--- title: Stopping the Unstoppable link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-17mPnFxi30 source: youtube-com-practicalengineeringchannel published: 2026-09-01T13:00:00Z updated: 2026-09-01T13:02:57Z first_seen: 2026-09-08T10:17:10.166315Z authors: - Practical Engineering summary: "Buffer stops and bumping posts are hidden in plain sight\n⚙️ Check out SendCutSend for custom parts fabricated from your CAD: http://sendcutsend.com/practicalengineering\n\nAs long as we rely on rail, the \"simple\" physics of stopping will always be a complex balancing act.\n\n📖My new book, Disasters By Design: How Engineering Failures Shaped the Modern World is coming March 2, 2027 and available for preorder now.\nUS: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/786143/disasters-by-design-by-grady-hillhouse/\nUK: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476190/disasters-by-design-by-hillhouse-grady/9780241798508\nMore About the Book: https://practical.engineering/books \n\nWatch this video ad-free on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/videos/practical-engineering-stopping-the-unstoppable\n\nSigned copies of my book (plus other cool stuff) are available here: https://store.practical.engineering/\n\nPractical Engineering is a YouTube channel about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. It is hosted, written, and produced by Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted regularly, so please subscribe for updates. If you enjoyed the video, hit that ‘like’ button, give us a comment, or watch another of our videos!\n\nCONNECT WITH ME\n____________________________________\nWebsite: http://practical.engineering\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/HillhouseGrady\nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/practicalengineering\nReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PracticalEngineering\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/PracticalEngineerGrady​\nPatreon: http://patreon.com/PracticalEngineering\n\nSPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES\n____________________________________\nPlease email my agent at practicalengineering@standard.tv\n\nDISCLAIMER\n____________________________________\nThis is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact an engineer licensed to practice in your area if you need professional advice or services. All non-licensed clips used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.\n\nSPECIAL THANKS\n____________________________________\nThis video is sponsored by SendCutSend.\nStock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Shutterstock, Pond5, and Videoblocks.\nVideo by Grady Hillhouse\nEdited by Wesley Crump\nProduced by Ralph Crewe\nGraphics by Nebula Studios\n\nMUSIC CREDITS\n____________________________________\nEdge of a Knife composed by Caleb Winters (https://beacons.ai/calebwinters)\nPractical Engineering Theme composed by Caleb Winters\nWater and Light composed by Caleb Winters\nWoodland Expedition composed by Caleb Winters\nTonic and Energy by Elexive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License\nSource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6fBPdu8w9U" content: extracted html: 2026-09-01-stopping-the-unstoppable.html preview: file: 2026-09-01-stopping-the-unstoppable.preview-d19a386624ad.webp width: 256 height: 192 color: '#7c5b4f' images: - source: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-17mPnFxi30/maxresdefault.jpg original: file: 2026-09-01-stopping-the-unstoppable.image-9ce06a5d407a.jpg width: 1280 height: 720 variants: - file: 2026-09-01-stopping-the-unstoppable.image-a8fd1618d503.webp width: 48 height: 27 color: '#181314' extra: thumbnail: https://i2.ytimg.com/vi/-17mPnFxi30/hqdefault.jpg --- Buffer stops and bumping posts are hidden in plain sight\ ⚙️ Check out SendCutSend for custom parts fabricated from your CAD: http://sendcutsend.com/practicalengineering As long as we rely on rail, the "simple" physics of stopping will always be a complex balancing act. 📖My new book, Disasters By Design: How Engineering Failures Shaped the Modern World is coming March 2, 2027 and available for preorder now.\ US: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/786143/disasters-by-design-by-grady-hillhouse/\ UK: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476190/disasters-by-design-by-hillhouse-grady/9780241798508\ More About the Book: https://practical.engineering/books Watch this video ad-free on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/videos/practical-engineering-stopping-the-unstoppable Signed copies of my book (plus other cool stuff) are available here: https://store.practical.engineering/ Practical Engineering is a YouTube channel about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. It is hosted, written, and produced by Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted regularly, so please subscribe for updates. If you enjoyed the video, hit that ‘like’ button, give us a comment, or watch another of our videos! CONNECT WITH ME\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ Website: http://practical.engineering\ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HillhouseGrady\ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/practicalengineering\ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PracticalEngineering\ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PracticalEngineerGrady​\ Patreon: http://patreon.com/PracticalEngineering SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ Please email my agent at practicalengineering@standard.tv DISCLAIMER\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ This is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact an engineer licensed to practice in your area if you need professional advice or services. All non-licensed clips used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. SPECIAL THANKS\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ This video is sponsored by SendCutSend.\ Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Shutterstock, Pond5, and Videoblocks.\ Video by Grady Hillhouse\ Edited by Wesley Crump\ Produced by Ralph Crewe\ Graphics by Nebula Studios MUSIC CREDITS\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ Edge of a Knife composed by Caleb Winters (https://beacons.ai/calebwinters)\ Practical Engineering Theme composed by Caleb Winters\ Water and Light composed by Caleb Winters\ Woodland Expedition composed by Caleb Winters\ Tonic and Energy by Elexive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License\ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6fBPdu8w9U