On Sat, 20 Nov 2004 09:14:30 -0000, "Steve" wrote:
I can't think why anyone would want to stage something like this (OK, I know, it is Ireland.....), but that has set me wondering about a couple of things. First, where was the driver? presume he was operating the hiab from the water side of the wagon (can't see him on the other side), not a nice place to be when it flipped over although of course that wouldn't have happened instantaneously. Second, trying to think of what would have caused it to tip right over I can only think that a valve on the Hiab controls must have jammed open (or have been deliberately held open). Yes the load would have been reducing as water ran out of the car, but if the lifting was accellerated that would have increased the effective load, but I'd have expected the driver to realise something was going wrong in time to stop lifting, before reaching the point of no return. I may be wrong there, perhaps once the wagon's wheels come off the ground it's almost too late as the counterweight moment will start to reduce slightly. Perhaps the driver swung the load out instead of in when it was high enough to clear the quay? The wagon is at a greater angle in the third pic than the second, suggesting that he's lifting the load faster or just possibly the outrigger ram is loising fluid. Third, what are the two ropes dangling from the car as it comes out of the water? There may be an innocent explanation, perhaps something to do with the opereation og getting a sling round it, but they just might be anchored to something heavier under the water.....
Cheers Tim