Where I live, there are many branch lines that have gone exempt. Also, the lines still in operation around here aren’t getting as good care as other lines I see in other areas. Does this mean the railroad doesn’t have enough money to support it? And why are there so many exempts?
And just where are you?
The exempt sign signifies that the railroad line in question sees very little traffic and therefore does not have to be maintained to a higher standard if the line saw frequent use. Branch lines that have seasonal traffic, like grain, may fall under the exempt category. I believe that a line under exempt status does not have to have warning lights and gates at crossings. So if a train uses the line, then someone has to flag the crossing as the train passes. Hopefully the railroad where you live takes enough care of the branch lines in question to ensure that when they’re used, the train on the track doesn’t derail. [:0]
Vermont
It means that that line isn’t used that much,… I guess![:D]
With all the wonderful mileage that used to lace Vermont that has been pulled up, you are lucky those branch lines are still being used! Actually. we are all lucky.
EXEMPT on crossing bucks means that motor vehicle traffic required to stop at RR crossings does not have to stop. The track is not used but not abonded.
TOM
Or used so seldom that the railroad crew flags the crossing.
MUTCD Sign R15-3, W10-01
Helt & Alstom : If you are old enough to drive, please inform me of your location so that the railroad can erect brand new orange diamond “stupid zone” signs in your honor. Didn’t you see the other post that is less than a week old?
School busses and those commercial vehicles that are usually required to stop at crossings are not required to do so where authorized by local ordinance
Hello? Operation Lifesaver?, I’d like to report an accident about to happen!
http://www.operationlifesaver.ca/
http://www.oli.org/
Some of you folks are just plain scary!
[soapbox][soapbox][soapbox]
http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/technical_working_group/twg_part_3.pdf
OH! So thats what it means when you see a “EXEMPT” sign on the signals? Hmm, interesting.
Very ture I drive a school bus here in wisconsin and when I come up to an exempt crossing and go right over it people in the next car look like look what he has just done
but then I’ll come up to an active crossing to stop and I’ll get those stupid—[soapbox] people that come right up behind me and DAM near hit me because they think school bus dont have to stop at RR crossings
I guess that means they are blind also,and can’t see the lettering on the
back of the school bus (at least all that I’ve seen) that says:
“THIS VEHICLE STOPS FOR ALL R.R. X-INGS.”