3/20/04 Leaving Riverton grade crossing incident.

[robertgift]

Motorist did nothing wrong.

Train operator starts his grade crossing horn sequence too late. Also the signal activation is too late. Train operator MUST compensate for that. (WARNING: Hit me, train operator, you and your "railroad" get sued off the face of thearth!)

I hope they stop the use of his horns for crossings.

With signals and gates, horns are not needed and an.noyance to nearby residents and businesses.

[doodlejtr]

@robertgift: You are correct about the 20-25 seconds warning. This interval is almost always afforded when a train first hits the activation circuit. If a train stops, for whatever reason, within the approach, activation circuit, motion sensors on the crossing warning equipment will sense that train movement has ceased and will deactivate the crossing protection devices. Engineers cannot occupy the crossing, when movement resumes, until devices can be seen to be in the fully lowered position.

[robertgift]

@doodlejtr The old crossing circuits would stay on as long as the train was shunting the circuit.

It's the new systems with which one must be careful.

The can detect forward progress of the shunt and reactivate signals. Sometimes they were/are a little late in detecting forward progress so the engine can arrive before the crossing is fully closed. But the train is usually moving slowly at that point.

Here, the operator is wrong in taking the auto license number for HIS signal failure.

[doodlejtr]

@robertgift: Again, Sir, I say again: What you are saying about the crossing protection device circuits is correct. Maybe the rule requirement is different on the trolley lines. And, maybe the little dogs should not play with the big dogs, but the fact of the matter is, on the Class I railroads, their rules provide that it is the ENGINEERS' responsibility NOT to enter the crossing, with his train or engine, if a movement delay has caused the gates to raise.

[robertgift]

@doodlejtr I agree. Thengine MUST not enter the crossing before it has been closed by gates.

If no gates, hopefully the (o)"|"(o) have been operating long enough to give adequate warning.

In this case, the opeartor was wrong to enter before the gates had fully closed.

He is blaming the car when it is his railroad's fault and his fault for accelerating to the pointhat he beat the gates..

[doodlejtr]

Maybe not all the motorist's fault. Most railroad rules require, of the Engineer, that if train movement has stopped and then started again from within the crossing signal activation approach circuit, the Engineer MUST NOT foul the crossing until the gates are in the fully lowered position.

[robertgift]

@doodlejtr NOT the motorist's fault at all.

The grade crossing signals are to have closed the crossing WELL BEFORE train arrival.

Here, the train would have crossed before the gates were even down.

Initial signal activation is to be 25 seconds before train arrrival.

Hope they repaired the problem.

[tweeber69]

You should have horns that say "Get the **** off the tracks!"

[metraF40PH163]

seems like the people in the background would be a HUGE distraction. Also those siginals need to be worked on! good video though

[robertgift]

Can't blame the driver at :38.

Grade crossing signals did not activate early enough.

Also grade crossing horn much too late.

Get your signals working properly or prepare to always stop at that intersection.

Is the traffic signal preempted by the grade crossing signal activation?

Why is video quality so poor?

[Namerifrats]

@robertgift The driver of the vehicle is always at fault. People should not use the crossing lights and gates as a crutch. They do NOT relieve drivers of THEIR RESPONSIBILITY of STOPPING AND LOOKING! They are warning devices only. People are required to treat a RR crossing just like any other intersection. Would you pull out onto the interstate without looking and prepared to stop? Interstate traffic has the right of way...and trains have the right of way. Simple!

[robertgift]

WRONG, Frats. We rely on crossing signals. What is every driver to do, stop and look even when crossing signals are not operating? NO. We have crossing signals so that we need not stop and look. No comparison to Interstate. Interstates have no signals. They have assigned right of way. We are to merge (without stopping) and blend in with traffic. Do you stop at a green signal at an intersection? A collison here would be RR's fault. You MUST give adequate warning.

[Namerifrats]

@robertgift You need to learn your traffic laws chief. You ARE REQUIRED by law to yield the right of way to trains. You blow through a crossing and get hit, thats your ass....if you survive. There are alot of crossing that only have crossbucks. No lights or gates to babysit you there. What do you do then?

[robertgift]

With NO signals, you must do what is necessary to detect and yield to a train.

If you can see well in both directions, just continue.

If view is limited, SLOW so that you can stop if a train is approaching.

If a blind crossing, STOP, LOOK, LISTEN.

[Namerifrats]

@robertgift  I can agree with you on that. It's common since really. But so many people do not have/use it. I've been with the railroad 8 years, and killed 4 people. Gets old after a while. Nobody should ever trust their life to a warning system. People should not let the gates be a crutch....take the responsibility and look for yourself. It's your life/funeral after all....

[robertgift]

Sorry thathis happened to you and for those who killed themselves.

None were due to grade crossing signal failures, I presume.

In China, below the red (o)=(o) is a third blue (o)

Sign translates: Red signal, Stop car. (automobile)

No signal, don't use. (no blue light)

Corssbuck reads: Be careful, fire car (locomotive)

I trust our crossing signals.

Still, I crack a window and listen and look as I approach.

On emergency runs, I silence the siren to better hear locomotive horns.

[Namerifrats]

@robertgift

None were due to any signal problems. Mostly just people driving around the gates and stopping on the track where there is an intersection, and they are stuck . I also do Operation Lifesaver. If you are an emergency responder, you should find the OL video on here for Emergency Personnel and check it out. Just covers the basics. You'd be surprised how many times I'm shown the video and people sitting in class didn't realize the danger.

[robertgift]

I was OL presenter until they wanted everyone to take a TWO DAY refresher course.

I'll look. Thanks.

I've read train/fire apparatus collision reports. No excuse. Can't believe they happen.

[Namerifrats]

@robertgift I should have worded the first response a little differently. You are not required to actually make a complete stop at all crossings. By yielding,  it means you must be prepared to stop if a train is approaching. So if it's a blind crossing, until you determined there is no conflicting movement, you must still be prepared to stop.

[Namerifrats]

@robertgift

As for your interstate remark. Supposed you come shooting down the ramp, care are in both lanes so they can't (and are not required to) make room for you. What do you do? Ride down the shoulder of the road or just merge into the side of somebody? Yield means "When approaching an intersection controlled with a yield sign, slow down and yield to traffic on the intersection roadway even if this requires a full stop."

[robertgift]

Correct. I-traffic should continue and YOU find a space in which to merge.

Idiot woman recently slowed to let me in.

I was slowing to fall in behind her.

She further slows which keeps her next to me. (I had not yet engaged my lefturn signal.)

She slows everyone in behind her, closes the space behind into which I planned to enter.

She should have maintained her speed and let me find a place.

Yes, Yield means STOP unless you can go without affecting traffic which has the right of way.

[amtraksonicfan171]

what happened