Another Tractor Trailer hit by CSX

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

sometime around 0900h a southbound CSX freight on the A&WP sub about MP57.1 hit another TT on our high center grade crossing. This makes at least 3? Was unaware until 1300. Could not see any of the cab of TT so unknown as to injuries. Front part of trailer completely gone. Track force out apparently some damage to track but not sure. Already one dumpster load taken away but debris scattered still south of crossing. Amazing that neither crossing gate hit so suspect direct hit on TT cab,

Debris tangled up into future pre staged items for CP work which starts about 200 feet south of crossing. Signal bungalows (5) appear OK.

2

Is TT “tractor-trailer”? I’ve never seen it abbreviated that way.

3

Are there any milepost numbers or CP names on those new bungalows to determine where they are going to be installed? Have any pics of them?

4

I thought he meant Trailer Train.

After a bit of ‘Googling’ I found this:

This is the crossing, Johnson St. and Highway 29:

Johnson St Hwy 29
Johnson St Hwy 291440×910 177 KB

Not the usual ‘low ground clearance’ sign but there is a NO THROUGH TRUCKS, as if a sign is any help.

[edit]
Scratch that about the clearance sign. Oops — there it is!

Johnson St Hwy 29b
Johnson St Hwy 29b1193×867 120 KB

Ed

5

That’s what I originally thought, too. With this being a railroad-focused site, that would be your first thought.

6

Probably the same mindset that catches the trucks on low bridges – “I can clear that…”

7

all bungalows are in service. North to south 1. Hot box detector. 2. Crossing bungalow. 3. PTC (?) 4. large CP control. 5. Smaller connected underground to #4.

8

redacted

1 Like
9

Now another tractor trailer hit at same location early morning 10 / 27. This train apparently north bound. Second hand reported injury. North end crossing signal and gate demolished. CSX still working on replacing signal stand at time 1600. No work yet on gate. 1st train thru about 1530 hr. Too much rain to get up close.

as well had another TT hung up on the crossing about 2 weeks ago.

10

The only thing that’s going to fix ‘repeat encounters’ at that crossing will be to regrade it with revised vertical approach profiles. At present the transition from low to steep approach is in two steps, with the driver not realizing the extent of the final ‘hump’ combined with the invisible drop on the other side. The point of inflection ought to be no more than about 3’ from the line of the road – cars will negotiate that, trucks ‘aren’t supposed to’.

Oddly the correct ‘dome’ of the reprofiling across the line of the rails is the same as for the ex-ATSF crossing in Illinois that caused such pain a couple of years ago. Have the truck stall out or high-center while no part of it is fouling the loading gage…

11

Damage may be worse than most. As of 2000hr still CSX personnel around. A BNSF haulage train is passing over the crossing at some speed less than 10 MPH. Will try to check it out tomorrow morning.