Trains.com

Railroad concern for crossing safety

11429 views
229 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 11:09 PM
I would like to comment on rail crossing saftey. I've worked for one of the major carriers in this country for many years in the transportation department. (Over 25 but slightly less than 30). I have read many of the posts on here concerning who is at fault the majority of the time. Fault dosen't matter to me because fault usually comes after the fact and it gives me no satisfaction whatsoever to say that someone I have wiped out on a crossing was at fault. Facts do matter to me. And the fact is that we are killing and injuring a lot of people with our trains in this country. The numbers show it. For every crossing accident there are many, many close calls. TOO many. Tell me I am wrong and I'll hush...I had a VERY close call just today. I usually have several per week and I am quite sure many of you other railroaders do too. Sure, people aren't always alert all of the time. Thats the nature of the beast and NOTHING is going to change that fact ever. ARE YOU always alert all the time? Have you ever caught yourself crossing the tracks in your automobile and not paying proper "heads-up" attention? Doing that just one time in the right situitation can be deadly. The next person we hit with our train could possibly be our own wife, child, or some other loved one who suffered a mere moment of inattentiveness. How much satisfaction will "who's fault it is" give to you in that event? What is it going to change? NOTHING. It is more cost effective for the railroads to take the avenue of ignorance and let someone else carry the ball for them. Therefore thats what they do and will continue to do until it is more cost effective for them not to....write your congressmen or anyone else that might help! It's all of our responsibilities, not just the railroad's, to find a solution. Our railroads reside in this country just like the general population does, and there goes with that a certain amount of responsibility, or there should...These highway crossings can be made far safer than they currently are. There's really no valid excuse not to do it. I'd would love to see all of them made virtually "idiot proof". EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! Just think for a moment at how nice it would be to go to work and not have to worry so much about hitting someone on a crossing.

Clark K.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2003 1:40 AM
To answer your 14 year old kid's question, "where are all of the smashed up car parts?" well, that's easy. They're up your ***, Missouri.
Ken
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 11:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri2
My 14 year old said "Where's all the f*&%$# smashed up car parts if its authentic?"

For some reason I doubt a normal 14 year old would have said that.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:50 PM
mr.pines please leave.
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").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:43 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by David Voss

Hmm.

Here is what my seven year old daughter had to say about this:

Railroads aren't bad. Sometimes cars don't listen to the railroad gates and go on the tracks and people get killed. Because trains take awhile to stop and that's why cars have to stop.
Here's what my kid had to say. Lionel had a commemorative century clock a couple years ago with the little train going around and the ad said authentic. My 14 year old said "Where's all the f*&%$# smashed up car parts if its authentic?"
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:41 PM
matt says whoa daddy at every railroad crossing!
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").

 

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Saturday, July 19, 2003 12:34 PM
Proof that wisdom has no age limit.
QUOTE: Originally posted by David Voss

Hmm.

Here is what my seven year old daughter had to say about this:

Railroads aren't bad. Sometimes cars don't listen to the railroad gates and go on the tracks and people get killed. Because trains take awhile to stop and that's why cars have to stop.

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Los Altos, California
  • 130 posts
Posted by bfsfabs on Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:22 AM
"From the mouths of children"
Lowell Ryder
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 8:10 AM
Hmm.

Here is what my seven year old daughter had to say about this:

Railroads aren't bad. Sometimes cars don't listen to the railroad gates and go on the tracks and people get killed. Because trains take awhile to stop and that's why cars have to stop.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 5:03 AM
I am geting dumber by reading this post! The only thing Ive realy learned is Im surounded by IDIOTS...and even worst...they can justify it!!!!
(Iceman hoping in fustration)->IGGG!!!!!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 2:23 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

I'll ask him when I see him. From my knowledge of the laws, it would depend on just how private the road is. If it is open to public traffic, as in not gated or posted no trespassing, then it would probably be considered a public vehicular area and motor vehicles laws would apply. For example, a Walmart parking lot is on private property, but you can be charged with traffic offenses when driving in the lot. That's how the law is in NC.

You say the railroad did not have to and shouldn't have put the crossing signs up. Seems to me that they were trying to improve crossing safety. And you fault them for it. Kind of goes against everything you've said about the railroads.

Does the driver of the truck not have a common law duty to make sure there is not a train coming before going across the crossing?

Where in the article about the GA accident does it say it was a blind crossing?
You say GA has no applicable laws, and post a link to an FRA document on vegetation clearances. No where in the article does it say that vegetation contributed to the accident, so where did you get that it did?

I'm not going to press any charges against anyone in GA. I'm in NC and I don't have jurisdiction there.

In regarding the bleach truck accident, maybe the A-pillar on the truck blocked his view of the train. I guess that the government should be held responsible for not requiring truck manufacturers to make transparent A-pillars. Does that sound about right to you?
I thought you went to a railroad brainwashing collision crash investigation course. There are four classes of private crossings. Name them.

As for Wal-Mart half the transportation budget goes to redoing the roads, signals, etc... up to their front door which is usually city streets. $64 billion they have in the bank and we are paveing their parking lots, traffic lights, etc... and the roads two miles every direction.

There isn't a crossing in the US hardly with the right sight lines for crossbucks where are the police writeing the tickets? When was the last time you ticketed a train for speeding---Do you even know the train speed limits through your patrol area to check sight lines at crossings?

As for the chlorine truck the railroad probably clear cut the area as soon as it happened---moved the tanker cars etc... sitting there. Isn't that tampering with evidence. They do it all the time!! Oh we killed somebody well hurry and bring the dozers in before the videos are taken.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 1:21 AM
Please spay and neuter your PESTS! Looks like someone forgot to sterilize whatever produced Missouri. I hope that this shitbag is sterile as not to procreate and contaminate this world with anymore like heshe!
Ken
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 286 posts
Posted by dekemd on Saturday, July 19, 2003 12:14 AM
I'll ask him when I see him. From my knowledge of the laws, it would depend on just how private the road is. If it is open to public traffic, as in not gated or posted no trespassing, then it would probably be considered a public vehicular area and motor vehicles laws would apply. For example, a Walmart parking lot is on private property, but you can be charged with traffic offenses when driving in the lot. That's how the law is in NC.

You say the railroad did not have to and shouldn't have put the crossing signs up. Seems to me that they were trying to improve crossing safety. And you fault them for it. Kind of goes against everything you've said about the railroads.

Does the driver of the truck not have a common law duty to make sure there is not a train coming before going across the crossing?

Where in the article about the GA accident does it say it was a blind crossing?
You say GA has no applicable laws, and post a link to an FRA document on vegetation clearances. No where in the article does it say that vegetation contributed to the accident, so where did you get that it did?

I'm not going to press any charges against anyone in GA. I'm in NC and I don't have jurisdiction there.

In regarding the bleach truck accident, maybe the A-pillar on the truck blocked his view of the train. I guess that the government should be held responsible for not requiring truck manufacturers to make transparent A-pillars. Does that sound about right to you?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 12:07 AM
Missouri,
What does a private road or property have to do with
it? It still comes down to personal responsibility and the proper oper-
ation of a motor vehicle. Personal responsibility what a concept.
Perhaps you life would be better if you just admitted
that you hate railroads.Really sad because hate only consumes the
hater.
Harry
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 11:34 PM
http://www.nbc11.com/news/2333826/detail.html

I "stopped looked and the train wasn't there".

The last line in the video "Will not be cited because this is private property"
This was the bleach truck. The corn truck was hit in Nebraska, the tomato truck in California, ummm the Ice truck was hit in S.C. All is needed is the bull truck for the train crash barbacue this week.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:51 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
I look at it as the railroads either do it or go to jail for negligient homicide like any other business owner. It's their trains. Like these politicans who didn't do their jobs to start with standing around getting medals for getting the kids killed to start with. Then the low life railroads comeing in and chargeing 1/4 a million when the gates can be bought for 40K all day long.



Yes, it's the railroads train. The motor vehicle belongs the driver. Why not charge the driver of the car with negligent homicide? The driver was negligent in not yielding right of way.

You like to copy and paste, here's one for you.

NS Collision with Log Truck Kills Driver, Slightly Injures Crew

The driver of a logging truck was killed Tuesday when he pulled into the path of a freight train at a remote crossing on a private road in southern Charlton County, Georgia, authorities said. Both crewmen aboard the Norfolk Southern train consisting of two locomotives pulling 60 cars sustained minor injuries in the collision, said Trooper 1st Class Chad Woods of the Georgia State Patrol, lead investigator in the accident.

The truck driver died about 08:00 EDT at the scene of the collision, a railroad crossing on Rayonier Road No. 25 between Moniac and St. George, Woods said. The train didn't derail, although its locomotives received major damage.

Its crew, Robert Brantley, 47, of Jacksonville, and Ronald Wayne, 56, of Valdosta, said they felt some pain but had no visible injuries, Woods said.

Woods a 1988 Peterbuilt tractor-trailer loaded with logs was northbound when it came to the crossing, which is marked with warning crossbars. The train was traveling west about 45 mph along a section of tracks where the rail speed limit is 50 mph.

"The truck failed to yield at the crossing and pulled into the path of the oncoming train. The train hit the truck in the middle of the crossing," Woods said. The truck was torn in half by the collision. The driver was trapped inside the cab, which overturned and was drug about 70 feet along the track.

Two things I want to point out:

...said Trooper 1st Class Chad Woods of the Georgia State Patrol, lead investigator in the accident.

No mention of the railroad leading the investigation.

and:

"The truck failed to yield at the crossing and pulled into the path of the oncoming train. ...," Woods said.

"Trains have the right of way at crossings. It is the responsibility of the motorist to make sure no train is coming. If it cannot be easily determined that a train is not coming, the driver must come to a stop until it can be determined that it is safe to cross. " This last paragraph is a quote from a Superior court judge that I spoke with earlier today.

Derrick

Ask your Superior court judge if a driver needs a drivers lisence on "PRIVATE" property ? ..."on a private road"... Ask him if state drivers statutes can then apply? There is no law saying there has to be any sign at a "private" railroad crossing. The 4th grade educated railroad guy that placed the signs there has no degree in traffic engineering and has no business placeing signs there. The sign has no LEGAL meaning. Then here is the kicker ---Ask him if the railroad doesn't have the common law duty to have the train seen or heard by the driver is time to stop?? Remember no whistles at private crossings and ...
GEORGIA
Georgia has no applicable statute. http://www.fra.dot.gov/pdf/cross_chp12.pdf So I'll look for you to press negligient homicide charges against the county, state, FRA, railroad, and politicans for haveing a death trap "laying in wait" for the truckdriver who was caught in the blind crossing with no whistles, lights, gates, or flagger to give warning.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 286 posts
Posted by dekemd on Friday, July 18, 2003 9:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
I look at it as the railroads either do it or go to jail for negligient homicide like any other business owner. It's their trains. Like these politicans who didn't do their jobs to start with standing around getting medals for getting the kids killed to start with. Then the low life railroads comeing in and chargeing 1/4 a million when the gates can be bought for 40K all day long.



Yes, it's the railroads train. The motor vehicle belongs the driver. Why not charge the driver of the car with negligent homicide? The driver was negligent in not yielding right of way.

You like to copy and paste, here's one for you.

NS Collision with Log Truck Kills Driver, Slightly Injures Crew

The driver of a logging truck was killed Tuesday when he pulled into the path of a freight train at a remote crossing on a private road in southern Charlton County, Georgia, authorities said. Both crewmen aboard the Norfolk Southern train consisting of two locomotives pulling 60 cars sustained minor injuries in the collision, said Trooper 1st Class Chad Woods of the Georgia State Patrol, lead investigator in the accident.

The truck driver died about 08:00 EDT at the scene of the collision, a railroad crossing on Rayonier Road No. 25 between Moniac and St. George, Woods said. The train didn't derail, although its locomotives received major damage.

Its crew, Robert Brantley, 47, of Jacksonville, and Ronald Wayne, 56, of Valdosta, said they felt some pain but had no visible injuries, Woods said.

Woods a 1988 Peterbuilt tractor-trailer loaded with logs was northbound when it came to the crossing, which is marked with warning crossbars. The train was traveling west about 45 mph along a section of tracks where the rail speed limit is 50 mph.

"The truck failed to yield at the crossing and pulled into the path of the oncoming train. The train hit the truck in the middle of the crossing," Woods said. The truck was torn in half by the collision. The driver was trapped inside the cab, which overturned and was drug about 70 feet along the track.

Two things I want to point out:

...said Trooper 1st Class Chad Woods of the Georgia State Patrol, lead investigator in the accident.

No mention of the railroad leading the investigation.

and:

"The truck failed to yield at the crossing and pulled into the path of the oncoming train. ...," Woods said.

"Trains have the right of way at crossings. It is the responsibility of the motorist to make sure no train is coming. If it cannot be easily determined that a train is not coming, the driver must come to a stop until it can be determined that it is safe to cross. " This last paragraph is a quote from a Superior court judge that I spoke with earlier today.

Derrick
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 286 posts
Posted by dekemd on Friday, July 18, 2003 9:02 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
So your saying a cop useing a police radio while driveing is breaking the law?
About the first rule in the MUTCD is that the traffic control device has to DEMAND attention. Apparently it didn't do its job and maybe some advance flashing red lights should be installed. Light the area up like a Christmas tree if need be. No wonder 42,000 people were killed last year on the highways.


Using a police radio while driving in not against the law. Using a cell phone while driving is not against the law, at least not in NC (It is in some areas). Running a red light IS against the law. That is what she was charged with on the ticket, and why the accident was her fault. The light did it's job for everybody else that day. Why is it that you can't accept the fact that sometimes people just don't pay attention and cause an accident?

How do you explain the guy in California that drove through 3 blocks of pedestrians in broad daylight? The only thing blocking his sight was the bodies bouncing off the hood of his car. My thoughts and prayers go out to these people.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 286 posts
Posted by dekemd on Friday, July 18, 2003 8:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by sooblue

Who said "you can't find a cop when you need him"?
What % of all accidents are unnecessary Derrick?
(off the top of your head)



sooblue,

I must apologize. My reply to you seems to have not made it to the forum. Lost in the electronic void I guess.

To answer your question, I'm sure of an actual % but a good majority of them. There are some accidents that are beyond the control of a driver. Sudden medical troubles, (heart attacks), blowouts, other mechanical problems, animals running into the road, etc. Most accidents, however, are caused by impatient drivers, or just plain stupidty. Not that everyone who has an accident is stupid, it's just that for one reason or another they just are not thinking about what they are doing.

Derrick
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Aurora, IL
  • 4,515 posts
Posted by eolafan on Friday, July 18, 2003 5:09 PM
Oh boy, I leave town for a few days in the hope that Missouri would just dry up and go away, but no such luck! Hey, genius, did you forget that trains were here WAY before cars or trucks and so anybody who deliberatly crosses a track when gates are down and does not take the simplest of precautions deserves to be hit by the train coming down the track at them. Now, the really big question is "what in he_ _ do you do for a living that you can sit by your computer all day long and type all the rediculous cr _ _ you put on this forum. By the way Missouri, have you noticed yet that you are not changing a single mind on these issues and so are completely wasting your time here...so let me ask you this, WHY DON'T YOU SIMPLY STOP THIS DRIBBLE AND GO ONTO A PORN SITE WHERE THEY APPRECIATE NUTS LIKE YOU?
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Aurora, IL
  • 4,515 posts
Posted by eolafan on Friday, July 18, 2003 4:59 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri

QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

For those of you who may watch professional wrestling (I do with my young son once in a while), you may have seen a character who goes by the name of "Hurricane" who is supposed to be a sort of super-hero (aka crusader), and is really a pathetic little dweeb ina stupid costumer who gets the C_ _ P beat out of him all the time because he really is not good and has no real talent....REMINDS ME OF OUR FRIEND MISSOURI...How about you guys?

I don't watch it because it is so fake. Kinda like Operation Lifesaver, railroads, and the railroaders who say they care---Well take three days off together and do something.

Let me know when your comeing and I'll bake a cake.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 4:19 PM
=====Accident 6 ===== RR report 099126 ===== Crossing ID 539658D =====

On Sep 11, 1999 a FREIGHT TRAIN operated by Norfolk Southern Corp. [NS ] was hit by a PICKUP TRUCK at approximately 10:
12PM in Indiana in MADISON county on CO 80 (1300 NORTH) road. The incident occurred in/near ALEXANDRIA city. The rail
equipment was reported to have been traveling at ? Mph with 3 locomotive(s) and 81 cars(s). The PICKUP TRUCK had be
en traveling in a westernly direction at 058 Mph.

The railroad was operating on main line track over a public road crossing. The PICKUP TRUCK hit the 076 locomotive or r
ail car on the crossing. It was clear, at night and the temperature was 52. There were 2 death(s) and 0 injured in
this incident and a Railroad Injury/Illness Report (form FRA-55a) was also filed. The 16 year old male driver was movin
g on the crossing and was reported to have not stopped. There were 2 occupant(s) in the vehicle. The view of the tra
ck was not obstructed. Hazardous material was not being transported by rail or highway vehicle.

The crossing was protected by:
Crossbucks
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 4:18 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd

Reflectorizing cars is not as simple as is sounds. First, the tape has to be applied before the car is painted so that it will be edge-sealed. Otherwise, it will delaminate and fall off within a year's time. Second, it would have to be cleaned to remove the accumulated road dirt. Unlike locos, cars are never washed and pressure washing risks water contimination of bearings. Washing also requires proper treatment of waste water and RRs do not have facilities to wash equipment other than loco shops. Third, cars may not get painted for 20 or 30 years (just look at all those incentive perdiem box cars wandering around in their original paint from the 70s) whereas locomotives get painted at least every 10 years.

If you put reflector tape on and then fail to maintain and clean it, then you are opening yourself up to lawsuits when somebody drives into the side of that car.

The REAL solution to crossing safety would be to use gas tax money for overpasses, but that is not a practical or political priority. Other safety projects are more worthy.

Also, crossing safety should truly belong to the highway dept. It was foisted off on the RRs back in the good old days when they were flush with money and the target of anti-trust. Now the RRs dpn't make enough money to maintain the status-quo, much less do more. If crossing safety is a national or local priority, then let the gov't at any level belly up to the bar.

But if you want to know what I REALLY think.....
I look at it as the railroads either do it or go to jail for negligient homicide like any other business owner. It's their trains. Like these politicans who didn't do their jobs to start with standing around getting medals for getting the kids killed to start with. Then the low life railroads comeing in and chargeing 1/4 a million when the gates can be bought for 40K all day long.

On Sept. 11, 1999, 16-year-old Megan Hicks lost her life when the pickup truck she was riding in hit a stopped train at the County Road 1300 North railroad crossing near Alexandria.

Almost four years later, friends and family have reached their goal to help prevent this from happening to others.

Megan's loved ones worked together for three years to make the dangerous crossing safer for drivers by getting the Indiana Department of Transportation to install dusk-till-dawn street lights as well as railroad cross bars, guards and lights. They named their project Megan's Light and dedicated it to Megan's memory Thursday evening.

"We needed to turn our anger into constructive energy," said Brenda Jackson, the mother of one of Megan's friends. "We wanted to prevent an accident from happening again."

Jackson explained that many rural crossings are unlighted and unmarked because of the low flow of traffic in the areas. If a train is crossing, or is stopped on the tracks there is nothing around to inform drivers of the upcoming obstacle.

"The combination of dark tracks and stopped trains is like an illusion," she said. "That's why they hit the train."

After Megan's death, a group of 12 family members and high school friends decided to do something about the dangerous crossing.

"All these young kids stayed with me and worked on this for two years ... out of their love to Megan," said Jackson. "They wanted to make a difference."

To accompli***his feat they joined forces with U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, former U.S. Rep. David McIntosh, state Rep. Eric Turner and state Sen. David Ford, as well as with county and state officials and the community of Alexandria.

McIntosh, who spoke at the dedication, said he worked with Congress to help increase the safety at this railroad crossing and others.

"I thought, here's a group that's honoring a loved one they lost," he said. "If I could help, I wanted to do it."

Turner also spoke at the dedication and said that he first got involved with the project when he attended a public meeting. There were several hundred people and what struck him was that they were mostly students.

"They had many ideas of what could be done to put up the gates. The students said they would raise the money, so I said I would help them," Turner said, explaining that they raised $5,000. "I saw the wisdom in it. I think it is a terrific indicator of how the government can work for the community."

At the dedication, community members gathered to pray and honor Megan and her lights.

"Our vision is to never let her lights go out, that they will always be burning to save lives at railroad crossings," said Jackson. "We hope that other counties will consider lighting dusk-till-dawn lights too."

Jackson explained that it would be more convenient to put up these street lights because they are less expensive than cross-arms and guides; therefore, the money could be spread to more crossings. Dusk-till-dawn lights cost $3,000, while cross-arms and guards cost $250,000, she said.

The group will be moving Megan's Light to the County Road 900 North railroad crossing as well, another darkened area, and hopes to go on from there. They have also placed 27 stop signs at rural crossings in Madison County.

"It's great to see everyone still supporting Megan's Light," said Tiffany Pierce, 20, one of Megan's sisters. "It is a very dangerous crossing. There have been many close calls."

Michelle Hicks, 28, another of Megan's sisters, believes that the time they put into their project was worthwhile.

"We pushed for so long. It is something good that came out of something negative," she said. "Hopefully sometime we'll get to (Washington) D.C. It's our goal to do something federally to make everyone aware of these crossings."
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Atlanta
  • 11,971 posts
Posted by oltmannd on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:54 AM
Reflectorizing cars is not as simple as is sounds. First, the tape has to be applied before the car is painted so that it will be edge-sealed. Otherwise, it will delaminate and fall off within a year's time. Second, it would have to be cleaned to remove the accumulated road dirt. Unlike locos, cars are never washed and pressure washing risks water contimination of bearings. Washing also requires proper treatment of waste water and RRs do not have facilities to wash equipment other than loco shops. Third, cars may not get painted for 20 or 30 years (just look at all those incentive perdiem box cars wandering around in their original paint from the 70s) whereas locomotives get painted at least every 10 years.

If you put reflector tape on and then fail to maintain and clean it, then you are opening yourself up to lawsuits when somebody drives into the side of that car.

The REAL solution to crossing safety would be to use gas tax money for overpasses, but that is not a practical or political priority. Other safety projects are more worthy.

Also, crossing safety should truly belong to the highway dept. It was foisted off on the RRs back in the good old days when they were flush with money and the target of anti-trust. Now the RRs dpn't make enough money to maintain the status-quo, much less do more. If crossing safety is a national or local priority, then let the gov't at any level belly up to the bar.

But if you want to know what I REALLY think.....

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 2,849 posts
Posted by wabash1 on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:06 AM
For once missouri posted the truth. yes that accident occured and yes if the cars would have been reflectorized they would have been seen. of course this accident would have been prevented also if the driver and others in the car would have been sober also. How did you miss that part on your cut and paste missouri. I know you wont answer this .I dont exspect you to answer. the only thing i do exspect from you is more made up post .
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Nova Scotia
  • 825 posts
Posted by BentnoseWillie on Friday, July 18, 2003 8:30 AM
QUOTE: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/ProgMgt/Grants/Sight_Eng.pdf Here before you get yourself and others killed brainiac LOOK this far. Now a very fart smellar like yourself would know to turn the crossing in as sight obstructed wouldn't you. Use 911 because whenever someone is killed the record of the call will never be found to the railroad.
If I could find a point in that stream of gibberish, I'd answer it. Something about me getting people killed by taking the safe course of action?

I don't think Missouri's all there...
B-Dubya -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inside every GE is an Alco trying to get out...apparently, through the exhaust stack!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 7:43 AM
There was 2 teens kill last year on the outskirts of town. They where on the way to school . So what hapened? It turns out they smacked the side of a tractor tralier. It had the stripe & the semi had its lights on. The fog was so thick they could see the truck (less alone there own hood). Not to far from there another 2 teens where killed at an RR Xing...NOT the RR fault, or even the that drivers fault. There BEST FRIEND in the car behind them was not paying attention RAMMED the first car into the side of the freight train. Ironicly within the same month there was a firery inferno. 65 car pileup killing 15-20 people in the rush hour comute. People started to slow down because a car was stranded on the energency lane. The kept getting rear ended because no one could see anyhing but the taillights of the cars 10 ft. infront of them.[:(]


(Mo and any other delusional posters) Please stop using your ploys joking about RRs & trucking companies. Not only are they sick, there is a real human side with real human losses to them. Using this fourm to gripe about your own personal problems will not help you or anyone else! People need to be more alert while driving, if they do not someones going to pay the ultimate price![}:)]

P.S. Mo have you ever driven anything bigger then that H2 Hummer (you got after all these lawsuits you post about) in "real" traffic, or ever rode on a train? I can tell not. If you have you would have stoped you frivliouls post months ago! Please keep the arm chair coaching for football not trying to tell us how to do our jobs.

[?] Rember look both ways before you cross ANYTHING. It was the first thing EVERYONE learned when crossing a street in GRADE SCHOOL.[?]

Hell I've almost hit by many things/people because they did not pay attention. I had one lady pull out and turn right infront of me. So? She had a red light, crossed the interscetion (from my left) she turned left (In to the fast lane I was in). Heres the funny part When she saw that a full size white van was laying on the horn, I still had my bright lights on......she hit the brakes......not minding that this was 1/2 a block down from the corner! She fliped me off!!!! It was My fault that she ran a red light, and I still had my brights on honking the horn. Jeez Im surrounded by Idiots![xx(]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 2:22 AM
Missouri, were you sexually assaulted as a young boy? You exhibit all of the signs! You poor thing. It is O.K. missouri, it wasn't your fault! You come across as a female, maybe you are a cross dresser. That's O.K. buddy, all of your friends on this forum still love you. Even if you are a lipstick wearing sissy. We would like to back you in your crusade to end all RR tragedies single handedly. Roar sister roar! Keep up the good work. And stay strong little girl.
Ken
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 2:06 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

Missouri, what rock did you crawl out from under? You are a warped individual without doubt. You'll find in virtually all train/vehicle collisions that the motor vehicle had the last clear chance to avoid the collision and for the most part violated the law in causing the collision in the first place. All of the technical mumbo jumbo you prattle on about is just a lame attempt to rationalize your argument...

LC
until 3 years later when the real story that railroad greed over safety equipment comes out and the REAL jury deems the terrible driver was "TRAPPED"!

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy