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In the same MUTCD if the gates are timed for more than 45 seconds median barriers are to be installed. Why did the switch engine have the equipment activated if it wasn't needed. Sounds to me a ticket needs to be issued for falsely activateing a railroad crossing for over 5 minutes without the PROPER flagger being in place. Operateing rule #1-1 page 1 column 1 paragraph 1---Railroaders should use their brain!! ____________________________________ OK, just to throw in a casual observers viewpoint. Stopped to watch some trains yesterday (yes I am a foamer). Busy mainline with wye (south leg of wye is mainline). Switch engine came by with short drag of hoppers and was switching the west leg. He moved onto the mainline (after getting permission from dispatch etc.) where the switch is 50 feet from the grade crossing. Crossing protected by gates, lights, bells etc. Visibility west slightly limited by geography (rocky terrain and curve in track) hence the protection at the crossing with gates etc. etc.. With the switcher clearly visible to the east but with no way for approaching drivers to know which way he was going to go I watched 9 (yep, NINE) vehicles ignore the flashing red lights and bells and drive around both gates to pass through the crossing. This happened within approximately six minutes. The kicker, approximately 20 minutes earlier with the switcher waiting on the west leg of the wye by the switch and the gates down, lights flashing bells dinging, a 62 car gypsum train came out of the west on the main. Luckily there were no cars at the crossing until the train was well into it. Humans driving cars are impatient and no matter how much protection is present, they will ignore it if it doesn't suit their schedule. Jeff S
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