Cab-car View: Metra/Union Pacific-NW Line: Arlington Heights to Chicago

[GEES44DC]

You have an engineer here who wants to go to jail. If that bell isn't on 1/4 of a mile from the crossings and the train were to hit someone, then that engineer would be in big trouble.

[Railroader007]

@GEES44DC The law only applies to the horn, not the bell

[GEES44DC]

@Railroader007 No man, the bell must be on 1/4 of a mile from the crossing. The horn is the one that can be timed to the speed. Faster ... start at the whistle post. Slower ... start where you will still be able to provide your 20 seconds or warning. Here in Canada the bell does not need to be rang if the horn is being blown for a crossing but that doesn't apply in the U.S. 1/4 of a mile from the crossing until occupied no matter what the speed.

[Railroader007]

@GEES44DC I challenge you to find me the law the states that in my years of railroading I have never heard that.

[GEES44DC]

@Railroader007 It says that in the CROR (Canadian). This is from the GCOR - 5.8.1 Ringing Engine Bell -

• Approaching public crossings at grade with the engine in front START SIGNAL AT THE CROSSING SIGN. If no sign, or if movement begins between sign and crossing, start signal soon enough before crossing to provide warning. Continue ringing bell until the crossing is occupied.

[GEES44DC]

@Railroader007 The NORAC rule book just says it must be rung when approaching and passing through public crossings at grade. Now, we have that kind of language in our rule book too. When you dig deeper and find out what the interpretation of 'approaching" is ... CN says 1/4 of a mile. That may not be the same for all railroads but in a society where people will sue for anything, starting the bell as late as this engineer is foolish.

[brassspitoon]

Enjoyed the video, as all of my commuter experience is on the 2 coasts (NY, PH, LA, SF). Sounded like a real hen party going on in the head car. Old ladies day out to the Chicago museums?

[brushcreek42]

Why did you skip Park Ridge?

[Nachtwolf1]

@brushcreek42 I had to dump my camera's memory card on my laptop right about then.  Card was full.

[UnionPacificGuy]

I'll have to try doing that. When you did it did you pay the conductor before you got on the train or did you let the conductor see your video camera and pay while it was recording?

[Nachtwolf1]

@UnionPacificGuy I paid before filming.

[UnionPacificGuy]

I wanted to go to the front vestibule window of the cab car and was told that I could look but not film. When you did it did anyone object?

[Nachtwolf1]

@UnionPacificGuy Nope, no one said anything. If you do it on a weekday rush hour, it tends to be less of a problem (i.e., the conductors then have better things to do than pointlessly harass riders for videotaping/photographing.). I've had the most trouble with filming this way on the BNSF Line and Electric District, probably because they are some of the busiest lines. All three of the UP lines have been less problematic for filming, personally.

[UnionPacificGuy]

How were you able to do this cab car ride? I'm trying to do a cab car ride on Metra but was told I couldn't.

[Nachtwolf1]

@UnionPacificGuy Well, it's not from the cab itself; this was taken from the front vestibule window of the cab car.

[JetMechMA]

My God, look how tall Chicago is. 

[JetMechMA]

No horn at a crossing? Since when?

[Nachtwolf1]

@JetMechMA Since "quiet zones" were instituted. People complain about the noise for some reason...

[TheDqwt]

Cab car View CTA Green Line Oak Park to Cottage Grove

[poopybooyah]

hey, that's where I live in this illinois