STAY OFF THE TRACKS

[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.

[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.

[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

[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)]

[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]

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.

[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?

[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

[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.

[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])

[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!!! [:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]

[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)

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

I know this situation all to well

in the dark doing the midnight Run, kids want to get home.
Teenagers think they are invinsible and are extremely naieve to any situation... They often wait on the platform for the train to arrive. Like always i have activated the flashing lights of the control cab and the ringing of the bell..
They get real close to the tracks and threaten to push each other on the tracks. , mokingly or not.. it's still VERY dangerous.. so i let the horn go when they try this move...a 1 second long Blast... by pulling the lever right to the bottom.. The women on the platform immediately cover their ears.. and some Men do to.. If the Kids come into the first car.. I will get up and throw the book at them for their Stupid, idiotic behavior.. if not.. i'll get the Conductor to go yell at them.. or if the inspectors are on board, i'll get them to ticket them.

doin't let that fool you.. i can enter a station at 50 MPH and do a complete stop without breaking necks before the station is over.. at midnight i only have 2 or 3 cars and an extremely powerful locomotive meant for freight but altered for passenger use.

Tracks are very dangerous!!

[Anonymous]

I know this situation all to well

in the dark doing the midnight Run, kids want to get home.
Teenagers think they are invinsible and are extremely naieve to any situation... They often wait on the platform for the train to arrive. Like always i have activated the flashing lights of the control cab and the ringing of the bell..
They get real close to the tracks and threaten to push each other on the tracks. , mokingly or not.. it's still VERY dangerous.. so i let the horn go when they try this move...a 1 second long Blast... by pulling the lever right to the bottom.. The women on the platform immediately cover their ears.. and some Men do to.. If the Kids come into the first car.. I will get up and throw the book at them for their Stupid, idiotic behavior.. if not.. i'll get the Conductor to go yell at them.. or if the inspectors are on board, i'll get them to ticket them.

doin't let that fool you.. i can enter a station at 50 MPH and do a complete stop without breaking necks before the station is over.. at midnight i only have 2 or 3 cars and an extremely powerful locomotive meant for freight but altered for passenger use.

Tracks are very dangerous!!

[traisessive1]

I've really only seen 2 close calls where I live, but kids screw around on the tracks all the time. I'm 16 and have gotten a lot of privalleges from the CN guys in the local yard, cab ride etc...

But 1...i saw a guy walk across the tracks, gates down and not even look for the train, 4 seconds to spare. 2...a kid raced in front of a VIA on a bike. If it was not going 5mph (leaving station) and going track speed, hed be dead.

[traisessive1]

I've really only seen 2 close calls where I live, but kids screw around on the tracks all the time. I'm 16 and have gotten a lot of privalleges from the CN guys in the local yard, cab ride etc...

But 1...i saw a guy walk across the tracks, gates down and not even look for the train, 4 seconds to spare. 2...a kid raced in front of a VIA on a bike. If it was not going 5mph (leaving station) and going track speed, hed be dead.

[Puckdropper]

I saw some idiot stop on the tracks for a red light. A freight train came along, going about 5-10 mph. Luckily for him, there was no one behind him.

Never ever stop on the tracks. Even a car that has its engine quit has enough momentum at 25 mph to finish crossing most tracks.