STAY OFF THE TRACKS

[Puckdropper]

I have come across malfuncitoning road signals before. I stop completely, with windows down, and if there's no gates and I'm 100% positive it's safe, proceed. I believe that's how you're supposed to do it by law...

One other suggestion...crack your windows a little before the crossing. You may hear a train that you wouldn't normally hear. (I went back to watch one that was about 1 mi away when I went over the crossing)

[Puckdropper]

I have come across malfuncitoning road signals before. I stop completely, with windows down, and if there's no gates and I'm 100% positive it's safe, proceed. I believe that's how you're supposed to do it by law...

One other suggestion...crack your windows a little before the crossing. You may hear a train that you wouldn't normally hear. (I went back to watch one that was about 1 mi away when I went over the crossing)

[David3]

I really hate those idiots who go around the gates after the end of a train goes by and they don't go up right away..... But HELLO that mostly means there is another train coming, man I hate those people!!! [:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]

[David3]

I really hate those idiots who go around the gates after the end of a train goes by and they don't go up right away..... But HELLO that mostly means there is another train coming, man I hate those people!!! [:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]

[Anonymous]

Ok, we were debating on a 100ft rule earlier in the other thread. I always thought that we had a 100ft rule in AK... But i just noticed- this road I live by is like 10 ft off the side of the railroad! People walk their dogs there in the morning.
(Star #2! [:D])

[Anonymous]

Ok, we were debating on a 100ft rule earlier in the other thread. I always thought that we had a 100ft rule in AK... But i just noticed- this road I live by is like 10 ft off the side of the railroad! People walk their dogs there in the morning.
(Star #2! [:D])

[Anonymous]

Alex CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND STAR. [:)] I wish I could shake your hand. Instead I will email you some train and airplane pics. It may be several days so don't hold your breath.

[Anonymous]

Alex CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND STAR. [:)] I wish I could shake your hand. Instead I will email you some train and airplane pics. It may be several days so don't hold your breath.

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Alex CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND STAR. [:)] I wish I could shake your hand. Instead I will email you some train and airplane pics. It may be several days so don't hold your breath.

way to go alex.He has to go through the pictures I'm sending him Hee hee hee.
stay safe[:D]
joe

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Alex CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND STAR. [:)] I wish I could shake your hand. Instead I will email you some train and airplane pics. It may be several days so don't hold your breath.

way to go alex.He has to go through the pictures I'm sending him Hee hee hee.
stay safe[:D]
joe

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by southernfastmail

Earlier this year I was driving up Pacific Coast Highway, near Long Beach, when I came to a crossing. The gates were down, red lights were flashing and bells were ringing as a slow-moving BNSF freight advanced.

I could not believe my eyes as cars stopped in both directions on PCH suddenly started flying around the lowered gates! This was not one or two cars; it was the MAJORITY of the vehicles that had been stopped. I must have seen 12 or more vehicles go around the gates--not only endangering themselves by driving in front of an oncoming train, but also putting themselves at risk of collisions with cars going around the gates the *other* way. I wish I had a video camera to document this "stampede." I have never seen anything like it!

Welcome to MY world! I see this boneheaded behavior all the time. From San Diego to Santa Barbara, and it just confirms something I've always believed...

PEOPLE ARE STUPID!!!!! maybe its just me but I firmly believe there is a surplus of idiots in SoCal. I have lived here all my life and I cant believe how stupidly people are driving here in the last 10 years. I think it has to do with the fact that thier had been a steady decline for years in freight trains around LA so people got desensitized to their presents, either that or they are coming to LA fro places that didnt have any train service so they've never seen a train before.

Now that frieght and commuter trains are a lot more common in the last 10 years, they just dont know how to behave around them. I see people stop on the tracks at street signals all the time, go around gates, walking/jogging/sitting on the ROW, and just plain ignoring the trains when they do go by. I am convinced the pee-brains that drive out here think of a 1/2 mile long zillion pound train as just a "big bus" that "will stop for ME because I drive a Ford Exploder and that makes ME Special"

Yeah, "special" all right, like who let these people off the "short bus" in school and gave them a driving license?

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by southernfastmail

Earlier this year I was driving up Pacific Coast Highway, near Long Beach, when I came to a crossing. The gates were down, red lights were flashing and bells were ringing as a slow-moving BNSF freight advanced.

I could not believe my eyes as cars stopped in both directions on PCH suddenly started flying around the lowered gates! This was not one or two cars; it was the MAJORITY of the vehicles that had been stopped. I must have seen 12 or more vehicles go around the gates--not only endangering themselves by driving in front of an oncoming train, but also putting themselves at risk of collisions with cars going around the gates the *other* way. I wish I had a video camera to document this "stampede." I have never seen anything like it!

Welcome to MY world! I see this boneheaded behavior all the time. From San Diego to Santa Barbara, and it just confirms something I've always believed...

PEOPLE ARE STUPID!!!!! maybe its just me but I firmly believe there is a surplus of idiots in SoCal. I have lived here all my life and I cant believe how stupidly people are driving here in the last 10 years. I think it has to do with the fact that thier had been a steady decline for years in freight trains around LA so people got desensitized to their presents, either that or they are coming to LA fro places that didnt have any train service so they've never seen a train before.

Now that frieght and commuter trains are a lot more common in the last 10 years, they just dont know how to behave around them. I see people stop on the tracks at street signals all the time, go around gates, walking/jogging/sitting on the ROW, and just plain ignoring the trains when they do go by. I am convinced the pee-brains that drive out here think of a 1/2 mile long zillion pound train as just a "big bus" that "will stop for ME because I drive a Ford Exploder and that makes ME Special"

Yeah, "special" all right, like who let these people off the "short bus" in school and gave them a driving license?

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean about the drivers out here! Just as I think I have seen it all, some idiot does something even MORE stupid and MORE dangerous than anything else I have ever seen.

As far as crossing safety goes, every time I drive to the San Diego airport, or around downtown S.D. I see cars either blocking or parked too close to the AMTRAK/Coaster/SD Trolley tracks. And of course there are frequent news items pertaining to joggers and trespassers being hit by passenger trains.

The mad stampede around the lowered crossing gates on P.C. H. was the first time I have seen drivers seized by a "herd mentality." If that BNSF freight had been moving just a little faster, it would have resulted in a disaster of unbelievable magnitude.

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean about the drivers out here! Just as I think I have seen it all, some idiot does something even MORE stupid and MORE dangerous than anything else I have ever seen.

As far as crossing safety goes, every time I drive to the San Diego airport, or around downtown S.D. I see cars either blocking or parked too close to the AMTRAK/Coaster/SD Trolley tracks. And of course there are frequent news items pertaining to joggers and trespassers being hit by passenger trains.

The mad stampede around the lowered crossing gates on P.C. H. was the first time I have seen drivers seized by a "herd mentality." If that BNSF freight had been moving just a little faster, it would have resulted in a disaster of unbelievable magnitude.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Alex CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND STAR. [:)] I wish I could shake your hand. Instead I will email you some train and airplane pics. It may be several days so don't hold your breath.

way to go alex.He has to go through the pictures I'm sending him Hee hee hee.
stay safe[:D]
joe

Joekoh thanks for the pics. [8D] Send all you want. [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Alex CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND STAR. [:)] I wish I could shake your hand. Instead I will email you some train and airplane pics. It may be several days so don't hold your breath.

way to go alex.He has to go through the pictures I'm sending him Hee hee hee.
stay safe[:D]
joe

Joekoh thanks for the pics. [8D] Send all you want. [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by skydome

i was a road brakeman with 31yrs and i was very fortunate that on many freight trains i have ridden none have ever hit a pedestrian.or tresspassers, the american public has gotten the idea that people are first and trains last ,they have this idea that they expect a train to stopo on a dime like cars but it does'nt work that way. it takes a train traveling at 55mph with a heavy train about 2to3 miles to stop by then it would be to late and messy.so the state or our congressman should pass a law that when you go for your drivers test.they should take a course on rail safety, if you do not take the test you will not be ablt to get your drivers license,thank you

[8)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by skydome

i was a road brakeman with 31yrs and i was very fortunate that on many freight trains i have ridden none have ever hit a pedestrian.or tresspassers, the american public has gotten the idea that people are first and trains last ,they have this idea that they expect a train to stopo on a dime like cars but it does'nt work that way. it takes a train traveling at 55mph with a heavy train about 2to3 miles to stop by then it would be to late and messy.so the state or our congressman should pass a law that when you go for your drivers test.they should take a course on rail safety, if you do not take the test you will not be ablt to get your drivers license,thank you

[8)]

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by skydome

so the state or our congressman should pass a law that when you go for your drivers test.they should take a course on rail safety, if you do not take the test you will not be ablt to get your drivers license,thank you

I agree with this...when I was a teenager I lived in an area with very few crossings, and the few that there were always had lights, and usually gates. This is where I learned to drive.

Occasionally, on a long drive away from the area where I lived, I would encounter a crossing with a sign only. I never used to stop or even slow down! Yes, I know now that I was an absolute idiot, or at least behaving like one, and I am glad luck was with me and I'm still here to tell about it. I now live in an area where there are a lot of this type of crossing and I always stop.

I guess I used to assume that crossings without lights were on tracks that were no longer in use. If I still believed that, I would be in trouble -- we are moving soon to a house that is next to a NS main line and there're a couple sign-only crossings nearby. There are literally dozens of fast moving trains a day through there. [:0]

In the driver's manual here there's only one or two paragraphs devoted to railroad crossings, and of course your average 16 year old is only concerned with knowing enough of what's in the manual to get his or her license. I don't remember the topic even being mentioned in the driver's ed course I took through my high school...it was over ten years ago, but I'm pretty certain there was at least no emphasis on it.

--Nora

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by skydome

so the state or our congressman should pass a law that when you go for your drivers test.they should take a course on rail safety, if you do not take the test you will not be ablt to get your drivers license,thank you

I agree with this...when I was a teenager I lived in an area with very few crossings, and the few that there were always had lights, and usually gates. This is where I learned to drive.

Occasionally, on a long drive away from the area where I lived, I would encounter a crossing with a sign only. I never used to stop or even slow down! Yes, I know now that I was an absolute idiot, or at least behaving like one, and I am glad luck was with me and I'm still here to tell about it. I now live in an area where there are a lot of this type of crossing and I always stop.

I guess I used to assume that crossings without lights were on tracks that were no longer in use. If I still believed that, I would be in trouble -- we are moving soon to a house that is next to a NS main line and there're a couple sign-only crossings nearby. There are literally dozens of fast moving trains a day through there. [:0]

In the driver's manual here there's only one or two paragraphs devoted to railroad crossings, and of course your average 16 year old is only concerned with knowing enough of what's in the manual to get his or her license. I don't remember the topic even being mentioned in the driver's ed course I took through my high school...it was over ten years ago, but I'm pretty certain there was at least no emphasis on it.

--Nora

[Train Guy 3]

If im not wrong messing with trains, track , or any railroad property is a fedral offense, someone tell me if im wrong.

[Train Guy 3]

If im not wrong messing with trains, track , or any railroad property is a fedral offense, someone tell me if im wrong.

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

If im not wrong messing with trains, track , or any railroad property is a fedral offense, someone tell me if im wrong.

You are correct. Interference with Interstate Commerce. And now I believe the USA Patriot Act has application, too. Also, depending on your state, Criminal Trespass.

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

If im not wrong messing with trains, track , or any railroad property is a fedral offense, someone tell me if im wrong.

You are correct. Interference with Interstate Commerce. And now I believe the USA Patriot Act has application, too. Also, depending on your state, Criminal Trespass.

[Anonymous]

Nora said about unmarked crossings and how they still might be in use. Well some of them are being used. I remembered a story that happened in Russia in October 1998. A bus full of people was traveling from a big city to the community nearby. It was about 6pm or so and people were coming back from work. Buses in Russia were not required to stop at the RR crossings back then. Anyway, at the same time some railroad worker forgot to set hand brakes on 8 gravel hoppers, and they started rolling downhill. You can guess what happens next. Hoppers hit the bus at about 40mph right in the middle and splitted it in three parts. The rear stayed on the road unmoved, while the middle was dragged about 1500 feet, with front part braking off. 26 people, including the driver died, another 26 were injured. Most people in the back were inhurt. It was one of the extended extra-long buses , don't know the correct name. the railroad worked who later admitted his mistake was jailed. Very sad story.[:(]

Stop, and look both ways!

[Anonymous]

Nora said about unmarked crossings and how they still might be in use. Well some of them are being used. I remembered a story that happened in Russia in October 1998. A bus full of people was traveling from a big city to the community nearby. It was about 6pm or so and people were coming back from work. Buses in Russia were not required to stop at the RR crossings back then. Anyway, at the same time some railroad worker forgot to set hand brakes on 8 gravel hoppers, and they started rolling downhill. You can guess what happens next. Hoppers hit the bus at about 40mph right in the middle and splitted it in three parts. The rear stayed on the road unmoved, while the middle was dragged about 1500 feet, with front part braking off. 26 people, including the driver died, another 26 were injured. Most people in the back were inhurt. It was one of the extended extra-long buses , don't know the correct name. the railroad worked who later admitted his mistake was jailed. Very sad story.[:(]

Stop, and look both ways!

[Anonymous]

Today while driving home from our company picnic ( I won a door prize of $300.00 yyyyyeaaaaaa) I had to stop at a place where there were tracks then a place for one car then a stop sign. I made sure that I didn't proceed until the car ahead of me went through the stop sign so I wouldn't have to stop on the tracks.
As I did so I thought about this thread and the other thread dealing with tracks and right of way, and keeping people off the tracks, and the Alaska Railroad's 100 foot rule, I said to myself, "Well if no one else listens at least we are practicing what we preach." I was thinking that maybe we were not reaching any people with our safety message but if it makes US more aware then we are doing some good.

[Anonymous]

Today while driving home from our company picnic ( I won a door prize of $300.00 yyyyyeaaaaaa) I had to stop at a place where there were tracks then a place for one car then a stop sign. I made sure that I didn't proceed until the car ahead of me went through the stop sign so I wouldn't have to stop on the tracks.
As I did so I thought about this thread and the other thread dealing with tracks and right of way, and keeping people off the tracks, and the Alaska Railroad's 100 foot rule, I said to myself, "Well if no one else listens at least we are practicing what we preach." I was thinking that maybe we were not reaching any people with our safety message but if it makes US more aware then we are doing some good.

[Anonymous]

In San Francisco, a guy, at night, played chicken with the light rail vehicle.
Oh, he was agile enough to get out of that LRV"S way.
The opposing one.......he went in front of. Taps.
And grief to the operator.

[Anonymous]

In San Francisco, a guy, at night, played chicken with the light rail vehicle.
Oh, he was agile enough to get out of that LRV"S way.
The opposing one.......he went in front of. Taps.
And grief to the operator.