Tractors behaving badly

[TheMan419]

Bridgehunter.com | O'Neal Bridge

Some specs on the bridge. Looks like the deck was only 16 ft wide. Looking at the news articles and the pictures in the above link one approach to the bridge is a curve. So it might be that he took it too close or too wide and hit the abutment. Vertical clearance is reported to be 16ft as well so height likely not an issue.

It was built in 1892. So in today's world it would be a one lane bridge. Two cars could likely pass on it, but not Semi's.....

 

[Creamer]

I cannot imagine any farmer not being careful about starting a cross a bridge like that with any piece of equipment as it is wider than the tractor and you make sure you are centered in the superstructure because you do not want to damage the piece of equipment.

Having said that I do know of a farmer 35 years ago that was driving a versatile 4WD with a large chisel plow across a bridge with a superstructure near Valley City, ND that had been across the bridge many times before but forgot that this was a new, larger chisel plow that stuck up higher and caught the superstructure bringing the tractor and to an almost instant stop.

 

[mcfarmall]

Yeah, I grew up not far from there...

I'm sure modern bridges are stronger but most don't have the character of these old structures. There is a bridge park/museum off I-94 between Battle Creek and Marshall that is nice to visit.

There's also a historic Camel Back bridge in Mottville, MI on US-12. MDOT built a new, modern structure alongside the old one and now it's a historical site. You can walk or ride bike across the old one.

 

[bcp]

I cannot imagine any farmer not being careful ....

But many tractor drivers aren't farmers.

Bruce

 

[RobS]

There's also a historic Camel Back bridge in Mottville, MI on US-12. MDOT built a new, modern structure alongside the old one and now it's a historical site. You can walk or ride bike across the old one.

I know that one well, just a short bike ride from where I live now!

 

[stingray1]

Stupidly is as dangerous as drugs or alcohol.

 

[Creamer]

But many tractor drivers aren't farmers.

Bruce

Well said! I was trying to find a way to state it but you cleared it up!

 

[DieselBound]

I pretty much figure that the main culprit was the weight of the tractor and equipment. It's almost a chicken and egg thing going on here, but I suspect that's what provided the initial over-stressing. The implement then snagged on the structure and was more able to then start bending the structure because it, structure's integrity, was compromised at that point. Also looks like he might have been heavy to one side to start with (and then tried steering away from the right side of the collapsing structure?).

I doubt the tractor operator was all that familiar with the equipment or the bridge.

 

[MossRoad]

It sure was a pretty one...

 

[MossRoad]

There's also a historic Camel Back bridge in Mottville, MI on US-12. MDOT built a new, modern structure alongside the old one and now it's a historical site. You can walk or ride bike across the old one.

I know that one well, just a short bike ride from where I live now!

You guys ever been to the covered bridge north of Centerville?
Worth a day trip.
Langley Covered Bridge - Wikipedia

 

[RobS]

You guys ever been to the covered bridge north of Centerville?
Worth a day trip.
Langley Covered Bridge - Wikipedia

Been there by bike as well!

 

[RobS]

Bridgehunter.com | O'Neal Bridge

Some specs on the bridge. Looks like the deck was only 16 ft wide. Looking at the news articles and the pictures in the above link one approach to the bridge is a curve. So it might be that he took it too close or too wide and hit the abutment. Vertical clearance is reported to be 16ft as well so height likely not an issue.

It was built in 1892. So in today's world it would be a one lane bridge. Two cars could likely pass on it, but not Semi's.....

Cool site, thanks!

 

[RobS]

You guys ever been to the covered bridge north of Centerville?
Worth a day trip.
Langley Covered Bridge - Wikipedia

Evidence:

 

[Creamer]

Evidence:

View attachment 530809

Nice pic! Which one is you? Although you could tell me anyone and I wouldn't know the difference.

 

[MossRoad]

Evidence:

View attachment 530809

THAT, my friend, does not surprise me at all! :laughing:

 

[mapper]

Interesting indeed, but some things dont jive.

I watched the news video that mossroad posted.

1. Mentioned that driver said he was almost across when he seen a top piece starting to come down.
Sure didnt look like he was almost all the way across?

2. Bridge only rated for 20t.....Yet not marked as such? Legal weight to be on the road without an overweight permit is 40t. I thought all bridges not rated for at least that had to be marked?

3. No mention in any of the articles or on the report about it being a narrow bridge or low clearance. Again, usually anything under 13'6" is clearly marked. And I have a hard time believing that the tractor and disc was taller than 13'6"

Just a wild guess here......but I suspect the tractor didnt hit the bridge. I would guess that the bridge started to collapse. Once that happend....THEN the tractor started tangling with the steel braces

Another issue with steel truss bridges, corrosion, a bridge that old may or may not have been adequately maintained. One or two rivets fail and the twenty ton rating is suddenly no longer valid! Structure fails because one of the critical bits is no longer there....

 

[tvman]

Actually this is the second bridge taken down in Boone county. Last year a bridge was taken down by what the Sheriffs dept said was probably a large tractor.

There have been rewards offered for any information but so far nothing has turned up.

 

[RobS]

Nice pic! Which one is you? Although you could tell me anyone and I wouldn't know the difference.

Right in the middle with the Purdue Jersey...

To keep on track with this thread, I'd rather doubt a tractor of any size would make this bridge! It held up to us cyclists just fine though.

 

[k0ua]

They said last nite on our local news that the tractor operator said he forgot that the disc was wider than the bridge. I don't know how true this is, but that was what they reported. They had some better pictures. I think this is pretty close to what happened.

 

[DieselBound]

I'm thinking that the guy's "tractor operator" license is going to be revoked! Any guesses on the total bill for this "forgetting?"