crossing barrier picture in dec 2020 train magazine.

[raptorengineer]

hi

so i was reading the december 2020 trains magazine and i came across a picture on top on page 14 and 15 showing this crossing barrier near normel, illinois back in 1998. i don't think it there today but i trying to fine it on google maps. dose any one know whrere it was?  

[mudchicken]

probably SPCSL - US-136 at McLean (if we are talking about the experimental barrier gate and the negligent signalman)

[raptorengineer]

yup

[rdamon]

NTSB Report

https://www.jonroma.net/media/rail/accident/usa/ntsb/RAR0103.pdf

[raptorengineer]

ah ok thank you

[Fred M Cain]

rdamon

NTSB Report

https://www.jonroma.net/media/rail/accident/usa/ntsb/RAR0103.pdf

 

This is crazy!  Absolutely nuts!  I have never heard of anything like this before.  Most grade crossing accidents are the result of motorists intentionally disregarding signals but in this case it looks like the signals failed.

 

How often does this happen?  Is it an extremely rare fluke or does it happen more often?

 

I have often seen where the signals get called into question after an accident like this but in the end they usually check out as O.K.

 

Regards,

Fred M. Cain

[CMStPnP]

mudchicken

probably SPCSL - US-136 at McLean (if we are talking about the experimental barrier gate and the negligent signalman)

Wow, UP really screwed the pooch on that investigation.   They let the original signalman return to the site and let him have unrestricted access to signal relay shack before the Supervisor got to it to check it over.   Despite them both arriving back on the scene at the same time.    Supervisor made no attempt to investigate prior to the signalman entering the shack and tampering with (Removing) the jumper cable.    Unbelieveable.    Good thing they had other means to find out what really happened at that crossing.

[CMStPnP]

Fred M Cain

his is crazy!  Absolutely nuts!  I have never heard of anything like this before.  Most grade crossing accidents are the result of motorists intentionally disregarding signals but in this case it looks like the signals failed.

I've seen it almost happen at the Brookfield Road crossing back in the Milwaukee Road days but the signalman heard the train horn at a previous crossing and ran to the shack and removed the jumper cable.     I observed it infrequently when I was a kid and watching the local trains in the 1970's.    Mostly they did it when they were switching cars between two crossings so as to not get complaints form the public or have a visit by the police from the gates being down too long.

That was back in the day when railroad employees didn't really care that much about kids running around the property and were generally friendly.   I remember my first peek into a signal shack.    Complete rats nest of wires going everywhere helter skeltert sometimes without any wire harnesses to group them together.