Local TV is reporting a GLC train hit a woodchip semi about noon today south of Kalkaska Michigan. Truck driver had minor injury, train crew unhurt. Engine hit trailer and derailed.
http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=809535#.UG9kUZjAfbM
Just glad there were no serious injuries.
Being an OTR driver myself I am getting sick of seeing what I call Steering Wheel Holders not obeying the Rules of the Road and then being HIT by a train. There is no sense in that at ALL. I have even gone so far as written the FMCSA the guys that Regulate my Industry and Proposed a 3 Step Process to make sure All Drivers are looking for Trains to avoid getting hit on Public Roadways.
1 was an Automatic 1 Year Revocation of the Drivers License for the Driver from all types of Vechiles both CMV and POV.
2 was a 25K Fine to the Carrier for the offense that occured as the Driver was acting as an Agent for the Carrier at the time.
Last and this was a Biggie Revoke the Carriers MC# and DOT#'s if in a 6 month Period another one of their Trucks does another Stupid thing like drive in front of a train. See that one was for the Megas that would be like No Biggie we can afford it. JB Hunt or Swift Shut down for NOT Obeying a Traffic law by the Feds would get someones attention.
Sorry but I haul Haz Mat and My eyes at EVERY set of RR tracks are on a Swivel and I always expect a train at ANYTIME.
I stand by my opinion that we need to start a long term program to gradually eliminate grade level crossings. Our society contains too many people who are too stupid to be allowed to drive or even walk across railroad tracks. Imagine how much faster trains, both passenger and freight, could move if they didn’t have to deal with crossings.
As a OTR driver myself, I agree something needs to be done, but I don’t know what. Some drivers just don’t get it, you get hit with a train, you lose! In Drivers Ed class back in high school, they showed us a movie called “Signal 30”. That was the Ohio State Patrol code for a crash with a death( I suppose it still is). It made a big impression on all who saw it. Maybe some education instead of more laws that .don’t get enforced or are ignored would help. The sad part is no matter what is done, there will always be blockheads that think they are imortal and kill and hurt others with their colossal stupidity.
Tim
Elimination of grade crossings outright is rather idealistic. But many can and should be eliminated. What really is needed is more education of drivers about grade crossings, especially of the young and the professional CDL’s . Both groups breed macho cowboys who think because of their age or their machine, they are invincible. Secondly, over the road CDL’s often fall into a false sense of security or even an oblivious state hypnotized by speed and and long periods of movement… Just because in 10 or 100 years of traveling the same route over and over and there has never been a train at any given grade crossing doesn’t mean there will never be a train on that grade crossing. Not all drivers…youthful or CDL’s…are bad, most are very good…but it is when the bad or disinterested or one slight glance off the road by a good driver that all come into question. Education is the first line of defense, knowing your route, your machine, and yourself . A bridge over or under the tracks is secondary to being alert and serious about driving.
A train just running down the ROW is so loud and so heavy that you can FEEL it coming. It’s approach is heralded by an air horn loud enough to wake the dead, warning signs painted on the pavement, warning signs on posts beside the road, large flashing lights at eye level, a loud clanging bell, and a wooden barricade with lights on it which physically obstructs the approach path. If all that doesn’t work, education sure isn’t going to get the job done.
If we had started 50 years ago eliminating grade level crossings, beginning with the ones that have a high accident rate, we would be well on the way to eliminating them all. But, in fact, we are still building NEW grade level crossings.
The truckdriver had ear plugs in (I suspect ear buds and an ipod) and rear ended a semi gasoline truck less than a year ago from what I heard. I took pictures of the wreck last Monday and track visibilty is at least a quarter of a mile in both directions. Trains are pretty rare in northern Michigan. I have seen three in three years. There were crossbucks working and wood chips everywhere.
The elimination game began in 1978 and went into warp drive in 2003. Unfortunately the section 400 monies didn’t increase with it and then the state and local DOTs fought it and continue to fight it. NexTee/IceTEA/ Whatchamacallit TEA is more interested in Rail/Trails and beautification instead of grade separations. The political side of the equation has warped the process.
FRA/DOT is tackling private crossings and approach vision distance easements with a lot of pushback. Those of us who teach never seem to be astounded by some of the assumptions about crossings and railroads that are out there.
If you are building a crossing out here , you have to find at least two others to close.
Elimination game has always been around…as long as the other party is paying for it. Railroads were usually in place first and thus it fell on government to pay for the grade crossing or bridge or tunnel. Most railroads would tell highway people to bridge and pay instead of at grade crossings but are hard pressed to get the bridge on a pair of rusted rails in the weeds. Still they would prefer no grade crossing where ever highway or road traffic was dense enough to hamper even one train a month I suppose.
The line between Cadillac and Petosky is an old PRR line that was not included in Conrail, and is state supported. Most section-line roads have a grade crossing so there is a crossing about every mile for the 90 miles. As nbdprr points out, trains are rare on the line, somewhat less than daily. If the state had to build 90 overpasses, they would probably just close their line.