A BNSF mainline runs through the bedroom community in whichI work. Track speed is about 40 mph on trains running through, an average of maybe 6 times a day. Where it intersects that track, the main drag through town has crossbucks and lights. This crossing probably sees 4-5,000 cars a day as it’s a main thoroughfare accessing the school, post office, city office, etc. A thousand feet away is the other crossing in town. It has crossbucks, lights and flashing arms that come down to block the street. This crossing might see 2-300 cars a day. Why would the lesser used crossing have the higher test safety equipment?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
How long has each crossing been equipped with warning devices?
I would not be surprised to find that the less used crossing got them more recently, and therefore has newer, better equipment.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Could also be because the lesser used crossing has had more fatal or at least more expensive (maybe PR expensive rather than $'s) accidents and was thus upgraded to have higher safety equipment.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Might also be a case of who is paying for it...
The lesser used crossing may be for a town/village/city road and the municipality was willing to pay.
The busier might be a state road that the state doesn't want to lay out the cash for (until something forces their hand).
You'll have to tell us who "owns" the two crossings.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
'Squeaky' crossings get the protection they 'squeak' for.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Your state's PUC/RRC probably made a decision more recently on the lesser used crossing. In your state it's the South Dakota Dept. of Transportation/ Office of Air Rail & Transit. Each public crossing has an application/decision document attached to the installation of protection or changes to the size or geometry of the crossing. That Application & Decision becomes a fixed contract - no additions, removal or changes w/o a new hearing, application and decision. (otherwise somebody is in breach of agreement and in serious deep doo-doo).... what you are looking at is an application of the "if it ain't broke - don't fix it" addage. Nothing will happen on the main drag untill there is a new petition/application to upgrade or change what's there.
Take a gander at Title 49; Chapter 294 and Chapter 307 of your state statute follies (SL's). Then look at Chapter 31-27 of your state's codified laws.
(Most states are similar in this regard.)
I think the dude's answer is most likely the explanation.
Is there a school or something in the vicinity of the crossing with gates? In the city where I grew up, the street nearest the high school was the only one with gates from the late 1950s into the 1970s.Here in Lombard, the crossing with a school next to it is the only one in town with four gates to protect the two lanes (all others have one gate per lane). That could be because of a high-profile grade-crossing accident that took place there, but I'm sure the presence of the adjacent school had some influence.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Are the sight distances - how far a vehicle driver can see an approaching train - the same or different at these 2 crossings?
Any hills or humps that would affect how long it takes a vehicle to cross?
These shouldn't really matter - if the lights or gates are operating, don't start crossing - but in the real world . . .
- PDN.
I did a little more studying of the crossings. The main drag is a county road through town that's probably more than a century old. The sightlines are not so good on acount of a grain elevator and a century old, big brick building. The crossing with the gates has houses nearby built in the 50's, 60's & 70's. That one has good sight lines. Long and short of it, I suppose, is that a rural county that doesn't like to spend money and a small bedroom community that doesn't seem to have any money had some differing priorities when paying for crossing protection.
Murphy Siding Long and short of it, I suppose, is that a rural county that doesn't like to spend money and a small bedroom community that doesn't seem to have any money had some differing priorities when paying for crossing protection.
I've seen old photos showing human crossing guards at some grade crossings. Were such people typically employed by the railroad or by the local government?
I do know that the old CA&E had some crossings manned by employees no longer fit for previous job, whether by age or injury. I don't know who paid them.
railroad employees (switch tenders and crossing tenders)
Murphy Siding I did a little more studying of the crossings. The main drag is a county road through town that's probably more than a century old. The sightlines are not so good on acount of a grain elevator and a century old, big brick building. The crossing with the gates has houses nearby built in the 50's, 60's & 70's. That one has good sight lines. Long and short of it, I suppose, is that a rural county that doesn't like to spend money and a small bedroom community that doesn't seem to have any money had some differing priorities when paying for crossing protection.
mudchicken Murphy Siding I did a little more studying of the crossings. The main drag is a county road through town that's probably more than a century old. The sightlines are not so good on acount of a grain elevator and a century old, big brick building. The crossing with the gates has houses nearby built in the 50's, 60's & 70's. That one has good sight lines. Long and short of it, I suppose, is that a rural county that doesn't like to spend money and a small bedroom community that doesn't seem to have any money had some differing priorities when paying for crossing protection. rural county or town has zero choice in the matter - It pays what the ombudsman determines (acting as an administrative law judge, in this case SD-DOT Rail section) the local entity has to contribute. (Failure to pay = bye-bye crossing and a court order)... Town portion is usually pretty small with most of the $$$ being federal section 103 funds distributed to the states for this purpose.
rural county or town has zero choice in the matter - It pays what the ombudsman determines (acting as an administrative law judge, in this case SD-DOT Rail section) the local entity has to contribute. (Failure to pay = bye-bye crossing and a court order)... Town portion is usually pretty small with most of the $$$ being federal section 103 funds distributed to the states for this purpose.
Murphy SidingWouldn't the same federal section 103 funds be available to counties?
I'm guessing it gets filtered through the state...
I think I found the spot you're talking about - nice classic car on Railroad Street on Google Street view.
That said, I can't explain the difference, aside from the theories already put forward.
Murphy: Section 130 funds are administered by the state. It's not free money for the local bubbas. It is a finite amount and the PUC/RRC/DOT administers the yearly amount based on priority. (and is there ever a waiting list for those funds)
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/xings/fhwasa16075/ch6.cfm
You also might want to look at the SD-DOT Railroad groups "Applications and Decisions" about those two crossings. Like most states, those ought to be available somewhere, probably online if they are more recent installations.
tree68 Murphy Siding Wouldn't the same federal section 103 funds be available to counties? I'm guessing it gets filtered through the state... I think I found the spot you're talking about - nice classic car on Railroad Street on Google Street view. That said, I can't explain the difference, aside from the theories already put forward.
Murphy Siding Wouldn't the same federal section 103 funds be available to counties?
Murphy Siding First thing I saw when I started looking on Street View was the white Ford Econoline van. Classic car?...Um, OK.
1950-ish sedan, white. Only badge is "Custom", and I'm not that good with cars of that era.
Unless I was in the wrong town...
tree68 Murphy Siding First thing I saw when I started looking on Street View was the white Ford Econoline van. Classic car?...Um, OK. 1950-ish sedan, white. Only badge is "Custom", and I'm not that good with cars of that era. Unless I was in the wrong town...
Next to the man in the white T-Shirt?
rdamon Next to the man in the white T-Shirt?
Looks like a late 1940's chevorlet - 1949 Maybe
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.