(The Yangtze River Bridge in 1957, the towering towers were the bridgehead)
In the following days, Li Aiguo and Lao Mao inspected the bridge several times and adjusted the defense plan.
Additional patrol boats were added to the water, guardrails were built outside the bridgehead, and 500 guards were mobilized as reserve personnel to guard both sides of the strait.
The defense level of the bridge has skyrocketed.
The defense is complete, only waiting for the enemy.
But as expected, the attack did not come. Zhou Wenzhong was inevitably a little anxious, but Lao Mao and Li Aiguo were calm.
They know that the enemy must be watching secretly.
Moreover, Li Aiguo still has important things to do now, which is to participate in the driving test of the bridge railway bridge.
On the third day after arriving in Hanyang, Li Aiguo, the 131 driver team, and comrades from Jiang'an Locomotive Depot attended a meeting held by the Wuhan Bridge Engineering Bureau (the predecessor of today's China Railway Bridge Bureau Group).
According to the plan of the bridge headquarters, the entire driving experiment will take three days. The test content includes the train being fully loaded with passengers, fully loaded with freight, and even including the train stopping in the middle of the bridge in case of an accident.
"The experimental project has been sent to you. The experiment is related to whether the railway bridge can ensure safety. I hope you will carry out the experiment in accordance with the plan."
At the meeting, a man wearing a gray tunic suit The leader stood on the rostrum and spoke slowly about the specific requirements for driving.
Wearing a pair of round-rimmed glasses, he looked particularly calm, with his hands in his pockets, giving people a melancholy feeling.
Although he tried his best to hide it, Li Aiguo could still tell that one of his legs was shorter than the other, and the leather shoes on his feet should be special shoes.
Li Aiguo looked at this person and felt that he looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.
At this time, Duan Chang Xing stood up and expressed his position: "Commissioner Liang, don't worry, our train drivers are all experienced drivers, and there will never be any mistakes."
Commissioner Liang. Li Aiguo suddenly Eyes widened.
This person should be the decipherer, inheritor and protector of modern Chinese ancient architecture - Liang Sicheng.
Of course, to the public, the two names of Liang Gong’s son and Lin Huiyin’s husband may be more famous.
Li Aiguo then remembered that Liang Sicheng was a member of the Yangtze River Bridge Technical Advisory Committee and one of the designers of the bridge.
Liang Sicheng is a very smart and transparent person.
He was born in the second generation of Beiyang, but he did not pursue an official career. Instead, through his own efforts, he became a second generation scholar.
After liberation, those second-generation Beiyang people were wiped out.
The Liang family, who did not get involved in political affairs and only engaged in scholarship, was not affected and even received attention. There was a grand occasion of three academicians in one discipline.
Lin Huiyin is known as the most talented woman in the Republic of China.
Liang Sicheng is much smarter than Lin Huiyin. He knows that keeping a low profile and studying hard is the long-term path.
Lin Huiyin has no long-term perspective, and the people she associates with just lead her into the ditch.
Liang Sicheng was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Architectural Society last year and is a member of the Yangtze River Bridge Technical Advisory Committee.
It is natural to host today's meeting.
Seeing that the Qianmen Locomotive Depot had taken the lead, Section Chief Meng of the Jiang'an Locomotive Depot was not to be outdone.
"Leader, you can rest assured that Comrades Jiang Shan and Liu Dali of our Jiang'an Locomotive Depot are the best train drivers. They will definitely be able to complete the task."
Xing Duanzhang stood up and continued: "Our Qianmen Locomotive Depot Driver Cao and Driver Li are both top-notch train drivers in China.
They have performed hundreds of driving missions and have never had any problems."
"Okay, everyone. I have a mission, so if you don’t have any objections, let’s adjourn the meeting now!”
Seeing that the two were at odds, Liang Sicheng smiled generously and nodded, and was about to announce the end of the meeting.
Suddenly.
A hand was raised in the corner.
"Leader, can I make some small suggestions?"
Liu Dali, the train driver at Jiang'an Locomotive Depot, saw Li Aiguo raising his hand and was so surprised that he could almost swallow a duck egg.
Courage.
This train driver is really brave.
Do you really think this is the capital and others are taking care of you?
Commissioner Liang is a very powerful person and can interview the big guys directly!
Seeing Li Aiguo raise his hand, Duan Chang Xing was so frightened that sweat almost broke out on his forehead.
The Bridge Engineering Bureau must have had many discussions before deciding on the content of the driving test.
Today’s meeting is just a formality. Does Li Aiguo really take it seriously?
Duanchang Xing quickly took Li Aiguo's arm and looked at Liang Sicheng.
"Commissioner Liang, don't listen to this guy, he really likes to mess around."
Seeing Duan Chang Xing trying to smooth things over, Liu Dali stood up and said in a weird voice: "There is a clear place for messing around. Running wild in such a serious place
It shows that Driver Li is a person who doesn’t like to follow discipline. Such a person is useless. ”
This move can be said to be cruel, and it directly made the matter worse.
The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became solemn.
The leaders and experts also knew the contradiction between the Qianmen Locomotive Depot and the Jiangan Locomotive Depot, and they all sighed in their hearts at this time.
This train driver is still too young, and someone caught him before the competition even started.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, Liang Sicheng, instead of being angry, waved his hand.
"We are having a meeting today, so we should speak freely. Comrade Li Aiguo is a front-line driver and is responsible for driving the train. He can express his opinions."
Hearing this, Liu Dali looked embarrassed.
But he was still a little unconvinced and said: "He is just a train driver. What good advice can he give? Commissioner Liang, you think so highly of him."
Duanchang Meng also felt depressed. I was so angry that I had no intention of stopping Liu Dali.
Seeing that he was getting more and more excessive, I had to pull his arm and order him to sit down.
Liang Sicheng's expression did not change at all, and he looked at Li Aiguo with a smile: "Driver Li, if you have any suggestions, you can put them forward."
Li Aiguo said slowly: "Commissioner Liang, you and the technical committee have given very thorough consideration. , taking into account most of the problems when the train is running.
However, our railway bridge is a double track, and I think the situation when two trains are running opposite each other at full speed on the railway bridge should also be considered. ”< br>
As soon as these words came out, Liang Sicheng's expression changed slightly.
Technician Zhang from the technical committee raised his hand, stood up and said: "Driver Li's consideration is indeed very thorough, but we have considered the relative movement of the train.
On the bridge , the speed limit is 40 kilometers per hour. At this speed, the two trains will not have much impact on each other and the bridge. "
Liu Dali wanted to refute Li Aiguo just now, but he didn't understand. Technology.
Hearing what Zhang Ji said, he quickly said loudly: "Li Aiguo, do you think the senior engineers in our project team are worse than you, a driver who graduated from a technical school?"
"Of course not. , my knowledge reserve is far inferior to everyone here."
Li Aiguo changed his voice: "However, when I was driving a train, I encountered windy days. Whenever two trains meet on a windy day, there will be a gap between them. The cross-track wind generated is much higher than usual, which always makes the train body tremble. ”
"Windy day" Technician Zhang had a thoughtful look on his face.
Liu Dali saw that something was wrong: "How can there be so many windy days? Besides, every time the wind speed exceeds level seven, our section will give an early warning and reduce the speed again.
Li Aiguo, I It seems that you are just being picky and finding fault with the technicians of the technical committee."
Zhang Jiji waved his hand at him: "The bridge is no better than on the flat ground. Because there is no cover on the river, the customs are far higher than those on the ground. Winds of level 7 are very common. "
He suddenly raised his head and looked at Liang Sicheng: "Commissioner Liang, I suggest conducting an experiment of trains running in opposite directions at full speed."
"Ah" Liu Dali did not expect Technician Zhang. He actually rebelled, and his face turned as red as pig liver.
Duanchang Meng took his arm.
"Liu Dali, stop messing around!"
Duanchang Meng looked up at Liang Sicheng and the technicians.
"Leaders, don't listen to this kid, he really likes to make mischief."
Duan Chang Xing: "."
This seems to be his line just now, right?
He looked at Li Aiguo.
This guy is really awesome, he actually found the flaw in the technical committee.
Li Aiguo didn’t think that much, it was just for the safety of the bridge.
When a train runs on a railway bridge, the probability of an accident is much higher than on flat ground.
In later generations, too many accidents occurred on railway bridges.
The third brother opened the train and the train also opened, but the railway bridge did not open.
On June 6, 1981, a fully loaded and loaded Indian train suddenly ran off the track and fell into the rushing river while passing a bridge in Bihar.
The accident killed 800 people and became the most tragic accident since the birth of the train.
On July 8, 1988, the tragedy of a train crashing into a river in India happened again. A train from Bangalore derailed on the bridge. The carriage full of passengers fell into the lake under the bridge, killing 105 people and injuring 105 people. countless.
On September 9, 2002, an Indian train was traveling in Bihar state in northern India. An accident occurred while crossing a bridge over the Dhabi River, and at least 15-18 carriages derailed.
After the incident, the bridge collapsed and four carriages fell into the river, containing at least 250 people, and one carriage carrying 68 people completely sank underwater.
A large part of these accidents are caused by unreasonable planning of railway bridges and insufficient quality of railway bridges.
The bridge is not yet open to traffic. Once problems are discovered, there are still opportunities to remedy them. Naturally, Li Aiguo cannot sit idly by.
Liang Sicheng also realized the seriousness of the problem.
Immediately organized technicians and engineers to conduct research, and combined with Li Aiguo's suggestions, finally proposed a supplementary experimental plan.
“In order to ensure that the bridge is foolproof, we must adopt an extreme experimental method.
Suppose there are two trains, both driven by two engines, running opposite each other at the fastest speed. Toward the center of the bridge.
The two trains came to an emergency stop at the same time.
Suppose it is still this time, and the highway bridge is full of cars driving at the fastest speed, and there is an emergency brake;
Suppose it is still this time, and the biggest storm blows on the Yangtze River, and the Wuhan incident There was an earthquake, and the horizontal force of 300 tons in the river hit the bridge pier.
The bridge must be as stable as a rock. ”
The highway bridge is full of cars traveling at the fastest speed and two trains running opposite each other can be used for experiments.
There is a storm on the Yangtze River and an earthquake in Wuhan. There is no way to meet the conditions.
We can only speculate based on the bridge data obtained from the experiment.
Liang Sicheng reported the experimental plan to the chief designer Mao Lao. After discussing with several old Maozi experts, a decision was made: "Notify the Bridge Engineering Bureau and the Railway Corps that we will conduct a large-scale experiment on the Yangtze River Bridge tomorrow.
Since the experiment was submitted by Commissioner Liang’s team, Commissioner Liang should be responsible for it. ”
Liang Sicheng returned to the station, held Li Aiguo's hand tightly and said, "Driver Li, thank you very much this time."
Liang Sicheng studied ancient architecture and is an architectural historian, but his actual design level is not good. .
I wanted to ask him to design the Great Hall from the beginning, but I didn’t succeed.
When he participated in the technical committee this time, most of his work was the appearance design of the bridge, and he did not receive special attention.
Now that he is able to participate in a large-scale experiment, and has also received the attention of the Engineering Bureau, Liang Sicheng seems particularly happy with Mr. Mao's praise.
"Commissioner Liang, you are too polite. I just made some small suggestions out of practical considerations for frontline workers.
It is you and the technical committee who really planned the driving experiment. technicians and engineers.”
Li Aiguo expressed respect from the bottom of his heart for this master who insisted on protecting ancient buildings.
Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin experienced the burning of many buildings by Japanese air raids before liberation.
In order to protect historical relics, they drew nearly a hundred ancient temple ruins with their own hands in an era without computers and CAD, leaving behind valuable architectural data.
After liberation, the capital was undergoing development and the ancient city wall faced the fate of being demolished, which triggered a heated discussion between Liang Sicheng, his wife and Guo.
Guo believes that in order for the new world to have a new atmosphere, the old walls must be abandoned.
Liang Sicheng and his wife, who are enthusiasts of ancient architecture, insist on protecting monuments and antiques, believing that they are treasures gifted to mankind by history.
In the end, due to various considerations, the old wall had to be demolished.
Liang Sicheng was a naive person. After learning about this incident, he said sadly in front of [Mr.] and the expert Lao Maozi: "Fifty years later, you will regret it."
< br>What Liang Sicheng did was very dangerous.
So much so that [Mr.] had to recite a poem by Li Shangyin meaningfully: "The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it is almost dusk.", to remind him.
However, Liang and Lin did not care about their situation. With their strong suggestions, they finally saved Tuancheng.
Liang’s unique persistence as an intellectual won the respect of Li Aiguo, a worker.
Liang Sicheng has countless shortcomings, and he also has the naivety unique to intellectuals. His patriotism cannot be denied. This is the real reason why [Mr.] is so tolerant to him.
Even his lame leg was broken by a car of a senior official of the Beiyang government during the anti-"Twenty-One" activities.
A nation's intellectuals are a symbol of the nation's wisdom and conscience. , is the soul of this nation.
They stick to the bottom line in the secular world and are not shaken by their power and status. They are the backbone of the nation.
“As mentioned above, we must come from labor and go to labor.
Patriot comrade, many of the opinions you put forward may seem simple.
But there are only Front-line workers like you can only sum up this in actual work. "
Liang Sicheng had a good impression of Li Aiguo and took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over.
"This is my address in the capital. After returning to the capital, I am now alone and looking for someone to chat with."
Li Aiguo then remembered that Lin Huiyin was here He died the year before last, and now Liang Sicheng is alone.
"Haha, don't worry, the meat tube is enough!" Liang Sicheng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Although Liang Sicheng was protected by Mr. Liang, he was still under pressure.
After the death of his best friend in life, he fell into depression.
On weekdays, you have to hide your conversations with the engineers.
In front of Li Aiguo, a worker, he had no worries at all.
"I heard that every train driver will hit and kill someone. Come on, come on, tell me." All men are interested in big trains, even Liang Sicheng is no exception.
He invited Li Aiguo to the office and personally poured tea for Li Aiguo.
“There are no absolutes in the world. I have never killed anyone since I started driving.
But I can tell you about other things while driving. Once, a passenger Lost a corn cob"
After the meeting.
Meng Duanchang from Jiang'an Locomotive Depot took Jiang Shan and Liu Dali away on bicycles.
When I walked to the gate, I saw Duan Chang Xing and his comrades from the 131 driver group squatting under the shade of the tree at the gate.
Duanchang Meng stopped his bicycle and asked with a smile: "Old Xing, what's going on, are you waiting for a meal from the bureau?"
The Engineering Bureau has many external units, so for To avoid waste, it is specially stipulated that all personnel from other units who come to participate in the meeting are not allowed to eat in the Engineering Bureau.
Duanchang Xing stood up and laughed: "You misunderstood, we are waiting for Li Aiguo."
"Where are the others?"
"I was already planning to go back, but was Commissioner Liang has come to the office." Duan Chang Xing puffed up his chest and said with some pride.
Hearing this, Duan Chang Meng got on his bicycle and left, cursing along the way.
Back at the locomotive maintenance section, Duan Chang Meng gave Liu Dali a severe scolding.
"You almost caused a big trouble today. Fortunately, Commissioner Liang didn't argue with you."
"Commander Duan, you can't blame me for this. Who knew Li Aiguo knew such a thing?" So knowledgeable." Liu Dali felt aggrieved.
As a train driver, you can just concentrate on driving the train, but what about cross winds? Is that something you can study?
"Okay, the driving test will start tomorrow. I hope you will cheer up and try to beat the 131 driver group in the driving test." Although Duan Chang Meng felt sorry for Liu Dali's behavior I was dissatisfied, but there were more important things now, so I didn’t care about it with him.
The reason why Duan Chang Meng can tolerate him is because he can bring honor.
Liu Dali was keenly aware of this and was sure that if he couldn't win the driving test this time, his situation at the Jiang'an Locomotive Depot would be very difficult in the future.
"Damn Li Aiguo, don't be too happy too early. I have driven the train for ten years more than you. How can you be my opponent?"
Liu Dali felt He was able to easily defeat Li Aiguo in the driving test.
Li Aiguo stayed in Liang Sicheng's office for a full two hours before leaving.
During the period, Liang Sicheng talked a lot about protecting ancient buildings and described in detail the situation of Japanese planes dropping bombs.
Li Aiguo asked Liang Sicheng: "Were you scared at that time?"
Liang Sicheng adjusted his glasses frame and said: "I'm afraid, I'm also afraid of death. To tell you the truth, it was the first time I met The plane bombed, I was so scared that I couldn't even stand up.
But those ancient buildings are cultural treasures. If the architectural drawings were not drawn before they were bombed, the culture created by our ancestors would disappear. "
Li Aiguo nodded: "A nation without traditional culture is sad. We must give time to civilization, not time to civilization. ”
“Give time to civilization, not time to civilization.! "
Liang Sicheng's expression moved slightly, and he repeated it twice in a low voice. He felt more and more reasonable and said in a deep voice: "Comrade Patriot, this statement is very reasonable. "
Liang Sicheng remembered these words deeply in his heart.
We Li Aiguo smiled bitterly in our hearts. Did we accidentally become a copycat?
But he is The train driver is a worker just like the electrician. The electrician probably won't mind.
When they left Liang Sicheng's office and came to the gate, Duan Chang Xing and the others were already waiting.
< br>Seeing him coming out, he hurriedly greeted him and asked: "Aiguo, does Commissioner Liang have any tasks for you? "
"No. ”
"Ah? You guys have been chatting for more than two hours."
Duanchang Xing was a little confused.
Commissioner Liang is a well-known intellectual in China. He drinks foreign ink and eats milk and bread. How can he have a common language with a rough and old train driver like Li Aiguo?
He looked at the train driver striding toward his bicycle, feeling more and more unable to see through him.
******
October 11, 1957, four days before the bridge was officially opened to traffic.
On this day, the bridge ushered in the largest experimental traffic.
Early in the morning, the Engineering Bureau dispatched more than 500 heavy-duty gas trucks and came to the bridge head to wait.
There are railway soldiers on the gas truck holding high the red flag. The flag flows brightly in the sun. The color of faith adds vitality to the entire silver-gray bridge.
In these days, the number of trucks is relatively small. Even if the three towns of Wuhan and Han are big cities, it is difficult for citizens to see such a large fleet.
They walked towards the bridge in a crowd.
This made Zhou Wenzhong who was guarding the bridge very busy. He immediately picked up the big iron trumpet and shouted to the crowd: "People, today we are going to conduct an experiment on the bridge. Traffic is temporarily closed on the bridge. , everyone, please abide by the order.”
The crowd learned that it was to verify the stability of the bridge, and they all cooperated very well and stood on both sides of the Yangtze River to watch.
The technical team led by Liang Sicheng came to the bridge one after another, set up various monitoring instruments, and prepared to monitor the condition of the bridge.
Liang Sicheng saw that the time had reached nine o'clock, stood on tiptoe and looked into the distance.
"According to the planned time, Driver Li and the others should have already set off at this time."
In the Jiang'an Locomotive Depot, more than ten miles away from the bridge.
Two freight trains loaded with coal are ready for departure.
Today is the first day of the competition, so Duan Chang Xing from the Qianmen Locomotive Depot and Duan Chang Meng from the Jiangan Locomotive Depot came to the station.
The two driver teams, Li Aiguo and Cao Wenzhi, Jiang Shan and Liu Dali, are ready and waiting to board the train.
Duan Chang Meng looked at Duan Chang Xing: "It turns out that we are guests, Lao Xing, please say a few words."
Old Xing raised his fist: "Let's go!"
Duan Chang Meng: " ."
Cao Wen gave the order directly and immediately boarded the train with the driver team. Li Aiguo and the deputy driver team also sat on the tender car.
(According to regulations, they need to drive the train on the return trip)
At this time, Jiang Shan and Liu Dali, the driver team of Jiang'an Locomotive Depot, were in a dilemma.
Duanchang Meng is a leader who loves to talk. Now that Duanchang Meng has not spoken yet, if he leaves directly, he will not respect the leader.
However, that guy Li Aiguo was already preparing to drive, and they couldn't care less about the delay.
Duanchang Meng also realized this and felt that he had been tricked by Duanchang Xing. He waved his hand and said, "Let's go."
"Yes!"
< br>
Two patriotic steam locomotives each carried a dozen trains filled with coal and drove towards the distance.
The wheels of the heavy-duty train hit the track, making a roaring sound, and the ground almost shook.
With two such heavy trains running towards each other on the bridge, will there really be no problems?
Duanchang Xing and Duanchang Meng looked at each other and quickly boarded the jeep.
(End of this chapter)