Rule #1 -- Don't get hurt.     Safety is the first priority. Er, or is it the second, after money.... Or the third after getting the trains out....

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E-mail: 
Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A
Posted: 06 January 2012

IDIOT DRIVERS BEWARE:

Union Pacific conductor Mike Howes radios instructions Friday. Police
and railroad officials stepped up enforcement around rights of way as a
message to stay safe near trains. (Andy Holzman / Staff
Photographer)With six people killed by trains in the San Fernando
Valley this year, police on Friday issued new warnings about rail
safety and stepped up efforts to cite people for violations. 

The new enforcement effort came even as Anaheim authorities were
investigating the death of a man hit in his car by a freight train
Friday. 

Police on Friday cited a total of 34 drivers for railroad violations
and six pedestrians for trespassing, including several homeless
individuals who had cut through fences to set up encampments, police
said. 

Anyone not using designated railroad crossings, such as those walking
parallel to the tracks - even on the shoulders - can be considered
trespassing on private property, police said. Pedestrians and drivers
who go around lowered gates can also be fined. 

Of the six train deaths in the San Fernando Valley this year, two were
by suicide. Three were reported within just the last two months. 

"The force of a 30-car freight train hitting your car is equivalent to
the force of your car crushing an aluminum soda can," said Capt. Ivan
Minsal of LAPD Valley Traffic. "You're talking about tons and tons of
force coming across that rail against your 5,000-pound car or your
200-pound body." 

Last month, a 72-year-old woman was killed by a freight train in
Pacoima. Police believe she was talking on a cell phone and did not
hear the approaching train. 

"That phone call can make you lose your life," said 
---
Union Pacific Railroad spokeswoman Lupe Valdez. "You'd be surprised
how quiet these huge trains can be." 
An engine weighs about 400,000 pounds and carries 5,000 gallons of
diesel fuel. 

Passenger trains typically travel about 68 mph. Cargo trains move about
55 mph and can take up to one mile to stop. 

The trains extend about three feet from the tracks on both sides, but
that doesn't include hoses, pipes or equipment attached to the cars,
police said. 

Officials recommended that pedestrians stay at least 15 feet from the
tracks, and to get out of cars stalled in a train's path. 

"Trains always have the right of way," Minsal said. "They're the
big guys ... you will never win."

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Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 06 January 2012 http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/01/freight-trains-collide-in-nw-indiana/1?csp=34news http://www.nbcchicago.com/traffic/transit/train-accident-porter-county-indiana-136825653.html 3 freight trains collide in NW Indiana, trigger massive fire View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 06 January 2012 'International Park:' Name changed to alleviate dangers at railroad crossing http://www.times-herald.com/local/Change-made-to-alleviate-dangers-at-railroad-crossing--2014977 When truck drivers attempt to cross the tracks at Walt Sanders Road, they often get stuck -- with more than 100 such incidents since 2003. View This Article

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 06 January 2012 The majority members of the BLEt ratified the contract. They could of rejected it. You state screw CSX, UTU, & BLEt but you like those yearly bonus checks and pay raises in the CSX/BLEt on-property SSA. Those BLEt members who don't have on-property contracts like the Union Pacific had a bigger stake then those on CSX. Can't blame them for wanting a 20 1/2% increase compared to only 18% if it went the distance and congress forced the PEB. It only affects your healthcare the BLEt did manage to get delays for 18 months on full implementation compared to the UTU contract. Blame the UTU they're always first to sign if they had a backbone by joining the other rail unions it might of been different. View This Article

Name: Evans E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 05 January 2012 The national was ratified. This proves the carrier can and will do whatever it wants. Healthcare isn't what it was just wait till next contract. We will even give up a little more. The time I retire the carrier wont contribute nothing. Utu, Ble, Csx FUCK YOU View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 January 2012 Seems like BNSF can find some gates to steal real quick when it's their employees getting blindsided! Safeguards installed at site of fatal BNSF train collision Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway installed automatic flashing lights and crossing gates at the three-track crossing Dec. 20 where three people died in March when a freight train struck their van, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Federal Railroad Administration's investigation into the March 23 accident should be ready for public release in the next two months, spokesman Mike England said Wednesday. Killed in the crash at the Kelso train yard were Coach America shuttle van driver Steven Sebastian of Castle Rock and BNSF employees Tom Kenny of Shoreline and Christopher Loehr of Seattle. A third railroad employee, Dwight Hauck of Auburn, was injured. State officials say a parked train would have made it difficult for the driver to see the Seattle-bound train that struck the van. 092454B--Private At Grade---Passenger Service: AMTRAK---Total Trains: 53---Maximum Time Table Speed: 75---Type and Number of Tracks: Main: 2 Other: 1--Crossbucks:2 Highway Stop Signs:2 ====Accident 1 ===== RR report NW0311200 ===== Crossing ID 092454B ===== On Mar 23, 2011 a FREIGHT TRAIN operated by BNSF Rwy Co. [BNSF] hit a VAN at approximately 4:25PM in Washington in COWLITZ county on PRIVATE road. The incident occurred in/near KELSO city. The rail equipment was reported to have been traveling at 047 Mph with 3 locomotive(s) and 106 cars(s). The VAN had been traveling in an easternly direction at 009 Mph. The railroad was operating on main line track over a private road crossing. It was cloudy, during the day and the tempe rature was 59. There were 3 death(s) and 1 injured in this incident and a Railroad Injury/Illness Report (form FRA- 55a) was also filed. The 59 year old male driver was moving on the crossing and was reported to have not stopped. There were 4 occupant(s) in the vehicle. The view of the track was obstructed by standing railroad equipment. Hazardous material was not being transported by rail or highway vehicle. The crossing was protected by: Stop signs, Crossbucks --GRAND TOTALS--Retrieved 1 report(s) For 1 accident(s) invoving 3 locomotives and 106 cars Causing 3 deaths and 1 injuries View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 January 2012 L@N """Just a little hint, don't walk down the middle of the tracks listening to your Ipod because you will be a hood ornament for an EMD.""" So your a murderer railroad safety guy who can't give examples? View This Article

Name: L&N E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 January 2012 Name Pines: Son, when you understand a little more about the RR, I will try to explain RR safety to you. For me to explain what I have done to a person who thinks the answer to safety is puttin a steering wheel on a train, that would be a hugh waste of my time. You need to educate yourself alot more about the RR and how it OPERATES, ( Hint, it has nothing to do with the Roman Empire ) Then I will tell you. You seem you are not even interested in learning. you are just being bone headed. Either you don't listen or you don't want to learn. You need to grow up. Just a little hint, don't walk down the middle of the tracks listening to your Ipod because you will be a hood ornament for an EMD. View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 January 2012 So L&N my safety task for today. This report shows train crew were injured in the cause but not entered in the injury count or any other injury report I can find. Is that legal? Crossing collision history shows 5 other CSX crew hurt in three other collisions. They also left this collision off of the crossing collision history because like 3 collisions in a year isn't good. Now your keywords are US6 road: Lack of yellow before red on the junk signals: Write your report =====Accident 23 ===== RR report 000095293 ===== Crossing ID 228816S ===== On Oct 05, 2011 a FREIGHT TRAIN operated by CSX Transportation [CSX ] hit a TRUCK & TRAILER at approximately 8:56AM in Ohio in WOOD county on US6 road. The incident occurred in/near BRADNER city. The rail equipment was reported to have b een traveling at 035 Mph with 2 locomotive(s) and 75 cars(s). The TRUCK & TRAILER had been traveling in an easternly direction. The railroad was operating on main line track over a public road crossing. It was clear, during the day and the tempera ture was 65. There were 0 death(s) and 1 injured in this incident and a Railroad Injury/Illness Report (form FRA-55 a) was also filed. The 54 year old male driver was stalled or stuck on the crossing and was reported to have (unknown) . There were 1 occupant(s) in the vehicle. The view of the track was not obstructed. Hazardous material was not being transported by rail or highway vehicle. The crossing was protected by: Gates, Standard flashing lights, Bells (audible), Other devices E43403 WAS EASTBOUND ON #2 MAIN ON PEMBERVILLE SUB WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER INITIALLY WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN FOR THE CROSSIN G BUT WHEN PROTECTION DEVICES ACTIVATED THE TRUCK DRIVER APPLIED HIS BRAKES AND SLID TO A STOP. THE TRUCK ENGINE STALLED AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE TRAIN STRUCK TRUCK IN DRIVER SIDE DOOR. TRUCK DRIVER AND TRAIN CREW WERE INJUR ED. PROTECTION ALSO AT CROSSING: ADVANCE WARNING AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS. View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 January 2012 So L@n you've done nothing for railroad safety you can write about? American railroad tracks are 56.5" wide (the "gauge") because the English built the first railroads in America and they used that width. Why did they use that width? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used. Why did "they" use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that were used for building wagons which used that wheel spacing. Why did wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing? Because older wagon ruts throughout England used that spacing, and if they changed it, wagon wheels would break by either falling into or being forced out of the old ruts, which were 56.5" wide. The old ruts were that size because the roads were built by the Romans, who arrived in England in 54 BC and left about 400 AD. Their wagons, and their chariots before their wagons, used that spacing, and that spacing was used all over Europe and wherever Rome conquered, because their wagons used the identical wheel base everywhere. So the modern railroad track width derives from the Roman chariot. Why was the Roman chariot track width 56.5"? Because that was the width of a chariot that would equal the width of two "standard" Roman horses. Thus, wagon and horses would fit through the same narrow street. Specifications and bureaucracies live forever! Such curious dimensions continue today. A space shuttle sitting on its launch pad has two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs, made by Thiokol at their factory in Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs might have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad line from the factory had to run through a tunnel in the mountains. The SRBs had to fit through that tunnel. The tunnel is just wide enough to accomodate a railroad car, and the railroad track is about as wide as two horses' behinds, (and we now know why) so the booster rockets were made to fit. The major design feature of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of a horse's ass! View This Article

Name: L&N E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 03 January 2012 Name Pines: I stated that you did not know how the railroad operates and you bring up Roman chariots... Just what the hell are you talking about. Chariots have NOTHING to do with how the railroad operates. You just do not make any sense. You talk about loads being top heavy and tipping over, again your lack of railroad knowledge is coming out. Loads DO NOT tip over you idiot. What have I done for railroad safety, you ask. I have done more than you can possibly fathom. I would explain all that I have done but your lack of railroad knowledge would just be a waste of my time. Besides, you would not understand it anyway but I will tell you this, it does not include steering wheels on engines. You say you are pushing for the RR to be charged 3 times the amount for violation? First off, who the hell are you any way? What are your qualifications? What makes you an authority? Son, you are a wanna be foamer. How about stiffer fines for people who put engr and condr lives in danger when they BREAK THE LAW and run through gates, talk on the cell phone. How about I I D installed in all automobiles. People who do not pay attention put everyone on the road in danger. When they do not pay attention and go across RR tracks they put there own lives in danger... People who pull out in front of trains do not live. But you have to ask yourself a question, Do I feel lucky, well do you ya, you moron...Son, you need to wake up and smell the diesel fuel...In a way I kind of feel sorry for you. View This Article

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 January 2012 Just a comment on Sucky Brakes. Pines is a nut, however he is on the topic when he says Trains have Sucky Brakes. Light engines in my time (with a cab) were the worst. It was so unusual, every move (Main track) was dangerous. Just moving a locomotive is easy, stopping is something else. The old brake shoe is so obsolete. View This Article

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 January 2012 What? So 2012 is going to be one of those years! View This Article

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 02 January 2012 Pines, are you for real? Get a life and stay the hell off this site.... View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 January 2012 Name: L&N '''Mr Pines: It is obvious you do not know how a train or the railroad operates.''' Sure I do. The tracks were put into the Roman chariot ruts and are two horse asses wide. The idiot railroads haven't figured out wider is better on the top heavy loads tipping over. I sent Mikey Ward my Christmas lights to light up the front of the stupid blue colored trains. Also some used sneakers and blue prints of the hydraulics and arms to be fitted in between the existing wheels for better breaking. What have you done for RR safety? Also am pushing for state/feds to fix all found railroad violations and charge the railroads three times the costs. Oh --- In case you never heard of defensive driving::: The standard Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations, ANSI/ASSE Z15.1, defines defensive driving as "driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others."[1] This definition is taken from the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course. It is a form of training for motor vehicle drivers that goes beyond mastery of the rules of the road and the basic mechanics of driving. Its aim is to reduce the risk of driving by anticipating dangerous situations, despite adverse conditions or the mistakes of others. This can be achieved through adherence to a variety of general rules, as well as the practice of specific driving techniques. View This Article

Name: L&N E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 January 2012 Mr Pines: It is obvious you do not know how a train or the railroad operates. What you have purposed is absolutely ridiculous. First off, a train runs on tracks and is operated not driven. I guess you do not know the laws, regulations and personal accountability when you drive a car. Maybe there should be a law that every car STOP at every railroad crossing at grade and the driver be responsible for his/her own actions. I have scrolled back and read some of your comments, and frankly son, you really do not have a clue. View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 January 2012 http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=23:1.0.1.7.27&idno=23#23:1.0.1.7.27.2.1.6 (3) The State and FHWA shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to inspect materials recovered by the railroad prior to disposal by sale or scrap. This requirement will be satisfied by the railroad giving written notice, or oral notice with prompt written confirmation, to the State of the time and place where the materials will be available for inspection. The giving of notice is the responsibility of the railroad, and it may be held accountable for full value of materials disposed of without notice. View This Article

Name: Robert Pines E-mail: btpino40@gmail.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 January 2012 Hmmm-- Like using my sneakers for brakes on a my run away go cart the train steering wheel would run the belly brakes on the bottom of the rail cars and brake parachutes on the top of the rail cars. In the middle of the steering wheel the video monitors linked to the along tracks video monitors of the mile of track coming up. You know to make up for the non swerve capability of the train. Swerving is any defensive driver book. Just the other day a gas truck was blocking my road. View This Article

Name: PO E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for Less than 1 year Posted: 01 January 2012 GET the vacations in.. Jim, get off your fat ass and put the vacations in.. View This Article

Name: Jim E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 31 December 2011 Ringing in 2012 and CSX still sucks! View This Article