Grade Crossing Ignorance

Take heart, the government is “on the case, saving us from ourselves”.   

I see no need for signals or gates at this crossing. 

Ignore the whole story. It's the ravings of a lunatic.  No one takes Schumer seriously.

Typical Schumer....much ado about nothing as spoken by someone who knows nothing about what he's talking about. There are THOUSANDS of crossings like this in the country.

What does he think the diesel horn is for?

If you can believe it, the old Lehigh Valley mainline crossing east of the Manchester yard where it now crosses NY 21(it used to go over NY 21) is exempt and has no lighting or signals. The Red Jacket school district campus is immediately adjacent and to the south of the yard and crossing. This trackage, formerly Ontario Central, is now the Finger Lakes RR from the junction of former LVRR and NYC Auburn Road east of Shortsville west to Victor. The crossing of a little side street - South Ave. just east of the Canandaigua Outlet bridge, is not exempt and has new FLRR signals installed.

“So far there has been no evidence of any accidents here but we need to do all we can to prevent that from happening” 

Um, OK  

Maybe they should look into people that take pictures of trains with their phones while driving...

Tom

Unfortunately his idiotic ideas often become costly to taxpayers while acomplishing no known purpose.

Schumer is just doing his job, reacting to a citizen's concern.
He doesn't need to know anything about grade crossings, or railways. He is just looking to facilitate a meeting with the FRA / MTA.

There is nothing in the article that says any changes will be made. Just that it will be looked at. 
 
I've seen the LIRR and NY&A run trains through here often and they always have a flagger at the crossings prior to letting the train through. Today its used for storing MOW equipment and materials.  The Ringling Bros RBBX used to park on these tracks when the circus was in town.

I guess the concerned citizen missed the flagger.

Farmer_Bill posted:

“So far there has been no evidence of any accidents here but we need to do all we can to prevent that from happening” 

Um, OK  

Nanny State. We will take care of you from the cradle to the grave.

 Since we know  crews are required to flag the crossing it's pretty safe.... However what if trains were  not required to flag and the speed was 40 per? With the brush blocking the view it's definitely dangerous whistle or not.  

Gregg posted:

 Since we know  crews are required to flag the crossing it's pretty safe.... However what if trains were  not required to flag and the speed was 40 per? With the brush blocking the view it's definitely dangerous whistle or not.  

I live near this and the other 4 crossings on this old branch. If the trains get much above idle speed that would be fast. This is a VERY residential neighborhood and there would be a riot if lights and signals went up. The LIRR recently cleared all of the old vegetation along the line and the neighbors were screaming.

The main line just west of this spot has standard controlled crossings with gates and flashers for the regular commuter trains on the Hempstead branch. 

I get the drivers point but he should get his facts straight before making a big deal out of it.

Just another opportunity for our dear Senator to hold a press conference and tell everyone how he's going to save us from ourselves.

Found a video of the line with a similar train. This crossing is at the 6:00 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgLvhmeWDiE

Found a video of the line with a similar train. This crossing is at the 6:00 mark.

Interesting, two crewmen, one for each direction checking traffic to determine when the train could go. 
I guess they don't actually stop traffic, they just waited for a break.
And once the train was in the intersection, they boarded the train.

This explains why the citizen did not see any flaggers. There weren't any.

Not what I expected, but if that meets FRA & MTA standards, so be it.

I'm not sure if it does either. When the circus train used to pass, the police would be at each crossing but mostly because the train was so long.

Bob

So I came upon a crossing a few years back and traffic was backed up far enough that if I had continued I would

have had to stop ON THE TRACKS behind the vehicle in front of me. So I stopped well clear of the tracks until traffic cleared only to have the truck behind me get in a big hurry and pass me and STOP ON THE TRACKS!!! I was thinking in my mind, please let a train show up right about now, but then I thought otherwise and hoped nothing would show and it did NOT!.  I don't think people really realize the dangers involved with grade crossings and that the train always wins in a crossing battle.