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
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://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com http://eurogallery.homestead.com
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
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.
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! ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine.
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"
There should be some special sort of "cruel and unusual punishment" for that guy that pushed his girlfriends car onto the tracks. Charlie ------------------ Ship It On The FRISCO!
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"
Yea well said gentlemen, however who's going to be the engineer on that train???? ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine.
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,
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.
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.
What a catalogue of disasters in this thread 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 ), 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://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com
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??? ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine.
OK Chris, if they want to keep getting themselves killed - well, only once per person . . . . . 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://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com
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.
i said " ...With protective gear of course.." besides, you'll be suprised what some people will do when they are mad at some body.
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. ------------------
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. ------------------ Bannon C Woods Jr VIA Rail Canada
