Gate Crossing Regulations

Google is your friend.

Try "FRA grade crossing regulations" for instance.

Here's one hit that looks interesting. There's a readable pdf available.

Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook - Third Edition - Safety | Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov)

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

Google is your friend.

Try "FRA grade crossing regulations" for instance.

Here's one hit that looks interesting. There's a readable pdf available.

Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook - Third Edition - Safety | Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov)

Yeah, right!  Google hates me.  Thanks for the link, though.  I'm digesting it now.  A

@A. Wells posted:

Does anyone know or know where I can find the regulations regarding gate crossings?  In particular, I'm looking for the following:

SIMPLE EXPLANATION

*) Maximum speed through a gate crossing
Not regulated - whatever track speed is authorized

*) Distance from the gate crossing to start flashing the lights
Determined by the authorized track speed to provide 20 seconds of warning time.

*) Distance from the gate crossing to lower the gates
Determined by the authorized track speed to provide 20 seconds of warning time.

*) Distance from the gate crossing to raise the gates and stop flashing the lights
Not sure.

as Rich said above with some additional info.  most crossings are motion sensing so the speed of the train approaching determines when the gates start coming down ( slow train they start later ,fast train sooner)  if the train stops they go back up. they sense motion and speed by measuring the change in resistance across the rails through the axels.  older systems without motion sensing require insulated joints set back a certain interval from the crossing based on the maximum speed (guessing there is a formula for this to achieve the 20 seconds. the short line I worked for had everything from battery only powered systems to modern motion sensing systems with event recorders. you might also look at the DOT sites for info as they have regs as well. Hope this helps

I think about everything I need to take away from the DOT document is in this one paragraph:

"In a normal sequence of operation, the flashing‑light signals and the lights on the gate arm in its normal upright position are activated upon the detection or approach of a train. The MUTCD standard in Section 8C.04 requires that the gate arm should start its downward motion not less than 3 seconds after the signal lights start to operate, should reach its horizontal position before the arrival of the train, and should remain in that position while the train occupies the crossing.
When the train clears the crossing, and no other train is approaching, the gate arm should ascend to its upright position normally in no more than 12 seconds, after which the flashing‑lights and the lights on the gate arm should cease operation. In the design of individual installations, accommodations for large and/or slow-moving highway vehicles (regarding timing the operation of the gate arm) should be considered. "

Looks like mostly local authorities dictate maximum speeds...not just Gate Crossing but in general.  I will say the gate crossing near me (the one where the Amtrack and TIME trash truck collided) seems to flash about 8 seconds before the gates come down.  I think this is a necessity because one has to transverse that crossing fairly slowly with a vehicle.  As a side note, I have noticed that Buckingham Branch has been inside the control shed a lot lately.  Enough that I was able to walk there and take a photo of the side of their truck.

So, I think ultimately I will have engines slow to 45 mph at some predetermined distance from my gate crossing.  Not having that ability in place just yet, I'll see if I can calculate a rough speed estimate from my new unobtrusive train track position sensor (aka magic) to use for calculations for the 20 seconds mentioned above.

A

This is something I thought about when considering gates on a crossing on my own layout.

Here in the Panhandle of Texas, BNSF's standard for gates being fully lowered is 20 seconds before the train occupies the crossing.  Down in the Metroplex, the Denton (Texas) A-Train runs Swiss diesel multiple unit cars on a track that they purchased from Southern Pacific, and the DNGO occasionally uses the track at night to switch industries.  The Denton Area transit authority has their gates set to be fully lowered for a long interval, over 30 seconds.  

Since the Federal Regulation does not specify a specific time interval between gates lowered and crossing occupancy, there are probably a variety of state regulations.  Some states probably do not have anything beyond the Federal regulation, while other states micro-manage the time interval.

But, getting back to the model railroad, I decided against gates, but had decided that about 5 seconds was adequate for lowered gates in the model railroad environment, as the distances of everything are compressed, compared to prototype railroading.

@Number 90 (Tom) - You bring up a very valid point, one which I had not considered.  So not only does the scaled distance need to be considered, but the scale of time does as well in this situation.  I'll have to set aside some "time" to look into this further as it applies to the gate crossing scenario. Anthony

There's a lot of factors to consider for sure.  Good call on the scale speed and scale time.  That's a head scratcher..  Of what I know about crossing gates, more and more are being upgraded to digital sensing the rails and calculating the trains speed and activating the crossing accordingly. 

ADDENDUM:

I was down in the Corinth, Texas, area, over last weekend and I timed the gates on the A-Train that runs the Swiss DMU's from Denton to Frankford.  I had perviously posted that they lower their gates earlier than most railroads.

Their gates were fully lowered for 50 seconds before the train, running at normal speed, occupied the crossing.