Railroad grade crossings & Stupid Drivers!

[Anonymous]

I once read: There was a car with 4 high school students in it approaching a RR crossing that was activated. The lights were flashing, but, didn't have gates. The driver sped up and beat the train over the crossing. The driver then says "boy, that was lucky, that saved us at least 5 minutes!"

One student then replied "so, what are you going to do with those 5 minutes you saved?"

Trains vs. Cars, the cars usually lose.

[trainfan1221]

Overmod,
Don't know the street name, but there was a florist nearby. You are right about it being Haworth.

[Sterling1]

I remember an incident just this summer, in fact it was in July at Attridge road in North Chili, west of Rochester, NY. This fool in his black pickup truck first did a sort of rolling stop and then sped off through the crossing. At the time, the flashers were going and the gates were about to go down. Even though the train was just revving up it seemed to me that the driver should have stopped before the gates looked around and listened before reacting. Some people are so strange.!?

[88gta350]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KCRRMAN

QUOTE: Originally posted by 88gta350

At work our main entrance is about 5 feet lower than the rail line and there's a good hill to get up to the grade crossing, then it levels out once you cross.

We occasionally get low-boy trailers coming on site for heavier loads and they some times get their trailers high-centered on this hill if they don't take the turn wide enough. I was stationed at the entrance one time when this happened and went about getting the truck unstuck, which is not easy because they have to back out onto a rather busy road and reapproach from a wider angle. We finally got him across the tracks when not 3-5 minutes later a train came. It could have been bad.

First, I would immediately get with the local road authority and explain this serious situation. Sounds like the crossing approaches could use some reconfigurations. Second, make certain that you have the applicable 800 number to contact the railroad should a truck become high centered. Third, I would contact your local Operation Lifesaver coordinator and try to arrange presentations for truckers at your facilities and at a minimum share information with them about crossing safety.

There's a couple of problems with those fixes. First, we do have the 800 number for NS, and have used it often for stuck vehicles or malfunctioning gates. As for redesinging the crossing approach, it's technically running through private property (the company's), and the line parrelells the public roadway so closely that it would nearly impossible to do any type of reconstruction on this particular crossing... it's just in a bad spot. As for having presentations with the truckers, these aren't company truckers, or they would have had safety standdowns long ago. They are always contractors or deliveries. They are not a very common occurance and the company has no way of knowing or deciding who will be driving the truck. If your a CDL certified trucker, you should just know not to center yourself on the tracks!

[Anonymous]

While running trains on the South Shore, down the street in Michigan City I had more than once: Get on the rails and drive right towards me, then swerve to their left into on-coming traffic. And, race along side of me, pass me, get on the rails and signal for a left hand turn and stop. I know. It's the railroads' fault.
Mitch

[Overmod]

Hey trainman1221, don't you mean "Haworth"?

You wouldn't happen to remember which street this was, would you?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29

...What we need to do is get a steam locomotive, and run it buy all the crossings at 10 miles per hour, with cylinder and blowdown cocks open, a massive plume of black smoke rising, and the whistle and bell going, to show people in their SUV's and Hummers that they aren't nearly the biggest thing on the road...

Sounds like a job for the UP Big Boy!

[Junctionfan]

My club members told me of an incident that involved a CN train versus a truck carring steel beams. Ever watch Braveheart. Remember at Stirling how Wallace stopped the attack of the English heavy cavalry? Needless to say the locomotives were ripped a new one and it was the truck driver's fault.

[trainfan1221]

A friend and I were following the River line in North Jersey, during Conrail days, and stopped at a town called Hayworth. The road is slightly below the tracks next to it. We were looking toward the crossing waiting for the next train. When it did show up, so did a station wagon, complete with a family and kids. The idiot driver then went through the flashers and beat the train by literally seconds. If they had paused even for a moment, my friend would have had a very interesting picture!
The fun part of that day was watching a NJTransit bus rip off a car door when the driver opened it right in front of it. Talk about not looking.

[Anonymous]

Here in LA, we have more than we can handle of idiots. On the light rail line near where I live, the problem is not so much their racing of the train, but rather that they will bolt across whenever the gates are high enough. What we need to do is get a steam locomotive, and run it buy all the crossings at 10 miles per hour, with cylinder and blowdown cocks open, a massive plume of black smoke rising, and the whistle and bell going, to show people in their SUV's and Hummers that they aren't nearly the biggest thing on the road.

See you around the forums,
Daniel

[tree68]

One of the crossings in my old hometown (Milford, MI) had steep slopes on both sides. Cars were OK. The auto carrier should never have tried. He was carrying "Wynn's Friction Proofing" vans, painted their trademark red and yellow. Apparently nobody got word to the RR (C&O in those days), and there were soon red and yellow vans scattered about the ROW, courtesy of a southbound. Tied stuff up for quite a while.

The crossing is long since closed, but I chased a bunch of kids off the track there last weekend, during a visit.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 88gta350

At work our main entrance is about 5 feet lower than the rail line and there's a good hill to get up to the grade crossing, then it levels out once you cross.

We occasionally get low-boy trailers coming on site for heavier loads and they some times get their trailers high-centered on this hill if they don't take the turn wide enough. I was stationed at the entrance one time when this happened and went about getting the truck unstuck, which is not easy because they have to back out onto a rather busy road and reapproach from a wider angle. We finally got him across the tracks when not 3-5 minutes later a train came. It could have been bad.

First, I would immediately get with the local road authority and explain this serious situation. Sounds like the crossing approaches could use some reconfigurations. Second, make certain that you have the applicable 800 number to contact the railroad should a truck become high centered. Third, I would contact your local Operation Lifesaver coordinator and try to arrange presentations for truckers at your facilities and at a minimum share information with them about crossing safety.

[Anonymous]

I think we should start showing more OLI commericials on TV

[zardoz]

In my sillier moments when I would see people in various stages of going around the gates in front of my train, I often thought what we need on the locomotive is a huge P.A. system, with a volume capable of about 130db, with microphones in the cab so we could yell at the idiots.

Hmmm---maybe a person yelling would be more effective than a train whistle. They hear a train whistle and they hurry to get past. Perhaps during the 10 seconds preceding the train crossing the road, the crew could start shouting at all the 'possibles'. "WATCH OUT! TRAIN COMING! RUN AWAY! DEATH APPROACHING!

[espeefoamer]

The second one was a VW Rabbit.The driver stopped too close to the track, and got the front of her car clipped. The driver was not hurt as the train was moving slowly at the time.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

I have been on three trains that have hit vehicles. The first one was a fatal[:(].
the last one was a semi loaded with cardboard that had stalled on the crossing. the driver got out but the trailer was demolished and the F40 damaged.It had to be set out,and we continued with one unit several hours late.

What about the second one?

[espeefoamer]

I have been on three trains that have hit vehicles. The first one was a fatal[:(].
the last one was a semi loaded with cardboard that had stalled on the crossing. the driver got out but the trailer was demolished and the F40 damaged.It had to be set out,and we continued with one unit several hours late.

[pat390]

I once got my bike caught in the space between the rail and the grade crossing and there was a train coming, I had plenty of time and got out but if it got any closer i would have left he bike and got out of the way!
People the try to "beat" trains are idiots, I know 2 people that got killed that way

[Anonymous]

In my opinion what is worse than driving in front of a train is stoping to think abouti.

I mean If your gona floor it, floor it!

Poeple see the trains coming and think about if they should go across. By the time they decide to go across the tracks the train is 20 -30ft. away.

Others will put their car on the tracks and wait for the train to come and then "hit-the-gas" when it is almost too late. Some get hit and it is concidered suicide.


One other thing:
On the way to Chincoteage Va. (on the onter side of the Chesapeake Bay) there is a set of prety hight-tech crossing signals (only only lights, no gates) and on either side of the crossing you could fit only 2 & a half coalporters before they would go out of veiw. The thing is the gates dont work. they go on and off even if a train desent come. The thing is poeple can travel an hour to find the alternat roul that will set you back 5 hours when you get to were the roads meet again.
Trucks can't turn around there because of the trees so they just go on by. I has proven fatal 4 too many times.

[Anonymous]

A few years ago (perhaps 3 or 4) there was a couple near me that drove right into the side of a train on the local short line. Now admittedly it was after dark, and there were no lights or gates there at the time, but it should be something you're watching out for, and its in motion, so you should notice that its there. Part of the problem is that the crossing is in the middle of an "S" curve in the road. Topo map of the spot below.

http://www.terraserverusa.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=11&x=757&y=11738&z=18&w=2

[zardoz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 88gta350

It's funny sometimes to sit and watch the people when the train is coming. The lights are activated and they can clearly see the train coming and see it moving slowly, often very far away as the lights activate early. You can just see them mulling it over in their head whether they should wait or not, their vehicle keeps creeping forward inch by inch.

During my 19 years as engineer I sure saw a lot of strange behavior of drivers when confronted with having to actually think when driving.

When the train I was operating was travelling at a decent rate of speed (30+mph), there would be the usual number of morons running around the gates. But what I found strange, is that when my train was going fairly slowly (10mph or so), FEWER drivers would race around the gates. I never could figure that out.

[Mookie]

Well, you play the video games and they crash a lot of things - but you never die - only the character in the game. And you can restart it and they come back to life. Same in the movies.

You will never change the notion that a thrill is a thrill. Someone will always be trying to get a bigger thrill - like a bigger high. Should put those Moose catchers on all engines and rename them moron catchers, provided to protect the innocent crew!

Mook!

[Anonymous]

In Mannhatan Kansas Union Pacific has a small yard across from the mall. A few years back a car aproached the the crossing near the end of the yard. The gates were down but there was room to make it around. They were in a hury so they decided to go around, but the train beet tham to it. They waited for the long line of autoracks to go by. They lined up to floor-it when the end of the train passed. The end was getting closser and closser. Finaly it was there, the driver hit the gas and ended 3 lives when a second hidden train hit at 45 mph. It pined the car into the crossing gate and completely demolished it and the car.
Now a new crossing is in that same spot and NOBODY goes by now.

[The Block House]

I work for a construction company in Jonesboro, AR. and have to cross the BNSF (Frisco) and UP (Cotten Belt) tracks on the Arkansas State University campus at least 6 times a day. I wish I could count on one hand the number of fools who thought they would save time by running around the gates, but I would have to use both hands and both toes plus to make the count. About 15 years ago a woman thought she would save time by going around the gates and found that the train holding the main was masking the fast local going into the siding . She would have only had to wait 45 seconds but she could not wait and lost her life.

[88gta350]

My inlaws live next to a NS line, and it's used only 1-3 times a day, generally by short, slow moving trains. The crossing is marked with crossbucks and lights but not gates. you can see clearly in each direction. It's funny sometimes to sit and watch the people when the train is coming. The lights are activated and they can clearly see the train coming and see it moving slowly, often very far away as the lights activate early. You can just see them mulling it over in their head whether they should wait or not, their vehicle keeps creeping forward inch by inch. I thought one guy was going to slowly creep his way onto the tracks, he kept inching forward trying to decide whether to beat it. I've never seen any really close calls at this crossing, but I haven't been there for too many trains.

[cherokee woman]

We will see people in their cars hurrying to get across the tracks while a train is
coming. They have barely missed getting hit, and I'm sitting there yelling "You
STUPID IDIOTS: THAT'S A TRAIN COMING RIGHT AT YOU! ARE YOU TRYING
TO COMMIT SUICIDE?!?!?!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSXrules4eva
I live near too dangerous grade xings one is on Easton road in which SEPTA's regional rail meets a five way intersection of Easton and Squahanna Rds. The other has six rails that cross Main St, which is in the center of a bussy town called Landsdale.

I've been there once and I saw some idiot on a bike rode around the gates even though the train was in plain site!!!!!!!! He missed getting hit by inches!!

[Anonymous]

I get the shakes when I read these stories and realize what a wonderful town I live in. We have dual tracked main coming thru and all sorts of trains come and go. People here stop when the gates go down and lights flash and wait.

Once in a great while you will see someone obviously stressed go around the gate.

With that said, I have to relate a story of what happened one day in Virginia. There was a triple track main line down near Norfolk (30 miles away) and the day was bright and clear.

I stopped and looked to the left for a bit. Nothing. Swung to the right.. nothing. Looked left and listened hard could see 3 miles down both directions nothing.

Crossed the tracks with my flat bed and up to the right turn 300 feet away

BOOM 5 desiels roaring with a massive highspeed train blasted my doors off and scared me out of the cab of my 18-wheeler.

The time frame of looking was a minute or so and to see nothing that far in both directions and now this. You can never be too careful.

Back to my town... the reason people stop is sometimes the railroad does rolling meets. You have the first train a unit train fly by going northbound at 40 mph and a few seconds later as the gates start to raise up get caught by a unit stack train going 70 mph also going northbound with the whistle screaming; intent on passing the slower coal.

Good luck!

Look, Listen and Live

Lee

[CSXrules4eva]

Highway rail grade xings. mmmm. I did my senior project on railroad crossing safety. Part of the project involved feild observation. I live near too dangerous grade xings one is on Easton road in which SEPTA's regional rail meets a five way intersection of Easton and Squahanna Rds. The other has six rails that cross Main St, which is in the center of a bussy town called Landsdale. The Main St. recevies heavy traffic from CSX, Conrail, and SEPTA. Let me say this I watched both xings for approx: 2hrs. In the 2hrs a car or semi ran the xings every 15mins or so when a train was comming. WHAT IDIOTS!! Don't they know that any train wether it has 30 or 70 cars needs every bit of 1 mile to come to a complete stop??? HELLO??/!! (Trains ain't no joke people). One person stoped as the arms were down then decided he wanted to beat the train while it was approx: 30ft from crossing the road. I really WORRY about these people.

Now I understand why lots of engineers don't like grade xings. NO runing into fuel tankers or school buses!!