I’ve been checking out some spots along the Transcon. I’ve ran into some unprotected crossings. That’s very dangerous. Most of the trains move at track speed 70 MPH by there. There was already one accident at one of the crossings. These crossings don’t have any flashing lights, no gates, no sound, no warning at all that a train is coming. We always stop and look both ways before crossing. These crossings should be fixed. I’ve ran into two of them, there could be more. There’s going to be some horrible accidents if they’re not fixed.
I agree, they should all be plowed up and closed !
I think we need to dig moats on either side, fill it with gators and pungee sticks, and post armed guards to cap any one who gets past the gators…[:D]
Yep. There was already one accident. It happened at 2:30 AM. Two guys weren’t looking when going across the tracks. A fast moving intermodal hit them, unfortunately killing the driver and passenger. They think alcohol was involved.
Hehe. That’s a good idea. [:)]
Yes horrible accidents will occur in this situation. I just got finished oly about two weeks ago doing a report on highway -rail grade crossings. Most of the report delt with people’s lack of knowledege or stupidity at grade xings. However, I did touch upon unprotected crossings, you’d be suprised at how many unprotected crossing there are in the US. I personally can name about 10 in my area. That’s sad. I like to call unprotected crossings DOP (disasters on point). Also when I was in high school I did my senior sem on accidents at railroad crossings, I showed two videos on train-car collisions. I had people’s head turing to that one, and I was also asked lots of questions about unprotected and protected crossings.
Sarah, I’m right with you. It is sad. I’ve already ran into two. I’m sure there are a lot more. [:(] They need to be fixed immediately. They should at least put flashing lights on them to give us some kind of warning that a train is coming. I’d also prefer sound. [:)] Not BNSF’s new sound they gave the crossings. [:D]
We have one recent level crossing collision in BC. The gates were down, lights flashing, but the locals had come to view that with suspicion because the gates would operate intermittently… for no apparent reason. In this case, two days ago, a young fellow became impatient and skirted the gates, realized that he had rolled snake-eyes, and tried to reverse…too late. He survived, but it was touch-and-go.
Wow. Glad that he was Ok. [:)] Some people just can’t wait 5 minutes for a train to go by. Some can’t even wait 10 seconds for an Amtrak to fly by.
Yeah you are all right these crossings should be fixed because it can be real dangeors. There is one crossing in wisconsin that the state is making the railroad put up gates and lights even though the crossing only sees a train a couple times a month.
That’s good. All crossings should have gates, and sound. All trains should honk at all of them, too. None of these Quiet Zones. [:D]
Unprotected crossings in Idaho ( and there are many in sparsely populated areas) are required to have a special reflector attached to the cross bucks. This reflector has 3 faces - 1 facing oncoming road traffic and 2 at 45 degree angles to the railroad. As a train approaches the crossing, the engines headlight is reflected off the 45 degree angle into the path of oncoming highway traffic.
For a rather inexpensive, passive system, it works quite well.
dd
Ed,
Aligators do not do well in northern climates. Should we heat the moat, or get ilk?
Macf
I’m sure that all parties involved would like to see full crossing protection - lights, crossbucks, four quadrant gates - at all crossings. There are two problems - money, and money. The first money is for the equipment and installation itself. The second money is for maintenance. MC can enlighten.
Many of the “rural” crossings see few trains, and nearly as few cars. Plowing them up would be an idea, but only if you can provide other access to wherever the road leads. I pass several crossings in my travels that are for fishing access. The track is probably no more than 40mph to start with, lightly travelled, and upgrade to boot. That’s not to say that a collision can’t occur, but the odds are pretty low…
Ummm, anyone ever hear of long long short long??? Geesh is it really that hard to look both ways before crossing tracks? I say let darwinism take over.
I do like that moat idea. [oX)]
Public or Private crossing? … The rules & responsibilities for each are wildly different.
The western railroads for years have tried to close as many private crossings as possible and tighten up the documentation plus impose insurance on those that remain. I would be VERY surprised to see anything less than at least crossbucks at a public crossing. If railroads increase the number of tracks at a crossing, the local state PUC/Corporation Commission/Railroad Commissision has the right and responsibility to determine the proper amount of protection at that crossing before the new track is laid…By the way, whose transcon?
Yeah your right the moat is a good idea but the aligators dont do very well in the north but maybe if they put sharp shooters at the unsafe crossings and when they see a car coming that is not going to stop at the crossings. They could just shoot the tires out well before they hit the tracks. And if that does not work then maybe the moat will work filled with electric elles and man eating sharks.[:D][:D]
Get some Ilk…they eat anything!
I can’t recall seeing an “unprotected” public crossing. Every public xing I’ve seen has at least crossbucks. If every crossing needs gates, lights and bells, then they better put in traffic lights at every intersection. Actually in rural Iowa on some lightly used gravel county roads, there are intersections with no stop signs and no yield signs. You are supposed to know who has the right of way and drive accordingly.
Some Iowa counties have local ordinances that require a stop sign at crossings that only have crossbucks. What do most motorists do when they come upon a crossing with a stop sign? If you think they stop, look both ways and proceed if safe to do so, you would be sadly mistaken. As will those motorists some day when they meet a train.
Jeff
One of my clients in NW Iowa knows this all too well. In one crossing collision the offending motorist did not have to call the sheriff. His deputy was the hogger![:D]
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