<<<<Watch for trains>>>> No Whistle

[Murphy Siding]

     I got to see a railroad quiet zone recently.  It was in front of the Andersen window factory, in Bayport Minnesota.  I was kind of bummed, as last time I was there, I got to see a Minnesota Commercial CF7 at the same crossing.

     Does the quiet zone type crossing change any of the liability issues of a car/train collision?

     How about *un-quiet zones*?  If a train is traveling at night, in western South Dakota, for example, where you can see for miles, and the population is sparse, does the train still blow the horn at every crossing?

[jeffhergert]

  

     How about *un-quiet zones*?  If a train is traveling at night, in western South Dakota, for example, where you can see for miles, and the population is sparse, does the train still blow the horn at every crossing?

Yes they do.  There may not be anyone other than the crew to hear it, but the event recorder knows.  So does the Camera/Audio recorder on engines so equipped. 

Jeff

[tree68]

As we wander through the Adirondack forest, we still have to consider the hikers that use the trails, not to mention several areas with severely limited sight distances.  The Water Level Route we ain't.

And we've had a close call or two.  Always expect traffic at a crossing.

[Chafford1]

And we've had a close call or two. 

Not surprising when you look at this video. Anyone could walk onto the rails!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOjifmVIY9I

 

[csmith9474]

I can't specifically address the question of the OP, but there has been a bit of an uproar in San Antonio in regards to a new quiet zone in the city. The UP agreed to make a particular stretch of mainline a quiet zone to appease the residents that live close to the tracks in that area. In order for the UP to make that area a quiet zone, they had to remove some of the grade crossings there (something about only a certain amount of crossings within a quiet zone). Of course now the same people that were screaming for a quiet zone are now complaining because the UP removed a couple of crossings to create the quiet zone (I recall a saying that has something to do with having your cake and eating it too).

[locoi1sa]

  A couple years ago there were a handfull of residents of a new developement next to one of our sand and gravel pits trieing to shut us down through the courts for noise complaints. The pits been in operation for 40 plus years. The oldest house is 5 years. They convinced the judge to limit the hours of operation but when the subject of backup alarms came up we didnt cave in. I asked for a list of people my wife can sue when I get injured or killed because of a backing incident. Funny how no one wanted thier name on the list. Any way the mine safety people would not make it a quiet zone. As a matter of fact when tested most of the alarms are not lowd enough.

      Pete