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Honking at kids frowned upon?

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Posted by Ulrich on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 7:17 PM

Not if that other lawyer also falls in the forest. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 7:03 PM

Geared Steam

 

 
Ulrich

when a lawyer falls in a forest, does anybody hear? 

 

 

 

..and does anyone really care?

 

Another lawyer for filing a wrongful death suit.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 6:38 PM

cefinkjr
 
jeffhergert

When the horn is sounded, it is recorded by the event recorder.  Reviewing the tapes will show where, when and the sequence sounded.

 

 

This is so your road's lawyers can say, in court, "See. Our engineer did sound the appropriate grade crossing signal before the deceased tried to beat the train to the crossing."

 

 

That's what the outward facing video camera (and outside audio recorder) is for.  Then they can play it for the court without needing anyone to decypher the event recorder printout.

Jeff

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Posted by Geared Steam on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 6:26 PM

Ulrich

when a lawyer falls in a forest, does anybody hear? 

 

..and does anyone really care?

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 12:14 PM

Ulrich

when a lawyer falls in a forest, does anybody hear?  

Not until he files the notice of claim...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Ulrich on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 11:52 AM

when a lawyer falls in a forest, does anybody hear? 

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Posted by GP-9_Man11786 on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 11:43 AM

The Hub City Railroad Musuem, where I volunteer is becoming something of a well-known railfan haunt here in Spartanburg. Be always get the 2 long 1 short 1 long for the Magnolia Street Crossing on Northbounds. But a ot of times the southbounds will give us some horn honks and the enginieers almost always wave if there's kids.

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Posted by cefinkjr on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 11:28 AM

jeffhergert

When the horn is sounded, it is recorded by the event recorder.  Reviewing the tapes will show where, when and the sequence sounded.

This is so your road's lawyers can say, in court, "See. Our engineer did sound the appropriate grade crossing signal before the deceased tried to beat the train to the crossing."

 

Chuck
Allen, TX

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Posted by Sunnyland on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 10:10 AM

When our railfan goes out to watch trains, we carry a W sign and they usually toot at us as they pass.   And I've waved at trains and sometimes get a toot, but not always.  I'm sure it's up to the individual engineer what he wants to do.  

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Posted by zardoz on Sunday, November 16, 2014 8:57 PM

The only time I would refrain from "tooting" at kids (or adults too for that matter) is when in multiple-track territory, and that there was another train in the vicinity.  Without my "tooting", the other trains' "toots" would hopefully change the focus of the person's attention from my train towards the other train.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, November 16, 2014 8:41 PM

seppburgh2

Would the pending rules for inward/outward camera put an end to friendly toots?  At this point, this would bring it into micro-management as someone reviews and ask why a toot?

 

When the horn is sounded, it is recorded by the event recorder.  Reviewing the tapes will show where, when and the sequence sounded.  I've never been asked why the horn was used.

Jeff

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, November 16, 2014 5:29 PM

a crew gave me "a shave and a haircut two bits" blast with their horns yesterday.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, November 16, 2014 9:30 AM

seppburgh2
Would the pending rules for inward/outward camera put an end to friendly toots? At this point, this would bring it into micro-management as someone reviews and ask why a toot?

One 'official' reason would be to ensure, for safety, that the person being 'tooted at' had seen the train; another would be to establish that the engineer was keeping a safe lookout and acknowledging the same. 

I'd expect that if any particular municipality demonstrated too aggressive or strict a response to horn use in a QZ, there might be railroad instructions -- formal or informal -- not to give 'friendly toots' ... or to be prepared to give a boilerplate response if a citation or notice regarding one is received.

I'd like to think this wouldn't be done in a micromanaging, bullying fashion.  But those in the industry know better than I how particular carriers would do this sort of thing...

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Posted by ChrisB1962 on Sunday, November 16, 2014 9:10 AM

Horn signals are required for many reasons other than grade crossings, and most are not geographically limited.

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Posted by ndbprr on Sunday, November 16, 2014 5:49 AM
A smart manager would encourage any public act that was friendly and had no bearing on train operation or safety.
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Posted by seppburgh2 on Saturday, November 15, 2014 11:30 PM

Would the pending rules for inward/outward camera put an end to friendly toots?  At this point, this would bring it into micro-management as someone reviews and ask why a toot?

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Posted by selector on Saturday, November 15, 2014 9:40 PM

cacole

I'm ceretainly no kid, but I've had many UP crews toot the horn to say 'hello' when I've been out railfanning.

 

The wife and I drove up the Fraser Canyon last fall to see inlaws, and on the way past Spences Bridge I saw a CN freight headed by an SD70M-2, but on the opposite side of the Thompson River.  From where I watched it, it was perhaps 400 yards away, and I followed it with my camera, making a video.  The driver noticed me and gave a couple of toots obviously intended for my benefit.

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Posted by cacole on Saturday, November 15, 2014 6:00 PM

I'm ceretainly no kid, but I've had many UP crews toot the horn to say 'hello' when I've been out railfanning.

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 15, 2014 4:35 PM

selector

But the onboard computer will dump the air if he waves.  God help us all if that happens. Whistling

 

In a QZ.

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Posted by selector on Saturday, November 15, 2014 4:28 PM

But the onboard computer will dump the air if he waves.  God help us all if that happens. Whistling

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Posted by jeffhergert on Saturday, November 15, 2014 4:16 PM

No.

Jeff

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Honking at kids frowned upon?
Posted by KBCpresident on Saturday, November 15, 2014 4:11 PM

I was told by my Dad (who is not a railroader) that a computer onboard will yell at an engineer if they honk at a time other than a grade crossing, i.e. at a railfan or wavign child. Is this true?

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