Very professional!
Was the guy with the white pick-up and trailer trying to park in a no-parking zone? Not too professional on his part.
Looks like he was trying to pull over for the train.
Seems like that road would be better if it were made 1-way (At least for the 2 blocks of street running).
I don’t think he was trying to park - he made the trun, saw the train and ‘thought’ he could squeeze his truck and trailer into the No Parking zone for the train to pass. Bad Idea.
I don’t know if the street running is at some ‘authorized speed’ or if the area is to be operated at Restricted Speed?
Notice the “shoving move” back across the intersection and back into the street it came out of without protection!
Wasn’t until later that I saw the intersection was protected by gates, at least on the far side.
- PDN.
Don’t believe Kentucky highway rules require anyone to protect the point on a shove.
In La Grange, as trains come into town from either direction, they’re only moving about 10 MPH. Once the head end of the train is exiting the street running and the “no horn” crossings, the trains generally accelerate back to normal track speed.
Kevin
There is a difference between 10 MPH and Restricted Speed. With 10 MPH trains ARE NOT required to stop within 1/2 the range of vision. The maximum speed authorized by CSX Restricted Speed is 15 MPH being able to stop within 1/2 the range of vision.
Found a Louisville Divison ETT - at South Lagrange the restriction is 10 MPH until the engine blocks the street - then it can accelerate to 20 MPH. On either side of South Lagrange the track speed is 40 MPH.
One thing I was concerned about when the train stopped and the gates came up was if the Conductor would have to flag the road crossing. Was glad to see that when the train started moving again that the gates then descended again.
What was the driver supposed to do? He enters the intersection with the right of way, and makes a right turn onto a street that then become too narrow for his vehicle due to the approach of a train. Wisely, he chose not to attempt backing up the trailer blind into the busy cross street.
I would say there is always the potential for vehicles being trapped there due to the vehicle lane not being wide enough without fouling the track. So, obiously trains must be expected to be able to stop short of any vehicles.
I have never paid attention so this may be more common than I realize. I guess I have never seen a situation like this.
Are there a lot of places that have tracks running on streets like this? (Not talking about a streetcars, etc.)
Then they would be required restricted speed. Are they here?
ETT does not require Restricted Speed.
It would require something more restrictive than restricted speed. Being able to stop within one half of the range of vision would not address the problem in this location. It would require being able to stop within a couple hundred feet in order to be reasonable.
It is as if the whole street there is one giant grade crossing.
Yeah, that doesn’t exist. And there are times when running restricted speed you have to stop within a few feet. You adjust speed accordingly. After all (let’s all say it together): RESTRICTED SPEED IS NOT A SPEED, BUT A METHOD OF OPERATION!
Like double-secret restricted speed? [:-,]
I mean, I guess you could go backwards?
What I was thinking was something more restrictive than the maximum speed allowed under restricted speed. But if the “method of operation” element of restrictive speed would address the short range fouling likely to occur, then restrictive speed would be adequate. But in any case, we are told that restricted speed is not in effect at that location.
In the case of the street running in the video, the half sight distance would be way too long. What good is being able to stop within half the site distance (say 1500 feet) for abrupt fouling that is likely to occur in a range of 1-500 feet? Of course, you can’t stop within 1 foot, but 200 feet seems reasonable. Under 200 feet, vehicle drivers must be instructed to yield to trains. I wonder if there are any signs telling drivers what to do there.
I agree that restricted speed is not a speed, but a method of operation. But the method of operation needs to be targeted at the most likely form of obstruction, and the 15 mph limit of restricted speed is too high for stopping for that most likely form of obstruction.
The engineer in this video used a perfect method of operation.
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Bucky - Restricted speed is a method of operation whereby the engineer is required to operate in such a manner as to be able to stop in half the range of vision.
Rules for restricted speed never invoke a “speed limit.” They state “Not To Exceed.”
The maximum practical speed based on conditions might be 5 MPH.
There is a maximum for restricted speed, either 15 or 20 mph depending on rule book. However, conditions may require that 5 mph. Maybe even less or not moving at all.
For that location, maybe we can take a page out of history and require a man on horse back to precede the movement through the area of street running.
Jeff