RR Crossing seem to bring out the STUPIDITY in a lot of people. These are the same people that will rant and rave about bicycle helmets or seat belts. (I'm for both) But they think nothing of trying to beat a SLOW train at the crossing. Slow right! This is just to get to someplace they really don't need to be to that quickly....their own funeral!

"I want to die in my sleep just like grampa Jake! Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car!"

Walt Gillespie

Fall Creek Lumber & Mining RR

When I was working for the PRR as a brakeman we hit a car.a west bound had just cleared the crossing,the gates was down.The engineer was sounding the horn.From behind the caboose a car appeared on the tracks,the engineer yell"we going to hit the D---n fool!" No sooner then he yelled that he applied the emergency brakes then released the engine brake,shut off the throttle-WHAMMM! A perfect T bone! Ballast started flying into the cab of the GP35,we could hear the sound of glass,rocks,screams,then deadly silence.we finally stop! The fireman radioed the Dispacther and told him what happen.The engineer and I ran to render aid.For that day to this I wish I stay in the cab.It was not a pretty sight,I will not go into details.Suffice it to say his days of being impatient at railroad crossings had come to a sad end. I recalled a burma shave poem that I saw when I was a kid real or modeled I can not recall.

As the fast/train neared/he never slowed/death did not/draft him/ he volunteer/Burma shave. How true.

brakie

Edited by - brakie on 03/31/2002 17:11:43

Edited by - brakie on 03/31/2002 17:12:26

Really,Cadillac has a commercial showing their SUV beating two trains through a crossing with the trains going in opposite directions The Cadillac barely gets through.In real life the SUV would have been cut in half and then demolished.The worst part is the engineers are always shaken up for years.Bad Bad comercial!

horailfan

BRAKIE: Very sad indeed. Having taken upon myself the challenge of having some 21 local Boy Scouts gain the RAILROAD MERIT BADGE, their first required milestone was to view OPERATION LIFESAVER presentation and I pray to THE LORD that it made a lifelong impression on all of them...Tom

Tom in NH

Edited by - papasmurf37 on 04/07/2002 08:48:17

Tom,I applaud you in this effort.Remember if you save one life at a grade crossing it will be worth it all.As far as that caddy commercial it was irresponsible for GM to approved it and the broadcast station to show it! This is lunacy at its best.To my mind that undercuts Operation Life Saver.For over 25 years Operation Life Saver has taught grade crossing safety as you know,now this insane commercial as if Hollywood hasn't done enough in promoting grade crossing lunacy.Just to think it was GM the makers of EMD locomotives to boot! How sad!

brakie

I saw the Cadillac commercial again yesterday and they changed it,now the two trains are stopped to wait for the caddy to go through the crossing.They must have gotten alot of heat.The commercial is still stupid.Will somebody figure the train will stop for them too!Ya never know what some people will do.

horailfan