Stop for those STOP Signs

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I reported 2 rail crossings to the Southern Indiana Railroad Safety Inspector (I just happened to meet him at a job-fair at a shopping mall). The crossing are in Princeton, Ind. and in Francisco, Ind.. The trains that go through there were going way too fast (rail speed was set too high) and they meet at an angle which precluded the truck drivers from seeing any oncoming trains (if "I" can see a train coming or the lights and arms are just starting, I will always wait). There are many propane trucks that cross those tracks and there were MANY near misses!

Another thing that the Inspector told me was that the time from which the lights come on to the time that the train crosses... is only about 23 seconds or less... BY DESIGN! He said that if the time is longer than that people get anxious and run the lights and arms. When a truck driver cannot see down the tracks and lets out on the clutch... and his front bumper is just entering the track area... 23 seconds or less is a "blink of the eye!" A truck driver is not allowed to shift gears on the tracks. So if the truck is loaded and the driver has to start moving (because he stopped as required by law) in 2nd gear... the driver cannot shift up or go any faster than top-end of that gear to get off the tracks! A driver CANNOT stop the truck and back up... so they are committed to crossing.

Since I reported the dangerous areas to the Inspector the trains have slowed down and the lights come on sooner! Sometimes it is neither the train operator's errors or the truck drivers errors... it is the error of the design engineer that designed the crossing.... Rail speed too high for conditions, blind spots inherant in the truck driver's cab, lights with too little time before the train crosses.

As for Amtrack.... in Arcola, Ill. that Amtrack train is going WAY TOO FAST through town!!! I have crossed those tracks and barely cleared the tracks.... when the train crossed right behind me... and the arms are not even fully down yet!!! Real scarey!!!

Yes, the stopping distances are much greater for the trains and not all the brakes work as effeciently as they should... but then there are big trucks on the road that do not have the brakes adjusted and up to code either. I believe that no one is placing blame on anyone here in this thread. Accidents between semi trucks and smaller vehicles are 75% of the time (according to DOT & OOIDA statistics) the fault of the smaller vehicle. I do not know the stats about the train/vehicle accidents... but I would guess they are similar. There are those cars and trucks that run the tracks (when the lights are on and arms down) and there are those engineers that may be "asleep at the wheel" sometimes. But overall I think it is important to have the trains rolling... and the trucks hauling... we just need to have a better form of communicating our own inherent problems, so that each of us can watchout for the other.

I have never heard of any "forum" where the rail system finds and fixes dangerous situations. I am not saying it isn't so... I am saying that most likely 99% of the truck drivers have never heard of such a thing. There are truckers that talk about dangerous crossings and dangerous situations on the CB and at truck stops... but they know of no phone number or person to call to report situations... so they don't! I just happened to run across this guy and it struck me to say something. I do not have his name or number so I couldn't even report (or tell any drivers where to report) any other problems if I wanted to! I can tell you that most drivers think that the engineers and rail lines are arrogant and that they think they have the right of way because the train is the bigger of the vehicles. I know that the train operators want no part of a chance at a collision... but maybe the engineers and drivers ought to have a better way of communicating!

Anyway, since you mentioned that you operate a train... I thought that you would like to have some insight, as to the driver's view from the cab of a big truck (or actually the LACK of view). When you come upon a truck at the crossing or approching a crossing.... lay on the horn!!!! Even if you are farther from the crossing than would activate the lights and arms... lay on the train's horn!!! A truck driver more than likely cannot see on an angled track and the driver will most likely assume that the train is not near if the arms and lights are not going. (Did I mention that I dread angled tracks?) I do roll my windows down and listen... but I have seen trains approach a roadway and not blow their horns till they are within a few hundred yards of the crossing.

Share this info about the blind spot of a semi (when you approach a truck on the right, at a slight rearward angle) with as many train operators as possible! I figure that you can spread this bit of info if you work for the rail line. It might save both of the truck & train's operator's lives! I am telling you a real valuable piece of info here... there are times that truck drivers just cannot see the train... and once committed to crossing the tracks... a truck has to finish crossing (and gear shifting to speed up is not an option). The lights and arms may start activating just before the truck's front bumper starts across the tracks... but even then... the truck IS committed to crossing!!! BLOW THE HORN EARLY!!! I know that the people along the tracks do not like trains blowing their horns anymore than just absolutely necessary... and there are municipalities that will restrict the blowing of train horns... but if you see a semi approaching a crossing... please... let it blast!!! You will be doing us both a favor!!! Please share this with any of the guys that operate trains!

Thanks, Chris

DuaneW.

Since you are in Maine, I doubt our paths will ever cross... but I will still stop and listen at every crossing! Just remember what I said about seeing a semi truck at an angled crossing... it might not see you... so make sure it hears you!

My Great-Uncle (who built the very house that I am living in) was killed (along with 2 other neighbor farmers) by a train at a blind crossing, back in 1960. There were no signals back then for a lot of the rural crossings and the trees grew a lot closer to the tracks. So I think about train/vehicle encounters everytime I cross a set of tracks! Interesting coincidence was that in the mid '70s... my Dad (who bought this house from my Great-Uncle's estate) rented it to a railroad engineer to live in. Weird coincidence huh?!

Take care Dan!

Chris

As for being like minded, I do believe we are that! I am not only concerned about the vehicles crossing the tracks (safely), but the anguish and emotional grief that train engineers suffer, from some fool crossing at the wrong time. Yes, definitely use the whistle sooner, if possible, it can usually be heard long before the lights come on. I will suggest that you study the crossings that you encounter on your routes and memorize which ones cross the roadway from a rearward angle (you probably already know which ones these are). Those crossings are the ones that will most likely have the closest near-misses. Then think about how a truck that may be crossing that intersection may not see you coming. Try to figure out what distance is best for signaling with the whistle to get the drivers attention before he were to let out on the clutch to start to cross... I guarantee that the distance is far before the lights are activated.

Take care and I am glad we were able to talk!

Chris

When I learned to stop short of the tracks and leave a large space so the tracks were clear (when some @$$ would be poking along not showing signs of intellegence) Then the cars behind me thought they could move me forward to take up that space "ON THE TRACKS" (as though that would get them an advantage getting through the next green light) by honking their horns at me, and yelling out the window for me to pull up... I didn't get mad or flip them off... I just would take my time moving when it was my turn (I know they could see me in the mirror, looking at them and smiling... LOL!

My BiL has run that line a few times - the hump in the road by the fairgrounds, right?

--->Paul