Reminder to be careful around railroad tracks when towing

Ralph Cramden wrote:

afidel wrote:
Story

Glad nobody was hurt, but a graphic reminder that you need to be extra vigilant when crossing tracks when towing a trailer or toad.

Thats nothing that requires a public service message telling others to be careful. The driver who ended up putting themselves in that position was simply a moron. When you have a railroad crossing with a traffic light just beyond there are two reasons why you would get in that position. One is your a moron, the other is your an impatient in a hurry moron. Now the person will probably sue the railroad lol.

Probably true but not always. I was crossing a track at a similar location once and was taking the rough tracks slowly when some jerk cut me off at the last second taking my extra space leaving my backside sitting on the tracks. Absolutely unexpected and unavoidable unless I crossed the tracks at a bone rattling speed. I was pretty nervous until I cleared the tracks.

I'v seen several vehicle/trailer problems at RxR crossings.
The ground rises on most of them in the country around here. They created a long ramp when constructing the crossing. Long enough for one vehicle or semis and lash-ups pretty high off the ground. But an F150 2x4, and others since most are no higher than cars now, towing a trailer, can sometimes snag the hitch or chains or jacks or whatever. Can see many gouges in the roads at approaches to RxR tracks.

Last time I was at Bucanneer there was _no warning_ on Clermont; we kinda sidled over it. I think if we had gone straight we would have bottomed out. The crossing down near Silver Slipper was fine.

True, sidecar, Warren and Charlie do own both. Dad retired in ‘75 so he didn’t work for them. It’s not that they are bad guys but rather the checks their managers must send to Omaha that makes the managers...ah...er... And what may, may BN cut to send those checks? It’s an RR remember. Maintenance.

i think i know that intersection
crossed it many times on my scoot, while the safari was getting the engine repaired in 2012
our rooms were nearby and i made many runs to McDonalds
crossed it several times everyday for (2) weeks

Mcshack was not the only reason to cross the tracks
but i mad some breakfast runs over there

Kevarino wrote:
Around here, when the arms for the tracks go down, the lights are timed allow cars to clear the intersection before the train comes.

That makes too much sense. I doubt that it would be widely adopted.

Around here, when the arms for the tracks go down, the lights are timed allow cars to clear the intersection before the train comes.

That'll buff out.

That brought a smile to my face.:B I was at a similar crossing yesterday and watched vehicles stopped on the tracks waiting for the light to change, there are no barriers. Use your heads people, far better to get stuck behind a train than be hit by one!

Because I live in an area where there are several railroads, I'm always aware of the length of my vehicle's (and trailer when in tow). There's some spots, like in the OP's article, where is is simply not enough distance between the oncoming cross road and the parallel railroad. when towing the trailer, I never try to get between them, even with the tracks are perfectly clear. I stay behind the tracks. I know this makes a lot of people mad behind me. They somehow must think I should go ahead and cross the tracks, leaving the trailer dangling over the tracks. I've even had people honk at me to move on forward ... which I did not. People are idiots! I figure (especially with trailer in tow), if they want me out of the way ... they can push me. Good luck with that one once I turn the engine off and put the entire 59 feet of rig in park!

FYI! I REALLY like railroad crossings. Some 33 years ago, the day we were married, we were stopped by a train on our way to the motel after the wedding. I reached over and gave the new bride a big ol' kiss... right smack on the "kisser!" Well, before the train finished crossing, we were beginning to get pretty hot and steamy ourselves and then the train passed. We looked at each other, I started the car back up, and I said ... from now on ... every time we get stopped for a train, we make a kiss! And we have! Never missed a kiss once after that.

Later we started kissing in elevators and escelators too! It's a pretty neat game we play. Love it! Keep the romance in marriage. Folks around us think we're nuts. We tell them ... we were just married and on our honeymoon! And they say ... "Really!". And we say yea! We were married 33 years ago! They stand amazed!