Concerto
Well-known member
On 27 April a large motorboat, probably a Princess F50, got stuck under a rail bridge. Ooops.
Video: Yacht gets wedged under UK railway bridge
Video: Yacht gets wedged under UK railway bridge
Yacht gets wedged under UK railway bridge
- Thread starter Concerto
- Start date
NealB
Well-known member
Careful placing of fenders would have helped limit damage to boat and bridge.
oldgit
Well-known member
Mistake was to not get "Isambard Kingdom" to design and build it, the bridge not the boat.
wonkywinch
Well-known member
Probably trying to outdo this boat owner.
Minerva
Well-known member
Well that driver wins the "Who's having the worst day at work award!"
The liability cost to that transport co will be eye watering - not only for the boat but also the costs levied from network rail for the line shutdown and resultant structural survey! Ouch!
rotrax
Well-known member
Could well be a Brunel bridge, I am familiar with them as I live in a Brunel railway town.
Brunel only had to make his bridge openings fit a large cart and team of horses-the motor car and lorry were not envisioned at that time.
The nearest Brunel bridge to here is still in daily use and is unmodified. It has clear hight and width markings and is one way only.
The other one, now completely rebuilt takes motorway sized trucks and is two way. Before its rebuild it was one at a time for busses and lorries, two cars could JUST pass.
WF36
Well-known member
See : Is this your boat
Frogmogman
Well-known member
I reckon the driver is probably at the wheel of an Audi when he’s not in his truck, so isn’t in the habit of using his mirrors
Snowgoose-1
Well-known member
Normally boat transport companies take great care in planning routes.
You have to feel for the poor lorry driver.
You have to feel for the poor lorry driver.
Concerto
Well-known member
I searched the Motorboat forum and could not find a thread on this incident, probably due to the poor thread title.
mjcoon
Well-known member
Perhaps Brunel (etc) left inaccurate records of bridge dimensions which got copied into the constraints that route searches use...
penberth3
Well-known member
Perhaps Brunel left accurate records and Railtrack/Network Rail threw them in a skip. I did hear some rumours
.
johnalison
Well-known member
They are listed as option extras, which is why most of us don't bother.
ProDave
Well-known member
I would say this is wedged "in between" a bridge rather than under it.
Clearly anyone transporting a load like this would check air draft along their route first. That was not the problem.
This begs the question, what is the maximum width that will fit "unless there is a width restriction sign"? Is there a width limit sign on this bridge? What is the width (beam) of this boat?
Clearly anyone transporting a load like this would check air draft along their route first. That was not the problem.
This begs the question, what is the maximum width that will fit "unless there is a width restriction sign"? Is there a width limit sign on this bridge? What is the width (beam) of this boat?
Concerto
Well-known member
A quick Google:
Princess F50
| Length overall (inc. pulpit): | 51ft 0in (15.55m) |
|---|---|
| Draft: | 4ft 1in (1.25m) |
| Beam: | 14ft 3in (4.34m) |
| Displacement: | 19,200kg (42,330lb) |
| Fuel capacity: | 407 gal/488 US gal/1,850l |
Concerto
Well-known member
Here is the Princess F50 details - just to see how the other half lives.
F50 Luxury Flybridge Yacht - F Class - Princess Yachts
F50 Luxury Flybridge Yacht - F Class - Princess Yachts
mjcoon
Well-known member
Very nice, but I thought the question being asked was about road defaults. Which maybe depends on the category of road? And of course there are vehicle restrictions too...
Plum
Well-known member
benjenbav
Well-known member
There’s a link above that I’ve only skimmed, but I think it said that the truck had to be rerouted en route (owing to a motorway closure). So I would guess that the original route would have been planned and that possibly the diversion was not so well planned.
It looks as though the driver has managed to stop in time to avoid damage (I hope so, anyway) and, if so, there’s not too much to see beyond some temporary inconvenience.
It looks as though the driver has managed to stop in time to avoid damage (I hope so, anyway) and, if so, there’s not too much to see beyond some temporary inconvenience.
penberth3
Well-known member
Not sure but 9' 6" rings a bell, beyond that you're into Special Types/Abnormal Loads.
I think width restrictions are only signed if it's less than standard maximum width of 8' 3" or whatever.