steel guard over the box. I saw one scuff mark soon after. That had to hurt. Never had another problem, until recently. Couple of neighborhood race care drivers were having a contest on our road. One lost control and attempted to drive over our mailbox. He made it about halfway. Uprooted the post. Car was stuck on top of it when it stopped. That car will never run again. We dug a new hole and replanted the post (with more concrete). Gave it some new paint, which was all it needed. That was worth the laugh.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 8,109
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 8,109 |
There was a time when my uncle was losing a mailbox every week or two. Kids in cars with bats were the problem. He rebuilt the post for the mailbox with brick and mortar, with a large shiny brand new mail box perched right on top. It was a beautiful job, and it was no more than 2 days before the first attack.
In the morning, there was found half a wooden bat, a lot of automotive glass, and a small scuff in the side of the mailbox. You see, when he mounted the box, he did so by in embedding a large piece of 1/2" steel angle 6" × the length of the mailbox , into the brick column, cut a 1/2" slot in the bottom of the mailbox on the right side, and attached the mailbox with liquid nails, slid over the angle.
No one ever got caught, but it never happened again either. My mailboxes (on treated 4x4's) have been run over by fools failing to maintain control of their vehicles twice in the past two years. No payment / reimbursement from either driver. Last rebuild went in on treated 6x6 set in concrete. If they blow through the PT 6x6, I will throw a white oak log on the saw mill for the next iteration. We did battle with the mailbox bashers here about 20 years ago. I finally mounted ours on a 6x6 steel post, set in concrete, with same steel stock for tee platform and steel guard over the box. I saw one scuff mark soon after. That had to hurt. Never had another problem, until recently. Couple of neighborhood race care drivers were having a contest on our road. One lost control and attempted to drive over our mailbox. He made it about halfway. Uprooted the post. Car was stuck on top of it when it stopped. That car will never run again. We dug a new hole and replanted the post (with more concrete). Gave it some new paint, which was all it needed. That was worth the laugh. Cheap race car deterant.
An unemployed Jester, is nobody's Fool.
the only real difference between a good tracker and a bad tracker, is observation. all the same data is present for both. The rest, is understanding what you're seeing.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,392
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,392 |
I like to see pics of the damage done to the train ...please...
I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,527 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,527 Likes: 1 |
I'd like to know what his blood / alcohol reading was.... I'm sure they checked for that and also the presence of drugs. Pretty sure that one or both played a factor in this.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,938 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,938 Likes: 11 |
There was a time when my uncle was losing a mailbox every week or two. Kids in cars with bats were the problem. He rebuilt the post for the mailbox with brick and mortar, with a large shiny brand new mail box perched right on top. It was a beautiful job, and it was no more than 2 days before the first attack.
In the morning, there was found half a wooden bat, a lot of automotive glass, and a small scuff in the side of the mailbox. You see, when he mounted the box, he did so by in embedding a large piece of 1/2" steel angle 6" × the length of the mailbox , into the brick column, cut a 1/2" slot in the bottom of the mailbox on the right side, and attached the mailbox with liquid nails, slid over the angle.
No one ever got caught, but it never happened again either. My mailboxes (on treated 4x4's) have been run over by fools failing to maintain control of their vehicles twice in the past two years. No payment / reimbursement from either driver. Last rebuild went in on treated 6x6 set in concrete. If they blow through the PT 6x6, I will throw a white oak log on the saw mill for the next iteration. Years ago, my hometown put up a school crossing sign at an intersection that was used by many kids. It was a 55-gallon drum with the sign mounted on a bracket on top of it. The local horse shoe courts were by the intersection. It quickly became great sport for the young automotive ashwholes to take a run at the barrel and send it spinning. Some of the shoers quietly filled the barrel with sand one night and took great delight at the results of the next attempt at bump and fly.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260 |
There was a time when my uncle was losing a mailbox every week or two. Kids in cars with bats were the problem. He rebuilt the post for the mailbox with brick and mortar, with a large shiny brand new mail box perched right on top. It was a beautiful job, and it was no more than 2 days before the first attack.
In the morning, there was found half a wooden bat, a lot of automotive glass, and a small scuff in the side of the mailbox. You see, when he mounted the box, he did so by in embedding a large piece of 1/2" steel angle 6" × the length of the mailbox , into the brick column, cut a 1/2" slot in the bottom of the mailbox on the right side, and attached the mailbox with liquid nails, slid over the angle.
No one ever got caught, but it never happened again either. My mailboxes (on treated 4x4's) have been run over by fools failing to maintain control of their vehicles twice in the past two years. No payment / reimbursement from either driver. Last rebuild went in on treated 6x6 set in concrete. If they blow through the PT 6x6, I will throw a white oak log on the saw mill for the next iteration. Years ago, my hometown put up a school crossing sign at an intersection that was used by many kids. It was a 55-gallon drum with the sign mounted on a bracket on top of it. The local horse shoe courts were by the intersection. It quickly became great sport for the young automotive ashwholes to take a run at the barrel and send it spinning. Some of the shoers quietly filled the barrel with sand one night and took great delight at the results of the next attempt at bump and fly. Yeah, that works. Used to live in a neighborhood with a back alley. Trash cans were put out there for pickup. High school kids took to racing down the ally with their trucks and knocking over the cans. Next door neighbor was out back one day filling has trash can with the garden hose. They hit the cans one more time.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,960 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,960 Likes: 8 |
...probably, but I've known guys from around here who would attempt that sober. Seems less crazy than picking a knife fight with a grizzly just to get the claws, but people did that too tho about half died trying. Seems like you'd have to be somewhat coordinated to pull this off, after all he did make contact with the train with the bat as planned with no problem, it was what followed immediately afterwards that turned out to be the problem, by which time things had got out of hand.
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 332
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 332 |
A few years before I retired I witnessed a locomotive pulling coal cars hit a triaxel on a crossing in our plant. It knocked the diesel engine out of the truck and the engine ran for about 5 minutes while laying beside the tracks. You don't mess with a train.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,436 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,436 Likes: 2 |
Dad had a mailbox get run over a few times - figured he'd mount it on an easily replaceable platform.
A couple of "minor hits" later (think reposition said mail box), some kids haulin' azz centered said mail box, post, and the semi rim he'd mounted it on.
Their (totaled) car wound up on the other side of the road - also our property - in a grove of small aspen trees.
The perpetrator did NOT escape that time!
Also, it never got hit again for years.
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260 |
Seems like you'd have to be somewhat coordinated to pull this off, after all he did make contact with the train with the bat as planned with no problem, it was what followed immediately afterwards that turned out to be the problem, by which time things had got out of hand.
I gotta say, that's one of the crazier things you've written, Birdy. It's not like the train could bob & weave like Ali. Floats like a butterfly? Nah...never seen one do that.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 28,265 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 28,265 Likes: 3 |
am 1200 San Antonio WOAI
LOCAL NEWS
Man Critical After He Tried to Hit a Moving Train With a Metal Bat
posted by Jim Forsyth -
Aug 31, 2018
17
You've heard of somebody being hurt by being hit by a train. Police say a man is in critical condition with injuries he suffered early today when he tried to hit a train, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Police say for some reason the man, in his late twenties, was standing on the railroad tracks along Frio City Road on the southwest side about 12:30 this morning.
When a Union Pacific freight train passed, the man apparently tried to hit the train with some sort of metal bat.
The force of the moving train pushed the bat back at the man.
The man tried to stumble away, and made it as far as the 400 block of Brady, about two blocks away, before collapsing.
He suffered major head injuries and a broken arm, and was rushed to SAMMC in extremely critical condition. And he probably votes.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,240 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,240 Likes: 2 |
we had a 21 year old in town try and touch a moving train last week. the suction of the passing train pulled him under and he was killed. sad and dumb way to go.
...Actually Sycamore, you are sort of right....
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,960 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,960 Likes: 8 |
Seems like you'd have to be somewhat coordinated to pull this off, after all he did make contact with the train with the bat as planned with no problem, it was what followed immediately afterwards that turned out to be the problem, by which time things had got out of hand.
I gotta say, that's one of the crazier things you've written, Birdy. It's not like the train could bob & weave like Ali. Floats like a butterfly? Nah...never seen one do that. The last time I heard of someone reaching out to touch a passing train it was a 14yo girl, and as in Sycamore’s post she was sucked in by the winds generated by the passing cars and killed. But, I know where this baseball bat thing happened and likely the train was going about 15 mph, so suction into the rain was likely not a problem. OK, so take a yardstick in broad daylight and reach out and merely touch a passing train. The rail bed will be composed of small rocks created by crushing some parent rock material hence the rocks will be sharp-edged and irregular. Furthermore, the rail bed will slope sharply up to the tracks and ties, creating a surface not always easy to stand on much less move around and swing a bat on. Now, repeat that stunt at 12:30 in the morning.
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 8,109
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 8,109 |
One of the best teachers I ever had, told a tale from his youth. It seemed to be a right of passage for young men to dive between the wheels of a passing train, then out the other side. Once in, you had to get out or you would be hit and killed by a "tie counter" in the caboose. Many lost fingers and one guy lost an arm. Several died. Those folks who eat Tide pods, try boiling water challenges, and get shot through books as homemade armor, are nothing new. They just found a new way to attempt suicide.
An unemployed Jester, is nobody's Fool.
the only real difference between a good tracker and a bad tracker, is observation. all the same data is present for both. The rest, is understanding what you're seeing.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,260 |
Seems like you'd have to be somewhat coordinated to pull this off, after all he did make contact with the train with the bat as planned with no problem, it was what followed immediately afterwards that turned out to be the problem, by which time things had got out of hand.
I gotta say, that's one of the crazier things you've written, Birdy. It's not like the train could bob & weave like Ali. Floats like a butterfly? Nah...never seen one do that. The last time I heard of someone reaching out to touch a passing train it was a 14yo girl, and as in Sycamore’s post she was sucked in by the winds generated by the passing cars and killed. But, I know where this baseball bat thing happened and likely the train was going about 15 mph, so suction into the rain was likely not a problem. OK, so take a yardstick in broad daylight and reach out and merely touch a passing train. The rail bed will be composed of small rocks created by crushing some parent rock material hence the rocks will be sharp-edged and irregular. Furthermore, the rail bed will slope sharply up to the tracks and ties, creating a surface not always easy to stand on much less move around and swing a bat on. Now, repeat that stunt at 12:30 in the morning. I can tell you unequivocally that it takes no skill at all to whack a passing train with a bat, at any speed below about 40mph. Obviously, living to talk about it afterward is another matter.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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