From: nilknocgeo@earthlink.net   
      
   "John Albert"  wrote in message   
   news:54e3bbf3$0$32102$2c56edd9@usenetrocket.com...   
   > On 2/17/15 4:00 PM, bob wrote:   
   >> The difference between the crossing types I have described is not down   
   >> to the method used to keep cars off the crossing, but the method used to   
   >> keep *trains* off the crossing.  In the crossing involved in this   
   >> collision, there is *no* method to stop trains from crossing.  If the   
   >> train arrives at the crossing, the first indication they have that   
   >> something is not right is when they are so close to the crossing itself,   
   >> there is no chance to stop the train.  In the crossing I have described,   
   >> the railway signalling system *blocks* trains from the crossing until   
   >> *after* the barriers are down *and* the crossing is observed to be clear.   
   >   
   > Not going to happen in the USA outside of a very few locations.   
   >   
   > I remember at least one grade crossing accident on Amtrak in the New   
   > London area where I believe an older woman (grandmother) and two   
   > grandchildren were killed.   
   >   
   > Of note is that I believe the crossing at which this occurred already had   
   > a "occupancy protection" system installed that was supposed to slow the   
   > train if a crossing "became occupied" (by a vehicle) ahead of it (by   
   > forcing the cab signal down to the "restricting" aspect).   
   >   
   > Well, the unfortunate lady drove onto the crossing only moments before the   
   > train arrived, and the protection system was useless.   
   >   
   > So, in this particular case, the "advanced protection" proved to be   
   > worthless.   
   >   
   > My take (with 32 years' experience running trains for Conrail,   
   > Metro-North, and Amtrak):   
   > Accidents happen.   
   > They happen regardless of the best efforts of designers and engineers to   
   > prevent them from happening.   
   > If you don't want any more grade crossing accidents to ever happen again   
   > at this particular crossing, build a grade separation.   
   >   
   > Sooner or later, another freak accident is going to happen, no matter what   
   > steps may have been taken to "prevent" it.   
   > That's life.   
   >   
   > Aside:   
   > Sometimes grade separations won't even help. Some years' back, an Amtrak   
   > eastbound was coming up through the Bronx on the Hell Gate Line. At that   
   > location, the tracks were down in a cut, the street up above. Somebody   
   > drove a car right off the street, through the fence, and it landed in   
   > front of the train. I think the driver actually survived, came down   
   > between the catenary and all!   
      
   The goal is to reduce the accident RATE.  Freak accidents will happen, but   
   they are so rare as to make it impossible to predict.  Being caught between   
   two barriers coming down is something which needs to be prevented.   
      
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