if a train accindently encounters a tornado and drives through are the winds strong enough to pick it up?

Answer 1

Okay, we can rough this one out. A hurricane can produce a wind force of approximately 10 lbs/sq ft, and a typical locomotive engine is roughly 15' x 100', which means a total side force of about 15,000 lbs. But the locomotive engine typically weighs around half a million pounds, so that even for its oblong cross section, the tipping force is still going to be at least 10 times the 15,000 lbs maximum wind force. Now, some tornadoes can briefly produce wind forces double or even triple that of hurricanes, but nonetheless not strong enough to knock over a locomotive engine. On the other hand, empty boxcars will probably go flying around.

Answer 2

I think tornadoes always blow over the empty boxcars on a freight train and mess them up that way. The locomotives are just too heavy.

Being big in high wind doesn't help a bit. I know that from driving a tractor-trailer. The large surface area catches the wind like a sail, and tractor-trailers -- especially empty ones -- are usually the first thing to blow off the road.

Answer 3

depends on the size and velocity of the train, tornado size and the strength of the winds.

So assuming that the train is a multi-unit traveling at....

yeh I reckon it could...

Answer 4

Hell. yes!!!