Grade Crossings

[davek]

Just a short time ago an automobile almost scratched the paint on the front of our old ALCO. After this event which the engineer could not see because it was on the Conductors side. The engineer asked the question, "What is it about the grade crossing protection, and RED flashing lights? Do they suddenly start flashing GREEN just befor the train gets there?" He had no idea what was going on. All he saw was me suddenly stand up and say oh F. In my opinion the driver had no intention of stopping at the crossing to look for a train even though the lights were flashing. It was only when he saw the train that he slammed on the brakes. The car slid about ten feet and stopped about three feet from the side of the train just as our pilot hit the road. In my mind there is no doubt that we would have had him for lunch if he had kept on going, even though we were only going about fifteen miles per hour.

[JohnC]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by davek:
..."What is it about the grade crossing protection, and RED flashing lights? Do they suddenly start flashing GREEN just before the train gets there?"... In my mind there is no doubt that we would have had him for lunch if he had kept on going, even though we were only going about fifteen miles per hour. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi,
I'm not a railroad employee, but we have the same problem up here. People are becoming too self-centered to care about anything else but themselves. They act as though they ARE THEY ONLY ONES on the road and don't have to stop for anyone.

Yes, you would've had him for lunch... The mass of the train would surely have squashed the car and hurt someone.

Just my 2Cents... Don't get me going on this.
John

[Alan]

If we have a grade crossing incident here in England, it makes the national news. Due I suppose to the fact that our level crossings have full road width barriers, so cannot be driven around (as I have seen on my visits to the States!)

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
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http://eurogallery.homestead.com

[Ironhorseman]

The Yreka Western crosses California State Highway 3 and has the standard US crossing gate setup: Flashing red lights, bells and arms that have flashing red lights on them that drop down across the traffic lanes. The roadway is straight and level, and yet about twice a month someone will drive right through the northbound crossing arm, which normally will either break their windshield and or damage the front of their vehicle! It's beyond me why they can't see all the warnings. Lucky for them, we only move the freight at 10 mph or less. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Bill

"Get Goosed on the Yreka Western"

[Alan]

Incidents like that cannot be rationally explained http://www.trainboard.com/confused.gif

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com
http://eurogallery.homestead.com

[AFN]

I have always found it interesting that if I am sitting stopped clear of the crossing that motorists tend to hesitate or wont cross in front of me. However when I am closing on a crossing at speed (day or night) and they cant judge how fast I am actually going they run the gates. I have hit only one car at a protected crossing in 8 years of running. I am grateful he was so drunk he did not sustain any injuries.

[JohnC]

I was thinking about this last night, long after I had logged out.

What we have today is a generation of people who don't care to, or don't want to, take responsibility for their actions or the actions of their children. That's why there are so many lawsuits and judgements. These idiots would rather have someone else pay up, or pass absurd laws that insulate them from any blame. They don't even look both ways when they cross the street! They figure they can sue the driver for hitting them!

Been honked and yelled at for stopping at a crossing.

John

[DRGWEngr]

I'm also an engineer and this may sound cold hearted, but do you remember the old saying "survival of the fittest"? Maybe it's one way of weeding out the ones that are genetically challenged.

[Lawrence Ertner]

Worst wreck I ever worked as a cop was a grade crossing accident. "accident" is an
unstatement, "disaster" would be more
appropriate. double-headed freight t-boned
a car with four teenagers who went around
the barrier. Dragged the car for a half-
mile before it split just behind the driver's
seat. Driver was the only one to survive.
The little @#$%^&* was coherent, calm
actually, when we reached her. Not a scratch on her. No drugs, no alcohol.First thing out of her mouth was, "It isn't my fault, it didn't stop."
I agree with the writer from the Northeast-
people want to do their "own thing", but not
take responsibility for their actions. In
this case,it was pure arrogant stupidity.
Of course, the victims' relatives were
encouraged to sue the Railroad. They chose
to put a suit on the driver.

[porkypine52]

I don't work for any railroad, I drive an 18-wheeler for a living. I think JOHNC hit the nail on the head. We have several generations now that think that they are not reponsible for their actions, and they can sue anybody anytime, anywhere, for anything that happens.
In the area close to my home we have a busy Railroad crossing with lights, gates etc. Just 25 feet past the crossing is a stop light. I know that if I get caught by the light, while I am in the truck, I will block that crossing with 1/2 of a 53ft trailer I pull. I NEVER cross the tracks if I know I am going to get the red light. So I stop this side of the tracks and wait. I had some dumbbell(I'm trying to be polite) stop behind and then walk up to the cab. The dumbell DEMANDED that I pull up over the tracks so he could get to work! After I set the air-brakes, I climbed down to explain the situation to this cracker-head. I told him that if he wanted me to cross the tracks that he could push the truck across the tracks with his car! He then tells me that he is a lawyer and he will sue me over this! After I stopped laughing I said " The ambulance chasing business must be awful slow right now. You have to start sueing truck drivers for not crossing tracks" I swear I saw steam come out his ears! I had no sooner said that then the lights came on, the gates went down, and the train went thru. Needless to say the conversation was over. After the crossing cleared and the stop light changed we both went on our way. When he passed me on the expressway, he let me know that I was #1 in his book, but he used the wrong finger to tell me! Can I sue him for something?
In my opinion we need to do crossing gates like they have in England. Gates come down and the whole road is blocked on both sides.

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[davek]

I remember seeing a Detroit Edison coal train on a crossing one time. It probably had 200+ cars on it, and it was moving slow, about 2o mph. They had the crossing blocked for a long time. This crossing had flashing lights, and maybe gates, I can't remember for sure. Anyway, As soon as the last car the last car had cleared just enough for an auto to cross the tracks, one car zoomed around without waiting for the lights to stop flashing. The policecar that was waiting to cross from the other side, promptly turned around and turned on his flashing red lights, and stopped this car. I'm sure he was stopped for failure to stop at a red light. Because a red light means stop, wether it is a red light at an intersection or, a red flashing railroad crossing signal.

[ChrisDante]

I always will remember the words of an Erie engineer. "The last thing he heard was the sound of my whistle."

[E-8]

I've enjoyed reading this thread.

What used to really make me mad was in my hometown in Kansas ... I used to go to work everyday at 2 in the afternoon - a popular time for trains at those crossings. I had to cross the UP tracks on the way and a block later the Santa Fe tracks. The gate would come down at either crossing and most traffic would stop. Nearly every time, there would be a line of 10 cars or so stopped and someone would come speeding up behind and pass all the stopped cars by driving over in the left lane and go right around the gate and zoom across the tracks. Of course, the police would nail you for doing that but the tracks aren't visible from the donut shop. I saw that happen so many times I could not begin to count them. The only thing that surprises me is that I never saw someone get creamed.

There would be an accident from time to time but most people don't learn. It's like a tornado - one could kill half a town one day and if there was another the next, the other half would be out with their video cameras.

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Ship It On The FRISCO!

[eddelozier]

Had a similiar experience a month ago at a crossing with a traffic light just beyond the crossing. Traffic light was red and three cars backed up with only about one and a half car lengths from the rails. I stopped this side of the crossing behind the crossing gate clearance. The dumb guy behind be with around me and tried to fit behind the backed up cars and me! The rear of his car was only two feet from the tracks! Crossing gate would have got him for sure.
Well the best part was. There are two rail lines in that area and a diesel on another close line hit his horns......you should have seen that dumb guy hit reverse and come back into the other lane!! No train was coming at this crossing but he is still cleaning up the brown stuff from his front seat....
I thought myself that I was going to be a witness to a major accident?
Maybe the railroads should install cameras at all crossings, like they do at traffic light intersections, to catch violators?

eddelozier


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Eddie Delozier

[Alan]

Cameras would be a good idea, Eddie, at notorious locations. Some of our level crossings have them.

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
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http://eurogallery.homestead.com

[davek]

I was riding in a friends car one time when we saw a train coming. He was a railfan too so he drove up and stopped several feet from the tracks and he was well clear of them. This crossing is just down the road from my house and I knew it well, it has lights bells and gates. I looked out the window to watch the approaching train and then said I think you may want to back up a little more. He asked why and said that we were plenty clear of the tracks. I said yes we are well clear of the tracks. But when that gate outside my window comes down it's going to put a hell of a scratch or dent in your car roof. I believe the car was a fairly new LINCOLN TOWN CAR and yes he backed up.

[This message has been edited by davek (edited 18 April 2000).]

[ChrisDante]

I spend some of my working time on the east coast of FL. Every day I have to cross the Amtrak/FEC line parallelling Old Dixie Highway between Boca and Hypoluxo. Those of you from that neck of the woods know what I'm talking about. I don't think 3 months goes by that I don't see some car getting a crossing gate dent in either the hood or the trunk. There must be 100 grade crossings in the area I'm speaking of. Many with the traffic lights on far side of the tracks, and there's allways some a--h--- who tries to sneak in.
In fact, I think it was Jan or Feb in Ft. Lauderdale some snowbird couple got the back half of their Caddillac considerably shortened, Thank God they were not injured. That was a miricle.

Some folks never learn what blinking red lights mean.




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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[Ironhorseman]

Charlie - I resemble that crack about the donut shop! http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif

Bill

"Get Goosed on the Yreka Western"

[davek]

We had one guy give us crap about blocking a private crossing one day. He told the engineer to move the train because he was already late for where ever he was going. The engineer told him that he would not move the train until he was told to by the conductor. Eventually this person got across the tracks, but not before he said he was going to report us to the police and then he left. We talked about this for a while, and decided that him calling the police would give us more ammunition agaist him if he gave us more problems. We also measured the crossing and found out that it was not legal because of its width. One option we discuss was raising the rent of the crossing to $1000 dollars a year for each residence on the road. Then when the residents asked why the rent went up so much, we would tell them to talk to their friendly next door neighbor. The other option we discuss was to tear the damn thing out permanently. Of coarse we would refer all the residents on the road to their friendly neighbor again. We have not had any more problems with this person, so we have not said anything to anyone, nor have we done anything.

[This message has been edited by davek (edited 18 April 2000).]

[Ironhorseman]

We all have 'bad days' Dave .. maybe this guy was just having his. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Bill

"Get Goosed on the Yreka Western"

[BC Rail King]

On the CNR forum I posted something called "GMD1 World," now in this post you will notice that the unit stalled on a crossing, and just before it got there (at this point it was still moving) a bus, yes a public bus of all things made a mad dash to cross! Geez, it is bad if any kind vechicle challenges the crossing, but even worse if a bus with more than 1-4 people does it....

Dane N.

------------------
TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King
TAMR2860@hotmail.com

[Alan]

Dane, the driver should lose his PSV licence (or whatever it is called over there). That is just crazy - pleased I was not on board!

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com
http://eurogallery.homestead.com

[Johnny]

There is some progress to report. The US Supreme Court has just ruled that anyone involved in a crossing accident in which federal funds were used in installing protective devices cannot sue the railroad. This covers about 30,000 of the country's 265,000 crossings. With this precedent, the RRs should lobby the individual states they serve to sponsor similar legislation. Unfortunately, given the fact that in this day and age no one seems to accept responsibility for his/her own actions, I wouldn't hold my breath

[davek]

Did anyone happen to see on the news where 4 people were killed when a distraught boyfriend pushed the car that his girlfriend was in, into the path of an oncoming train at Sinking Spring Pa. This happened in my homestate just recently.

[ChrisDante]

Yea, Davidk. There's a 911 tape of the girl screaming for help as she's trying to escape from this wacko, she's driving all over town and runs down this street with a grade crossing. The gates are down she stops the boyfriend rearends her and pushes her car with 3 other people in it on to the tracks and the train right there. No survivors.
Rotten SOB way to kill someone, as if there's a right way, huh!

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[Ironhorseman]

Well .. another near-miss today! Coming westbound with seven empty cars just about onto the roadway of California's SR3 where there are crossing gates, flashing red lights, bells, and blowing the engine's horn .. some yahoo in a white/blue/white Ford 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup was driving HUA. He was going about 65 mph ... the train was going about 5 to 6 mph ... truck driver did not see us for some unknown reason until about 100 feet from the crossing gate, which was fully down. He locked up his brakes and slid thru the gate, breaking the arm! We just repaired that same arm two days ago from a similar incident. *LOL* I get some satisfaction knowing that he probably dynamited his shorts and sustained a broken windshield. ~wink~

Bill

"Get Goosed on the Yreka Western"

[E-8]

There should be some special sort of "cruel and unusual punishment" for that guy that pushed his girlfriends car onto the tracks.

Charlie http://www.trainboard.com/mad.gif

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Ship It On The FRISCO!

[Ironhorseman]

Charlie .. I'd say what goes around, comes around. They should strap him in his car and push him in front of the same train!

Bill

"Get Goosed on the Yreka Western"

[ChrisDante]

Yea well said gentlemen, however who's going to be the engineer on that train????

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[wt&c]

that'll be me, jam the dern throttle wide open about 5 mile from the crossing and jump when she is 'bouta hundered feet from the crossin', (of course I'll wear saftey gear for jumpin'!)
Pat,

[DakotaFan]

DRGWEngr .. I think you have a good point. If they're stupid enough to race the train to the crossing, they deserve what they get. But, what right do they think they have to put the train crew through that? I'm not an RR employee but have read enough first hand accounts by "hoggers" to give me added respect for the momentum of a moving train.

[davek]

In this case they weren't racing the train too the crossing. They were murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend who pushed them into the path of the train.

[Alan]

What a catalogue of disasters in this thread http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif It always amazes me when I read of grade crossing fatalities in the US. It can run into hundreds, if not thousands, just in a single state!

There is something in the American psyche about trains and crossings. As I said earlier in this thread, we do not have this problem in England, due to all tracks being fenced, and road crossing barriers covering the whole road. Also trains are much shorter here (our local passenger train is a single coach diesel unit - sort of modern Budd car http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif ), they are also faster, so we never have to wait long at crossings, and so would not feel the need to try to beat the train, even if we could.

Anyway, it is a stupid and tragic loss of life.

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com

[ChrisDante]

Alan... Alan... Alan... you just don't understand alpha male Americans. They gotta be da first. No dumb train is gonna git ahed a dem!
We've been racing since before Charlton Heston won the Chariot race. What about the Great Locomotive Chase???

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[Alan]

OK Chris, if they want to keep getting themselves killed - well, only once per person . . . . . http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

I feel sorry, not for the idiots, but for the locomotive engineers. Even though it is not their fault, it must be rough on them, knowing someone died after being hit by their train.

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com

[wt&c]

You can't be more true about that 'al'. On, tuesday, december 19,1998 at 1:30 EST at the Poe Bridge grade crossing in my home town of Buckhannon, WV. A girl in her 20's was racing a Loaded coal train to the crossing. [ABOUT THE TRAIN: it had 2 SD40-2s with 110 loaded coal cars heading east to Grafton,WV traveling at 35 MPH (Quick for most trains through here) ] the car got out in front of the train and BAMM!, the train hit the car and sent to 1997 Dodge intrepid airborne and landed upside down on the bridge, the train stopped about 250 yards from the crossing (Incredible stopping time for most trains here.)the engines reportedly had brake repais back in Cumberland ,MD. The girl suffered a mild concussion, broken 4 vertabrae,a broken arm and a broken leg. was in the hospital for 2 months. was lucky to live. her comments:

"why the h*ll didn't the d*mn train stop?"

Faster isn't always better for a train, have a minor derailment at 70 mph, the whole train is likely to be a fireball.

[davek]

Something about jumping from the train with the throttle wide open doesn't sound real intellegent.

[wt&c]

i said " ...With protective gear of course.." besides, you'll be suprised what some people will do when they are mad at some body.

[choochoo]

Although not to proud of it - I will relate a happening by myself. About 40 years ago, I was working as a Locomotive Engineer. I have hit my share of cars, trucks and trespassers. I had taken my 3 year old son for a ride in my pickup. The road I chose to drive on, paralleled th railroad and after about a mile it crossed to the other side and again paralleled the track. The single track runs east and west. the sun is setting and I stop at the crossing,with flashing lights but NO bell, look straight into the sun and see nothing. As I start to move, my son says "choochoo" and I stop - - just in time to watch a "light" engine go over the crossing.
I say again, Ive hit more than my share of idiots, but Ive never took for granted they ALL were idiots.

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[BannonVIA]

I work in the Safety department for VIA Rail Canada....and Ill tell you, I see and read of way to many grade level crossing accidents.Not sure if people are getting dumber, cause were not goin any faster and are warning signs are not shrinking. People just need to open their eyes...
"If you race to the crossing and you tie...you lose"
-loser vs. train-
Take care guys...
oh and Ironhorseman, thanks for the mail.there's one coming for you.


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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[BannonVIA]

Once in a while we confront the cities or small towns about grade level crossings...
you should see some of the excuses they have for not wanting to close grade level crossings....We have a list...email me and Ill send it to you.
Bannon


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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[davek]

How much would it cost to elevate evey single crossing in the U.S.?

[Maxwell Plant]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by choochoo:
Although not to proud of it - I will relate a happening by myself. About 40 years ago, I was working as a Locomotive Engineer. I have hit my share of cars, trucks and trespassers. I had taken my 3 year old son for a ride in my pickup. The road I chose to drive on, paralleled th railroad and after about a mile it crossed to the other side and again paralleled the track. The single track runs east and west. the sun is setting and I stop at the crossing,with flashing lights but NO bell, look straight into the sun and see nothing. As I start to move, my son says "choochoo" and I stop - - just in time to watch a "light" engine go over the crossing.
I say again, Ive hit more than my share of idiots, but Ive never took for granted they ALL were idiots.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> How true. I've always taken great pride in not assuming the tracks are always clear so I stop, look, listen and live. But, we are not always perfect. http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif I was working for a radio station in Clinton, IL. many years ago. My morning commute took me across the IC line from Gilman to Springfield, IL. at a small town called Chestnut, IL. I would always NOT trust the cross-bucks and lights to do the job of keeping me alive, even though the tracks are not very busy. Well, one morning I wasn't really all that with it and just rolled across the tracks without looking. ZOOM! Right after I get the trunk of my 72 Gran Torino off the tracks, a train wizzes by! It had to miss me by inches! I'm sure the crew was ready to take me out, but I was lucky enough to get missed. I was really mad at myself for quite some time. Now that I think about it, I've had a few run-ins with the IC at their crossings. Just before I was born, my mother was on her way to work in a car pool to Country Companies Insurance, in Bloomington, IL. The car she was in stalled on the Madison Division tracks (now a rails to trails path), the driver got the car restarted and backed off the tracks just as an IC train zoomed by. I almost wasn't born! While in Baton Rouge, LA. My roommate was going to blindly drive across the New Orleans line. I reached my foot across the hump and hit the brakes! ZOOM! An IC freight roars by! He thanked me for saving our lives and promised never to take Railway Crossings for granted again. Food for thought ya'll!



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RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Style!
Brent Tidaback

[ChrisDante]

The United States Supreme Court has ruled 7-2 that railroads are not financially liable for
injuries and fatalities that occur at highway-rail grade crossings equipped with
federally-funded warning devices. "Nothing prevents a state from revisiting the adequacy
of devices installed using federal funds," wrote Justice Sandra Day OÕConnor for the
Court. "States are free to install more protective devices at such crossings with their own
funds or with additional [federal] funding." Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Paul
Stevens dissented, writing that "the outcome defies common sense and sound policy."
The case came about as the result of a 1993 crossing accident in Gibson County, Tenn., in
which a motorist was struck by a Norfolk Southern train.

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[BannonVIA]

I just heard a good one ,it didnt happen at a grade level crossing, but in one of our yards...
There was a film truck...(they was doin a video shoot) there was a train....truck backs up into the train, he didnt even look on the tracks...Loco was doin about 8kph when he took the truck to school, the truck was demolsihed, and the loco had a tiny weeny scratch on the side. No one was hurt, but the guy driving felt like an idiot...he lost ALOT of money in filming equipment.
I got a good laugh outta that one.
Have a good day guys...
"...and the trainmaster hung his head low as he thought to himself...Loser VS. Train..."


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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[davek]

I know this is a little off the topic but guess what our railroad moved into the paint shop recently. A former GM&O F3.

[davek]

Grade Crossings isn't too quiet like someone said on the other topic. Just the other day someone tried to run my little you know what over when I was flagging a crossing.

[makinbaconline]

2 days ago a nice young farmhand decided to buy his boss a new john deere tractor and planter when he ran the crossing in front of our nice big thoroughbred widebody. thank you ge for the wide cab it was truly a lifesaver. after careful inspection after removing myself off the floor, my new dash 9 had all the handrails missing and the brake cylinders ripped off.

[Maxwell Plant]

Glad to hear you're alright! Next time we get together, fill me in on the details.

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RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Style!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234

[BannonVIA]

Well, another to add to the list, but with a twist...A man, (late 30's) steals a red chevy cavalier, Goes to an electronics store, robs it, makes out with almost 2300$ worth of VCR's, police are on his tail, see the crossing signal come down, pounds the ABS , stops on the track, jumps out, runs across, he runs on the other side of the tracks into a field, train totals the car, the police are on the other side, the guy gets away. They didnt catch him ,as for the cavalier and the VCR's. well lets say...
Cavalier by Cheverolet, customized by VIA Rail.

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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[BannonVIA]

Well, here are the statistics for 1998-
1998 CANADA

Grade Crossings - 22,464

Accidents - 276
Fatalities - 41
Injuries - 42

Anyone here working with Operation Lifesaver?

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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[Alan]

The statistics in the UK would probably be:

Grade Crossing accidents - 1

http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

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[Gats]

Talking about crossing safety...

TRAINS COULD CARRY POLICE

Officer would radio to patrols to enforce crossing safety laws - by Steve Wideman, Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent, Thursday, May 18, 2000.

Motorists who illegally drive around lowered gates at railraod crossings or ignore flashing warning lights to beat a train could find a squad car on their tail before the blink of an eye.
Outagamie County is applying for a state grant that would fund placement of a police officer in the engine of a train, said sheriff's Sgt. Eugene Bunnell, who serves as the department's traffic safety coordinator and as chairman of the county Traffic Safety Committee.

"The officer would report crossing violations to two squad cars that would run a parallel route to the train," Bunnell said. Authorities are still working on the details of the plan, such as what crossings to target, and how many trains the officer would ride.

The goal is to improve crossing safety and knock Outagamie County from the No.1 ranking as the state's most dangerous county when it comes to vehicle-train accidents, Bunnell said. "We are in the process of applying for the grant from the state Department of Transportation. It's just one of several ideas we are looking at to improve crossing safety," he said.

Bunnell was one of several speakers at a press conference Wednesday in the Wisconsin Central Ltd's Appleton yard to mark this week as National Railroad Safety Week. The press conference began less than three hours after an accident between a Wisconsin Central train and a dump truck on McCarthy Road. No one was injured in the accident that occurred about 11:30 a.m. when the trains's engine struck the rear wheels of the dump truck as it crossed the tracks.
The accident brings the number of train-vehicle accidents in the county to seven in 2000.

"Since 1997, Outagamie County has ranked as a leader among the counties in crossing accidents," said sheriff's Sgt. Michael Heenan. "In 1997, we ranked fifth with five crashes. So far this year we've had seven crashes involving one fatality."

Bunnell said a driver cought violating crossing safety laws faces a first time fine of up to $348 and the loss of six points on his or her driver's license. "Those are considered major violations. A second violation could result in a license suspension," he said.

Mary Wallenfang, director of claims for Wisconsin Central, said that in addition to the local initiatives, a bill will be coming before the state Legislature strengthening the power of train crews to enforce crossing laws. "The law would give engineers the same power as school bus drivers, who can report a violation based on the description or license number of an offending vehicle," she said.

Currently, authorities must identify the driver of a violating vehicle for a ticket to be issued. Under the proposed law, Wallenfang said, the owner of the vehicle will be cited and fined if the driver cannot be found.

Submitted by R. Draxler through the MNRail list.

Gary.

[This message has been edited by Gats (edited 18 May 2000).]

[BannonVIA]

I think that would be a great idea, but just imagine, what do you think the person who lost their license cause they beat a train would do, they would lose it, freak out.
Oh well, call it tough love.

"Trucks by Ford, customized by VIA"

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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[wt&c]

howa' bouta' cattle truck stalling on a grade crossing and a CSX train comes down the tracks at about 55 mph
and ... "ROASTed beef by Winn-Dixie...customized by CSX"

[BannonVIA]

MUahahah

We have many different sayings and qoutes up here on the board in my office.
Some go on like...
If you race a train to the crossing, and you tie...you lose.
Truck by Ford, Customized by VIA.
Loser Vs. Train
Im sure we could think up a million, but how good would it go over with the boss lol!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wt&c:
howa' bouta' cattle truck stalling on a grade crossing and a CSX train comes down the tracks at about 55 mph
and ... "ROASTed beef by Winn-Dixie...customized by CSX"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[davek]

We took the Pa. Game Commission with us one time.

[BannonVIA]

Here's a short poem about semaphore's, I figured you guys might like to read it...

BLOCK SIGNALS
-Alice Lovett Carson-

Guarding the trains that pass out door,
Over the track stands the semaphore;
Great long arms that move in the air
Tell of the safety or danger there;
Outward pointing: "A train's gone by."
Upward slanting: "No danger nigh."
Trainmen, scanning the distance o'er,
Glancing on high,
Note, as they fly,
The signaling, silent semaphore.

The semaphore lanterns twinkle and peep;
Each great arm has a blinking eye
To wink at the trains as they rumble by;
Red: "Take care, there is danger near!"
Green: "Go ahead, for the track is clear."
Trainmen know this color lore,
Glancing on high
At the winking eye
Of the winkety, blinkety, semaphore.

Faithful watcher above the rail,
Lost were the trains should your signals fail;
Passengers slumber in safety so,
Knowing the signals tell how to go;
Straight or slanting, green light or red,
Speaking truly of what's ahead.
Trainmen, fearful of fate in store,
Glancing on high,
Thankfully spy,
The cheering, guardian, the semaphore.



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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada

[davek]

I like that!

[friscobob]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by makinbaconline:
2 days ago a nice young farmhand decided to buy his boss a new john deere tractor and planter when he ran the crossing in front of our nice big thoroughbred widebody. thank you ge for the wide cab it was truly a lifesaver. after careful inspection after removing myself off the floor, my new dash 9 had all the handrails missing and the brake cylinders ripped off. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You, of course, are assuming the nice young farmhand didn't have to buy the new farm equipment posthumously http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif




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Ship IT on the Frisco!
Bob T.

[BC Rail King]

One thing you don't mention. You are making the RRs sound like it is never their fault. There however is a very small amount of exceptions. While getting of the CANADIAN in Matsqui, BC, the RR crossing gates were down and every one stopped there car to wait it out. Then, the crew of the Canadian relized it was their train that was causing the gates to be down (they were waiting for a freight) so they did that right thing and backed up the train. Then, the train comes through with dim lights for the Canadian engineers and the crosssing gates didn't go down for some reason. With the train coming over a curve it would be hard to see it with dim lights on. I am suprised there were no problems with that. It was a dangerous situation. If that freight had gotten even close to a truck, or car it would destroy in a second.

Happy Railroading!

Dane N.

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TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King
TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info.
To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to
BCRailKing@Canada.com

[Maxwell Plant]

FYI: Check out the Amtrak forum under "UP wusses out". And the RR's never at fault? HA!

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RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Style!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234

[makinbaconline]

hopefully soon i will be posting pics of the NS's latest accident near Decatur, Il. in which a criple crown kissed a tandem axle fertilizer truck. unfortunately the driver didn't survive but there is no grossness in the pics so noone will be gagged out. waiting for them to come back from developer.

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Norfolk Southern
The Pack Mule of Transportation
Mo-Pac RULES
Heritage N-Scale Group, Joliet, Il.

[BannonVIA]

I would really like to see those...
would it be possible to email them to me when you get them?

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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada
Safety, Health & Environment

[davek]

Caught some kids by surprise on one of our bridges the other day. I wish you could have seen their asses move when they heard our horn. We were going about 30 and it didn't take long to get on the bridge. They couldn't make it off the bridge in time and found any little peice of steel they could to climb out on. We got stopped one locomotive length passed them. So we walked back to the other unit and found them almost even with the cab door. This made it real easy to tell them to get off the bridge. I did it very politely since they were polite to us. One of them then asked me if we could please move the train so they could get off the bridge. The bridge was a through truss, 2 span, single track bridge with no walkways. You should have seen my engineer grab AIR and HORN when we came around the corner and I screamed "kids on the bridge". It was only about 100 yards to the bridge. Fortunatly we had a short train of passenger cars and could stop relatively quickly without going into emergency. But still it wasn't quick enough because we went right past them. If we had gone into emergency I don't know if we would have stopped any sooner because we would have lost traction on the rails and slid. I suppose we gone further than we did, and possibly wrecked the train and killed people.

[BannonVIA]

Its all too often we hear about kids playing n bridges, or fishing on bridges, playing in freight yards and walking on tracks. When you were a kid didnt your parents tell you to stay away from tracks? mine sure did,
Its a shame how many children we lose every year due to this kind of thing, this is one of the reasons why I participate when I can in Operation Lifesaver. Its a great way to teach kids about the dangers on tracks.

Bannon

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Bannon C Woods Jr
VIA Rail Canada
Safety, Health & Environment