Topic: Australian Road Trains

[72 yellow]

Saw a program on the Speed Channel tonight on these road monsters.  150 foot long triples. Unbelievable.

[754]

 Were they Western Stars..

 I have built quite a few parts and tooling for them..

[mick7504]

Western Stars, Macks and Kenworths are the 3 main prime movers used to haul up North here.
The old original Macks are still the icon of the north with the chromed Bulldog on the bonnet.
Back in the '80s we used to do a lot testing and modifying with air circuits on the brake systems to speed up application and release times on the Shell roadtrains.
Just south of Darwin are some old airstrips that were used during WW2 and this is where we use to do the testing as well as our ritual Friday nights unofficially drag racing bikes. 
Mick
http://outbacktowing.tripod.com/

[Terry in Australia]

That's right mate, they're huge. The mines use much longer ones with 6 or more trailers for moving ore, and the rear trailer is also often powered by another big diesel engine, to push the road train along, and to help reverse it. Cheers, Terry.

[Bob Wessner]

It's been a while, but I remember seeing these on a show once. Pretty impressive on the move, but I also remember thinking, how well can you stop one of these in any sort of controlled (e.g. accident avoidance) manner. I'm assuming their use is restricted to some pretty remote, low traffic density areas? 

I would hate to see them here in the U.S., too many dumb texters and cell phone users. I've never seen anything longer than double bottoms (two trailers) here in the east and mid-west.

[Fabricator]

Cool stuff.  IIRC a man named R.G. LeTourneau received a patent for the steering mechanism of a seriously long road train.  He designed it initially for the military, but I never saw much after him.  (I went to LeTourneau University for a semester in the mid 90's.

Fabricator

[mark]

...... I'm assuming their use is restricted to some pretty remote, low traffic density areas? 

I would hate to see them here in the U.S., too many dumb texters and cell phone users. I've never seen anything longer than double bottoms (two trailers) here in the east and mid-west.

Triples are legal here in OR.

[Bob Wessner]

...... I'm assuming their use is restricted to some pretty remote, low traffic density areas? 

I would hate to see them here in the U.S., too many dumb texters and cell phone users. I've never seen anything longer than double bottoms (two trailers) here in the east and mid-west.

Triples are legal here in OR.

Interesting, thanks.

[flybox1]

saw that last night too.  crazy sht!
there is no such thing as accident avoidance in one of those...

[Bob Wessner]

saw that last night too.  crazy sht!
there is no such thing as accident avoidance in one of those...

I agree. I think if I ever encounter one, I'll make sure I'm behind it rather than in front of it. 

[DammitDan]

In the days BEFORE texting... 

[754]

 That early train looks like pre 20 hard tire Macks?

Try a mile behind it (the Aussie trains) unless you like driving in dust..

 Utah and I thnk Nevada has triples.. Between Calgary and Edmonton AB they used triples.
 When I was doing work at the Western Star plant they talked of  some small rail operators that ran Western Stars on tracks, cheaper than locomotives for small volume hauling..

 I built all the fixtures x2,  they use for roof drilling and back of cab, etc.. when the Western Star plant left here and production all moved to Portland.. I used to work on those a lot in the plant, many mods and changes as new  parts came and went..

[DammitDan]

Site said photo is of two Mack triples taken in 1928.  Not too shabby 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Lots of triples in Colorado. Seems like they are mostly UPS and FredEx Few others. It's interesting following them in our winds of 50+mph. Look like a wiggling snake. I usually wait to pass 

[72 yellow]

In Michigan we only only have the gravel and sand trains.  Doubles only.  When empty the pup in the rear does the highway hula at freeway speeds.