Monday, July 07, 2014
Train carrying plane parts derailed leaving fuselages in river
A train derailment in Montana has damaged a shipment of jetliner fuselages and other large parts on its way to Boeing factories in Washington state.
Boeing said a BNSF Railway Co train loaded with six 737 narrowbody fuselages and assemblies for its 777 and 747 widebody jets derailed en route from Wichita on Thursday.
Nineteen carriages of the 90-car train derailed about 30 kilometres east of Superior, said Rail Link Montana. The aircraft components landed in the Clark Fork River.
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The cause of the derailment was not yet known, Montana Rail Link spokeswoman Lynda Frost said. But she said speed was not considered to have been the issue. There is a 35kmh speed limit on that section of the track, which is curvy as it tracks the Clark Fork, she added.
Boeing said a BNSF Railway Co train loaded with six 737 narrowbody fuselages and assemblies for its 777 and 747 widebody jets derailed en route from Wichita on Thursday.
Nineteen carriages of the 90-car train derailed about 30 kilometres east of Superior, said Rail Link Montana. The aircraft components landed in the Clark Fork River.
YouTube link.
The cause of the derailment was not yet known, Montana Rail Link spokeswoman Lynda Frost said. But she said speed was not considered to have been the issue. There is a 35kmh speed limit on that section of the track, which is curvy as it tracks the Clark Fork, she added.
Farmer's lost phone returned after trip halfway around the world and back
When Oklahoma farmer Kevin Whitney dropped his iPhone in a grain bin in October 2013, he thought he'd never see it again but nine months later, the phone was returned after travelling halfway around the world and back.
"I had it in my pocket like that, I bent over to work on a hopper bottom door and it fell out of my pocket into my grain pit went up the elevator," Whitney said. The phone fell into a bin full of 280,000 pounds of grain, where it began an international journey. From Oklahoma it was driven by truck to another grain facility.
Then it travelled along the Arkansas River. From there, it sailed down the Mississippi River by barge to Louisiana. The iPhone then made its way to Japan by ship. It was then mixed in with two million bushels of grain sorghum. But just days ago, Whitney got a call. "He said is this Kevin Whitney, I said yeah this is Kevin. He said did you lose a cell phone? I said yeah I lost a cell phone last Fall."
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A worker at a grain mill in Japan mailed the phone back to Louisiana and from there it was sent to Kevin back in Oklahoma. "It's crazy I can't believe it. What really shocked me about it all was when I first got the phone call was what a small world it is. There a lot of, a lot of meaningful pictures on it so we were real glad to get the phone back," Whitney said.
"I had it in my pocket like that, I bent over to work on a hopper bottom door and it fell out of my pocket into my grain pit went up the elevator," Whitney said. The phone fell into a bin full of 280,000 pounds of grain, where it began an international journey. From Oklahoma it was driven by truck to another grain facility.
Then it travelled along the Arkansas River. From there, it sailed down the Mississippi River by barge to Louisiana. The iPhone then made its way to Japan by ship. It was then mixed in with two million bushels of grain sorghum. But just days ago, Whitney got a call. "He said is this Kevin Whitney, I said yeah this is Kevin. He said did you lose a cell phone? I said yeah I lost a cell phone last Fall."
YouTube link.
A worker at a grain mill in Japan mailed the phone back to Louisiana and from there it was sent to Kevin back in Oklahoma. "It's crazy I can't believe it. What really shocked me about it all was when I first got the phone call was what a small world it is. There a lot of, a lot of meaningful pictures on it so we were real glad to get the phone back," Whitney said.
Cat missing for 9 weeks found 200 miles away under floorboards of unfinished hotel in London
A missing cat was discovered living underneath the floorboards of a development site in north London – 200 miles away from his Yorkshire home.
The black moggy, named Obi Wan Catobi, was found in an unfinished hotel in Euston Road last Thursday.
Construction workers were forced to stop work on the upmarket hotel as the cat would have become trapped inside the building. The RSPCA were drafted in to set a humane trap for the cat with food to lure him out.
When he was caught a check of his microchip revealed he had strayed all the way from Leeds and had been missing since his owners moved house in April. Owner Adam Williams was delighted when he received a call to say Obi was found. The 32-year-old, from Horsforth, said: “How he got himself down there I have no idea.
“Some people suggested a train, as the hotel was near Euston train station, but that would have meant him changing several times. The only thing we can think of is that he got into a contractor’s van which went straight there. But this amazes us as he hates getting in cars or any kind of vehicles - he’s quite a nervous cat. It might be the mystery we can never solve.”
Construction workers were forced to stop work on the upmarket hotel as the cat would have become trapped inside the building. The RSPCA were drafted in to set a humane trap for the cat with food to lure him out.
When he was caught a check of his microchip revealed he had strayed all the way from Leeds and had been missing since his owners moved house in April. Owner Adam Williams was delighted when he received a call to say Obi was found. The 32-year-old, from Horsforth, said: “How he got himself down there I have no idea.
“Some people suggested a train, as the hotel was near Euston train station, but that would have meant him changing several times. The only thing we can think of is that he got into a contractor’s van which went straight there. But this amazes us as he hates getting in cars or any kind of vehicles - he’s quite a nervous cat. It might be the mystery we can never solve.”
Grandmother's house trashed by gang of pooing peacocks
A gang of unruly peacocks is wreaking havoc in Bramhall, Greater Manchester, with five of them trashing a grandmother's home.
Jenny Gibson was at home when she spotted five peacocks and peahens outside. She went across the road to tell her neighbour, but when she returned, she realised she had left the front door open.
Jenny found three birds wrecking her hallway and another two flying around her kitchen. The 68-year-old managed to usher three of them outside with a broom, but had to seek help to get rid of the other two. Luckily, a brave neighbour rushed in and grabbed them. Jenny said: “It was like Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. They were flying round my kitchen, flapping like mad. The damage was unbelievable.
"They knocked my kettle over and broke a blind. They were pooing for Britain. I was cleaning up for three-and-a-half hours. I’m a very clean person, so it was a nightmare. My friends have told me I’ll laugh about it in a couple of weeks, I’m not so sure. They’re beautiful, but they’re an absolute pain. We’ve being invaded by them, they’re out of control.” There have also been reports of peacocks scratching cars, keeping people awake and eating plants from people’s gardens.
Some residents have spotted up to 16 walking the streets together. In the UK, peacocks are not wild birds. It is unclear where those roaming Bramhall originated. It is thought a resident originally owned a few. And once the birds started mating, the flock went feral. Bramhall North councillor Lisa Walker says the birds are being treated as wild and that they are particularly raucous because it is mating season. She is looking at options to get them relocated.
Jenny found three birds wrecking her hallway and another two flying around her kitchen. The 68-year-old managed to usher three of them outside with a broom, but had to seek help to get rid of the other two. Luckily, a brave neighbour rushed in and grabbed them. Jenny said: “It was like Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. They were flying round my kitchen, flapping like mad. The damage was unbelievable.
"They knocked my kettle over and broke a blind. They were pooing for Britain. I was cleaning up for three-and-a-half hours. I’m a very clean person, so it was a nightmare. My friends have told me I’ll laugh about it in a couple of weeks, I’m not so sure. They’re beautiful, but they’re an absolute pain. We’ve being invaded by them, they’re out of control.” There have also been reports of peacocks scratching cars, keeping people awake and eating plants from people’s gardens.
Some residents have spotted up to 16 walking the streets together. In the UK, peacocks are not wild birds. It is unclear where those roaming Bramhall originated. It is thought a resident originally owned a few. And once the birds started mating, the flock went feral. Bramhall North councillor Lisa Walker says the birds are being treated as wild and that they are particularly raucous because it is mating season. She is looking at options to get them relocated.
Man kicked out of bed for snoring ordered to pay woman compensation after slashing her tyres
A Dundee man who slashed a woman’s car tyres after she kicked him out of bed for snoring has been ordered to pay her compensation.
John Wade took a knife to the woman’s car after she booted him out in the middle of the night.
Wade stormed out of the house, stopping in the kitchen to pick up a knife.
He then went to the 31-year-old woman’s car and slashed two of her tyres and set off the car alarm as her daughter looked on at 10.30pm on March 11. Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: “There was an argument about the accused’s snoring, during which time she asked him to leave. He went downstairs, leaving her in the bedroom, and she went downstairs to lock the door behind him.
“She saw he had walked into the area outside where the vehicle was parked and, with a knife, slashed the tyres of her vehicle, setting her car alarm off. Her young daughter, who was awoken during the disturbance, watched the accused slash her mother’s tyres with a knife.” Wade, 26, was arrested at his home at 3am on March 12.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of vandalism. The court was told Wade was not in a relationship with the woman but had been staying with her at her home for a few days before the incident. Mike Short, defending, said: “He did vandalise two tyres and accepts that he should not have done this. It is a rather unsavoury incident.” He added: “The complainer has forgiven him.” Sheriff Kenneth McGowan ordered Wade to pay £200 compensation to the woman.
He then went to the 31-year-old woman’s car and slashed two of her tyres and set off the car alarm as her daughter looked on at 10.30pm on March 11. Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: “There was an argument about the accused’s snoring, during which time she asked him to leave. He went downstairs, leaving her in the bedroom, and she went downstairs to lock the door behind him.
“She saw he had walked into the area outside where the vehicle was parked and, with a knife, slashed the tyres of her vehicle, setting her car alarm off. Her young daughter, who was awoken during the disturbance, watched the accused slash her mother’s tyres with a knife.” Wade, 26, was arrested at his home at 3am on March 12.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of vandalism. The court was told Wade was not in a relationship with the woman but had been staying with her at her home for a few days before the incident. Mike Short, defending, said: “He did vandalise two tyres and accepts that he should not have done this. It is a rather unsavoury incident.” He added: “The complainer has forgiven him.” Sheriff Kenneth McGowan ordered Wade to pay £200 compensation to the woman.
Car park ticket machine thief jailed after not altogether successful heist caught on CCTV
25-year-old Wesley Bristow and another unidentified man struck at the Asda supermarket in Brierley Hill in the West Midlands at around 5.45am on February 23.
Prosecutor Mr Kevin Jones could be precise with the timing because the whole episode was recorded by CCTV cameras, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Monitors watching the film saw the culprits, both wearing hoods in a bid to hide their identity, battle to batter the car park pay-and-display ticket machine out of the ground.
Their long struggle was captured on film as they finally manage to get it lying on its side on the pavement – but they cannot completely uproot the device because it is tethered by an underground length of cable.
They can be seen pushing and pulling but cannot get it to budge – so they revert to Plan B. The accomplice struggles to get the machine – weighed down by the near £1,000 worth of coins inside it – upright again. He holds it in position while Bristow leaps behind the wheel of the Peugeot car to turn it into a battering ram. He successfully smashes into the ticket dispenser, tearing it from its base but also manages to rip part of the bodywork from the car. Undaunted, the two men try to manhandle the machine into the car. First they try to get it through a window but when that fails, they manage to force it through the passenger door of the car. They are then seen struggling to shut the door. Finally Bristow accelerates away with sparks flying from underneath the car, which is scraping the ground due to the weight of the stolen haul.
His accomplice is seen climbing into another car with a third man inside and is driven away. Bristow leaves the scene moments before a police patrol summoned by monitors watching the CCTV footage arrives to give chase. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that a mile later, father-of-four Bristow, who had reached up to 55 mph during the pursuit, lost control, demolished a bollard and crashed into a wall. Mr Jones said: “The machine that contained up to £1,000 was recovered.” The offence caused almost £5,500 worth of damage to the car park. The prosecution accepted that the defendant committed the crime after being put under pressure over a drug debt by the other two men seen at the scene. The crime broke the terms of a year-long suspended prison sentence imposed on Bristow for drug dealing eight months earlier, the judge was told.
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Mr Devon Small, defending, said: “The car he was driving belonged to one of the two men who had threatened violence if he did not steal the ticket machine to repay a drug debt he owed to them.” Mr Jones disclosed: “When he was detained both the mobile phones in his possession were ringing with calls from the same number. Police officers have confirmed that the caller was somebody who would put pressure on people.” Bristow, from Oldswinford, who had several previous convictions, admitted theft, criminal damage and dangerous driving along with the breach of a suspended sentence. He was jailed for a total of two years – one year for the offence and a further 12 months for the breached suspended sentence – and banned from driving for two years.
They can be seen pushing and pulling but cannot get it to budge – so they revert to Plan B. The accomplice struggles to get the machine – weighed down by the near £1,000 worth of coins inside it – upright again. He holds it in position while Bristow leaps behind the wheel of the Peugeot car to turn it into a battering ram. He successfully smashes into the ticket dispenser, tearing it from its base but also manages to rip part of the bodywork from the car. Undaunted, the two men try to manhandle the machine into the car. First they try to get it through a window but when that fails, they manage to force it through the passenger door of the car. They are then seen struggling to shut the door. Finally Bristow accelerates away with sparks flying from underneath the car, which is scraping the ground due to the weight of the stolen haul.
His accomplice is seen climbing into another car with a third man inside and is driven away. Bristow leaves the scene moments before a police patrol summoned by monitors watching the CCTV footage arrives to give chase. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that a mile later, father-of-four Bristow, who had reached up to 55 mph during the pursuit, lost control, demolished a bollard and crashed into a wall. Mr Jones said: “The machine that contained up to £1,000 was recovered.” The offence caused almost £5,500 worth of damage to the car park. The prosecution accepted that the defendant committed the crime after being put under pressure over a drug debt by the other two men seen at the scene. The crime broke the terms of a year-long suspended prison sentence imposed on Bristow for drug dealing eight months earlier, the judge was told.
YouTube link.
Mr Devon Small, defending, said: “The car he was driving belonged to one of the two men who had threatened violence if he did not steal the ticket machine to repay a drug debt he owed to them.” Mr Jones disclosed: “When he was detained both the mobile phones in his possession were ringing with calls from the same number. Police officers have confirmed that the caller was somebody who would put pressure on people.” Bristow, from Oldswinford, who had several previous convictions, admitted theft, criminal damage and dangerous driving along with the breach of a suspended sentence. He was jailed for a total of two years – one year for the offence and a further 12 months for the breached suspended sentence – and banned from driving for two years.
Busking tribute held in honour of man who played toy xylophone outside store for 15 years
A "big busk" has taken place across Nottingham in honour of Frank Robinson, known as Xylophone Man, who died 10 years ago.
Mr Robinson, who was 72 when he died in 2004, played a toy xylophone outside a clothes store for 15 years. A plaque was dedicated to the musician at the place where he used to busk, following requests from residents.
Sophie Shardlow, the event's organiser, said: "It's a great example of how the city of Nottingham can work together and create a really special moment for all.
"Frank might not have been a great musician but he couldn't fail to make you smile at his performance, he was really charming." On Saturday, 15 designated busker points and five pianos were set up around the city centre, for anyone to take part.
Mr Robinson, who was 72 when he died in 2004, played a toy xylophone outside a clothes store for 15 years. A plaque was dedicated to the musician at the place where he used to busk, following requests from residents.
Sophie Shardlow, the event's organiser, said: "It's a great example of how the city of Nottingham can work together and create a really special moment for all.
"Frank might not have been a great musician but he couldn't fail to make you smile at his performance, he was really charming." On Saturday, 15 designated busker points and five pianos were set up around the city centre, for anyone to take part.
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