Why my town is so stupid!

[Anonymous]

Well, Brunswick Hasn't gotten there yet. There is only one crossing, and there are already gates, but even with the gates and the horns, people still don't seem to see the train (like the jogger who kept on going about 5 seconds before the train backed over where he had been last week. Started cursing at the engineer probably). If they had a no horn ruling here, the only people it would affect would be us railfans in town.

[rrnut282]

It's amazing how quiet it gets when you ask them to put their money where their mouth is[swg]

[mudchicken]

Sask:

Thanx for the update.......interesting to see how hearts and minds change when a wee bit of fiscal reality sets in![;)]

[banghead][banghead][banghead]

[Anonymous]

Well, I have an update on the situation. Finally, the they came to their senses! The headline story of this week's local paper is "Langenburg Won't Ban Whistle Blowers". In order for the trains to stop blowing their whistles, crossing gates would have to be installed, which would cost $150,000. Since the work would be done at the request of the town, they would have to pay the full cost. Like I said before, they certainly wouldn't be willing to fork over that kind of cash (if they even have it). It also mentioned in the article that safety fencing would likely have to be installed around the crossings. That would shure be a bummer for watching trains if it did happen. In addition, if the town went ahead with this, they would also have to pay for a series of Transport Canada public hearings. To quote the last paragraph of the article, "Enough's enough, decided town council last wek, agreeing that train whistles aren't that major of a problem after all. Councillor Lois Wilson even noted that since the issue of train whistles had been brought forward by council, it seems that CP engineers aren't whistling as long as they used to and are doing so closer to the crossings." That last line's a load of garbage (probably said to make people think that they actually got somewhere by raising this issue), but all in all it's very good news to hear that nothing more will be done to try and stop the trains from blowing their horns.

[Anonymous]

Dear Sask_Tinplater,

I am about to make another mammoth posting, the likes of which you have probably seen before on this forum, but here I go....

As far as written newspaper persuasion for your cause, why not right an editorial, right a letter to the editor, and, better yet, give us the newspaper's adress and we'll right in as well. If you want I can even have some of my friends sign it and we'll call it "The Board of Directors of the KR&NP Railway;" the people of your town don't need to know that KR&NP stands for Kneading, Repaire and New Partes [:)].

The world is filled with idiots. And jerks. And when you have idiotic jerks, things get really ugly. But count your blessings: the proportion of idiots in your town is limited by your comparatively small population. Just think what vsmith and I have to contend with here in the single largest metropolitan area in the knwon universe (16 million people in southern California)! You want examples of idiots? People who think that the train cares that they are some stuck-up egomaniac who thinks he is world famous because he wrote a screenplay once (that's my near-to-Hollywood example), and people who try to get rid of all railway crossing arms and horns, and people who don't like Alco diesels (just kidding--Kevin)[:)].

But now for some actual arguements:

1.) The drive to get rid of horns and bells (and railways as a whole for that matter) started the second people no longer wished to stop to see a small SOO Line 4-6-2 drop off a reefer before hauling its local off to the next North Dokota hamlet--the moment people started opting for a cramped coach seat on a 737 instead of a drawing room on the Twentieth Century Limited. As I have said earlier, all too many people view anything keeping them from where they want to be as a horrible imposition onto their lives which are more important than anybody else's anyway. This is the root of most cases of racing trains to crossings--the other cause is mostly stupid teenagers who don't care that they'll end up as a quarter pounder if they race trains. Of course, here, none of us actually know what this is like since we are railfans and therefore intuitively stop the moment we see even a reflection in the crossing lights--in the hopes that doubleheaded Big Boys will come down the tracks, shaking the earth, even if it's a light rail line. But among non-railfans and those without respect for railways, all too often the thoughts are "can I beat this to the crossing" and, when they decide they can't (which would, icidentally, be one of the smartest decisions they have ever made), they become angry at the railway, not minding the fact that the cell phone in their right hand which they are talking on while drinking the next fad-beverage in their left probably travelled by train, as did the car they are about to put in the path of the oncoming train!

2.) Railways are no longer "cool," as I am sure you, bigboy4884, dougal, CNWfan5525, and others can attest to. That is why people are ridiculed for liking trains, and why people have less respect for them than the scrapper did for the historic steam locomotive rusting away in his junkyard.

3.) Essentially, we lost respect for railroads about 1.75 generations ago. This is why most people other than railfans (who have an omnipresent and prerequisite respect for trains), their families and friends (whom the railfans teach respect of railways to), and a few other people--who managed to retain common sense in today's society which is all too often more superficial and pretentious than it is substantive--are so positively clueless.

And now, the less emotional and more logical arguements:

4.) Here in southern California, we have the new Gold Line light rail line, which I live near to and often bicycle and dive by. All along the line through South Pasadena (the city--not the southern region of Pasadena), residents have put up signs advocating "No Horns, No Bells, No Speeds over 30 mph," or some speed restriction like that. Firstly, to show how uninformed these people are, the light rail cars in use on the Gold Line don't even have bells! Further still, the "horn" is little more than a buzzer, which goes off only at grade crossings (not when starting or stopping), and which is so quiet that you cannot hear it from within a car next to the crossing with the radio off! Believe me: these horns could be a lot louder! Which brings up another incident familiar to me, which is loosely related:

5.) I volunteer frequently at the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Last November, we hosted A Day Out With Thomas for the second time. To show you how much these people disregard the reason horns exist in the first place, the museum switched out the typical railway horn of the fairly loud persuasion for a Pacific Electric trombone whistle on the locomotive powering the train (yes--I'm sorry but Thomas is unpowered). For those of you who don't know so much about Los Angeles interurbans, the PE trombone whistle is much quieter, and produces a sound similar to that of a louder--and improved--bottle being blown into. I admit, their were small children present, but if they don't like hearing the locomotive horn, then they probably aren't young railfans--it seems to be the non-railfan parents who are more often taken aback. But getting back on topic....

6.) The Gold Line runs on what a decade ago was the AT&SF's Pasadena Subdivision, which, if I remember correctly, was constructed in the 1880's or 90's. This means that most of the residents of South Pasadena were living there back during the good old days of the Pasadena Sub, which had many full size-trains with full-size horns creating full-size music (which others call noise) as well as a daily eastbound and westbound Southwest Chief. Of course, the AT&SF probably had more legal muscle, but I never saw anyone complaining about the melodious song of the Southwest Chief, particularly when it stopped in Pasadena and invited a very young trainjunky29 into the cab....What I'm getting at here is that, in part, people don't have these fond memories of the railroads with which railroads and communities had a symbiotic relationship for often over a century. Also, what I'm saying is that the people of South Pasadena really have no right to complain, particularly when the new Light Rail cars create a fraction of the music or "noise" that the old trains did. Furter still, those people who moved in when the Pasadena Sub was torn up and before or during construction of the Gold Line have no right to complain, since they knew it was coming in anyway. And finally, those people moving to South Pas, as it's called here, have no right at all to complain, particularly since many of them moved to South Pasadena because of the transit oppurtunities afforded by the Gold Line. Get my drift????

7.) The same people who are advocating the abolition of horns, bells, and other instruments of the railroad symphony, will be the first to profusely blame the railroads when somebody in a car gets hit, because there was no horn to warn him.

8.) Chama, New Mexico, (you know--Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway) does not have this problem. This is because the town of Chama (population 1,900) is dependant upon the railroad, and the tourism it generates, for its very existence. Without this, it would be a bump on the road between the county seat of Tierra Amarilla and Antonito, Colorado. And (surprise, surprise), their are no movements in Chama for the abolition of the steamers' whistles, nor for "grade crossing safety" improvements. In fact, every crossing on the line is gaurded only by the old x with "RAILROAD CROSSING" written on it, and to my knowledge there has never been anything even remotely resembling a car crash with a train in the line's 110 year history! Why are all these things? Because people there respect the railroads, the trains, and enjoy seeing a K-36 2-8-2 turn on the wye every afternoon. Additionally, almost all tourists there are railfans (aside from the area's incredible beauty and the train, and the beauty enhanced by the train's presence, there's not mush else to visit Chama for), often to the tune of 30,000 people each year. You see what a little respect for the railway accomplishes? It accomplishes a return to the symbiotic relationship between railway and community--one that has disappeared all too many places, although Chama never lost it. Furthermore, most people in Chama never lost interest in seeing the preverbial SOO Line 4-6-2 switching a local, although in their case it's no. 488 swithing in the yard.

What this is all getting at, Sask_Tinplater, is that you should keep your pro-railway stance in your town. And maybe you should consider being the citizen who advocates for the railroad in your community. Being as there are only 1,000 people in your town (I know--it's not a terribly small number, since I've been in towns of 28 people, but you can understand, being as I'm from southern California), I would think that many people know you there, and being as you are probably well liked and respected by many of them, you might be pleasantly surprised about how many of them listen to you. And remember--railways don't buy horns to look pretty on their locomotives. Horns exist for a mulitude of reasons, not the least of which is to warn people of the train, without which, innocent lives would be lost because people did not know the trains were near. So really, you could say that you would be trying to save innocent lives. And if nobody does listen, then you will have known that you tried, and everybody will know that you are pro-railroads. I would find that preferable to not telling anyone in the community how I felt. Now as for idiots who run the crossings....

Go ahead and use these arguements if you want...although the residents of Langenburg will probably not be moved to the greatest extent by my unceasing examples from the Gold Line [:)]. And that statement about the quarter pounder, the train, and the car from the other thread might turn a few heads in your direction.

I hope you enjoyed my random ramblings,
Daniel

[TH&B]

Well it's niether my RR nor properties and if someone uses (or steals) this idea of mine I won't charge them so my hands are clean. But this problem should not have an expensive solution, not in a small town.

[mudchicken]

440cuin:

You supplying the common sense and admitting the liability for all those who don't? I'll send the ambulance chasers, legal trade whiners, a few democrats & political hacks and the mortician to your door...... (you MUST be one lonely fella)

And by the way, can I have the contents to your bank account and personal worth before you give it all to them?[X-)][X-)][X-)][}:)]

[TH&B]

What's the big problem? All you do is put a big stick in the ground with an X on it (paint it all white). That means railway track, so you don't cross until you can see there is no train from both directions. Private crossings have no lights, bells or hornblowing so why do public crossings need it? No need for no big noise big budget who's gonna pay for it stuff.

[mudchicken]

Eric:
In the US, FRA/DOT has a "Section 400" program that allots states $1.2 to $2.3 million a year for grade crossing safety improvements. With that money buying $150,000-$350,000 worth of flashers, gates, bells & circuitry PER CROSSING or $1.2 Million per grade separated BRIDGE, the money does not go far. (Railroads generally pay to inspect & maintain the signal system afterwards for the life of the crossing.) And then the related costs of track and crossing trackwork is added to that figure......Many states have plans to spend those funds over the next 5-10 years. Any new "crisis" location has to get in line and wait with all the others. Many times, congress has voted to add additional monies to the program only to not fund it it the Federal Budget (wicked, unfair system)....many times those funds wind up going against some favored highway pet project of that state's congressman or senator. This is happening right now with the Safe-T, NexTEA,TEA-21 type legislation. There has to be a better solution.

AAR, AREMA and others have tried to advance the cause for years, but as long as the trucking industry outspends the railroads on lobbying by multiples of 5-10, not much will happen.

[Anonymous]

Mud,
Thanks for the clarification on the rules. I got to talking with our senior traffic enforcement guy... his attitude was "Don't you have better things to do than watch trains?" I stifled the original urge to say, "Well, uh... nope." (Everyone may now stifle the urge to suggest I Get a Life.) The prevalent attitude with the folks I've talked to is that some departments measure a cop's performance by seeing how many tickets they can write. Sounds like you ran across an LAPD type who was on the down side that day. (PS it's not a "quota" it's a "work performance evaluation feature")
To return to the original thread, tho, surely the railroads must have some kind of lobby group that watches issues like this. Safety issues must have some kind of economic impact on the community... in terms of delay of delivery, public safety expenses, railroad crossing upgrades... NS and Columbus, Georgia, just got finished building an overpass over their main line which most folks love because it gets them into the center of town faster. (I think it's big enough to allow stack containers under it, but there are clearance problems elsewhere on the line.)
Erik

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by corwinda

QUOTE: Originally posted by erikthered
Talk about dumb laws, though. The state of Alabama passed a law last year prohibiting grade crossings from being blocked more than 15 minutes.

In Oregon it's 10 minutes. (And not a new law; either. Late 70s or early 80s I think.)

[X-)][X-)][X-)][X-)]

little nit-picky fact to contemplate: Those 10 or 15 minute rules are modelled on the federal rule...The clock starts running if (BIG IF) the train comes to a complete stop. If the train starts moving (as in switching) again, the clock resets and starts over again. There is no penalty if the train encounters a UDE or is stopped by signal indication.

Had more than my fair share of fun in Southern California with this rule when using work trains to unload 1440 foot strings of welded rail. At road crossings and switches, normal procedure was to skip laying rail where track panels or switch panels were to be placed - We would stop the rail train, torch cut the rail being unloaded, move forward, chain the unlaid rail to the tie or rail after the skip and then go forward dumping rail again. (Takes about 5-10 minutes)

One pushy LA City cop made an issue of all the starting and stopping toward the end of the day. Our last string of rail on the train also involved a "skip" near the end of the last rail on the train. To appease the cop, we kept moving, the result was a rail laid accross the street pavement at a crossing to his dismay. The cop wound up flagging traffic for 8 minutes while the welders cut rhe rail and a front end loader dragged the rail away [and off the road surface]. After that little incident, LAPD left us alone.[:D]

mc[banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead]



UDE = UnDesired Emergency

[HEdward]

Oy vey! I stopped by to see what the Railfans were talking about and it's POLITICS! Is there any message board on the internet that isn't full of messages decrying the lack of common sense among those in elective office?

Here in Danbury CT they haul their trash, refuse, garbage through the streets in open trucks past homes, shopping centers and eateries. Meanwhile, the Housatonic has lines heading out of town in every direction. Having worked in one of the local shopping centers, where the truckers parked, sometimes for 2-3 days in the hot summer sun, and filled the air with their foul stench, I know first hand how disgusting it is. The rail lines are not near any public areas and can move the cargo more efficeintly but they still use trucks. Why? Because politicians don't want to improve the quality of life, they just want to get re-elected without ever solving anything.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
What I soon discovered, was that when these idiots would stop on the tracks, I would wait just a bit, then I would go dark. Turn off all lights--headlights, number board, class, everything. Then wait a few more seconds then start with the whistle. In no time flat these idiots would chicken out and leave in a hurry. Worked every time.

[:D] I love it, beat them at their own game! [:D]

[Anonymous]

I did ambulance work in Phoenix, Arizona for a while. BNSF had a fairly heavy trafficed line paralleling Grand Avenue and terminating nearly in the center of Phoenix. One of our stations was located about two blocks away and we all dreaded rush hours- because the railroad was active, automotive traffic was active, and it seemed everybody was deaf to sirens... No matter when the call came, we could reasonably be assured that it would be "on the other side of Grand"... some real scary moments just getting there.

[corwinda]

QUOTE: Originally posted by erikthered
Talk about dumb laws, though. The state of Alabama passed a law last year prohibiting grade crossings from being blocked more than 15 minutes.

In Oregon it's 10 minutes. (And not a new law; either. Late 70s or early 80s I think.)

[tree68]

As much as we'd like to think that we have an informed citizenry, it just isn't so. Case in point (not railroad, but...) is the new ambulance service we have in our area. Despite over two years of regular articles in a weekly paper, quite a few appearances in the daily paper, numerous TV news stories, placards in post offices and local businesses advertising a subscription programs, and a host of other items, many people just don't know we exist. All they know is that if they need an ambulance, they'll dial 9-1-1 and we'd damn well better show up, and soon. The name on the side of the rig is of no consequence.

On a railroad note - despite as many as 8 crossings a day, I rarely encounter a train at several crossings I pass frequently. The uninitiated could easily surmise that the line is no longer in use. In defense of the poor home buyer who discovers himself next to a "suddenly" active rail line, the realtor could very truthfully say that they've never seen a train on the tracks. Small consolation when one comes through at 2 am. Every Day.

Truth be known, about the only solution that would make a lot of people happy with regard to railroads would be to elevate the railroad (or sink it below ground level). Just don't be building anything that will detract from my view or otherwise interrupt my desired daily routine.

Along the lines of the Water Level Route (the CSX Chicago Line), the CSX Montreal Secondary appears to have been constructed in such a way as to minimize the number of grade crossings. They are far from having eliminated them, but it's still better than it could have been.

[daveklepper]

I don't like that forget letter to the editor bit . I've always respected the position that the USA has an educated citizenry and that facts presented calmly and thoroughly can bring popular opinion around on important issues. People are concerned about the safety of their family and friends. That is why we are willing to put up with a lot of stuff that ten years ago would have produced riots at airports and at the entrances to public buildings . The USA is a democracy and although there are a lot of stupid things being done (like basic USA ground transportation policy), the USA, Canada too, would not work at all if the people were dumb. But still contacting industries after you get your facts and presentation together is an extremely good idea! Dave Klepper

[Anonymous]

Thanks, for all of the responses, everyone! In response to the question asked about why the trains are all so slow, it's due to track condition. The speed restrictions came into effect sometime last year. CP doesen't seem to be in a really big hurry to upgrade the track and says it will get done probably in 2005 or 2006. I think that some of the crews occaisonally do go a bit faster than the 10mph limit, though. There's been a lot of resentment toward the railroad because of the slow speeds and that's obviously why the idea of no horns was thought of. Our fearless leader says he really feels that this is something that should be followed up on. As far as the town actually spending money on the project, they're way too cheap! There's enough projects in the town already that they're begging people to give money too. The thought of a letter to the paper did actually cross my mind. I'm not sure if I will, though. The editor of the paper is a pretty smart guy with a level head and has is own column where he will write his opinion, even if sometimes it isn't always what everyone agrees with. I wouldn't be surprised if he wrote in something about it.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

I have a much better idea for ALL crossings.
*Eliminate all gates, flashers, & bells.
*Prohibit all whistling even in an emergency.
*Send letters to every house informing them of this decision, also stating that any lawsuit against the railroad for any damage or injury WILL NOT be heard.

This way, it becomes a free-for-all. Motorists will be forced to actually pay attention to what they are supposed to be doing. If they do not....then SPLAT.

Each accident should have photos taken and shown on the front page of the local paper.

Once the surviving drivers realize they cannot sue the railroad, and once they realize that THEY THEMSELVES are responsible for their actions, perhaps then there will be a change in the thinking of the population. But probably not.




Back in the "good old days" when I was operating, there was a popular pasttime in Chicago at night of deliberately stopping on the tracks in front of a moving train. You could tell it was deliberate because either the car would go over the crossing, see the train, stop and back up on to the tracks; or they would just stop on the tracks and give the train the finger. This was real popular on the Skokie line (all 10mph running). If you started blowing the whistle, they just sat there laughing and continuing the finger display.

What I soon discovered, was that when these idiots would stop on the tracks, I would wait just a bit, then I would go dark. Turn off all lights--headlights, number board, class, everything. Then wait a few more seconds then start with the whistle. In no time flat these idiots would chicken out and leave in a hurry. Worked every time.

There is just a small section of larceny in my mind that just loves this!

[zardoz]

I have a much better idea for ALL crossings.
*Eliminate all gates, flashers, & bells.
*Prohibit all whistling even in an emergency.
*Send letters to every house informing them of this decision, also stating that any lawsuit against the railroad for any damage or injury WILL NOT be heard.

This way, it becomes a free-for-all. Motorists will be forced to actually pay attention to what they are supposed to be doing. If they do not....then SPLAT.

Each accident should have photos taken and shown on the front page of the local paper.

Once the surviving drivers realize they cannot sue the railroad, and once they realize that THEY THEMSELVES are responsible for their actions, perhaps then there will be a change in the thinking of the population. But probably not.




Back in the "good old days" when I was operating, there was a popular pasttime in Chicago at night of deliberately stopping on the tracks in front of a moving train. You could tell it was deliberate because either the car would go over the crossing, see the train, stop and back up on to the tracks; or they would just stop on the tracks and give the train the finger. This was real popular on the Skokie line (all 10mph running). If you started blowing the whistle, they just sat there laughing and continuing the finger display.

What I soon discovered, was that when these idiots would stop on the tracks, I would wait just a bit, then I would go dark. Turn off all lights--headlights, number board, class, everything. Then wait a few more seconds then start with the whistle. In no time flat these idiots would chicken out and leave in a hurry. Worked every time.

[Anonymous]

There are a couple of approaches I would use here. Forget the letters to the editor- the public has formed their own opinion, don't confuse them with facts. Instead, you might go and talk to the industries being served by the railroad. Often they are asked for input into decisions like this...(being in the Deep South of the USA, their input also would include financial ah, considerations, to local politicians). If you can link a loss of timely delivery of their freight to safety issues, you could probably drum up some support.

In short, if you hit them in the pocketbook, their hearts and minds will surely follow...

Talk about dumb laws, though. The state of Alabama passed a law last year prohibiting grade crossings from being blocked more than 15 minutes. I am just a pore ol depty in rural Alabama, but my partners and I aren't sure the local traffic court is ready for us to chase down and cite an engineer of a 50 car plus freight to catch his license, registration, AND proof of insurance....

[tree68]

You want to stop into the "Hit By Train" thread that's currently ongoing, as well as "Chilling Stories . . . . . collisions. ". More "color" for your well-reasoned argument.

[Anonymous]

Mine really is. I have THE WORLD"S SLOWEST POST OFFICE!!!!!!!!! I'm still waiting for the Model Railroader to get shipped to me. It's a small town of 800 that has a branch line there. Most of the roads in the area are currently being detoured because the main highway that we always use is getting detoured RIGHT AT OUR EXIT!!!!! Supposedly(sp), this will stay in effect for over a year. Some days I feel like living somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

I do know that Frisco cooperated with a small city who also had an ordinance again the railroad engine blowing their horn. There was a double track through this town. The engine would ring the bell while in town. If there was a train on the second track then the trains would use the horn. I don't have any info on grade crossing accidents with in this town. I actually think that since Frisco cooperated with them that there were few. Maybe some of the other guys might have more info about this situation.

[daveklepper]

You might want to visit the Association of American Railroads website and get all the information you can on highway railway crossing incidents and use this information in your letter(s) to the editor and ask whether the Mayor and others asking for no horn blowing want to be responsible for unfavorable changes in the most important statistics in this matter. Enough said! I would hate to be in the Mayor's shoes if an unfortunate incident occured shortly after horn blowing was stopped! Dave

[Mikeygaw]

well, what do you expect from politicians? they're about 100x worse than the standard brain dead...

[Anonymous]

Oh, and jsut to back Ed up I use "letter to the Editor" feature probobly about 8 times a year or so.


it gets your message across..

But expect somehting back, cause i always get an evil letter back [:D]

[Anonymous]

OH WOW, boy can I sympathize with you!

I live in a Small town of Hudson, M&O Subdivison, Little jerk-water town of about 5000 people, love it, take the train to school every morning. almost every morning.

The Train travels through a few Cities, Hudson, St. Lazare, Vaudreuil, before connecting with the main CPR track in Vaudreuil, Subdivision Vaudreuil.

Now the people who live in St.Lazare, are spoiled brats, that would actually, in written word wrote to the gazette and said they would like the RR track done away with all together.

Thats merely a crime in itself.

to the point, the want no whistles too. It's never going to happen because of the various laws we have in Quebec about Single Track, RR warning devices and whistling.

SO when this person wrote this article, about 15 Hudson people wrote to the editor, telling htme that their letter did a diservice to jsut about every person on the planet. The train was a nesesity and had been around for ages, if it isn't broken, leave it alone.

The very weird thing though, It's often the people who complain, who have no heritage, who know didaley Squat about their history who complain about the Trains. And to prove my point even further, the most Grumbling comes from the town of Vaudreuil, where a new development had just finished being built, byt the tracks, right behind it to be percise, and the people have jsut moved in 2 or 4 or 6 months ago. these houses are about a foot and a hlaf by two feet, spaced right together so you can see your neighbors bathroom.

Oh yes, charming

Here in hudson, were all old timers, houses are 60+ years old, and Everyone loves the train, you'll be beaten up if you pop the line "the train is so annoying because..."

Nobosy wants the Train whistles to stop, matter of fact osmeone wrote to the Editor, from Hudson, saying that he could rememebr when it was a Steam whistle.. and how that sounded, it was amazing to know that! even i learnt somehting..

FYI, the last steam Train to pass through Hudson was 1960.

Also FYI, There were more thne 30 trains a day on the single Track through hudson, mixed freight, and because Hudson is on the water, it used to serve as an ice factory, were ice was cut from the river, put into freezer RR cars and distributed to gouses wiht ice boxes, back in the day...

FYI again, The CPR Canadian used to travel through Hudson..

now there is only one train a day, in and out...it's sad, the line used to be a direct link to Ottawa, but that got ripped up and now it's nothing more then a dead end at rigaud.

so these people that complain, really know nothing about where their town came from, because frankly, it was most likely the RR that made the town, and that can be said about any town In Canada.

[Anonymous]

Down in Madison Wisconsin the city put a ban on railroads (WSOR) from using their horns within the city limits. The railroad complied . They would use their horns only if there was imminent DANGER . Now the car / train colisions have increased , Even with warning lights & gates at the crossings. So the bossman told them to start using your horns regardless of the citys so called ban. Now they want to issue citations to the railroad . Folks........ they use them for a REASON,........ WHAT NEXT,.......... The banning of emergency vehicle sirens, PS; We do know what your going through up yonder.