Railroad Crossing

[Amtrakprod]

Here's a chat for grade crossings, anything interesting or cool.



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[Amtrakprod]

Here's a typical Massachusetts crossing


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[Ian]

Here's an example not too far from where I grew up that I always found intriguing, though I'm sure there are similar cases that exist elsewhere. The intersection of PA 420 and Morton Avenue in Morton, PA has SEPTA's Media/Elwyn regional rail line running right through it. There are exclusive right/left turn lanes to/from PA 420 to South Morton Ave respectively, complete with traffic signals including right/left green arrows. Below are GSV links to the signals in question.

South Morton Avenue's signals

PA 420's signals

What I find interesting about these turn signals, is that they're only lit when a train is passing through the intersection. There is no advanced green for the left turn arrow for NB 420 traffic, nor is there a green arrow for Morton Avenue's counterpart during normal operation. The arrows are strictly used for railroad preemption, as turning traffic does not interfere with the crossing.

[Amtrakprod]

Here's an example not too far from where I grew up that I always found intriguing, though I'm sure there are similar cases that exist elsewhere. The intersection of PA 420 and Morton Avenue in Morton, PA has SEPTA's Media/Elwyn regional rail line running right through it. There are exclusive right/left turn lanes to/from PA 420 to South Morton Ave respectively, complete with traffic signals including right/left green arrows. Below are GSV links to the signals in question.

South Morton Avenue's signals

PA 420's signals

What I find interesting about these turn signals, is that they're only lit when a train is passing through the intersection. There is no advanced green for the left turn arrow for NB 420 traffic, nor is there a green arrow for Morton Avenue's counterpart during normal operation. The arrows are strictly used for railroad preemption, as turning traffic does not interfere with the crossing.

That's interesting. I've never seen that before.

[US 89]

Here's a neat one I just happened upon the other day, on Pioneer Road in an industrial area of western Salt Lake City.

The road traffic is controlled by traffic signals, which isn't too far out of the ordinary. But what's fascinating is it looks like even the train traffic is controlled by standard traffic signals, which I've never seen before.

[lepidopteran]

There's a grade crossing like that in Auburn, NY. The traffic is controlled only by conventional traffic signals.  The tracks get a 2-section signal, though it's not clear if the bottom lens is a steady green.  What's more, these signals were replaced recently; if you tinker with the dates, the highway green indication used to be forward arrows, and there's even a shot of old and new mast arms simultaneously.

[Brandon]

The ultimate one, IMHO.  A shame it's long gone.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022733/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1675680
https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022742/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1658531

[Michael]

As I was reading US 89's post, I thought of the signals here in Auburn too.  I've never looked at the train signals while a train was crossing, so I don't know what the light does.  NY 297 in Solvay also has similar signals.  As I was getting the URL for that link, I saw that there are pedestrian signals too, which I've never seen used like this before!  The old signals in this location didn't have any.

Something I thought was interesting is that, at least in NY, school buses don't have to stop at railroad crossings controlled by traffic signals.  I asked my BOCES bus driver in 12th grade one day why we didn't have to stop for the crossing, and he mentioned it wasn't required because of the signal.  I looked up the law, and sure enough, it's not required.

[mrsman]

As I was reading US 89's post, I thought of the signals here in Auburn too.  I've never looked at the train signals while a train was crossing, so I don't know what the light does.  NY 297 in Solvay also has similar signals.  As I was getting the URL for that link, I saw that there are pedestrian signals too, which I've never seen used like this before!  The old signals in this location didn't have any.

Something I thought was interesting is that, at least in NY, school buses don't have to stop at railroad crossings controlled by traffic signals.  I asked my BOCES bus driver in 12th grade one day why we didn't have to stop for the crossing, and he mentioned it wasn't required because of the signal.  I looked up the law, and sure enough, it's not required.

The only thing that I can imagine to make the distinction between a traditional RR signal and these examples that utilize a regular traffic signal (at least for crossing cars) is the speed of the trains on the track.  A mainline railroad would have to have the traditional RR signal, preferably with gates, so that cars will absolutely not be in the zone of danger.  Small branch lines that serve limited freight, and light rail lines may not need the same level of infrastructure, particluarly if the train would have the ability to stop at a signal.

[roadman65]

In Delaware some grade crossings use the traditional flashing red on each side of the crossbucks but also 12-12-12 regular traffic lights.  Michigan also on US 127 at the one and only grade crossing north of Lansing has a traffic signal in addition to the flashers.

[D-Dey65]

Here's a neat one I just happened upon the other day, on Pioneer Road in an industrial area of western Salt Lake City.

The road traffic is controlled by traffic signals, which isn't too far out of the ordinary. But what's fascinating is it looks like even the train traffic is controlled by standard traffic signals, which I've never seen before.

Normally, my first thought would be a future light-rail line.

[debragga]

This one in Monroe LA cuts through US 165 diagonally. 165 is 4 lanes divided with a wide median, and the tracks cut through a road between the 2 sides of traffic

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5367705,-92.0787668,3a,75y,7.73h,75.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sas4FKpSzZH9xWxHIG-LwjA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[SidS1045]

The ultimate one, IMHO.  A shame it's long gone.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022733/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1675680
https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022742/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1658531

An animation of its operation and sound is here:  https://youtu.be/QGhFHKtDhns

[byoungblood]

https://goo.gl/maps/tMnR4GnSMDTMghMZA
https://goo.gl/maps/jNM4wnSD7oFvC4LF8
https://goo.gl/maps/4x5TMjD5qcDzXVxp9
https://goo.gl/maps/cDYqvJWQUddf2xFT9


Holtzclaw Ave in Chattanooga has a small dwarf signals along the tracks to stop trains until the traffic signals have turned red. Trains pull up to the signal, the traffic lights on the road change, then the train gets their light. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum uses this rail line to switch a few local industries along with accessing the NS mainline closer to downtown Chattanooga.

[roadman]

The ultimate one, IMHO.  A shame it's long gone.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022733/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1675680
https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022742/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1658531

An animation of its operation and sound is here:  https://youtu.be/QGhFHKtDhns

The Billips Signal should be mandatory for all quiet zones.

https://goo.gl/maps/tMnR4GnSMDTMghMZA
https://goo.gl/maps/jNM4wnSD7oFvC4LF8
https://goo.gl/maps/4x5TMjD5qcDzXVxp9
https://goo.gl/maps/cDYqvJWQUddf2xFT9


Holtzclaw Ave in Chattanooga has a small dwarf signals along the tracks to stop trains until the traffic signals have turned red. Trains pull up to the signal, the traffic lights on the road change, then the train gets their light. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum uses this rail line to switch a few local industries along with accessing the NS mainline closer to downtown Chattanooga.

The MBTA Reading commuter rail line has single target searchlight signals in Wakefield prior to Albion Street for outbound trains, and prior to Chestnut Street for inbound trains (the station is located between Chestnut and Albion Streets) for the same reason, although both crossings are controlled with lights and gates instead of traffic signals.  Provision of these 'gates down' signals was required by the Town as a condition of the railroad (then the B&M) removing the crossing watchman in the 1970s.

[cjk374]

This is a bad-ass car-killer from downtown Tupelo, MS:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.2572643,-88.7156172,3a,60y,93.32h,83.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVR53z28jVit0coLCIMo78g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[Brian556]

This one in Monroe LA cuts through US 165 diagonally. 165 is 4 lanes divided with a wide median, and the tracks cut through a road between the 2 sides of traffic

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5367705,-92.0787668,3a,75y,7.73h,75.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sas4FKpSzZH9xWxHIG-LwjA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That crossing is deficient. No lights for driveway traffic. Signal too far forward, stop line worn off

[cjk374]

This one in Monroe LA cuts through US 165 diagonally. 165 is 4 lanes divided with a wide median, and the tracks cut through a road between the 2 sides of traffic

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5367705,-92.0787668,3a,75y,7.73h,75.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sas4FKpSzZH9xWxHIG-LwjA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That crossing is deficient. No lights for driveway traffic. Signal too far forward, stop line worn off

Lines usually don't get repainted but every few years. This is no surprise.

This track is owned by a shortline....Genesee & Wyoming's Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi RR (AL&M). They have only one train that makes a round trip between Bastrop & Monroe. So the crossing isn't busy. Probably why there are no driveway signals. Also, those signals are from the 70s...when US 165 was widened to 4-lanes. So DOTD must have determined that these signals and their configuration were sufficient back then.

Also....the tracks come in at such a sharp angle, that the signals will be too far for one lane, and just right for the other. I see no way to fix this.

[Brian556]

This one in Monroe LA cuts through US 165 diagonally. 165 is 4 lanes divided with a wide median, and the tracks cut through a road between the 2 sides of traffic

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5367705,-92.0787668,3a,75y,7.73h,75.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sas4FKpSzZH9xWxHIG-LwjA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That crossing is deficient. No lights for driveway traffic. Signal too far forward, stop line worn off

Lines usually don't get repainted but every few years. This is no surprise.

This track is owned bt a shortline....Genesee & Wyoming's Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi RR (AL&M). They have only one train that makes a round trip between Bastrop & Monroe. So the crossing isn't busy. Probably why there are no driveway signals. Also, those signals are from the 70s...when US 165 was widened to 4-lanes. So DOTD must have determined that these signals and their configuration were sufficient back then.

Also....the tracks come in at such a sharp angle, that the signals will be too far for one lane, and just right for the other. I see no way to fix this.

It can be fixed by doign what I said...its ok to have hte signal farther back Here's a similar crossign in Farmers Branch TX: https://www.google.com/maps/@32.9455872,-96.827569,3a,75y,341.55h,86.59t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1s15V4dWklD1yTOAgE5CSuNA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D15V4dWklD1yTOAgE5CSuNA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D103.170074%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100

Wanna see a really long crossing, look at this sucker west of Bartow FL:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plant+City,+FL/@27.8975243,-81.8800992,711m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88dd3686cee81c99:0x683674ba29689d2c!8m2!3d28.0186323!4d-82.1128641

[vdeane]

Looking at the historic street view, the driveway is fairly recent (within the last 10 years).  Before it, there was a separate line for each lane, and then after, they put in a single lane before the driveway.

[fredmcain]

The ultimate one, IMHO.  A shame it's long gone.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022733/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1675680
https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022742/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1658531

You know, this sign reminds me of something that I did not know for a long time and only recently found out.

I had always assumed that the standard railroad crossing "crossbuck" was thought up to indicate a track crossing the road.  The "X" was simply a symbol of that crossing.  But I read recently that the origin of the crossbuck actually stemmed out of the crossbones symbol like they used to label poisons with and stuff.

This picture seems to verify that origin.

Regards,
Fred M. Cain
(Railfan in addition to U.S. Highways Fan)

[fredmcain]

This one in Monroe LA cuts through US 165 diagonally. 165 is 4 lanes divided with a wide median, and the tracks cut through a road between the 2 sides of traffic

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5367705,-92.0787668,3a,75y,7.73h,75.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sas4FKpSzZH9xWxHIG-LwjA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Wow!  That's confusing!

FMC

[fredmcain]

Group,

I've got a good one I'd like to add here.  Much of U.S. Route 31 through western Indiana is actually a limited access highway with short portions even built to "Interstate" standards.

When you're on U.S. 6 and enter U.S. 31 headed south, you feel like you have really entered the freeway.  Then cruising along southward at 55-60 MPH, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you encounter this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2810832,-86.2714821,3a,60y,193.56h,85.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syLUl6quKKjLQkgOBe5uMOg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I have never seen a train at this crossing and am not even 100% sure where it goes.  I think it heads to a big grain elevator in the Rochester area or something.

But it would seem to me to be a dangerous place to encounter a train, especially at night.  More especially yet if someone were driving and texting at night and wasn't watching, they could wind up slamming into the side of 120 ton covered hopper car!

OUCH !

Regards,
Fred M. Cain

[debragga]

Group,

I've got a good one I'd like to add here.  Much of U.S. Route 31 through western Indiana is actually a limited access highway with short portions even built to "Interstate" standards.

When you're on U.S. 6 and enter U.S. 31 headed south, you feel like you have really entered the freeway.  Then cruising along southward at 55-60 MPH, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you encounter this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2810832,-86.2714821,3a,60y,193.56h,85.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syLUl6quKKjLQkgOBe5uMOg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I have never seen a train at this crossing and am not even 100% sure where it goes.  I think it heads to a big grain elevator in the Rochester area or something.

But it would seem to me to be a dangerous place to encounter a train, especially at night.  More especially yet if someone were driving and texting at night and wasn't watching, they could wind up slamming into the side of 120 ton covered hopper car!

OUCH !

Regards,
Fred M. Cain

US 165 south of Monroe has one similar to that, on a stretch of road with a 65 mph speed limit. It's diagonal like the one I posted above, and the two crossings are only 10 miles apart!

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.4045489,-92.1089489,3a,75y,33h,79.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7-QywQ2H-ty4GC8ULsQGJw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[lepidopteran]

Google MyMap of RR grade crossings on divided highways.
Pin colors are:
Green=active
Yellow=formerly at-grade, but has since been grade-separated
Red=abandoned