Railworks America

What good are they? How many lives have they saved? What is their purpose? Please. Someone fill me in on this thing that seems so useless. You thoughts?

Thanks.

Well, I know of only one in my area and so far (knock on wood) no accidents.

Wouldn't you think it would jeopardize lives, rather than save them?

There are crossing guards.

We have a few near me. It reminds me of airports that have been there for fifty years and then new houses start complaining about the aircraft noise. Take it from one who grew up about 500 feet from a rail road that when they went by going up hill they were near notch eight and I never even heard them go by. Kids would be over at our house and say "What is that?' and I'd go "what is what?" It's like having a Grandfathers clock in your house and most of the time you don't hear it strike.
However nowadays one of our national pastimes is looking for things to bitch about and loud trains are a target even tho they were there long before the complainers. To us it's music. It's too bad they can't enjoy the music.

To me especially. The horns and engine noises are just about my favorite part!

NIMBYs have the DUMBEST excuses I have ever heard. If you go up to one and ask them for ONE GOOD REASON of how it's the train crews fault for hitting someone or why they think horns should not be used on trains, your opinion is almost ALWAYS in a more supported statement. Like some of you said, most of the trains were there first, and if they don't like it, then leave. I can't believe the FRA even looked in to any quiet zones, because sounding the horn is a warning to keep people SAFE. Not just for decoration or to intentionally annoy their neighborhood yes, some stupid nimby told me she thought they were just made so the train driver could have fun with the horn. And of course, we love it, but sadly, not everybody does. And sometimes they'll get their way because they won't take "no" for an answer. I think if they were more informed, the complaining would definitely lighten up. Especially when it comes to accidents. They blame the train, and yet, they want a quiet zone, or no train at all. Take the EJ&E after it was sucked into CN. With CN came more activity, and many homes are being built near the tracks, as activity became heavier, more people began to complain. Then if you look at La Plata, MO. Small town with an Amtrak Station along BNSFs transcon. Everyone in the town is so nice, and they LOVE the trains. They find that, without the railroad, the town wouldn't be complete. And they are VERY welcoming to railfans. That's just what I've experienced.

As weird as it sounds, Decatur AL, my home town, had the very first quiet zone established. People that where staying at a B&B were complaining. CSX and whoever went to court and came up with the solution here. So far nobody has been killed or run over because of the design of the crossing. There are even whistle posts set up with a red circle and arrow like a no smoking sign. Two railroads CSX & NS use this crossing with a combined train total a day of around 50 or so trains.

Now jump back in time about 50 years or so. SAL who was owned by ACL both where being hammered for the horns when coming through towns of the upper crust. The first solution was the old Hancock Air Chime. That is why they appeared on L&N locomotives as well. It was an attempt at quietening things down to appease the communities. They still raised cain. They went before the FRA & DOT in an atttempt to silence the horns all together in some communities. Well, the communities won and grade crossing accidents went through the roof. It did not take the communities long to cave back in.

Now jump back to today with the silent zones. CSX has had enough of some of these towns and are closing the crossings in some places. Several towns have complained about the horns and the crossings so CSX is shutting them down. Look up Athens AL and see what you find about all of this. Falkville AL had one of three crossings closed and raised cain about it. Look at Falkville on Google maps.

Rant over sorry.

People need to move out. Hate trains? Deal with it!!

I particularly like the funky little speaker horns on the crossing gates that beep for all the folks that are right there at the crossing.

buzz456 wrote:I particularly like the funky little speaker horns on the crossing gates that beep for all the folks that are right there at the crossing.

Who's idea was that? "Because a FAKE warning will help."

1225fan5358 wrote:

buzz456 wrote:I particularly like the funky little speaker horns on the crossing gates that beep for all the folks that are right there at the crossing.

Who's idea was that? "Because a FAKE warning will help."

Have you seen any of these stupid things?

Unfortunately, yes.

yup. they are here too.

Was it UP that experimented with horns ON the signal?