As initial poster - I regretfully requested the thread to be deleted. The general nature of the posts to that thread had degraded beyond appropriate discussion for this forum. Let’s keep things on a more professional level.
dd
10-4 on that!
There was some un-called for bashing against truckers.
As I stated on that thread, the trucking and railroad industries are integral parts of our economy. Both industries have advantages and flaws but let either one of these transporation resources grind to a halt and watch how quickly Wall Street and even the President go into “Red Alert” mode.
The point, I still agree with is that railroads should come after motorists that are at fault in grade crossing accidents. After a speeding locomotive hits a vehcile at a grade crossing, the cost to the railroad can easily amount to thosands of dollars, even if the damage to the locomotive “looks minor”. If this were done on a national scale, many grade crossing “train racers” would have another incentive to think twice since in addition to a traffic ticket and hospital bill (if he survives) he’s going to pay for repairs to that locomotive and track.
Now if the perp happens to be a low income person, the old tired excuse “Well he’s economically disadvantaged” shouldn’t cut it. $2 to $5 can be garnished from his “benefits” check for the next 40 years! I’m not trying to be insensitive, but as a former Operation Lifesaver participant I find it frustrating that these collisions continue in the 21st century and bleeding heart lawyers find every justifiable excuse to coddle the perps and fault the railroads.
Not only that, but “rednecks” and “hillbillies” as well, which is uncalled for in my opinion.
Agreed Trainfreak,
BTW, speaking of “rednecks”: I’m a big fan of Earl Pitts! http://www.earlpitts.us
Many of his fans look forward to his daily tirade on morning radio stations across the nation where he always starts off with: “You know what makes me sick?” and ends with “Wake up, America!”
Anyway, the bashing is over. Would like to see more opinions on this issue. It seems that people getting hit by trains has become so common-place that many of us have become desensitized; except for train crews that must be very frustrated by these drivers.
My uncle works for Amtrak, and there have been afew times he has had to investigate a grade crossing accident/incident. He hasn’t been desensitized yet. The last one he went to made him really sick, he had to take off a week of work to regroup himself.
I was on an Amtrak train this spring that unfortunately hit two people walking dogs on the track. I happened to be talking with the sleeper attendent when the conductor brought him the news - since the sleeper attendent had to open the back door of the car to let the conductor out.
That news hit them both really hard. We were delayed by 5 hours because the train could not be moved at all until the investigation was complete.
That is when the impact of these accidents on the crews really hit me.
dd
Not going to happen. Surly not in this of age it won’t. Allan.
A BIG Thank You dd as I happen to have a brother in law who is an engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, a brother in law who owns a trucking firm, and a brother in law who is a diesel mechanic. And all of that is spelled correctly.
Now, maybe this forum can get on to what it was originally designed to do: discussing railroading and the activities involved. Not bashing everything and exclaiming hatred for some particular thing.
Why not discuss special car loadings, engine lash-ups (consists), and job assignments?? Makes for much more interesting topics.
My 2cents worth or for what it’s worth.