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Western Railroad Discussion > Coil covers that blew off at GaviotaDate: 07/12/06 20:22 Coil covers that blew off at Gaviota Author: pdt Here are pix of the coil covers that were blown off a moving train at
the Gaviota trestle, here in central Calif. last week. Winds out of the north get pretty strong here as they are funneled down a canyon to the ocean at Gaviota state beach. 3rd photo is of UP workers fixing bridge railings that were broken by the flying coil covers. It's about a 80 to 100ft drop from the trestle. Luckily, no one was hurt.    Date: 07/12/06 20:49 Re: Coil covers that blew off at Gaviota Author: puckeringswine U.P. was lucky no one was on the beach. Those Sundowner winds are strong enough to lean Superliners seaward at speed, so I am not surprised.
Date: 07/14/06 12:45 Re: Coil covers that blew off at Gaviota Author: CimaScrambler Here is a link to an interesting paper on the Santa Barbara coast Sundowner Winds.
http://ams.allenpress.com/amsonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0434(1998)013%3C0702:TSWOSB%3E2.0.CO%3B2 Especially interesting is the quote from an 1869 book about one such event that occured ten years earlier: The only incident of the simoom1 on this coast, mentioned either in its history or traditions, was that occurring at Santa Barbara, on Friday, the 17th of June 1859. The temperature during the morning was between 75° and 80°, and gradually and regularly increased until about one oclock p.m., when a blast of hot air from the northwest swept suddenly over the town and struck the inhabitants with terror. It was quickly followed by others. At two oclock the thermometer exposed to the air rose to 133°F, and continued at or near that point for nearly three hours, whilst the burning wind raised dense clouds of impalpable dust. No human being could withstand the heat. All betook themselves to their dwellings and carefully closed every door and window. The thick adobe walls would have required days to have become warmed, and were consequently an admirable protection. Calves, rabbits, birds, etc., were killed; trees were blighted; fruit was blasted and fell to the ground, burned only on one side; and gardens were ruined. At five oclock the thermometer fell to 122°, and at seven it stood at 77°. A fisherman, in the channel in an open boat, came back with his arms badly blistered. |