The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely packed salt pan in northwestern Utah.
The Flats were formed when an ancient lake, Lake Bonneville, dried up.
west to east Interstate Highway 80 runs through the salt flats east to west.
he was driving east from Nevada on Interstate 80. there are signs
for a rest stop at the Nevada-Utah border where travellers can stop
and walk out onto the salt flats. he did not stop, however, thinking
that there would be other, better areas with fewer people present
where he could stop and walk out onto the salt flats . he continued
to drive, straight. the road was straight. no exits. eventually fifty
miles later there is a sign for a frontage road. he leaves the
highway and drives down the frontage road between the railway tracks
and a broad salt flat next to the highway. stop.
What precautions are taken on railways to prevent
the train from leaving the rails when rounding a
curve? Do any extra precautions have to be taken
in this respect in the case of a single-track
railway which carries traffic in both directions?
The video playing on the lcd monitor is an original video of three scuba divers wearing
wet suits standing next to or wading out of Lake Tahoe. They are carrying their flippers
and wearing a single white air tank. The water in Lake Tahoe comes from rivers of snow
runoff from the surrounding mountain winter snow pack melting into summer. Very cold.
In order to get to the Bonneville Salt Flats he drives through Nevada.
While driving on Interstate 80 in Nevada he passes through an area where the
land becomes a broad basin which channels the wind across the highway which
funnels trucks across the United States. Signs warn of high winds. Gusts blow,
trailers sway. Driving becomes hazardous. Winnemucca approaches he exits.
A motel 6 is next to an interstate truck stop gas station. Chinese chicken
and broccoli from the mini mall across the street. There has been an accident
on the highway. A trailer truck has overturned creating a multi-vehicle pile
up. The police have blocked the highway in both directions until the wrecks
can be cleared. All the trucks on the highway have been directed into Winnemucca.
The gas station next to the motel fills up with trucks, trailers and cabs
lining up on the paved parking lot. The drivers wait.