track and Crossings

Image by ds30 from Pixabay.

Questions for thought:

What may be issues at railroad crossings? What can you do?

What habits do you have that may be dangerous in a car?

Why is it important to cross only at a marked railroad crossing?

How is paying attention important?

Track and crossings

The Track

Trains run along a track and cannot steer out of the way. About all the engineer can do is apply the brakes and hope. As for the track itself, it is an area on the railroad where trains travel and not meant for people to be walking. Trains today are harder to hear and see. You may think you have time to react, but before you can, it's too late. Take away your ability to hear with earbuds and be distracted, you have a recipe for disaster.

Sparsely used or rough track is another hazard. It presents the illusion of being abandoned with rusted rails. Stay off these kinds of tracks. A train can still come at any time. Industrial spurs have this type of trackage. Weeds do not always mean the track is no longer used. YOU do not know schedules, and some are subject to change.

Tracks also vary in terms of gauge. Standard gauge (what the world commonly uses) is 4'-8 1/2". Tracks less than that are referred to as narrow gauge (3-foot gauge, 2.5-foot gauge or 2-foot gauge). Not common in the US, but in Europe and other parts of the world is broad gauge. This is track greater than standard gauge. An example would be 5'-0". Track safety is the common thing which applies to them all.

A short cut across railroad tracks is the most direct route to a casket.

Grade crossings where tracks meet roads are another place where you need to pay attention as well. Take heed when you see the warning lights and hear the bells. Don't go around or walk through closed gates if you are a pedestrian or a driver. You can be charged with a moving violation if a police officer is present. Stop on the stop lines behind the gates. Turn the music down. Look both ways and listen before crossing. This is especially true if there are multiple tracks at the crossing. Wait after a train has left. Make sure the gates are up and the flashing lights are off.

What is a railroad grade crossing as opposed to an illegal one?

It is marked with a crossbuck
There are signals.
There are signals and gates.
Some crossings are timed with traffic lights and have a flashing strobe before the flashing lights and bells start. NJ Transit has this on their grade crossings. Some traffic controls will also turn the lights at turning lanes red.
Roadway markings and advanced warning signs.
The ONLY safe place you should be crossing tracks as a motorist or as a pedestrian.

Other important things to look out for:

These are covered in the Dangerous Crossing section below.

*Most crossings have placards that display an emergency number, location and other important information.

*Always look both ways. Do not rely on the signal or assume it is working properly.

*NEVER stop on tracks. A train can come at any time. Traffic buildup can often cause this to occur. Common causes are lights and vehicles in turning lanes.

*If you look at the pictures above and below, you will notice crosswalks at a railroad crossing. These are important when people step off of commuter trains. Always yield to pedestrians, but do not stop on the tracks.

What do you ALWAYS do at a crossing?

STOP, LOOK and LISTEN!

Illegal Crossings:

FOOTPATHS across tracks that people use are illegal crossings. If numbers 1-5 above are not at the place you cross tracks, then you are at an illegal crossing. This means that you risk being hit by a train or subject to railroad or local police. Other people using the illegal path to cross the tracks is no excuse if you are caught by police.

Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Above: A typical grade crossing.

Horst Frank, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Here is a typical crossbuck at a road marking a railroad crossing.

brewbooks from near Seattle, Washington, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Above: A marked bicycle crossing in Bellingham, WA. Note all of the elements of a railroad crossing.

Below: An advanced warning sign. These are usually within 100 feet or so of the tracks. Road markings come after the sign.

Image by Lisa Johnson from Pixabay

Abandoned Rights of Way

There are tracks and stretches of railroad that are abandoned and not attached to anything or any other track. Does it mean that you are not trespassing? Absolutely not. It is still private property with its own dangers. Abandoned rights of way are in some cases no longer owned by the railroad, but in private hands and sold off.

Some abandoned rights of way that are intact could be converted back into active railroads or reopened under new ownership with new track re-laid on the existing roadbeds.

There is an exception with abandoned rights of way. They are called rail- trails. This means that the tracks are pulled up and the right of way becomes a public trail for walking, hiking and biking. This is the only right of way you are allowed to be on. Just as an extra measure, check to see if you are allowed to access the rail- trail.

dangerous crossings

We have crossings that are important to pay extra attention to when driving.

Main Street- Ramsey, NJ Double tracked NJT line and with traffic backing up at times.
Fair Lawn Ave. Same situation, but short segments of road between lights.
Midland Ave in Elmwood Park.
Outwater Ln. in Garfield.
Ramapo Valley Rd. in Oakland.
The two crossings in Montvale

There are also other crossings that make the grade.

Links for Review

10 deadliest crossings in NJ

Nick's Story

Ashley

In spite of all the safety measures, railroad crossings are also dangerous in the ways they are designed when there is street traffic. What are some examples of dangerous conditions at crossings?

*People turning left or right onto a side street immediately following the crossing or before the crossing with traffic backing up onto the tracks.

*Controlled intersections with traffic lights and short road segments on both sides of the tracks allowing traffic to back up onto the tracks with people stopping short in front of you and leaving you on the tracks until the light changes and the car in front of you moves.

*Rude and inconsiderate motorists who are texting and refuse to move for you when there is space in front of them.

*Poor lines of sight in both directions.

*Road construction.

*Outdated safety standards.

What do you do?

NEVER stop on a crossing in traffic. A train can come and kill you. Ignore the impatient drivers honking at you to move onto the tracks. "Do Not Stop on Track" is a sign on most crossings.
Pay extra attention where sight and sound are limited. Some of the crossings can be in areas where there is noise preventing you hearing a train. Sight is also very important. Curves following can be deadly because it is hard to spot a train.
Crossings are not always at 90-degree angles. These crossings make it harder to spot a train.
Do not rely solely on the signals The most dangerous part of a crossing is when the signals and gates do not work or malfunction. Usually, you can call the railroad from the blue sign and report it giving the dispatcher the information on the sign. In spite of safety, like lights, gates and signals, you also need to accept that you can still be in danger- even as a pedestrian crossing.
Look at the weather and plan accordingly. Snow, fog, rain. All can play a part in a railroad crossing accident. Pay extra attention.

These videos cover all of the points mentioned in this section regarding what to do at a grade crossing. It also shows what can happen to you if you think you are faster than a train or if you get stuck on the tracks because of dangerous crossings set to traffic lights. YOU do not have to DIE! Follow the rules at crossings, pay extra attention at the dangerous ones, stay off the tracks, and do not walk around GATES! Like you hear in the videos, "A train can come at any time." Do not bet your life on it! Stay alive and have a future.

track switches and equipment

Links for Review

Trespassing Railroad Safety

Harrington Park Man killed by train

Track switches:

Leave track switches alone!!! They are not toys and changing the throw path set by the railroad may cause an accident or major derailment. Not all switches on a railroad are connected to a dispatch and remotely thrown. The accident on the left was caused by an improperly aligned switch. Some machinery and track equipment may take fingers or toes if played around with. Remotely thrown switches at a dispatching center can trap legs in the throw of a switch.

In "David's Run", you can see what happens if you fool around with a track switch. This pairs very well with the ABC video shot above. That switch is set for a reason. Changing the path can have disastrous consequences. A mainline train may wind up on a siding too short for the length of a train. You wind up with a major derailment that can kill people. All this because you wanted to see the track switch work. Never assume a train will stop in time to avoid a collision with cars or run off the rails.

Track signals:

Climbing on signal towers and signal bridges is ILLEGAL. Signals need to be working properly in order to prevent accidents on the railroad.
LEAVE ALL RAILROAD EQUIPMENT ALONE!!!

Close Calls

There are people who are very lucky to have survived an encounter with a train. In these videos, you will see how lucky some of these kids and people were. Look at how close these people came to dying.

accessible railroads

What are accessible railroads and how does this tie into track safety?

People with disabilities can face safety hazards in several ways on a railroad. They are more dangerous than what a person without disabilities may face. So, what are accessible railroads? Accessible railroads are railroads that people with disabilities can access. They are wheelchair accessible and also cover other disabilities like blindness. However, stations have varying access along commuter railroads.

What safety hazards/ obstacles do people with disabilities face?

For instance, someone using a wheelchair will not be able to get on a train without assistance or unless there is a special ramp, lift or platform at the station. A few stops on the Pascack Valley line have the ramp to board a train and are accessible.
Someone with a disability and using a wheelchair cannot get off at the stop they want. Elevated platforms can help, but there needs to be street access. Passengers with disabilities can exit through center doors on the coaches, but only at an elevated platform. Steps at the vestibule on coaches are often trip and fall hazards with the last step onto the platform varying.
Platforms for some stations are at track level. These conditions present a danger to someone with a disability getting hurt trying to board a train and they will need assistance with no real way to board the train.
There can be a lack of proper signage and tactile warnings marking the edge of platforms. These can be brick, asphalt, or cinders.
The gap between coach and elevated platform can vary.
Accessible coaches with no way to board them except at certain stops.
Limited accessibility. Some stations may have a ramp to get in a waiting room, but without door levers and accessible toilets.
Grade crossings. Some have wood, asphalt and some are upgraded to a tactile surface. Wood rots, asphalt does not make a level surface across tracks and that can be dangerous for someone using a wheelchair.

ADA Public Transportation Laws

DOT ADA Standards

Accessible Stations and Stops vs. Inaccessible Ones

Some examples of accessible stations:

Tactile surfaces along the edge of a platform.
Adequate lighting
An elevated platform
Elevators and escalators
Braille signage
Accessible toilets- toilets where someone using a wheelchair can maneuver and grab bars.
Special ramps on the platforms with railings and concrete guides.
Levers on doors and mechanical openers.
Effective public address.
Major terminals- Hoboken, Secaucus, Trenton.
Parking spaces designed for vans with wheelchairs.
Wifi with apps to have devices pick up alerts and other information.
Accessible buses to pick up passengers as part of a larger transit system.

Why Limited Access?

A good portion of the explanation is a lack of awareness. There is no understanding of what accessibility really is. People may think a ramp or parking spaces provides accessibility. It really becomes a limited accessibility. Places also conforming to historical registration may be exempt. Towns can "lack the money" and there are loopholes in the laws. We should be looking at the stations we go to and see how someone with a disability can safely access them. Federal law does require a train station to be accessible.

Examples of limited access stations:

ADA compliant parking spaces with no way to board the train and outdated accessibility standards.
Ramps going into a station without an accessible toilet.
Doors with knobs instead of levers.
Platforms at track level and not at coach level with train boarding only at vestibules.
Accessible toilets and no way to board the train and vice versa.
Poor lighting.
Crumbling platforms and poor maintenance.

Railroad museums

Does going to a railroad museum mean a pass on railroad track safety or any other safety we will cover?

NO!

Some of the same track dangers in our lives are still present in other areas- even in museum operations. Places like Steamtown in Scranton, PA post signs and while you are allowed to walk the ENTIRE property to look at the equipment in the collection, there are active tracks and railroad crossings you still need to pay attention to.

STEAM trains used in some excursions are also blind a distance because of the location of the cab. Some of the equipment also has moving parts which can injure you. Cinders and steam can also cause injury. Add railfans and excited children, and you have potential for injury.

Sticking your head out of a window in a coach to get that picture is a bad idea. Railroads and museums do have limited clearances along the line. Hazards like brush can rub against the cars. Tunnel walls can come within inches of your window on the coach. Though the trips are shorter and not as fast as an Amtrak train, you are still at potential to be hurt. The best place for you is all of you in the coach. Other lines may also have a passing train within inches of the coach if multiple excursions happen.

Fortunately, places like this have safe viewing areas above and away from the trains. These are in the roundhouse, and on pedestrian bridges. Not all do and you need to use caution at all times.

Photography at excursions is also another danger. People will go to lengths- dangerous ones to get that shot of the locomotive. They forget where they are and look to avoid other people ruining the shot. Others will place pennies on the tracks. Some railroads will run photo excursions where you are dropped off and are able to safely photograph trains as they do runs to get the pictures for railfans.

A railroad museum is still a working railroad and safety still applies.

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