Railroad concern for crossing safety

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouriLike I said the brain washing must start early on when the job starts.

I'm not a cop, or a railroader. Nor am I an employee of GE, Westinghouse, Microsoft, Enron, McDonald's, the CIA, the NSA or Martha Stewart, nor was I ever in the service of any government anywhere. Of course, I am Canadian, and therefore a socialist. Sue me. Now:

I understood "red means stop" the first time.

I learned to "stop, look and listen" when in doubt at a railroad crossing, since 1.5 tons of car loses to 7000 tons of train, every time.

So - who brainwashed me into thinking I'm responsible for my own actions? I blame the Masons. [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BentnoseWillie

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouriLike I said the brain washing must start early on when the job starts.

I'm not a cop, or a railroader. Nor am I an employee of GE, Westinghouse, Microsoft, Enron, McDonald's, the CIA, the NSA or Martha Stewart, nor was I ever in the service of any government anywhere. Of course, I am Canadian, and therefore a socialist. Sue me. Now:

I understood "red means stop" the first time.

I learned to "stop, look and listen" when in doubt at a railroad crossing, since 1.5 tons of car loses to 7000 tons of train, every time.

So - who brainwashed me into thinking I'm responsible for my own actions? I blame the Masons. [:)]

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/ProgMgt/Grants/Sight_Eng.pdf Here before you get yourself and others killed brainiac LOOK this far. Now a very fart smellar like yourself would know to turn the crossing in as sight obstructed wouldn't you. Use 911 because whenever someone is killed the record of the call will never be found to the railroad.

[JoeKoh]

No Mr.Pines it is you yes you who is giong to get someone killed if they believe what you write in your posts.
joe

[Anonymous]

C'mon Missouri. Why won't you reply to a broad hitting the side of a train? You won't touch that one will ya? You can't misplace blame on that one, so you won't even respond. You have shown your true colors! Thank you. My job here is done.
Ken (i've got my dress on)

[Anonymous]

Hey missouri i lost what you were trying to prove amongst your stupidity..

Now are you telling me to call the POLICE i.e 911.. when a crossing is sight obstructed.. that goes to show you have jack all to do! i'm so busy.. all i have time to do.. is what every living breathing human should be doing.. and that is.. LOOK LISTEN and LIVE... yeah i manage to fit that in ALL the time..

thats like saying.. if you see The asphault in front of your house start to crack.. call 911 immediately that way the town engineer can't worm his way out of not doing it because it will have been recorded.

you really are dumb! like humpty frekin Dumpty!

[ironhorseman]

Wouldn’t an obstructed view of the tracks near the crossing give you cause to slow down, missouri? Oh, I forgot, it’s your God-given-Constitutional right to speed through a RR Xing.

Oh, by the way, in case you couldn’t tell, I was being sarcastic.

That missouri reminds me of the Arby’s ovenmitt (mmmm....Arby's): “I DON’T HAVE EEEEAAARRRS!” He doesn’t listen to what anybody says.

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[
Like I said the brainwashing starts early on in employment. You ever figure the LIGHTS were not big enough or bright enough. Where was the sun? Where was the sunvisor? What other vehicles were around.

What column on your accident report has sight obstructions or this vehicle folded like a acordian because it was made out of plastic. None to protet the city, county and the auto manufacturers. Like grannie always said "Many look and few see".

Sounds like the "idiots" need to have somebody else on THEIR payroll. Not some numbskull Barnie Fife.

Sun was coming from the left and slightly behind the driver. Sunvisor wasn't needed because sun was behind driver. The lights were evidently as big and bright as they needed to be. That intersection has approximately 1000 cars a day pass thru it. The last accident before this one was a little over four months ago. Let's see, thats about 120daysx1000 cars= 120000 people who didn't have a problem with the lights. Matter of fact the driver traveling in the lane beside the lady and the driver behind her didn't have a problem seeing the light and stopping. Sight line obstructions are noted on the accident scene sketch and in the narrative of the accident report. What exactly does sight lines have to do with this accident anyway? The light was red. By law she must stop, regardless of whether or not anything is coming.

I've actually had courses on accident scene investigation. Have you?

As for the Barnie Fife comment, you can call me all the names you want. You can come here and preach, and rant and rave all you want about trying to save lives. The problem is that is all you do. I go out there everyday and risk my life actually saving lives. I've took drunk drivers off the roads, stopped reckless drivers, burglars, muggers, arrested child abusers, drug dealers, and murderers on the run. I given emergency medical care to accident victims, given talks to groups about crime prevention and safety, and have done so many other things in my law enforcement career. At the end of the day, I can say I actually made a difference. Can you?

Derrick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[
Like I said the brainwashing starts early on in employment. You ever figure the LIGHTS were not big enough or bright enough. Where was the sun? Where was the sunvisor? What other vehicles were around.

What column on your accident report has sight obstructions or this vehicle folded like a acordian because it was made out of plastic. None to protet the city, county and the auto manufacturers. Like grannie always said "Many look and few see".

Sounds like the "idiots" need to have somebody else on THEIR payroll. Not some numbskull Barnie Fife.

Sun was coming from the left and slightly behind the driver. Sunvisor wasn't needed because sun was behind driver. The lights were evidently as big and bright as they needed to be. That intersection has approximately 1000 cars a day pass thru it. The last accident before this one was a little over four months ago. Let's see, thats about 120daysx1000 cars= 120000 people who didn't have a problem with the lights. Matter of fact the driver traveling in the lane beside the lady and the driver behind her didn't have a problem seeing the light and stopping. Sight line obstructions are noted on the accident scene sketch and in the narrative of the accident report. What exactly does sight lines have to do with this accident anyway? The light was red. By law she must stop, regardless of whether or not anything is coming.

I've actually had courses on accident scene investigation. Have you?

As for the Barnie Fife comment, you can call me all the names you want. You can come here and preach, and rant and rave all you want about trying to save lives. The problem is that is all you do. I go out there everyday and risk my life actually saving lives. I've took drunk drivers off the roads, stopped reckless drivers, burglars, muggers, arrested child abusers, drug dealers, and murderers on the run. I given emergency medical care to accident victims, given talks to groups about crime prevention and safety, and have done so many other things in my law enforcement career. At the end of the day, I can say I actually made a difference. Can you?

Derrick

What size were the roundells? Where they aligned correctly? Come on give me a AAR/DOT crossing number or St., city, state and I can tell you exactly what you missed.

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
What size were the roundells? Where they aligned correctly? Come on give me a AAR/DOT crossing number or St., city, state and I can tell you exactly what you missed.

AAR/DOT crossing number? This incident was at a traffic intersection, not a rail crossing. How are you going to tell me what I missed anyway? Are you going to come down to North Carolina and look at the intersection?

[dekemd]

Forgot to put this in the other post.

The lights were standard traffic lights aimed down a straight road. Like I said before the other approx 120000 people didn't have a problem. For that matter, how many times a day does someone cross railroad tracks in the US? 5 million? 6 million? Using your 3 death a day figure, that works out to 1 death in 2 million. While tragic, that's not exactly a crisis.

Derrick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

Forgot to put this in the other post.

The lights were standard traffic lights aimed down a straight road. Like I said before the other approx 120000 people didn't have a problem. For that matter, how many times a day does someone cross railroad tracks in the US? 5 million? 6 million? Using your 3 death a day figure, that works out to 1 death in 2 million. While tragic, that's not exactly a crisis.

Derrick

It works out that trains kill 75 people to normal drivers 1 per miles traveled.

Like I said are they big enough bright enough? 2 collisions in four months means something is wrong. You gonna get the problem fixed or hastle the drivers paying your wages? Where was the box truck? Does model car have blind spots with the window posts mirrors etc..., was there sun reflections off something? Was the cross traffic whistling???

[JoeKoh]

yeah something is wrong alright.just read my signature
joe

[Anonymous]

Missouri, what rock did you crawl out from under? You are a warped individual without doubt. You'll find in virtually all train/vehicle collisions that the motor vehicle had the last clear chance to avoid the collision and for the most part violated the law in causing the collision in the first place. All of the technical mumbo jumbo you prattle on about is just a lame attempt to rationalize your argument...

LC

[Anonymous]

Still havn't responded to my question Missouri. You know, its the one about the woman who hit the side of a train. Are ya scared?
Ken

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

Still havn't responded to my question Missouri. You know, its the one about the woman who hit the side of a train. Are ya scared?
Ken

February 16, 1999
FRARWS
Docket Clerk
DOT Central Docket Management System
U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Room PL 40 1
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590-000 1
Re: Rail Car Conspicuity: Docket No. FRA - 1999-66894 8
Dear Sir or Madam:
Backeround- On March 14, 1998 at 11:25 PM a westbound BNSF Railroad f-i-eight
train was parked in the siding at Wheelock, ND, while an eastbound freight train passed on the
main line. County road crossing #5 is approximately 300 to 400 feet west of the switch and the
west end of the lead locomotive parked on the siding at Wheelock. The condition were as
follows, night, fresh snow had fallen earlier that day, and a light wind was blowing. The crew
members of the westbound freight had climbed down from the engine to inspect the eastbound
train as it passed by on the adjacent main line track at an approximate speed of 35 mph. The
crossing was protected with newly install cross bucks only, no electrical lighting was provided.
The cross bucks were the new style, reflectorized on both sides, as to reflect whether coming
from the front or rear of the crossing. Advance railroad signs were also in place.
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -2- February 16,200O
A vehicle, carrying five young adults was traveling south at a go-degree angle to the main
track. The eastbound freight train traveling at approximately 35 mph had crossed the road
crossing prior to the arrival of the vehicle, so part of the 30 empty flat cars were spaced on each
side of the crossing and moving slowly in an easterly direction. Enough of the train had passed
the crossing to see the locomotive from the road crossing. The wind was blowing and snow was
being moved around by the wind along with the movement of the train. As the vehicle
approached the crossing, it was viewed by the crew members of the train parked on the siding. A
statement was given by one of the crew members, saying “if they don’t hit the brakes pretty soon,
they are going to hit the train”. My daughter, died the next day. Three others perished at the
scene, and by the grace of God, one of the young adults has recovered.
I have been a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), a
railroad labor union, for almost 22 years and have operated on track equipment for almost 20
years. The night of the accident, when my wife and I got to the hospital, we were met by the
Sheriffs’ department employees. When I had time to speak with them, I asked what happened.
He said. They hit a train at the Wheelock crossing. It had about 30 empty flat cars in the middle
of the train. My immediate response was quote: Thev didn’t see the train!
If you are familiar with a freight train, imagine a pair of reflectorized cross bucks, one on
the approaching side of the railroad tracks to the right of the road, and another on the opposite
side of the railroad tracks, as viewed by a car approaching from the opposite direction, yet both
sides are illuminated by the headlights as you approach the railroad tracks from either direction.
Now imagine 30 empty railroad flat cars about four feet of the ground going by with snow
blowing around them. Did you get the picture? You see two sets of cross bucks, yet nothing on
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -3- February 16,200O
the moving train is breaking the view, because the empty flat cars are too low to the ground to
break the illumination. If you look to the left you would have more than likely see a headlight of a
parked train, and being familiar with the road, think he is sitting there waiting for a train.
They didn’t see the train!
Now picture that same train going by, only many times on the side of the empty flat cars,
are reflectorized stickers of some type. Guess what, my daughter would more than likely be alive
today, if those cars were reflectorized.
When the rescue people were working at the scene, some had left to transport victims to
the hospital, and when one of the units returned to the scene, one of the fireman said to the other
person in the vehicle, “well I see they got that train moved out of here finally”! The other one
responded, “no they didn’t it is still right there”! The people who had been to the scene of the
accident, left, and then returned and still had a hard time seeing the train.
Reflectorized rail cars would have probably saved four young adults lives that night. But
even more importantly, every time a reflectorized rail car passes over any crossing, whether the
crossing is a highly traveled route or only a barely traveled road, it would enhance the visibility of
the train and help prevent accidents.
Since the date of this accident, I run that night’s scenario through my mind as I travel
down the road. I think about what could have been different that night, and as I travel along
routes where railroad tracks parallel a major highway, it is very simple to envision the difference
reflectorized railcars could have made, versus non-reflectorized railcars. Even the slightest light
against the reflectorization shines so brightly. That slight flickering of the reflectorized material
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -4- February 16,200O
would have saved four lives on the night of March 14, 1998, and if it could have saved four lives
that night, how many thousand other lives could it save.
Human life seems to be of little value to corporate America when it is put up against
increased profits, stock holders share prices or whatever seems to be more important that day.
Our government has an obligation to protect its people. There are thousands of unprotected
crossings across America, and I understand that it is difficult to provide positive protection for
each one. Believe me, I was at a meeting in 1994 with the Railroads, Public Service Commission,
school officials, county and state officials. At that meeting we addressed the seriousness of the
Wheelock crossing and the road being a bus route for the rural school children. I stood up a the
end of that meeting and asked the group to closely evaluate the need for cross arm and lighted
protection at that crossing. I made a statement at that time that I have to look back at once in a
while and wonder. I said, “ I’m sure someone does not have to get killed before someone does
something.”
Each piece of equipment and rolling stock should be reflectorized to assure that, at each
road crossing that it crosses, the best available option is there to increase rail trtic visibility and
grade crossing safety for the public of this country, no matter where it might be.
Who could question the value of reflectorizing? Surely not the Corporations who would
like to cut down on crossing accidents, surely not individuals who travel the unprotected routes
each day, or the school bus drivers, or the police, or rural mail carriers, or the emergency
personnel that need to respond to the fatalities that occur at the crossings, and surely not the
Mom and Dad who’s daughter’s life was given.
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -5- February 16,200O
For all the citizen’s of this great country, Mandate the reflectoriziw of all on-track
eauinment and rolling stock!

[Anonymous]

Just as I thought. Only a fillibuster! A bunch of reprinted crap. Good one Missouri. Very impressive.
Ken

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[t works out that trains kill 75 people to normal drivers 1 per miles traveled.

Like I said are they big enough bright enough? 2 collisions in four months means something is wrong. You gonna get the problem fixed or hastle the drivers paying your wages? Where was the box truck? Does model car have blind spots with the window posts mirrors etc..., was there sun reflections off something? Was the cross traffic whistling???

Like I said, they were big enough and bright enough for the approx 120000 others before. They were big and bright enough for me. 2 collisions in four months is not a problem. There's an intersection in Charlotte that averages 2 per DAY. Now that's a problem. If you think ticketing a driver for running a red light is hassling them, then yes I'm going to hassle them. The truck was coming down the cross street from the right. The car or any car for that matter does not have window posts or mirrors or anything else right in front of the driver. The stop light was straight ahead. All the woman had to do was look forward to see the light. The driver nor any witnesses stated anything about the sun reflecting off any objects. Cross traffic was not whistling because it doesn't have to.

She didn't see the red light because she was looking down at her cell phone per her own statement. She was at fault. What is it about that do you not understand?

[edblysard]

Your right, Bobby, brainwashing does start ealry. In fact, the earlier the better.
So, is being a paranoid schizophrenic a hobby you learned from both your parents, or just something only momma taught you?
Ed

[dekemd]

Reflective tape sounds like a good idea, and it may actually help a little, but it does have it's problems. Particularly in bad weather. For them to be seen the light from car headlights must reach them and reflect back to the car. In poor weather the light from the headlights is reduced going to the reflectors and then reduced again on the way back. A set of flashing red lights at the crossing would stand out more to an approaching car.

I could also see a problem with optical illusions with the reflective tape. A moving string of flats like the incident cited would have a steady row of reflective tape all at roughly the same height. A driver looking at that would likely see just a stripe hanging in midair and not realize there is a solid object behind it until it's too late.

But I do have to admit, it is an idea. Looking at the economics of it though, with the sheer number of rail cars in the nations, it might be cheaper to outfit all crossings with flashings lights and gates. If someone else wants to run the numbers have at.

Derrick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[t works out that trains kill 75 people to normal drivers 1 per miles traveled.

Like I said are they big enough bright enough? 2 collisions in four months means something is wrong. You gonna get the problem fixed or hastle the drivers paying your wages? Where was the box truck? Does model car have blind spots with the window posts mirrors etc..., was there sun reflections off something? Was the cross traffic whistling???

Like I said, they were big enough and bright enough for the approx 120000 others before. They were big and bright enough for me. 2 collisions in four months is not a problem. There's an intersection in Charlotte that averages 2 per DAY. Now that's a problem. If you think ticketing a driver for running a red light is hassling them, then yes I'm going to hassle them. The truck was coming down the cross street from the right. The car or any car for that matter does not have window posts or mirrors or anything else right in front of the driver. The stop light was straight ahead. All the woman had to do was look forward to see the light. The driver nor any witnesses stated anything about the sun reflecting off any objects. Cross traffic was not whistling because it doesn't have to.

She didn't see the red light because she was looking down at her cell phone per her own statement. She was at fault. What is it about that do you not understand?

So your saying a cop useing a police radio while driveing is breaking the law?
About the first rule in the MUTCD is that the traffic control device has to DEMAND attention. Apparently it didn't do its job and maybe some advance flashing red lights should be installed. Light the area up like a Christmas tree if need be. No wonder 42,000 people were killed last year on the highways.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

Reflective tape sounds like a good idea, and it may actually help a little, but it does have it's problems. Particularly in bad weather. For them to be seen the light from car headlights must reach them and reflect back to the car. In poor weather the light from the headlights is reduced going to the reflectors and then reduced again on the way back. A set of flashing red lights at the crossing would stand out more to an approaching car.

I could also see a problem with optical illusions with the reflective tape. A moving string of flats like the incident cited would have a steady row of reflective tape all at roughly the same height. A driver looking at that would likely see just a stripe hanging in midair and not realize there is a solid object behind it until it's too late.

But I do have to admit, it is an idea. Looking at the economics of it though, with the sheer number of rail cars in the nations, it might be cheaper to outfit all crossings with flashings lights and gates. If someone else wants to run the numbers have at.

Derrick

So I'll notify all the trucking companies and have them remove the reflectors off the side of their trucks. All they have to do is have spot lights pointed backwards.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

Missouri, what rock did you crawl out from under? You are a warped individual without doubt. You'll find in virtually all train/vehicle collisions that the motor vehicle had the last clear chance to avoid the collision and for the most part violated the law in causing the collision in the first place. All of the technical mumbo jumbo you prattle on about is just a lame attempt to rationalize your argument...

LC

until 3 years later when the real story that railroad greed over safety equipment comes out and the REAL jury deems the terrible driver was "TRAPPED"!

[Anonymous]

Missouri, were you sexually assaulted as a young boy? You exhibit all of the signs! You poor thing. It is O.K. missouri, it wasn't your fault! You come across as a female, maybe you are a cross dresser. That's O.K. buddy, all of your friends on this forum still love you. Even if you are a lipstick wearing sissy. We would like to back you in your crusade to end all RR tragedies single handedly. Roar sister roar! Keep up the good work. And stay strong little girl.
Ken

[Anonymous]

There was 2 teens kill last year on the outskirts of town. They where on the way to school . So what hapened? It turns out they smacked the side of a tractor tralier. It had the stripe & the semi had its lights on. The fog was so thick they could see the truck (less alone there own hood). Not to far from there another 2 teens where killed at an RR Xing...NOT the RR fault, or even the that drivers fault. There BEST FRIEND in the car behind them was not paying attention RAMMED the first car into the side of the freight train. Ironicly within the same month there was a firery inferno. 65 car pileup killing 15-20 people in the rush hour comute. People started to slow down because a car was stranded on the energency lane. The kept getting rear ended because no one could see anyhing but the taillights of the cars 10 ft. infront of them.[:(]


(Mo and any other delusional posters) Please stop using your ploys joking about RRs & trucking companies. Not only are they sick, there is a real human side with real human losses to them. Using this fourm to gripe about your own personal problems will not help you or anyone else! People need to be more alert while driving, if they do not someones going to pay the ultimate price![}:)]

P.S. Mo have you ever driven anything bigger then that H2 Hummer (you got after all these lawsuits you post about) in "real" traffic, or ever rode on a train? I can tell not. If you have you would have stoped you frivliouls post months ago! Please keep the arm chair coaching for football not trying to tell us how to do our jobs.

[?] Rember look both ways before you cross ANYTHING. It was the first thing EVERYONE learned when crossing a street in GRADE SCHOOL.[?]

Hell I've almost hit by many things/people because they did not pay attention. I had one lady pull out and turn right infront of me. So? She had a red light, crossed the interscetion (from my left) she turned left (In to the fast lane I was in). Heres the funny part When she saw that a full size white van was laying on the horn, I still had my bright lights on......she hit the brakes......not minding that this was 1/2 a block down from the corner! She fliped me off!!!! It was My fault that she ran a red light, and I still had my brights on honking the horn. Jeez Im surrounded by Idiots![xx(]

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/ProgMgt/Grants/Sight_Eng.pdf Here before you get yourself and others killed brainiac LOOK this far. Now a very fart smellar like yourself would know to turn the crossing in as sight obstructed wouldn't you. Use 911 because whenever someone is killed the record of the call will never be found to the railroad.

If I could find a point in that stream of gibberish, I'd answer it. Something about me getting people killed by taking the safe course of action?

I don't think Missouri's all there...

[wabash1]

For once missouri posted the truth. yes that accident occured and yes if the cars would have been reflectorized they would have been seen. of course this accident would have been prevented also if the driver and others in the car would have been sober also. How did you miss that part on your cut and paste missouri. I know you wont answer this .I dont exspect you to answer. the only thing i do exspect from you is more made up post .

[oltmannd]

Reflectorizing cars is not as simple as is sounds. First, the tape has to be applied before the car is painted so that it will be edge-sealed. Otherwise, it will delaminate and fall off within a year's time. Second, it would have to be cleaned to remove the accumulated road dirt. Unlike locos, cars are never washed and pressure washing risks water contimination of bearings. Washing also requires proper treatment of waste water and RRs do not have facilities to wash equipment other than loco shops. Third, cars may not get painted for 20 or 30 years (just look at all those incentive perdiem box cars wandering around in their original paint from the 70s) whereas locomotives get painted at least every 10 years.

If you put reflector tape on and then fail to maintain and clean it, then you are opening yourself up to lawsuits when somebody drives into the side of that car.

The REAL solution to crossing safety would be to use gas tax money for overpasses, but that is not a practical or political priority. Other safety projects are more worthy.

Also, crossing safety should truly belong to the highway dept. It was foisted off on the RRs back in the good old days when they were flush with money and the target of anti-trust. Now the RRs dpn't make enough money to maintain the status-quo, much less do more. If crossing safety is a national or local priority, then let the gov't at any level belly up to the bar.

But if you want to know what I REALLY think.....

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd

Reflectorizing cars is not as simple as is sounds. First, the tape has to be applied before the car is painted so that it will be edge-sealed. Otherwise, it will delaminate and fall off within a year's time. Second, it would have to be cleaned to remove the accumulated road dirt. Unlike locos, cars are never washed and pressure washing risks water contimination of bearings. Washing also requires proper treatment of waste water and RRs do not have facilities to wash equipment other than loco shops. Third, cars may not get painted for 20 or 30 years (just look at all those incentive perdiem box cars wandering around in their original paint from the 70s) whereas locomotives get painted at least every 10 years.

If you put reflector tape on and then fail to maintain and clean it, then you are opening yourself up to lawsuits when somebody drives into the side of that car.

The REAL solution to crossing safety would be to use gas tax money for overpasses, but that is not a practical or political priority. Other safety projects are more worthy.

Also, crossing safety should truly belong to the highway dept. It was foisted off on the RRs back in the good old days when they were flush with money and the target of anti-trust. Now the RRs dpn't make enough money to maintain the status-quo, much less do more. If crossing safety is a national or local priority, then let the gov't at any level belly up to the bar.

But if you want to know what I REALLY think.....

I look at it as the railroads either do it or go to jail for negligient homicide like any other business owner. It's their trains. Like these politicans who didn't do their jobs to start with standing around getting medals for getting the kids killed to start with. Then the low life railroads comeing in and chargeing 1/4 a million when the gates can be bought for 40K all day long.

On Sept. 11, 1999, 16-year-old Megan Hicks lost her life when the pickup truck she was riding in hit a stopped train at the County Road 1300 North railroad crossing near Alexandria.

Almost four years later, friends and family have reached their goal to help prevent this from happening to others.

Megan's loved ones worked together for three years to make the dangerous crossing safer for drivers by getting the Indiana Department of Transportation to install dusk-till-dawn street lights as well as railroad cross bars, guards and lights. They named their project Megan's Light and dedicated it to Megan's memory Thursday evening.

"We needed to turn our anger into constructive energy," said Brenda Jackson, the mother of one of Megan's friends. "We wanted to prevent an accident from happening again."

Jackson explained that many rural crossings are unlighted and unmarked because of the low flow of traffic in the areas. If a train is crossing, or is stopped on the tracks there is nothing around to inform drivers of the upcoming obstacle.

"The combination of dark tracks and stopped trains is like an illusion," she said. "That's why they hit the train."

After Megan's death, a group of 12 family members and high school friends decided to do something about the dangerous crossing.

"All these young kids stayed with me and worked on this for two years ... out of their love to Megan," said Jackson. "They wanted to make a difference."

To accompli***his feat they joined forces with U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, former U.S. Rep. David McIntosh, state Rep. Eric Turner and state Sen. David Ford, as well as with county and state officials and the community of Alexandria.

McIntosh, who spoke at the dedication, said he worked with Congress to help increase the safety at this railroad crossing and others.

"I thought, here's a group that's honoring a loved one they lost," he said. "If I could help, I wanted to do it."

Turner also spoke at the dedication and said that he first got involved with the project when he attended a public meeting. There were several hundred people and what struck him was that they were mostly students.

"They had many ideas of what could be done to put up the gates. The students said they would raise the money, so I said I would help them," Turner said, explaining that they raised $5,000. "I saw the wisdom in it. I think it is a terrific indicator of how the government can work for the community."

At the dedication, community members gathered to pray and honor Megan and her lights.

"Our vision is to never let her lights go out, that they will always be burning to save lives at railroad crossings," said Jackson. "We hope that other counties will consider lighting dusk-till-dawn lights too."

Jackson explained that it would be more convenient to put up these street lights because they are less expensive than cross-arms and guides; therefore, the money could be spread to more crossings. Dusk-till-dawn lights cost $3,000, while cross-arms and guards cost $250,000, she said.

The group will be moving Megan's Light to the County Road 900 North railroad crossing as well, another darkened area, and hopes to go on from there. They have also placed 27 stop signs at rural crossings in Madison County.

"It's great to see everyone still supporting Megan's Light," said Tiffany Pierce, 20, one of Megan's sisters. "It is a very dangerous crossing. There have been many close calls."

Michelle Hicks, 28, another of Megan's sisters, believes that the time they put into their project was worthwhile.

"We pushed for so long. It is something good that came out of something negative," she said. "Hopefully sometime we'll get to (Washington) D.C. It's our goal to do something federally to make everyone aware of these crossings."

[Anonymous]

=====Accident 6 ===== RR report 099126 ===== Crossing ID 539658D =====

On Sep 11, 1999 a FREIGHT TRAIN operated by Norfolk Southern Corp. [NS ] was hit by a PICKUP TRUCK at approximately 10:
12PM in Indiana in MADISON county on CO 80 (1300 NORTH) road. The incident occurred in/near ALEXANDRIA city. The rail
equipment was reported to have been traveling at ? Mph with 3 locomotive(s) and 81 cars(s). The PICKUP TRUCK had be
en traveling in a westernly direction at 058 Mph.

The railroad was operating on main line track over a public road crossing. The PICKUP TRUCK hit the 076 locomotive or r
ail car on the crossing. It was clear, at night and the temperature was 52. There were 2 death(s) and 0 injured in
this incident and a Railroad Injury/Illness Report (form FRA-55a) was also filed. The 16 year old male driver was movin
g on the crossing and was reported to have not stopped. There were 2 occupant(s) in the vehicle. The view of the tra
ck was not obstructed. Hazardous material was not being transported by rail or highway vehicle.

The crossing was protected by:
Crossbucks

[eolafan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri

QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

For those of you who may watch professional wrestling (I do with my young son once in a while), you may have seen a character who goes by the name of "Hurricane" who is supposed to be a sort of super-hero (aka crusader), and is really a pathetic little dweeb ina stupid costumer who gets the C_ _ P beat out of him all the time because he really is not good and has no real talent....REMINDS ME OF OUR FRIEND MISSOURI...How about you guys?

I don't watch it because it is so fake. Kinda like Operation Lifesaver, railroads, and the railroaders who say they care---Well take three days off together and do something.

Let me know when your comeing and I'll bake a cake.