I don't know about UP, but I have seen signals on the BNSF racetrack that show clear over an open LC, so it doesn't appear to be interlocked (like Liverpool or most LC's on the Richmond line here in Sydney) </font>[/QUOTE]Not entirely correct though in automatic signalled areas the level crossing are not interlocked with the signals. The signals are clear on condition and not if the level crossing has operated
From memory, Liverpool needs to be proved down prior to the approaching signals are cleared. Not certain of the Richmond line requirements, though. It's single line.
at Liverpool, the stick won't clear until the gates are down, on the LC's near platforms on the Richmond line (Riverstone, Mulgrave, Clarendon) the signal can be cleared with the gates up and the gates would drop on the track circuit. If the train has standing time on the platform (Riverstone terminators) then the gates have to drop before the signal clears. It's the reason behind, if Pilot staff working is introduced on the Richmond line then the driver also gets a CAN (Condition affecting Network) form for the check box - Level crossing protection equipment possibly out of action. Also with the Richmond line we have meatworks LC just past Riverstone, this LC has no booms, so they placed a 20km/h speed restriction (for trains) on it. The other LC's in the metro, Parra Rd if not interlocked is controlled by Parra Rd Signal box, after dropping the gates he then sets the road, Pines Rd at Fairfield is in an auto section, track circuits alone and has a 40km/h restriction on it. Casula is also in an automatic area, track circuits alone and no speed restriction (100km/h from memory) and no road traffic... [ November 25, 2005, 07:16 AM: Message edited by: Sten ]
Wow listening to the Chicago news people the train came barrelling down the tracks.I allways thought we came rolling down them.Oh wait they allways find the worst way to report things.It is so hard to tell where trains are gonna cross the roads anymore.I don't know why the railroads spend billions on crossing protection when trains just jump out from around every curve anymore. It was totally the trains fault.They were on the road where the cars should be, Not the cars on the tracks where the trains should be.Did I ever tell the story of a town getting mad at me for cutting a parade in half because we didn't stop our train for them.I felt so bad,It was all our fault.
According to a report on the local media last night, preliminary findings have discovered the crossing gates and warning lights to be in proper working orded. Event recorders show that the train activated the Grand Ave crossing some 6000' in advance of the crossing and that 54 seconds elapsed from the time of activation until the cars were struck by the train. Some 15 vechicles were involved in the accident and 16 persons were injured with 3 of them still in critical condition as of the evening of 24 Nov. As of that time there were no fatalities reported. Also that is a well lit crossing. it is smack dab in the middle of a very busy commercial district. A METRA spokesperson has publicly stated that that crossing has never been much of a problem to METRA. As reported in another post there are signs warning motorists to not enter the crossing area if the way is not clear. A METRA spokesperson has also said that the traffic signals are NOT linked with the crossing gate activation. CT
not to mention in the illinois driver's license rules of the road book it says you must stop, look, and listen when approaching rr tracks, not stop on and watch thr train hit your car moron. i wish carlos mencia would take this one on.
The RRs don't. The taxpayers do. A gated crossing averages around $60,000.00. The Feds pay $50,000.00. The RR pays $5,000.00 and the local gov't pays $5,000.00
There was a photo on the front page of my Friday Chicago Tribune taken at the Grand Ave. crossing on Thursday, ONE day AFTER the multiple car incident showing at least 3 autos stopped between the lowered crossing gates and the tracks. ONE DAY AFTER. These suburban dummies all need "Darwin Awards"! CT
The RRs don't. The taxpayers do. </font>[/QUOTE]As so many roads cross tracks at grade level, (which that railroad private property was there first), via an easement, the party placing the road may just be responsible for cost of the signals, as part of being granted the easement. As most such roads are public, the tab would then be picked up by taxpayers. Boxcab E50
Multiply grade crossings by what ever number you think the railroads pay and you will get numbers in the millions.Not even considering the money spent on upkeep.Taxpayers don't foot the entire bill.I am just glad to see that railroads are finding ways to eliminate roads crossings one by one.
yeah the history is called idiots who stop on the tracks, nuff said. like i said before, signs are posted and READ CLEARLY do not stop on tracks. the rr can only do so much to protect people which idiocracy is not really something one should protect but eliminate, unfortunately the world would lose several billion people.
I haven't read this whole thread, so this may have been posted already, but I'd just like to say I know exactly where this intersection is, I've been through it many times and It does not shock me at all that this kind of thing has happened. The drivers their are idiots. It was only a matter of time. I used to see cars do this all the time when I lived near by. The article indicated the gates and lights were working and these fools had just pulled up on the tracks. I remember a couple of years ago, my wife was at an intersection a bit north of there where there was a large section of road in front of a firehouse marked off. Well, during rush hour idiots sat in the marked off zone anyway and the fire engine just smashed through them to get out. Chicago Rush hour is filled with morons. I have no sympathy.
A lady who was injured it the wreck was quoted as saying"I was stopped on the tracks and there was no train in sight.The the lights came on and the gates came down and I sat there waiting for the traffic light to change to green so I could get off the tracks".She doesn't think that she did anything wrong at all.I think the Darwin awards will be moved to Chicago this year.
i don't feel the rr should have to remedy this, it should be up to the driver who caused this mess and every other driver that sits on that crossing. maybe the theory of natural selection will remeby it.
Guys, I don't think he said that the railroad would have to remedy anything, just that there would be some reccomendations - i'm pretty sure he's right there. There are issues with the natural selection option. 1. So far it hasn't worked. 26 years of accidents and apparently regular near misses on this crossing and very few dead motorists! Even taking this incident as a warning doesn't appear to have changed how this location works! 2. Sooner or later you're gonna get a cab-car flipped over by hitting a nice chunky SUV at 70mph - do the authorities (Railroad, City or anyone else with a say or a responsibilty) really want to wait till that happens before finding some way to improve the situation?
