FlyingForFun
25th Mar 2002, 19:46
From today's edition of The Sun:. .. .Train Crashes Into Balloon. .. .Rail passengers were left stranded yet again yesterday - by a hot air balloon on the line.. .. .It hit overhead power lines minutes before a train was due.. .. .The trainee pilot and two passengers scrambled to safety as their basket landed by the track.. .. .The alert train driver averted tragedy by slamming on his brakes and calling for the 25,000-volt cables to be turned off.. .. .Witness Gillian Racher said: "I can't believe no-one was injured. It's a miracle.". .. .The 9.31 WAGN train from Cambridge to London dragged the baloon 30 metres before halting near Ashwell and Morden station in Herts.. .. .A Railtrack spokesman said: "We are thankful that no one was injured. I'm sure some passengers could not believe the excuse for the delay.". .. .Anyone know anything more about this? The article said the pilot was a "trainee" - does that mean a student? And if so, are student balloon pilots allowed passengers? I expect it's more likely the article has the facts slightly wrong.. .. .And, on a different, but related, note, why does the editor of The Sun not believe in putting more than one sentence in a paragraph? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Well done to the train driver for avoiding doing any serious damage. I don't know enough about ballooning to be able to speculate what would cause a balloon to come down on a train line, but thankfully no one was hurt.. .. .FFF. .-----------