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Train Slams Into Truck - Indiana

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  • Member since
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  • From: Sterling Heights, Michigan
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Posted by SD60MAC9500 on Sunday, October 11, 2020 5:55 PM
 

charlie hebdo

It's revealing how some on here,  including a person experienced with crossings, have a knee-jerk reaction to blame the driver and then the IDOT without proof,  as though the railroad has zero responsibility.

 

CSX responsibility ends at maintaining the crossing. Not placing DOT signs to warn "professional drivers" who don't pay attetion to ground clearance.. Depending on landing gear condition some are just 4-6" above the pavement.. I will say this container chassis don't always get the best maintenance either..

 
 
Rahhhhhhhhh!!!!
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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Sunday, October 11, 2020 5:31 PM

I asked where the button was once... it was behind and under the counter in the convience store.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, October 11, 2020 4:44 PM

zugmann
PS. On one of the popular general picture/duiscussion sites, there was a video of a fire at a gas station.  Many people commenting had no clue many gas stations have emergency shut-off buttons.  I think sometimes we think what is common knowledge isn't so. 

Many, but not all self-serve gas stations I've been to have signs on the pumps informing customers of the emergency shut off buttons.

However, I haven't been to one yet that tells you where it is!  I have to look around to spot the damn things!  Not that I've needed one yet, thank God!

"Oh, there it is!"

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Posted by n012944 on Sunday, October 11, 2020 4:36 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

There may be blame to assign, but it seems not to the truck driver.......

 

 

If a driver can't tell that he will high center on that crossing, he does not need to be behind the wheel of something that large.  I don't want to share the road with him.

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:54 PM

And so, if the sign is gone, I renew my question.

Comparing the two photos, the google maps info is pretty old.......

And that power line has had a major upgrade since then.

Why is a highway sign on a utitly pole in the first place? That's not even legal here.

Why is the sign so low? In a location hard for the driver of a semi to see even if he is looking for it?

No truck driver making a right hand turn from the road parallel to the tracks and going toward that grade crossing had a prayer of seeing that sign even when it was there.

How about proper sized and height signs on all three directions of approach before that intersection?

There may be blame to assign, but it seems not to the truck driver.......

Sheldon

    

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:50 PM

Juniata Man
I have concluded the vast majority of drivers are completely unaware these signs are posted or what their purpose is.  Perhaps if the railroads could divert a bit of money away from the shareholders and run public service announcements on TV and radio, it might serve to increase people's awareness of these signs. At the very least, operators of commercial truck fleets should be sure to include this in their training and safety programs.

They need a catchy jingle. 

 

"Stuck on the tracks - what should you do?

Call the number on the sign that's blue!"

 

The signs do seem to blend in with all the other stuff tacked on to the xing gate poles (lights, bells, other signs, gate arm bracket thingies).  Maybe add a big exclamation point to the sign or something?  I dunno..

 

PS. On one of the popular general picture/duiscussion sites, there was a video of a fire at a gas station.  Many people commenting had no clue many gas stations have emergency shut-off buttons.  I think sometimes we think what is common knowledge isn't so. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:40 PM

It's revealing how some on here,  including a person experienced with crossings, have a knee-jerk reaction to blame the driver and then the IDOT without proof,  as though the railroad has zero responsibility.

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Posted by Juniata Man on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:36 PM

My conductor son had a close call with a stuck Dollar General truck two weeks ago. Fortunately, a city fireman who saw the truck was stuck on the crossing, phoned the ENS number and the dispatcher was able to contact my son and get his train stopped about 100 yards from the crossing. My son walked up to the crossing and questioned the driver who apparently had no idea those small blue signs are posted at every railroad crossing.

I have concluded the vast majority of drivers are completely unaware these signs are posted or what their purpose is.  Perhaps if the railroads could divert a bit of money away from the shareholders and run public service announcements on TV and radio, it might serve to increase people's awareness of these signs. At the very least, operators of commercial truck fleets should be sure to include this in their training and safety programs.

Curt

 

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Posted by York1 on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:34 PM

zugmann beat me to it.

If you enlarge the videos, it seems the yellow sign is not there (from what I could see, anyway).

York1 John       

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Posted by rdamon on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:32 PM

You are correct.  Looks like that pole was replaced.

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:27 PM

That yellow sign seems to be missing in the current videos, though.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by rdamon on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:26 PM

Clearly marked

 

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:01 PM

mudchicken

It's called an ENS Number.... The answer is yes. (my comment over in the DD&CS)

Heads ought to roll at InDOT... The trucker/drayman needs  to find new employment, hopefully never behind the wheel again.

 

Why is it the drivers fault that the highway/grade crossing was not built to accepted standards of vertical angles?

Was the grade crossing posted to this effect? Every trailer he hitches to is different in regard to landing gear clearance, which seems to have been the problem?

How long was he there before the train came? Even if notified did the train have time to stop?

Do we know that CSX was not called? 

All unanswered questions.

Sheldon

 

    

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, October 11, 2020 1:46 PM

Never mind.  Video made my point moot. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by rdamon on Sunday, October 11, 2020 1:41 PM

Everyone's phones were too busy being set up to record the video of the impact.  

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Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, October 11, 2020 1:40 PM

It's called an ENS Number.... The answer is yes. (my comment over in the DD&CS)

Heads ought to roll at InDOT... The trucker/drayman needs  to find new employment, hopefully never behind the wheel again.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, October 11, 2020 1:35 PM

Thankfully indeed  But didn't anyone think to call CSX to tell them there was a truck fouling that grade crossing?  Obviously not.

Correct me if I'm wrong please, but aren't there railroad phone numbers posted on the crossing gate boxes just for these kinds of situations?

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Train Slams Into Truck - Indiana
Posted by Goodtiming on Sunday, October 11, 2020 1:22 PM

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