A year ago BNSF put in place new grade crossing gate mechanisms at Verdemont (between Cajon Pass and San Bernardino, CA on the “transcon”) for the TWO-track line in advance of a roadway widening project, even as triple-tracking was progressing just yards away. After a few months, they REPOSITIONED the north unit for THREE-tracks. Now it is happening again, this time at Devore, just a few miles away from Verdemont. A new grade crossing device was positioned for THREE-tracks, but not yet hooked up. Suddenly, BNSF starts grading for a short, quarter-mile or so possible setout track. That new unit now will have to be REPOSITIONED for a FOUR-track grade crossing. Frankly, I don’t know what to make of all this!
nothing new… nothing but a tax rightoff for the relocation…they do stupid stuff like this all the time…railroads only plan for the hear and now…and later when things change…they deal with them when they change… it dont make any sence to try and figer it out becouse you will just slowly go insaine…
csx engineer
It also has to do with a “not my problem” attititude and lack of communication between departments. I have seen where the track department may have had the improvements on the drawing board for years, but saw no reason to let the signal department know in advance of construction. Likewise, the signal department sees no benefit in calling the track department to see if anything is going to change before they install new signals. They feel they will get no answer or an intentionally wrong answer. In short, each department acts independantly, “planning only for what they see or know”. Railroads could improve their profitability greatly by getting their own employees (and departments) to cooperate more, to eliminate unnecessary re-work.
K.P., in the incidents you cited, there may have been safety and liabiltiy issues that override the potential cost savings of placing the signals back the first time.
There may be a requirement that they may not be allowed to preposition the gates baised on futere plans no matter how eminent. Untill the track is physically there then they can move the cross bucks.Some one with a better knowledge who works for the signaling dept knows the answer. I am only guessing.[2c]