Thanks for the location. I will have to head down to the pickle factory and check out that entire area sometime. I think there are streets there that weren't when I did that last.My mother worked at the pickle factory as a summer job (teacher during the off-season ) one year.
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)
I looked on Google Earth Streetview for Pine Ave at the RR crossing. You can see the sign saying "Stop here on red" (before the tracks), but it looks like they also need a "No turn on red" sign if cars are going to creep on the tracks to make those right turns. 42°47'28.61"N 86° 6'43.30"W
Following the tracks west, you can see a black tank car spotted at the pickle works.
I wonder how the thought process of the 'self driving vehicles' would have handled the situation.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
This was at Pine Street on the CSX Dock Track, west of Padnos' yard, south of the power plant. The tanks go to Heinz at the end of the line, vinegar for pickeling as I recall.
The traffic lights are for the intersection, but have no interlocking with the railroad. The driver was trying to turn right, so he was pulled ahead of the stop line and onto the tracks and looking away from the train, trying to find a hole. Obviously, he failed in his endeavor.
ChuckCobleigh Anybody else catch the irony of the shoving platform adorned with the "Operation Lifesaver" information?
Anybody else catch the irony of the shoving platform adorned with the "Operation Lifesaver" information?
You bet, this is probably the best advertising ever for OLS, if only the guy himself had seen it.
My question: if those traffic lights weren't for the intersection involved, what intersection were they for? I suspect that the red car stopped for the light, then backed up (bumping into the other car; did you see that?), but then went ahead because he had a green light--as did other cars in the adjacent lane.Mr. Saturnalia, I know that this is probably on the spur south of the river and west of the main line...but which streets are involved here? I'm also assuming that we're west of Padnos, because there should be plenty of traffic from there (what industry uses tank cars like that?) I've no doubt been through this intersection (and across this crossing) more than a few times myself, as we do occasionally go into Holland on our way to my ancestral home in Grand Haven. (Historically, the line involved used to--back in the 19th century--cross the main line somewhere in the vicinity of the depot, continuing as the Allegan [now Hamilton] branch. It was a separate railroad back then, and its main line curved and crossed the river, continuing north to Muskegon across the Ottawa Beach line, going straight where the notorious Cronje Curve now exists.)As for stopping and flagging the crossing, that's probably prudent. There also should be signs short of the track, telling traffic to stop here, whether for a traffic signal or otherwise.
blue streak 1 Noticed a signal bungalow just on camera side of crossing to right of track as viewed. If that was for a future crossing signal wonder what happened to a crossing signal being installed ? BALT ?
Noticed a signal bungalow just on camera side of crossing to right of track as viewed. If that was for a future crossing signal wonder what happened to a crossing signal being installed ? BALT ?
Woah, didn't expect to see one of my videos on here! I remember this incident well, one of the more exciting and unanticipated moments that made this day filming in subzero wind chills worth it!
Anyways, no there aren't any current plans to add active crossing protection to that crossing. It is a one-way street, and a small branch line to a single customer, seeing only four moves on the average week, never more than a handful of cars. I'm sure the City of Holland and CSX simply don't feel the lofty 6-figure price tag would be worth it.
Other busy crossings up the line (including the counterpart to this street going the opposite direction) have gates and lights, but there the line sees the local freight daily, often with multiple switching moves taking place each time.
At the end of the day, it is a motorist's job to yield to trains. There are crossbucks on both sides of the crossing. There is no excuse except laziness with looking out for the chance of a railroad movement.
If I were so in charge of railroad operations here, I'd mandate that crews stop and flag this intersection, given the usual operating conditions of a short, slow train and the aforementioned less-than-ideal crossing. There are 7 crossing accident reports for this crossing in the FRA database, but none serious, and the last one was in 1999.
So that's my take, as the producer of the video.
tree68 Another of those problem intersections involving a stoplight adjacent to a crossing. I'm betting that the crews deal with such incidents at that crossing on a regular basis...
Another of those problem intersections involving a stoplight adjacent to a crossing. I'm betting that the crews deal with such incidents at that crossing on a regular basis...
Not a traffic light - just a Stop sign, with no clearing distance between the intersecting road and the railroad. Crossing design fail 101.
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...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwuOEBBW9-Q
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