Amtrak #4 derails after hitting a truck at a public crossing near Mendon, Missouri

[diningcar]

This is open farmland with no vision restraints apparent. I don't know if there as any electronic crossing controlled gates or flashing lights. This was about 1:30 today

[Cotton Belt MP104]

I am not there to verify, but it seems there is a tree line that blocks view for both train and vehicle. Of note is, the RR cleared on both sides of grade crossing, the required clearance for uncoupling a standing train. This same situation existed in our town. Several crashes here until UP doubled the distance of tree line clearance. 

I would suggest the same thing happened when the recent NS crash with a truck happened. Chemicals spilled into local waters and locomotives were on the ground.

BTW: What happened to the other comments on this thread? I read it earlier and found out the location from one comment.   endmrw0627222242

 

 

[matthewsaggie]

And if the money spent/wasted on PTC had been spent on grade crossing signals/elimination how many more lives would have been saved. My guess is 100 to 1.

[BaltACD]

matthewsaggie

And if the money spent/wasted on PTC had been spent on grade crossing signals/elimination how many more lives would have been saved. My guess is 100 to 1.

PTC was carrier money spent.  Road crossing elimination is spending that required state and local governmental spending for the most part - building overpasses and underpasses.  Simple closing of many crossings is not feasible in many cases as there is local opposition to the action. 

[SealBook27]

For over 30 years I have driven medium and heavy duty trucks.  The view out the right side is more restricted than you think, what with a 2 square foot blindspot due to the west coast and spot mirrors.  The dirt road does not cross the tracks at 90 degrees.  If the shallow angle (less than 90 degrees) is on the right side, the driver has got to angle more to the right in order to get any decent view down the tracks.  That means moving to the left first in order to have enough room on this narrow road to swing to the right.  And you better keep the inside wheel of the dual wheels on the "pavement", or you risk getting stuck. 

 

[tree68]

Cotton Belt MP104

BTW: What happened to the other comments on this thread? I read it earlier and found out the location from one comment.   endmrw0627222242

There are two threads.  You probably were reading the other one.

[Overmod]

matthewsaggie

And if the money spent/wasted on PTC had been spent on grade crossing signals/elimination how many more lives would have been saved. My guess is 100 to 1.

The ICC essentially agreed in 1928, when it abandoned strict enforcement of the Esch Act automatic-train-control requirements in favor of better grade-crossing improvement.  Only the postwar rush to much higher streamliner speeds on indifferent track or with deficient signaling (as at Naperville) led to strict re-enforcement of the 59/79mph restrictions without functional ATC in 1950-52.