challenger3980 wrote: zapp wrote: zugmann wrote:We have a form that is filled out when a train hits something. The one question asks what the headlight setting was. God help you if you hit something and your lights were on something other than bright. Th' hell with the rule enfraction, if we hit somebody with our headlights dimmed I'm going to jail!! No, I don't dim them unless I'm meeting another train! If they are not so bright as to be a safety issue, why bother dimming for another train?Namerifrat has it figured out, just don't stare at them.
zapp wrote: zugmann wrote:We have a form that is filled out when a train hits something. The one question asks what the headlight setting was. God help you if you hit something and your lights were on something other than bright. Th' hell with the rule enfraction, if we hit somebody with our headlights dimmed I'm going to jail!! No, I don't dim them unless I'm meeting another train!
zugmann wrote:We have a form that is filled out when a train hits something. The one question asks what the headlight setting was. God help you if you hit something and your lights were on something other than bright.
If they are not so bright as to be a safety issue, why bother dimming for another train?
Namerifrat has it figured out, just don't stare at them.
I guess when a trucker takes out a family because a train blinded the driver, you just sue the railroad and the engineer as they share in the cause of the accident.
A couple of my routes have me running along side a road for a good distance several times along the route. We cannot dim our lights everytime a road is nearby and cars are there, coming towards us or not. Thats just the way it is. Bottom line, the rule is there and the courts, lawyers, public, etc. are all stacked AGAINST the railroads. Whose gonna stand behind the crew?? The truck driver or vehicle owner we dimmed for? The public? The railroad?? Hell no! Some crews may do it as a courtesy, nothing wrong with that in my eyes, but the company will not take any liability and would ship the crew up S#!t creek without a paddle to avoid a lawsuit on their part. And that leaves us with the soul responisbility for "being nice" and killing some "innocent" shmuck walking the tracks at night. To answer your other question, on most occasions we can't stop in the visible range of our headlight running any speed or pulling any tonnage. Headlights aren't really just for us to see, it's a big issue with us BEING seen. That was the whole purpose of the ditchlights, to increase the train's visibility to the public by forming that "triangle" shape or having the ditch lights wig wag when the horn is blown. Wasn't trying to single you out Doug, just seemed like you were trying to "lead the pack" against the rail workers here on an issue that we can't really do anything about. I'm sure when you meet a train on the highway, you're not absolutely blinded. It could only actually affect you when yo are directly in front of the headlights. And it can't last for more than a few seconds with the train coming towards you and you towards it. Just like on the interstate, when cars are running on straight road, bright are fine because of the median is wide enough to keep cars out of the direct line of the opposing car's lights. Now when going into a curve and your headlights shine into or across the other side's lanes then sure, they should be dimmed but if not, they'll only affect you for a second. On a two lane road, then they should be dimmed when meeting a car ragardless because the cars are closer and they are in each other's lights. Double tracks are close, just like a 2 lane road. Thats why we dim for other trains, somtimes on a long strait-away the two trains meeting will be directly in each others lights for a few minutes at times. Get blinded and miss a signal or a peice of equipment of lading hanging off the side of the other train. Not good. I'd like the chance to see it and get up and get to the other side of the cab before a steel beam comes through my window. Unless you're right in the lights for a minute or so, it's not really a big deal.
hrbdizzle wrote:And I agree, something should be in place for " our protection " in a case where I do dim my lights, for opposing traffic, and at the same time I hit some " rummy " walking on our tracks, and I nail him/her.
BTW, I am curious about the stopping distance/visibility distance question, CAN you stop in the distance allowed by the practical visible distance of the headlight (what you can actually see, not how far the headlight can be seen from) at track speed at night?
Doug
Edit you answered part of this while I was on the keyboard, sorry
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
Namerifrats,
I wasn't trying to lead any pack against rail workers, It was a job that I actually would have preferred, but in 1983 when I got out of school, as I'm sure you are aware, the railroads weren't doing a lot of hiring, and the driving job kind of fell into place. I do enjoy what I do, I also considered Tug & Barge work, but it was in about the same situation as railroading as far as hiring at the time. I have always been interested in the transportation industry, being an engineer for the UP, was my childhood dream, one that I never completely outgrew. Now I just have to satisfy that interest with modeling and rental programs.
Maybe the area in which I live and work is unique in this being as severe of a problem as it is compared to other places, and that I am in that area so frequently at night, but believe me, if you had a CB radio in your cab, you would hear a lot more drivers complaining about this, in this area than you might expect. With the shallower curves on the mainline, when the highway is on a tangent, it is more than just a second or two, and more than plenty of time to totally %$&*# a guys night vision.
My whole point was to have the lights dimmed to a less intense level, just as on a highway vehicle, you would still be plenty visible, without having near the impact on highway traffic.
hrbdizzle wrote:Go ahead, and go with that theory.If I remember from back in the DMV testing days, the rule instates to stare at the right side of the lane. as a matter of fact, that is the reason the right side of the lane has imprinted white letters.
Add this to the rules.
Place right front steer tire onto shoulder and "Feel" for the edge of the road.
Implement anti-rollover procedures when gravel or mud is encountered.
[/sarcasm]
The DMV is a most perfect fantasy, a walled garden where all drivers cooperate and follow the rules all the time.
HAH. **Tosses rules out of the window and relies on 2 million miles of fun and games.
I've also encountered train headlights while driving but can't say it is a big problem. Look to the side...don't stare into the lights. It is the same when you're driving into the sunlight...you've got to work with it.
I can appreciate why those lights need to be as bright as they are...you've got 13000 plus tons rolling along at a fair clip....and those 13000 tons can't be stopped quickly in the event of an emergency. It needs to be as visible as possible.
Ulrich wrote: I can appreciate why those lights need to be as bright as they are...you've got 13000 plus tons rolling along at a fair clip....and those 13000 tons can't be stopped quickly in the event of an emergency. It needs to be as visible as possible.
At high speeds (+20mph) the headlights are on so the train may be SEEN by the public, at low speeds (-20mph) the headlights are so WE can see the public.
Granted, the above is a simplification, but hopefully you'll get the point.
The potential for lawsuits against an engineer personally (not to mention the railroad) for not dimming his headlights (should an incident occur) is so great that an engineer dare not dim his lights except in the prescribed manner and locations.
Years ago, we used to frequently dim our headlights for paralell road traffic; we even used to extinguish the headlights when meeting opposing trains (so we could read the engine number).
But alas, those days are gone, thanks to the dilligent efforts of various lawyers to reward those morons that don't know well enough to stay off the tracks; then those very same morons reproduce thereby creating even more morons who will do something stupid thereby creating more business for lawyers, ad infinitum....
FTGT725 wrote: I guess when a trucker takes out a family because a train blinded the driver, you just sue the railroad and the engineer as they share in the cause of the accident.
I assume most trains do not just "suddenly" appear. Most. So if you see a train is approaching and it has a bright headlight that may interfere with your vision, why not just slow your truck down so you have it under control? Even if you have to pull it off to the side on the shoulder for 30 seconds to a minute, isn't that better than the possibility of taking out an innocent family? Or are you in that much of a hurry? As an aside, let me ask you truck drivers how any of your fellow truck drivers can drive in smoke/fog/blinding rain at such high speeds that they become part of those massive 50 vehicle interstate wrecks as we have seen twice recently near Madison, Wisconsin and a really big one on I-4 between Orlando and Tampa? I realize having driven a 40-footer for awhile that four wheelers are part of the problem and that problem becomes potentially fatal in less than perfect visibility. But having that knowledge that you never know what the four wheelers are going to do always made me extra special careful in those situations.
challenger3980 wrote: My whole point was to have the lights dimmed to a less intense level, just as on a highway vehicle, you would still be plenty visible, without having near the impact on highway traffic.
Well the FRA disagrees with you, since about 15 years ago they mandated MORE lights on the head end of a train with the mandate of ditch lights.
An "expensive model collector"
Wow ! Railroaders and truckers talking! Who would have thunk.
I have dimmed my lights for trains and they have for me. Just two people trying to get over vthe road as best they can. We can all try the golden rule from time to time to make life easy on both of us.
Nice large car in your icon. That a 379?
RWM
I like how it took almost 2 pages worth of posting on this topic for someone to say... Look away, not at the lights.
I've been driving a truck for almost 8 years and I've noticed the 'trucker' courtesy on the road declining. I don't get into the over-the-road business though, just local.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
"Transfer Paint..." good one.
Be safe out there. I think things are a tad more dangerous out there.
I dont run on the roads anymore except to use my experience working with the older trucks that today's young folk may not really understand. Those Super500's for example take me back.
Cheers.
spokyone wrote: Don't dump 'til you thump?
Nice phrase! I'm adding that to my vernacular.
Gambi80 wrote: I like how it took almost 2 pages worth of posting on this topic for someone to say... Look away, not at the lights. I've been driving a truck for almost 8 years and I've noticed the 'trucker' courtesy on the road declining. I don't get into the over-the-road business though, just local.
Yea, no kiddin'. Just because the sun is coming up does mean you need to stare at it. Look at the other side of the road so you don't wreck.
switch7frg That is a lomng time to be out there. Lawyers and insurance men seem to make the laws today. Seems to make it harder for us as drivers and C&E on trains to get the freight over the road. Yes we need rules but common sense doen't count for much anymore.
Falls Valley RR : In times gone by , this old hide has driven more than a few older trucks . Now days they are called " tired iron" . I was not given new equipment because I knew how to keep the old ones going. Like you said, the young kids could not handle them, ( what are those 2 sticks poking thru the floor for? ) ~~~ A hat & coat rack kid . A train brought it to the siding, but if you got it a truck brought it. This is a good thread ,it would be nice to see it grow and survive. After a road adventure, we could go to the Depot Diner for CWs good grocerys to eat. Respectfully, Cannonball
Chico ; 10-4 on that good post . Cannonball
John K, Been there and done that ( fun and games time) on I 40 eastbound to at least to Chambers. some times it can get very interesting.
Cannonball
It all started with the drive up ATM machines with BRAILE. Now thats how a lot of people drive. I shut the key off after that school bus full of kids took a right turn onto the same 2 lane I was doing 35 MPH on with 35 ton of sand in the box. I blew 2 tires trieing to stop. That was too close and the cop said what do you want me to do give the driver a ticket? She may lose her job. I said the kids almost lost thier lives!!! Needless to say no ticket and 2 flats. Now I drive a service truck. Much smaller but dirtier.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
locoi1sa wrote: ....I shut the key off after that school bus full of kids took a right turn onto the same 2 lane I was doing 35 MPH on with 35 ton of sand in the box. I blew 2 tires trieing to stop.
....I shut the key off after that school bus full of kids took a right turn onto the same 2 lane I was doing 35 MPH on with 35 ton of sand in the box. I blew 2 tires trieing to stop.
Requirements needed to drive a school bus:
Ability to inhale and exhale sequentially for an extended period of time. Previous driving experience not necessary.
switch7frg wrote: Falls Valley RR : what are those 2 sticks poking thru the floor for?
Falls Valley RR : what are those 2 sticks poking thru the floor for?
im 14 my dad has an old '88 freightliner he has 9 in one box and 4 in the other it will do 140 on the dyno
and if you think im one of those "kids" that only can ride in these things, well youre wrong!
I have driven it down the road loaded with 8 cars in ND and my dad in the passennger seat
starting from a stop,
you dont believe me like most?
i can prove it call me 616-318-1345
nice post switch7frg
Falls Valley RR wrote:Once that 5th wheel of yours goes "Click" then it is on you. =) Be careful what you put on that plate!
What happens if your 5th wheel goes flat...?
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