Grade crossing collision

[trainfan1221]

I can't believe this actually happened, but I guess sometimes it is inevitable. I was coming home on NJtransit's Bergen Line from New York the other night when we went into emergency. Sure enough we had hit a car that was in front of us at a well signaled crossing (gates and all). Don't know full details, but we dragged it between the first grade crossing and all the way through the second before stopping by the next station, which we weren't supposed to stop at. It was weird to actually go through this, it just gives a whole new perspective to things. We hardly felt anything at time of impact. NJT was good with an emergency train, but the driver of the vehicle, unfortunately, won't have another chance to make sure he doesn't make such a mistake again. I don't wi***o go through this again, there is just no reason for this kind of thing to happen. And around here, it happens waaayy too much. I guess being a train fanatic gives you a slightly different perception of it than another person.

[mudchicken]

I feel a shift of the force in the stupid zone!

[daveklepper]

Lucky you were a passenger. Other threads have described the reactions of the engineers, and none of us should have to go through that kind of experience. Doug Riddell devotes a whole chapter of his great book From the Cab to this matter.

[Kurn]

Unfortunately,this will continue to happen until they put real barricades in place that block all lanes from both sides.The average idiot really thinks a train will stop .All the Operation Lifesavers in the world ain't gonna stop it.We keep our trucks near the CSX main and a grade crossing.On any given day there will be all sorts of vehicles going around the gates.City trucks,cops,gasoline tankers(!),mothers with kids in the minivan,you name it.I've had morons honk and give me the finger and go around me and the gates.Oh,I could go on and on about this subject.............

[Chris30]

I'll bet that the people who were at the second crossing and witnessed the car being dragged under the train got the message.

CC

[stmtrolleyguy]

I'd say spike strips that raise from the road when the gates go down to pop tires are the answer, but a moron going 80mph in a car would hit one, and the car would probably stop right on the tracks. Then it's really stuck in a bad place. There has got to be something that would work cheaply.........

What about heavy tubular steel gates that slid left-to right to form a nice and tight gate across the tracks? Eliminate the lift, make the gates thicker and heavier, get rid of the up/down motion, like the sliding gates found in the chain-link fences at warehouses that slide open to allow trucks in and out. These could fully block and intersection. I believe a similar design is used in europe on high speed lines, but I haven't been able to find any photos.

[Anonymous]

way back in the 80's, I was on the Starlight coming back from LA. We were just going by the A's stadium, so we were still moving pretty fast. We hit a car, and I was on the last car of the train, and I could feel a pretty strong bump, but that was it. I looked out the back window, and it looked like all you could see were plact bags. The car was completely destroyed. Very sad. They said that the guy was trying to make it in time for a concert at the Oakland Arena, well sadly him and his other 3 occupents never made it there, or anywhere again. I looked at the engine that was involved in this wreck when I got off in Oakland, and there was hardly a dent on it. Those F40's were pretty strong!
Brad

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

I feel a shift of the force in the stupid zone!

I believe I felt that one also!
And unfortunately it seems to be getting stronger.

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by stmtrolleyguy

What about heavy tubular steel gates that slid left-to right to form a nice and tight gate across the tracks? Eliminate the lift, make the gates thicker and heavier, get rid of the up/down motion, like the sliding gates found in the chain-link fences at warehouses that slide open to allow trucks in and out. These could fully block and intersection. I believe a similar design is used in europe on high speed lines, but I haven't been able to find any photos.

No, you won't find any photos because European High Speed Lines are crossingless

[csmith9474]

Illinois, along with a certain railroad (to remain nameless to avoid legal issues), tested a full gate at grade crossings a few years back. These things would stop a semi! Last that I heard maintenance alone made them cost prohibitive. Installation was not cheap either so it also came down to an issue of who was oing to foot the bill for these things. The sure looked cool, though.

[rvos1979]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csmith9474

Illinois, along with a certain railroad (to remain nameless to avoid legal issues), tested a full gate at grade crossings a few years back. These things would stop a semi! Last that I heard maintenance alone made them cost prohibitive. Installation was not cheap either so it also came down to an issue of who was oing to foot the bill for these things. The sure looked cool, though.

Wisconsin seems to like the barrier gates that they have been installing the last few years, more have been scheduled to be installed within the next few years. These look like a (much) heavier duty version of a crossing gate, and they lock into heavy brackets when in the down position. I've been told that these gates will stop a 3/4 ton pickup moving at 45mph within 15 feet.

Randy

[tree68]

IDEA! Steel plates like the one Wyle E. Coyote tries to use to stop the Roadrunner. You know, the one that doesn't pop up for RR, but does in front of Wyle E, impressing his faceprint into the metal... [(-D][(-D]

Lights come on, gates go down, plates pop up. (But what a maintenance headache, especially in northern climes.) Maybe they could sell advertising!

[Anonymous]

The super heavy gates, or steel plates, will not be widely adopted for the simple reason that the first time that a new candidate for the stupidity award stops on the tracks for a red light, and then the gates come down trapping him, the liability lawyers will be handed a new way to get several million dollars in trial fees.

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

The super heavy gates, or steel plates, will not be widely adopted for the simple reason that the first time that a new candidate for the stupidity award stops on the tracks for a red light, and then the gates come down trapping him, the liability lawyers will be handed a new way to get several million dollars in trial fees.

(That's a joke, son, you're supposed to laugh!)

[gabe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

The super heavy gates, or steel plates, will not be widely adopted for the simple reason that the first time that a new candidate for the stupidity award stops on the tracks for a red light, and then the gates come down trapping him, the liability lawyers will be handed a new way to get several million dollars in trial fees.

I am laughing so hard right now, I can barely type.

While reading through the various posts, I was thinking about what happens when the first time someone accidentally stops under or within the gates (the ones that they really are making rather than the humoruous ones described by Larry).

Then I smiled to myself, saying I smell a lawsuit. I better not let the forum members know that, yes, lawyers really do think that way. But, my silence was for not, as someone let the secret out anyway. . . . [sigh]

In all honesty though, I don't think it would be that hard for even a semi-responsible motorist to be trapped in such a gate. When I approach a crossing, my eyes are focued on the tracks, not the crossings--I just assume trust my eyes over the possibility of a mechanical failure.

On one occassion, I do remember the gates starting to come down while I was on the tracks, as the train was still around the bend. I assume that the gates started to come down after I had entered the crossing, or did I simply not notice them because I was concentrating on looking for trains?

Gabe

[trainfan1221]

goduckies,
Ironically, the loco on my train was also an F40. Thanks to all who responded, maybe the solution is that weird thing on the Illinois Central with the big DEATH sign that was in TRAINS awhile back.

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

The super heavy gates, or steel plates, will not be widely adopted for the simple reason that the first time that a new candidate for the stupidity award stops on the tracks for a red light, and then the gates come down trapping him, the liability lawyers will be handed a new way to get several million dollars in trial fees.

(That's a joke, son, you're supposed to laugh!)

Are you working on commission for ACME Products or the folks at Termite Terrace?[(-D][(-D][(-D]

[espeefoamer]

I have been a train passenger in three grade crossing accidents.The first time,I was in the diner and heard everything in the kitchen hit the floor.It was the last mistake the driver of that pickup ever made.In the last one we hit a semi loadad with cardboard. The driver got out,but the trailer was demolished.The Train continued to where the lead F40 could be removed and the train continued with only one unit which was turned on a wye to be facing forward.

[morseman]

years ago I understood that CP would send a bill for the repair
of any locomotive repairs to the parties which caused such an
accident. If the car driver was killed, the bill would be sent to
his or her estate. Is this practice still in effect and is this
proceedure practiced by other railroads?

[Anonymous]

Didn't the UP have a sign mounted below the flashers that read "WARNING-TRAINS PASS OVER THIS CROSSING AT 60 MPH-WHETHER YOU'RE ON IT OR NOT!"
gtirr

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by morseman

years ago I understood that CP would send a bill for the repair
of any locomotive repairs to the parties which caused such an
accident. If the car driver was killed, the bill would be sent to
his or her estate. Is this practice still in effect and is this
proceedure practiced by other railroads?

BNSF and UP selectively practice this, but also keep tabs to go after the offender in court after he/she sues the railroad because he/she could not possibly be the cause of the incident. Backfired here in Denver/Castle Rock when UP beancounters sent out a bill that was supposed to be kept in house (but wasn't) and only released with Law Dept. signature.

[Anonymous]

I sit in my town where we have two crossings a hundred yards apart. The gates come down. If there is no train seen or heard, the people will go ahead and go around.

If they ever build a barricade strong enough to literally keep cars OFF those two crossings you are going to have to man them 24/7 because you will have cars hitting it or crossing onto the track itself between the crossings.

You will also going to need to place signs that releases all parties (Railroad, local authorities etc) of liability of any kind resulting in one driver's stupid gamble with life and property trying to get around the gates.

You can have all the technology, expertise, understanding of people and skilled engineering in the successful deployment of any gate system designed to stop willful drivers from trying to save a few seconds.

There will always be the one stupid driver that will lose his or her life on that crossing.

Just as well. If they are that dumb then they dont need to be on the road.

Look, Listen, Live

[Anonymous]

If we could only get the rest of the general public "into" trains like we are then they would slow down and wait for gates to lower so they could be closet to tracks to watch and document. Anyone else ever do this? Mama thinks I'm nuts when I slow down when there's plenty of time to "make it" Willy

[Anonymous]

Chad, you still here?

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Are you working on commission for ACME Products or the folks at Termite Terrace?[(-D][(-D][(-D]

ACME...[:p] Meep Meep!

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RIRR80

Chad, you still here?

Yea, at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Didn't know if you'd been to Diner yet to hear about MOOK?

[chad thomas]

Yea. it sucks. I lost my rotweiler a while back. It was rather sudden. His intestines got tangled somehow. I dug a rather deep grave (but not quite 6') built a 8' tall cross for the marker. Then I got a jug of whiskey and proceded to get drunk.

[Anonymous]

Am toying with idea of getting 14 year old Harley (the wonder mutt) stuffed when she goes. Just sleeping in the train room. Kept her longer than the last two wives.