The (Failed) Gold Heist of 1950 - Part II, Wizard Award Winner Options

[Guest_Don_*]

You might meet at a switch yard and hear a multitude of differences.  Switch engines sound different that freight which sound different that express passenger which sound different than mail (either passenger or freight, but usually shorter).
Steam engine whistles differ from electric diesel, but those in the business discern nuances, you and I would neve hope to hear.

Clickety clack on the track seems to be a function of the track itself as well as the age and type of rail cars or engines. Weight and speed induce characteristic noises because of resonance and dampening of vibrations at different frequencies.

What are those rails called that are pulled up steep inclines like a roller coaster climb?  

I basically know enough to get out of the way of a train announcing its right of way.

Don

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Nina,

Ah! My local has a special glass cage for me :)

J.

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Don,

Thanks for your amazing in-depth train sounds info. I now know why I'm an amateur at rhyme - I never hear all that.

Here, when the maintence people are working on the railway track, they place small detonators up-track, so as a train approaches it causes small explosions and alerst the gang. That might be an interesting one to try!

Thanks, James.

[Guest_Don_*]

Hi Don,

Thanks for your amazing in-depth train sounds info. I now know why I'm an amateur at rhyme - I never hear all that.

Here, when the maintence people are working on the railway track, they place small detonators up-track, so as a train approaches it causes small explosions and alerst the gang. That might be an interesting one to try!

Thanks, James.

As a young teenager  our neighbor worked for a railroad.  For our fourth of July celebrations he would bring home explosive caps like you described.  The were of rectangular shape (about three inches on a side per memory) convex on both sides tapering to near nothing at the four edges.  In practice they were put on the steel rails and detonated by the weight of the engine. He called them warning caps.

When he brought them home he detonated them with a sledge hammer. He was a large muscular man and his bare chest would be spotted with blood from the blasts.  As you know, they are louder than a gun shot and impressed us kids to the nth.

Don

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Don,

An ex pupil of mine made some home-made explosives and promptly (accidently) mutilated himself. Rather dangerous.

We live near a railway line so hear these detonators quite often. We also have poachers around - and the only difference is the volume (as you say).

Cheers, Don.

James.

[Guest_Don_*]

I worked as a civilian engineer in military exposive devices for several years.  Our civilian test field had several blockhouses, and the entire facility was limited to 1/4 pound of explosive per test.  Needless to say 1/4 pound of military issue is infinitely dangerous. By the same token majority of tests employed a fraction of the maximum.  Individuals would ask, have you ever taken any home?  My quick response was that the test field had multiple safety procedures and checks.  To remove explosive from that environment not only  be illegal but would be folly.

Don

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Don,

It would be mad, yes.

I've never even fired a gun (save the chained air rifles on fun fairs). We have very tight gun laws here - handguns illegal for example. But, of course, still the criminals obtain them - and still the London Police shot someone dead. Explosives - only terrorists seem able to have them.

J.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Congrats James on your wizard award winning tile!

Well done!

~Cleo :)

[Guest_Nina_*]

Hi J

Congratulations on your wizard award for this poem. Seems like Lori is tidying up the closets and discovering forgotten treasures.

Nina

[Guest_Cathy_*]

Congratulations again James!

Cathy

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Lori, Nina and Cathy - thank you all very much!

Nina - thank you for your comment - Treasure indeed! :) - Appreciated.

J.

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Congratulations again, James

Another wizard feat

Fran

[Guest_Jox_*]

Ta, Fran :)

J.

[Arnfinn]

Hi James,

Congrats re The second W.


Reminds me (explosives) when I was in Nasho's...we all (idividually)had to throw hand-grenades over a bunker wall onto a target. I was one of the few soldiers that the NCO instructers wouldn't allow to prime our own bomb (detonator). We were the clumsy ones who dropped our rifle on parade etc...They drew straws for who would accompany each us into the bunker (there were 3 of us) I drew a Crpl Ludby a tough square jawed bloke, we went into the bunker and the object of the exercise was that, I recieved the bomb from Ludby, then released the spring from the bomb and toss the projectile over a ten foot wall towards the target, then retire to a second wall in the bunker. I glanced down at Ludby priming my bomb and the poor buggers fingers were shaking. I said i said 'For ****** sake mate, toss the bloody thing, and lets get outa herel'.

Sorry James, I longing to tell that story for ages.

I hope you dont mind.


John.

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi John,

>Jo> Congrats re The second W.

Cheers, mate.

>Jo> Reminds me (explosives) when I was in Nasho's...we all (idividually)had to throw hand-grenades over a bunker wall onto a target. I was one of the few soldiers that the NCO instructers wouldn't allow to prime our own bomb (detonator). We were the clumsy ones who dropped our rifle on parade etc...They drew straws for who would accompany each us into the bunker (there were 3 of us) I drew a Crpl Ludby a tough square jawed bloke, we went into the bunker and the object of the exercise was that, I recieved the bomb from Ludby, then released the spring from the bomb and toss the projectile over a ten foot wall towards the target, then retire to a second wall in the bunker. I glanced down at Ludby priming my bomb and the poor buggers fingers were shaking. I said i said 'For ****** sake mate, toss the bloody thing, and lets get outa herel'.

ROFL! Reminds me of a "Carry On" film, if you know those. Thanks for the laugh, Arn.

>A> Sorry James, I longing to tell that story for ages.

Ta, John :)

>Jo> I hope you dont mind

No, the crit on this is long-since done, ta.

Cheers, John.

J.