Railworks America

http://www.wfaa.com/news/Tanker-train-c ... 50935.html It seems a train hit a tanker in Texas. From the report both tanker driver and train staff are ok.

OK, what, no signals? No crossing arms? And how do you get a semi tanker stuck on a crossing? This is perplexing.

Could be one of those crossings where the road goes up quite a bit to meet the track at grade. There was one in one of the Carolinas that NS finally closed because of so many trucks getting stuck and hit (despite the area being clearly placarded that trucks should not use this crossing!). Particularly dangerous for any long wheelbase vehicle.

What's "love's fuel"? Another name for money?

Chacal wrote:What's "love's fuel"? Another name for money?

Loves is a chain of gas/fuel stations in the US.
It's a gas station for cars, a diesel fuel stop for trucks, as well as a huge convenience store. Sometimes coupled with a fast food chain restaurant like McDonalds, Arby's, etc.

Like Hawk said, Loves is a chain of Truck Stops across the south US, big in Texas , excellent place if you are traveling and open 24/7.

As someone who drove tankers (smooth bore, and baffeled), the driver should have known better. No doubt that the driver had to button hook his tractor to make the turn into the crossing. Now the tractor might have been streight as crossed the tracks. However, the tanker is still on an angle to the tracks as it complete its turn. If the grade was high, the dollies would have struck the ground as the tractors tandems crossed the tracks. As soon as the driver heard the sound of dollies scrapeing, he should have backed up and found another crossing. I surmise that the driver continued forward movement and got stuck. If I pulled a bonehead move like that, I would have backed it off the grade. If I could not back up then I would have kept moving foward bending the dollies till I cleared the tracks. Yes, I would have been in hot water with the company, might even be fired. However, replacing bent dollies is preferable to replacing an $85,000 tanker. Remember Rule of Life #1: Stupid is supposed to hurt!

We have a local propane business in Apex and the trucks must cross the CSX mainline multiple times everyday while delivering, sometimes they stop, sometimes they don't, despite the "we stop at all RR crossings" sticker. And that NS accident referred to earlier happened here in NC.