Grade Crossing Prevention

[Chessie8638]

This is what Russia uses to keep people from running the gates. Why aren't these installed in N. America yet..

Gates come down and those things pop up from the road.

[mapitts]

Two words come to my mind; liability & attorney. We have to put a warning on the gas pump not to drink the gasoline................

[ATSF3814]

Well I know one company did come out with something called the StopGate. It's basically a heavily reinforced crossing barrier that cover the entire length of the roadway:



I'm not sure how successful it's been though.

[JimM]

Two words come to my mind; liability & attorney. We have to put a warning on the gas pump not to drink the gasoline................

Don't forget the warning on Steam Irons too....."Do not use while wearing clothes".....gee...ya think?

Then there's my favorite....for a hair dryer...."Not for use in the shower".....I'd think that'd make your hair REALLY curley...

[arizonachris]

There's a crossing for both freight an Amtrak's Metrolink in City of Industry out here, nototious for folks driving around the gates. The local Sheriffs know the schedule, so the sit right there. The traffic ticket you get, along with fines and penalties, is over $400. They always get several idiots a day. That Metrolink rips thru there pretty fast, too. Funny, the next crossing up the line, never a problem. A few people have been killed at this first one, tho. One guy parked his SUV on the tracks to commit suicide, chickened out, left the SUV there on the track. Pretty stupid stuff.

Was working at a big printing company right across from the tracks, always took a cigarette break when I heard that horn off in the distance. Those double stacks were probably at least a mile long sometimes.

[mapitts]

You mean the fine is $400 IF you make it.

[micaelcorleone]

This is what Russia uses to keep people from running the gates. Why aren't these installed in N. America yet.

First of all: I'm sure that this installation is an exception in Russia. I can't imagine that you'll find much of these on their old and attrited system.

Various reasons:
- installation costs
- maintenance costs
- what if the crossing has a malfunction and emergency vehicles need to cross?
- various security issues: What if someone puts his head or feet into this thing and then it retracts? - e.g. a child?

The last point could be avoided by something like this:


I think it would only make sense at crossings with lots of accidents.

[Bananarama]

Don't forget the warning on Steam Irons too....."Do not use while wearing clothes".....gee...ya think?

Ironing clothes in the nude?

[Bananarama]

One guy parked his SUV on the tracks to commit suicide, chickened out, left the SUV there on the track. Pretty stupid stuff.

Actually, it was the contention of the prosecutor that the "one guy" (Juan Alvarez) parked his Jeep on the tracks in a deliberate attempt to derail the train, all so that he could gain the attention of his estranged wife. Suicide wasn't even on the menu - just one of his many lies he (and his defense attorneys) spewed out during his murder trial. Thankfully, Alvarez was convicted and got LWOP.

[philmoberg]

At one point, the North Shore installed crossing protection that consisted of a barrier fence lowered across the entire width of the road's travel way. This was a substantial structure which required two tall towers, perhaps twenty feet high, in order to raise and lower it. I don't happen to have a photo of this contraption handy, but I have seen a copy of one in at least one of the popular books on this legendary interurban. They did this in response to a grade crossing accident which resulted in the derailment of an express train operating at 80mph. IIRC several passengers lost their lives because of a motorist who attempted to beat the train.

These days, the preferred solution at FRA and FHWA is to divide the travel way in the middle and install gates across the travel way on both sides of the road. It's expensive, to be sure, but not nearly as expensive as the North Shore's approach or the Russians' approach. It also doesn't tend to have the vulnerabilities that the Russian solution would have in areas of severe Winter weather.

[Chacal]

First of all: I'm sure that this installation is an exception in Russia. I can't imagine that you'll find much of these on their old and attrited system.

Various reasons:
- installation costs
- maintenance costs
- what if the crossing has a malfunction and emergency vehicles need to cross?
- various security issues: What if someone puts his head or feet into this thing and then it retracts? - e.g. a child?

Not to mention the severe winter conditions in parts of Russia.

The last point could be avoided by something like this:

But what if someone is sitting on the pavement right over this thing?
8|

[Trainguy76]

But what if someone is sitting on the pavement right over this thing?

Make it easy to see and put some sort of "Stop here when lights are flashing" sign. Have bells and lights go off before the poles go up to give a warning.

[micaelcorleone]

But what if someone is sitting on the pavement right over this thing?

Well, I think it doesn't hurt you to be lifted 3 feet into the air.