I tend not to speak in absolutes as "common sense" seems to but a mess of 50 plates in the center of the track and near an obstruction such as a crossing could conceivably derail a car a ways back from the front of the train. Also every wheel traverses a defect in track differently. It usually has little to do with the damage done by the preceding wheel.

What really concerns me is the lack of civility on this board. Are the non-railroader railfans really so resentful that they wish to drive away anyone with real world expertise? I have good friends that are wonderful people and die-hard railfans but there also seems to be a group that uses the anonymity of the internet to be generally rude.

Maybe a strict moderator is needed for these types of forums.