Unless its livestock, freight railroads have no obligation to fence - long established rule in the US. Statutes do NOT apply to humans or crops - the adjoining landowner becomes responsible. (Throw in catenary or toy trains (transit) and the rule changes, usually at additional public expense.)
Humans, stupid animals that they can be, are harder to herd than cats.
(Chain link fence is largely ineffectual - you go to something far more $ub$tantial)
mudchicken TransportCanada enforced or local rule?
TransportCanada enforced or local rule?
It would be TC as it's in the timetable as all crossings from mile xx to xx are exempt from rule 14L.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
In response to Overmod's note of a few days ago, the FRA horn rule (49 CFR Part 222) does not say that an engineer "has to" blow the horn any time he sees a problem at a quiet zone crossing. It's just the opposite. 49 CFR 222.23(b) provides as follows:
"Notwithstanding any other provision of this part [ed., Part 222], including provisions addresssing the establishment of a quiet zone, limits on the length of time a hoirm may be sounded, or installation of wayside horns within quiet zones, this part does not preclude the sounding of locomotive horns in emergency situations, nor does it impose a legal duty to sound the locomotive horns in such situations." (emohasis supplied)
In theory, this language plus the preemption language of FRA's governing statute (which preempts application of state imposed laws and other legal requirements on matters FRA has regulated) should be enough to prevent imposition of legal liability for an engineer's failure to sound the horn for an "emergency" in a quiet zone. But I don't know how courts have treated it.
No, I had not read this, and I am delighted that my supposition was wrong.
Yes, I would like to see the court history to any case where 'not sounding the horn' in a nominal quiet zone led to an actual or threatened action at law...
I'm retired and out of the loop on court cases like this. I do more productive things these days, like contemplating my navel.
Seriously, though, if I were a railroad exec and my company was held liable for not blowing the horn for an "emergency" in a quiet zone, I would immediately instruct my operating crews to begin blowing horns at all crossings in the state, quiet zones or no. I was pretty heavily involved in the development of the FRA horn rule, and the "no duty to sound the horn" provision was designed to prevent a railroad from getting socked with greater liability in a quiet zone that it would have if it were routinely whistling. The FRA could force me to resume the quiet zones, but I doubt that they would if the state were imposing liability for failure to sound the horn in a quiet zone.
(If the crossing is that bad and has the statistics, the option to remove the QZ is there. Local political hacks and their rubber tired bubbas suddenly get religion when they discover this truth. A couple of local political hacks tried to lobby for that option to be removed along with some of the costlier mitigation requirements, gratefully with a poorly received response by FRA and the congressional surface transportation committee.)
With no crossing involved, but in a QZ, is it really necessary to routinely blow the horn twice to a train passing the opposite direction and then they return the signal? It ain't 1890, they do have radios.
charlie hebdoWith no crossing involved, but in a QZ, is it really necessary to routinely blow the horn twice to a train passing the opposite direction and then they return the signal? It ain't 1890, they do have radios.
Is it necessary to bent out of joint - QZ or not?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD charlie hebdo With no crossing involved, but in a QZ, is it really necessary to routinely blow the horn twice to a train passing the opposite direction and then they return the signal? It ain't 1890, they do have radios. Is it necessary to bent out of joint - QZ or not?
charlie hebdo With no crossing involved, but in a QZ, is it really necessary to routinely blow the horn twice to a train passing the opposite direction and then they return the signal? It ain't 1890, they do have radios.
Is it necessary for you to make snarky posts to everything you don't like? Or perhaps you don't really know the answer?
charlie hebdo BaltACD charlie hebdo With no crossing involved, but in a QZ, is it really necessary to routinely blow the horn twice to a train passing the opposite direction and then they return the signal? It ain't 1890, they do have radios. Is it necessary to bent out of joint - QZ or not? Is it necessary for you to make snarky posts to everything you don't like? Or perhaps you don't really know the answer?
Actually, in an urban setting, in multiple-track territory, it is a good idea to sound an audible warning to advise tresspassers when passing the rear of another train or equipment; it's even more important when approaching a grade crossing.
zardoz charlie hebdo BaltACD charlie hebdo With no crossing involved, but in a QZ, is it really necessary to routinely blow the horn twice to a train passing the opposite direction and then they return the signal? It ain't 1890, they do have radios. Is it necessary to bent out of joint - QZ or not? Is it necessary for you to make snarky posts to everything you don't like? Or perhaps you don't really know the answer? Actually, in an urban setting, in multiple-track territory, it is a good idea to sound an audible warning to advise tresspassers when passing the rear of another train or equipment; it's even more important when approaching a grade crossing.
It's required by rule in that situation.
Jeff
jeffhergert Zardoz: Actually, in an urban setting, in multiple-track territory, it is a good idea to sound an audible warning to advise tresspassers when passing the rear of another train or equipment; it's even more important when approaching a grade crossing. It's required by rule in that situation. Jeff
Zardoz: Actually, in an urban setting, in multiple-track territory, it is a good idea to sound an audible warning to advise tresspassers when passing the rear of another train or equipment; it's even more important when approaching a grade crossing.
Zardoz:
Thank you for a knowledgable response.
In the Chicago area, UP rules (and CNW rules before it) require the sounding of horns when passing the rear of another train (even though routine sounding of horns at grade crossings is not required at most crossings in commuter territory). The FRA horn rule effectively "grandfathers" no horn crossings in the Chicago area that existed before the FRA rule was adopted. There's some logic to that since there are so many trains and so many crossings on the major rail lines in the area beyond the elevated portions in the city that there would otherwise be a nearly constant din of horn blowing that would probably not be very effective.
charlie hebdoIt ain't 1890, they do have radios.
The horns in that situation aren't for the other train, as has been noted.
And they are required by rule under NORAC as well.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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