After watching some videos of trains, I now wonder: Is there some sort of compensation or adjustment for when the lights/gates activate at the crossing based on speed of the train? I ask bc it sure seems to me that if this one train had been moving faster, the warning would have been grossly insufficient. TIA.
Nance-CCABW/LEI
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown
Nance, a lot (perhaps most) of grade-crossing protection system these days are set up with variable-speed circuitry, activating based on the speed of the approaching trains. This is especially nice when not all trains go through at even close to the same speed.
We have one crossing here in Lombard that is tripped by westbound scoots, which then stop at the station about a quarter-mile or less away. The gates will go up after a few seconds and traffic will clear. Almost as soon as the train starts rolling toward the crossing again, the gates go down. Keep in mind that that is just one scenario for trains at this crossing--some scoots blow through town at about 70. Freights are allowed up to 50 these days (some used to go up to 70, but the speed was reduced in Metra territory, in connection with the operational changes being introduced there). So you have scoots not stopping, some coming away from a station stop, some slowing down for a station stop (not quite as slow as the ones picking up), freights moving straight through, or picking up speed after having been stopped at their staging area, or holding back while a scoot is stopped at the platform (they still have to do that at Lombard until planned station improvements are completed in a couple of years).
And ideally, through any and all of these scenarios, there should be about 21 seconds of warning before the train enters the grade crossing (the crossing definitely is out of whack at times, though...maybe I'll have to force myself to sit by the crossing and time the warning given through a pleasant day's worth of trains. Boy, that would be a chore--especially after the battery on my laptop wears down!).
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)
There's a merger in the news...
http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/cn-to-merge-three-u.s.-subsidiary-roads-3267.html
CShaveRR There's a merger in the news... http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/cn-to-merge-three-u.s.-subsidiary-roads-3267.html
I'm not sure that any of CN's predecessors disappeared yet, officially. I know that GTW and IC still exist, as does EJ&E, and I think that the Central Vermont may exist as well, even though they no longer operate the trackage. I think that all of WC's subsidiaries (Sault Sainte Marie Bridge Company, Wisconsin Chicago Link--that's another line with no tracks--and possibly the Algoma Central) were merged into WC earlier.
I wonder whether they'll consider splitting the EJ&E among GTW, IC, and/or WC for the same reasons of economy.
After doing some good, hard work on the lawn this morning, I rewarded myself with an hour or so trackside while Pat was attending a meeting. This time, however, I was armed with a scanner and the laptop (no wi-fi, unfortunately), and a shady picnic table in Lilacia Park. It wasn't as close to the tracks as I usually stay, but it worked, and the scanner gave me plenty of warning for approaching trains, thanks to the Form B in effect through town.
Carl's right. They still exist on paper.
It's been a little while since I posted any "trip" stuff - and this isn't just Oshkosh for a change. I am ready to get the 3Q lounge open at Midnight tonight, after celebrating Aedan's 2nd birthday today.
Wednesday I decided to start off my vacation by catching what I normally miss at work in early morning. I was waiting for M343 to come north from Shops when I heard the MP169.1 detector make a beep and then said "Defect Detected". Once the train cleared the detector it gave it's report:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvlQUsq6Ft0
They started calling to the RTC as they came through the 1899 Swing Bridge in Oshkosh. The first 50 cars were all brand new WSOX 2 bay sand hoppers.http://flic.kr/p/9YcXyy
After blocking traffic a short while an Oshkosh PD officer asked if the train could pull north and clear the downtown traffic. The conductor found the car and rode the 25 mph move north to Winnebago Siding.http://flic.kr/p/9YcXK5
I had to duck home to help my wife get out the door on her first day at her new job, so I missed Q199. While at home I packed my lunch got my son ready for a little trip but decided to catch a couple more trains before we motored on to other parts of the state. The next train was M342 who ran around M343, still sitting in Winnebago Siding. http://flic.kr/p/9YcXTC
Finally, A446 came south from behind M342. Both were initially waiting at Dixie Siding in Neenah. I caught him near downtown Oshkosh on the approach to the bridge.http://flic.kr/p/9Ya4Se
After 54 miles I arrived at the CP. Having never been to the Watertown Sub (intentionally) before I had asked for advice from some folks (thanks-you know who you are) and arrived near Tamarack at MP 143.9. I had a small wait and soon 280 came into view with CP & ICE power at the head end.http://flic.kr/p/9YcYhA
After a short wait Amtrak #8, the "baby Builder" came into view. My first Amtrak.http://flic.kr/p/9YcYuY
Shortly thereafter train 281, unit autoracks came calling. This time with a SOO leader trailed by a CITX leaded unit.http://flic.kr/p/9YcYQf
I hung around Clyman for a while hoping to catch MADPR but my time ran out and I had to head for home.
Dan
Hey, a big Happy Birthday shout-out to Aedan! Hope it's lots of fun for you!!
Great shots, as always, Dan!! Well done.
Thanks Nance - on both accounts.
Dan, I meant to say something here in the Lounge after seeing your nice post in Facebook, but life intervened (even a retiree has a to-do schedule...just ask her who sets it!).
Anyway, a cheery happy birthday to Aedan! Last time I saw him, I was able to hold him in my arms for a while. I'll bet nobody can do that now! Would love to be able to see him (and the rest of his family) again sometime!
Hey, Nance! Don't forget that we've moved to new quarters (or a new quarter, anyway!)!
Thanks; I needed that!!
Link to new thread:
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/193809.aspx
James
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