Train Vs. Truck... Who do you think won?

[EMD_Driver]

We had an oops at work, this afternoon. We had finished our switching and the train was heading back for the evening. We have a quarry along our line and have several close calls there. Today, it was more than a "Close call"

The law says that we have to blow the horn at least 20 seconds, before we even reach the crossing. The driver stated that he never "Saw" the train. The driver was visibly shaken, but refused medical treatment. As the Operation Lifesaver slogan says: "Stop, Look and Listen!" Always expect a train at any time, on any track and from either direction.........

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story..





Notice the skid marks... The truck was loaded with stone..





Notice what is left, of the right-front tire..



Looking down, from the locomotive walkway..







Most people don't understand, that trains ALWAYS have the right-of-way. This was a small train. It had three locomotives and 19 empty hopper cars. It still weighed in around 900 tons. Or 1,862,500lbs... Trains have the right-of-way out of necessity. We cannot stop on a dime. Please be extra careful, when you are about to cross railroad tracks! Don't take them for granted and don't assume that the lights and gates will always work. This crossing only had crossbucks and the locomotive lights & horn, for advanced warning. I wish all private and non-gated crossings had stop signs... I'll just have to keep wishing.

[clueless campers]

Had to be scary for all involved. Were you operating the train? Bet that truck driver will "stop, look and listen" the next time he comes to a railroad track and he should consider himself lucky that he has another chance.

I just noticed the name on the door of the truck after enlarging the photos - Rattlesnake. I'll bet his hind end did get a bit rattled.

[EMD_Driver]

I wasn't running the train today... I now have the job title "Utility man" I get to ride around in a pickup and help with switching, getting trainorders, etc...

I love it, because I'm not stuck in the loco cab all day!

[Sunline Fan]

Ouch!

[JohnB]

Wow.... I'm actually surprised the train stopped as quick as it did.

Another thing I see that is not good at RR crossing. We have one by work. It is 2 tracks wide, big space in the middle. It is even a gated crossing but when no trains are near the gates are up.

Traffic backs up both directions. People go out into this area between the gates and due to the stopped traffic cannot totally cross. They are sort of stranded. Cannot go back due to cars behind them and cannot go forward. Where does one go with the train comes? Need to stop and let that 50 foot space stay a space. It there is not room on the other side for your total car, stay put.

Thanks for reminding us all.

John

[Jim-Bev-2363]

Accidents remind me that I need to be a defensive driver. Accidents are where drivers didn't use caution. I don't know if your Wal-Mart is like ours but people will walk out the door going to their cars and never break stride for cars. Then when almost hit they act righteous and claim right of way. that attitude is on our roads also.

Think they'll repair that truck?

[mainah]

We had an incident here in Maine with the Down Easter (passenger train) last year the outcome was not as nice the truck driver was killed and the loco badly damaged and set on fire from the trucks diesel fuel. Both the train and the truck (fully loaded semi) were at speed. The truck could not stop speed was a factor.

[hiller64]

Back in 1989 about 10 miles from where I live, we had a firetruck responding to a vehicle fire, get struck by a passanger train going around 75 MPH . We lost 2 firefighters and another 150 pepole where injured, by some miricle 3 firemen who were in the front cab of the tanker surrvived . This was a horrible accident which is still talked about around here.

I looked up some of the details, but it makes for some grim reading:
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/p...ons/tr-048.pdf

The message is clear be really careful at all railroad crossings. When I am towing I am always careful to make sure I can get both my truck and my trailer across the tracks before try and cross.