Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Start watching Ron Pratt's videos, and you'll be stuck watching them all night.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
They deserve hazard pay for what they do. He sure knows what he is doing IMHO.
Electroliner 1935They deserve hazard pay for what they do. He sure knows what he is doing IMHO.
It would be interesting to see the invoice submitted to Omaha for the time and services rendered.
If you look through the videos there are other railroad vehicles being towed/lifted on that channel. (And the occasional train rolling past while he works.)
Electroliner 1935hey deserve hazard pay for what they do.
More than a few fire trucks have been struck by errant drivers. What is it about a big truck with beaucoup lights that they have trouble seeing? Oh, yeah - it isn't on their smartphone...
A few fire departments that deal regularly with Interstate calls have assembled blocker trucks much like what the highway people use.
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...
tree68 Electroliner 1935 hey deserve hazard pay for what they do. More than a few fire trucks have been struck by errant drivers. What is it about a big truck with beaucoup lights that they have trouble seeing? Oh, yeah - it isn't on their smartphone... A few fire departments that deal regularly with Interstate calls have assembled blocker trucks much like what the highway people use.
Electroliner 1935 hey deserve hazard pay for what they do.
My observations - based mostly on Maryland State Police over the recent years.
They are using high powered, high intensity LED Red and Blue flashers.
In the dark - the Flashers are Blinding in their intensity.
BaltACDThey are using high powered, high intensity LED Red and Blue flashers. In the dark - the Flashers are Blinding in their intensity.
Some of those light bars have a day/night option. It's funny, though - during the day, the blue is less visible. At night, watch out!
You'll notice that patrol units on the DC beltway can turn the front side of their light bars off - no sense attracting attention on the other loop. It just slows traffic down there, too.
A few years ago, I asked a Michigan tow truck operator why they run red on their tow trucks (you'll notice blue lights in the video, too). He said it was because the driving public has come to ignore the amber lights...
tree68A few years ago, I asked a Michigan tow truck operator why they run red on their tow trucks (you'll notice blue lights in the video, too). He said it was because the driving public has come to ignore the amber lights...
In those videos - the tow truck outfit is in Missouri. There, tow trucks are classified as emergency vehicles and can run red & blues with sirens when authorized.
LEDs are awesome, but so many departments just go wild with the lights. In the old days (well, my old days) most departments just had a lightbar (streethawk, code 3 LP, etc), and maybe wig wags. That was it. Now they have a full size LED bar (with the dual colored-LEDs), deck lights, license plate lights, leds in the tailights, side window leds, etc. Ok, fine for repsonse, but when they are sitting on the shoulder of a dark highway and you can barely see anything - how is that safer? PA state police are pretty good with this, though. They usually just have the flashers on the end of the bars slow flash when they're stopped.
There's another channel I watch (ambuchannel 112) which is based in the Netherlands. When they arrive on the scene they kill their blue lights and just use amber. Of course their drivers are a lot more repsectful...
zugmannThere's another channel I watch (ambuchannel 112) which is based in the Netherlands. When they arrive on the scene they kill their blue lights and just use amber. Of course their drivers are a lot more repsectful...
At one time, Phoenix, AZ, fire killed their red lights at the scene in favor of ambers. Don't know if that's still the case.
And yes, some agencies do get carried away with the lights.
tree68 zugmann There's another channel I watch (ambuchannel 112) which is based in the Netherlands. When they arrive on the scene they kill their blue lights and just use amber. Of course their drivers are a lot more repsectful... At one time, Phoenix, AZ, fire killed their red lights at the scene in favor of ambers. Don't know if that's still the case. And yes, some agencies do get carried away with the lights.
zugmann There's another channel I watch (ambuchannel 112) which is based in the Netherlands. When they arrive on the scene they kill their blue lights and just use amber. Of course their drivers are a lot more repsectful...
All of which highlight another pet peeve of mine. School Busses operating in the dark.
In my area, school busses have 2 flashing red lights to the front and rear of the bus as well as swing out red flashing outlined stop signs. When approaching the busses from the rear, ones headlights illuminate the highly reflective yellow reflector tape that outlines many features of the rear of the bus. All well and good at the rear.
When facing the bus in opposing traffic - the headlights of the bus tend to 'hide' the flashing red lights - especially the extended stop signs as both they and the headlights are on nearly the same plane. That leaves the two flashing red lights above the headlights. One cannot see any YELLOW that helps to define a School Bus.
To my mind, the front surfaces of the bus should be covered in the HIGHLY REFLECTIVE Yellow tape. Potentially the flashing incandesent red lights should be replaced with the high intensity red LED's. The bus needs to SHOUT School Bus from every angle of view both Day and NIGHT.
Being retired now, I rarely have any interactions with school busses. When I was working I had to deal with the routinely on my way home from work in the dark on a high density two lane state roadway. School Busses did not stand out, SHOUT OUT, from the other traffic. I observed many drivers passing the busses that should have stop in accordance with the law.
https://www.trafficsafetywarehouse.com/Reflective-Fluorescent-Yellow-Conspicuity-Diamond-Grade-Tape/productinfo/983-21/
I encountered several busses with lights flashing yesterday. All of them had LEDs. I didn't know if I was coming up on an accident scene, or what. It was actually confusing for me as a firefighter. It's the way they flash, which resembles emergency vehicles.
New fire apparatus is now includes reflective chevrons on the rear - as I recall it must fill over half of the available surface. many departments are now opting to put the same stripes on the front bumper. A reflective stripe down both sides has been around for quite a while.
A standard manner of application would help. Our busses here also outline the emergency exits on the sides in reflective tape.
A common practice in some areas, and now moving into this area, is the white strobe on the rear roof of the bus. That does set them aside.
tree68I encountered several busses with lights flashing yesterday. All of them had LEDs. I didn't know if I was coming up on an accident scene, or what. It was actually confusing for me as a firefighter. It's the way they flash, which resembles emergency vehicles.
The strobing effect? Yeah, not a fan of that either. Nor am I a fan of the one manufacturer (Thomas?) that has those flush-mounted lights on the bus. Hard to see in the afternoon sun - which is kind of when the busses are usually out. Ditto with the traditional lights that don't have sun shades. Don't the people that makes these things LOOK at them?
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