Railroad grade crossings & Stupid Drivers!

[TrainFreak409]

I have a few.
I work at a train shop in Sykesville, Maryland. About 60 feet away from the door of the shop, Main Street crosses the old B&O main line. CSX now uses it frequently, and double and triple headers either crawl to fly through with coal and mixed freight. The crossing does not have gates, just the crossbuck, and warning lights.
Being at a train store, the owner does not mind if we go out and look at the passing trains.
One time, I was working, and I heard the blow of the horn, so I went out side. The horn stopped, but the lights were still flashing, so I went back inside. Not more that ten minutes later, the horn blew again. I went outside, to see cars speeding over the crossing. As I watched, the train slowly appeared from behind the old Baldwin Station. Cars still sped over the crossing, as the train approached only a few yards away. As the train crossed the street, a car sped infront of it, and the coupler looked like it was only inches away from the door of the vehicle.
Another time, the lights were flashing, and a guy on a bike crossed. As he did, he almost lost control of his bicycle as it hit the rail. He had to walk his bike over the tracks the rest of the way. Not more than 10 seconds later, a coal train past at about 35mph.
There have also been afew times that I thought people were going to get hit.

People can be so stupid sometimes.

[8]TrainFreak409[8]

[88gta350]

At work our main entrance is about 5 feet lower than the rail line and there's a good hill to get up to the grade crossing, then it levels out once you cross.

We occasionally get low-boy trailers coming on site for heavier loads and they some times get their trailers high-centered on this hill if they don't take the turn wide enough. I was stationed at the entrance one time when this happened and went about getting the truck unstuck, which is not easy because they have to back out onto a rather busy road and reapproach from a wider angle. We finally got him across the tracks when not 3-5 minutes later a train came. It could have been bad.

Wer had another incident where the crossing gates went down, then came back up. Another officer was stationed at the entrance and went out to post himself at the crossing like we're supposed too whenever a train is approaching. The officer could tell a train was approaching because of the horn and engine lights, but the gates had gone back up and an employee turning in just started across the tracks like he always does (he was relying on the gates to alert him to a train. The officer managed to stop the car before he crossed the tracks, and just as the train enetered the crossing. The driver of the car credits the officer with saving his life, that's how close it was. He surely would have been hit. The company recognized the officer for his alertness and actions, but it's just a reminder that you can't always rely on the crossing gates. I know that driver will always look before crossing now!

[adrianspeeder]

I swear the train swerved and hit me.

Adrianspeeder

[Junctionfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainheartedguy

Well, its not just people on wheels too. Its common for people to go around the gates while the commuter train that dropped them off here at Brunswick is backing up to go into the yard. then tyhere are the people like I saw today. the truck driver backing the bed of his pickup over the tracks wiyth a train coming, and then a jogger running right in front of the quickly accelerating same train. seen hat happen twice this year. Seen a guy and his dog pas right by a "Stay off tracks" sign and get by right as a train came into view on the same track. then there are the idiots who clumb under or between commuter cars to get to the parking lot, but thats another story.........

Good thing I don't live there; I would have to put the police and railroad police numbers on speed dial. I might also get artritis in my dialing finger if I did put them on speed dial.
Wow...that is some stupid folks that will climb under or go between railcars.

[Anonymous]

Well, its not just people on wheels too. Its common for people to go around the gates while the commuter train that dropped them off here at Brunswick is backing up to go into the yard. then tyhere are the people like I saw today. the truck driver backing the bed of his pickup over the tracks wiyth a train coming, and then a jogger running right in front of the quickly accelerating same train. seen hat happen twice this year. Seen a guy and his dog pas right by a "Stay off tracks" sign and get by right as a train came into view on the same track. then there are the idiots who clumb under or between commuter cars to get to the parking lot, but thats another story.........

[Junctionfan]

I don't care; if I can catch anybody doing that I will report them to the police and do them and the poor train crew that would suffer a minor nervous break down from the accident, a favour.

[Anonymous]

This one doesn't involve a stupid driver. Trade St. in Tryon, NC runs parallel to the tracks which are up the bank about 30' above the road, which goes up hill and comes level with the tracks. Another road to the right is at a 20% grade going up to the crossing and only 10' apart and at a 120° turn (rather steep and a blind turn towards the tracks, have to slow down a good deal and have to rely on the horn and crossing lights for a train.) I remember when I was 4, we turned onto the road, the crossing lights not flashing, and looking to the right and seeing a train barreling down on us with horn blaring. My dad gunned it and the train flew by. Scary stuff.

[adrianspeeder]

Oh no, not again.

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

Everyday I go outside to watch the trains go past my house and the number one thing that I can't miss is that crossing at 12th street here in Blair,Ne.
As westbounds come through town I just sit or stand right by these big grainbins watching the trains aproach the crossing and right out of the blue.......Some MORON foolishly crosses right INFRONT of train.
There are alot of times that I have seen alot of near misses.......Even a jack A$$ on a bike played checken with a train.
Id sure like to hear of your incounters. I tell you what,today's drivers are realy getting worse!
Next time I a train coming Ill just stand and scream "HIT THE S>O>B".
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