Western Railroad Discussion > Discovery Channel's "Smash Lab"...Tonight 01/30/2008

Railroad themed episode dealing with grade crossing accidents.

9 PM CT.

L.G.

There are nearly 3000 railway crossing accidents each year. With more extreme experimentation, the Smash Lab team tests an idea to use giant airbags on the front of a train to push cars safely out of the way.

show description from disc

lolololol

Can't they just hit the slow motion button on the console on the SD70M? That should give them time to get out of the way. Airbags on the front end. Who are they kidding...

Not at those speed...maybe at 2 mph...

I'm not sure if I like this new show. They seem like they're trying to be like Mythbusters, but not quite pulling it off.

I agree. Mythbusters is WAYYYY better.

L.G.

smitty195 Wrote:
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> I'm not sure if I like this new show. They seem
> like they're trying to be like Mythbusters, but
> not quite pulling it off.

tomk Wrote:
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> "I'm not sure if I like this new show. They seem
> like they're trying to be like Mythbusters, but
> not quite pulling it off."
>
> The producers of "Smash Lab" recognize the
> relationship between televised crashes/explosions
> and ratings. Since most TV folks like to make
> money they're looking for ANYTHING that will
> generate/hold/increase viewership. This show is
> the equivalent of all of those
> shoot-'em-up/blow-'em-up action movies where an
> attempt is made to put butts in theater seats with
> minimal investment in writing, creativity, time,
> plot and point. Did you notice that MythBusters
> has an increasing amount of visually-spectacular
> displays, even when it has nothing to do with
> proving/disproving a particular myth?
>
> Apparently, this makes for good television - and
> in High Definition no less! It looks like most
> viewers like to watch things crash, catch on fire
> and explode. Sort of reminds me of 1960's
> television where one network would copy another
> network's show idea until everyone falls asleep
> from boredom.
>
> I say give 'em the electronic middle finger by
> flipping the channel :-)

notarb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> tomk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > "I'm not sure if I like this new show. They
> seem
> > like they're trying to be like Mythbusters, but
> > not quite pulling it off."
> >
> > The producers of "Smash Lab" recognize the
> > relationship between televised
> crashes/explosions
> > and ratings. Since most TV folks like to make
> > money they're looking for ANYTHING that will
> > generate/hold/increase viewership. This show is
> > the equivalent of all of those
> > shoot-'em-up/blow-'em-up action movies where an
> > attempt is made to put butts in theater seats
> with
> > minimal investment in writing, creativity,
> time,
> > plot and point. Did you notice that MythBusters
> > has an increasing amount of
> visually-spectacular
> > displays, even when it has nothing to do with
> > proving/disproving a particular myth?
> >
> > Apparently, this makes for good television -
> and
> > in High Definition no less! It looks like most
> > viewers like to watch things crash, catch on
> fire
> > and explode. Sort of reminds me of 1960's
> > television where one network would copy another
> > network's show idea until everyone falls asleep
> > from boredom.
> >
> > I say give 'em the electronic middle finger by
> > flipping the channel :-)


As somebody once said: "Imitation is the sincerist form of television"

I think they should work on blowing up the vehicle before it can get in front of a train. Now that would make for good television! Not to mention it would be a great deterrent to other moronic drivers who play "try and beat the train".-BMT

Just finished watching it. Just hope the FRA doesn't get any ideas. That attachment on the fron of the loco sure was ugly. For those that didn't see it, things didn't quite work the way they expected it to work. It pushed the car off the track but the car flipped.

John

watched it too I think the conclusion is this is one dumm idea

I watched it as well. I bet crews would just love to hook that airbag thing on the lead locomotive every time they head out.

roberthedgecock Wrote:
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> watched it too I think the conclusion is this is
> one dumm idea


Another quality program shot on the feelmore & westurd.

Every episode of Smash Lab that I have seen so far shows just how poorly thought-out their ideas are. Every single one of them has failed, and for predictable reasons.

I'm a Mythbusters fan (even when they get things wrong), but I agree with tomk that it's slowly devolving into a brainless display of explosions rather than actual interesting myth-busting content. Smash Lab is obviously trying to skip through any premise of scientific content to get right to the explosions and crashes as a cheap ratings-grabber.

Blechhhh.

My kids love it. Give em 'splosions and they're happy.

Now, if you can combine big explosions with big boobs, well, that'll keep me happy.

This program did point out some interesting insights into train vs vehicle collisions:

1. Trains moving at 25 mph do not stop quickly. The vehicle continues to get pounded as the train slowly comes to a stop. We all know this of course but the general public does not.
2. Even though the initial G forces were reduced by the bag, the car took a terrible beating as it was thrown off the track.
3. Attempting to move a vehicle off the tracks causes unpredictable results as the vehicle encounters terrain and track side structures such as poles and crossing gates at speed.

There are other lessons to be learned here of course. I just wanted to point out that a failure during testing is not a failure at all. The test is where expectations meet reality. Now the concept can be evaluated for future development or redesign.

I agree that "Smash Lab" depends on a lot on loud noises but this particular programs was a nice case study on how a concept is designed and tested. I hope this and similar programs helps inspire kids to become our future designers and engineers.

Thanks for listening.

PS How many of us remember "Mister Wizard"?

"Mr. Wizard"? from the 80's right?

No........try the 50's. One episode I remember in particular. Mr. Wizard placed a pile of loose asbestos over a boys hand, placed a coin (a penny I think) on the asbestos as a blast shield, then directed the flame of a torch at the coin to demonstrate the concept of insulation. Times have changed. But a good lesson.

"Loud noises and primary colors appeal to the young."

-Francis Crawford of Lymond

Winston Hill