Grade Crossings (oh no, not again!)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

Just a question,
Why does Canadian Railroad crossings have no wording? There is only a red outline with the middle white.

All of Canada is legally bilingual -English and French. I guess they think that having both languages might be too confusing, and just the white cross means the same in both languages. That's why CN is CN and not Canadian National (on one side) and Canadien National (on the other side) which is what they did in the 1960s.

Peter

I still see the odd

"Canadien National"

Boxcar roll-by.

For years I thought they were spelling Canadian wrong.

[Anonymous]

Looks like it, but those are Ex-CP rail cars, i think

[Anonymous]

yeah, isn't that a Santa Fe?

[Anonymous]

And an F-7 in the background, anyone else notice that?

[Anonymous]

Like this!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

Just a question,
Why does Canadian Railroad crossings have no wording? There is only a red outline with the middle white.

You guys are all really close, the actual reason is that If you are 100 feet away, 200 feet away- even more, and your headligh on your car shined on the "X" the red is a reflective substance and REFLECTS really well.

In the states, they don't refelct at all, or very little

Reflection is key.

I had a picture, But now i can't find it

[Glen Ellyn]

Maybe it is because it is a different country. The road speeds change from MPH to KPH,

[M636C]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

Just a question,
Why does Canadian Railroad crossings have no wording? There is only a red outline with the middle white.

All of Canada is legally bilingual -English and French. I guess they think that having both languages might be too confusing, and just the white cross means the same in both languages. That's why CN is CN and not Canadian National (on one side) and Canadien National (on the other side) which is what they did in the 1960s.

Peter

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

Just a question,
Why does Canadian Railroad crossings have no wording? There is only a red outline with the middle white.

It might be that way one day here too in the US. Have you taken notice to crosswalk signals slowly but surely taking away the wording and changing over to a green walk and red don't walk symbols. That's because the population of people who cannot read english is increasing. Construction zones have signs written in english and have symbols. Janitorial signs where I work have "caution wet floor" written in english, spanish, and german. These signs are specifically purchased for this foreign trade zone. If the person walking down the hall can't read in any language, there's still the man falling symbol.

[Junctionfan]

Got me. I suppose a person SHOULD know that an "X" on a pole is railroad crossing when they are going for their drivers license.

[Anonymous]

Just a question,
Why does Canadian Railroad crossings have no wording? There is only a red outline with the middle white.

[jchnhtfd]

If anyone is interested in a really thoroughgoing account of the risks at grade crossings, and the the regulations applying to them (in Canada at least) (the risks are the same everywhere!) the report on the derailment in Manitoba is excellent:
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/rail/2002/r02w0063/r02w0063_sec3.asp