hogheadCTD
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 83
- Location
- North Central Iowa
- Tractor
- 70' John Deere 3020, 73' John Deere 2030 w/ JD 145 fel
I can see how the temptation happens.
Where I grew up in NW Ohio with lots of rails going into and out of Toledo, the freight trains would block crossings on county roads out in the middle of nowhere. I think there was supposed to be a time limit, else they should break the train and clear the crossing for traffic. Well, that never happened. They would move the train another 100' down the rails and start the clock over.
There was nothing worse than stopping for a train and then watch it slow down for.....ever....., and then finally stop. And then wonder if you should drive 10 miles around it or wait. Driving around down crossing gates and past warning lights was pretty common.
My best advice would be to turn around and find another route. A lot of times when a train is stopped it is either staging for trains ahead or is working on picking up or setting cars out. Due to train length we often have little choice but to block lesser traveled crossings in order to keep high traffic crossings open.
When a train is moving slow, its for a reason. Some people get all upset, yell, swear, flip us the bird. Ill make this analogy, when you fly on an airplane and are in the process of taking off or landing. Do you cuss, scream and holler at the pilot to "HURRY UP I HAVE PLACES TO GO NOW!" ? It the same thing for train crews, yarding a train or departing a yard is kind of like trying to thread a needle, take your time and it can be done safely.
This post is not pointed directly at you dave1949, Im just stating my :2cents: in general. :thumbsup: