Random Thoughts

[JayhawkCO]

By the way...  Holy cow!

Yeah, taking the bus down that was weird after doing the hike.

So basically 1.5 tracks.  Paved in stone is a nice amenity the Incas thought of.

Yeah, the steps are pretty nice -- for the uphill. When you go down them, it kills the knees.

[Scott5114]

But nothing is going to top those biker gang infested pee troths in Detroit. 

The biker gangs were in the pee troughs?

[Max Rockatansky]

But nothing is going to top those biker gang infested pee troths in Detroit. 

The biker gangs were in the pee troughs?

Maybe?  They used to pee on people from the second deck catwalk.

[Scott5114]

But nothing is going to top those biker gang infested pee troths in Detroit. 

The biker gangs were in the pee troughs?

Maybe?  They used to pee on people from the second deck catwalk.

They're in the pee troughs peeing back at people??

[Max Rockatansky]

But nothing is going to top those biker gang infested pee troths in Detroit. 

The biker gangs were in the pee troughs?

Maybe?  They used to pee on people from the second deck catwalk.

They're in the pee troughs peeing back at people??

You did face at people in some of the troughs.  I don't recall anyone specifically trying to pee across to hit the other pissers.  It does seem plausible though given how many times I did see the catwalks violated.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway grandstand restrooms used to have a similar setup with large center island urine troughs.  I was surprised to still see them at the track even by the late 1990s.  I don't recall the garage having such a plebeian setup. 

[kphoger]

You did face at people in some of the troughs.

I remember that kind of setup from going to Cubs games as a kid.  I think the troughs are still there, even after men's room renovations a dozen years ago.  From what I'm reading, stalls were also added but the troughs remain.  That alone doesn't make it gross.

[Molandfreak]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNG4j3HSeF5/?igsh=YjRhNXR2YWVlNjkz

Looks like AI is ramping up video production quality, but still has some hilarious errors. The path that it shows for US 6 is clearly just the endpoints entered into Google Maps. It was pretty funny seeing what is clearly I-15 through Vegas mentioned as the "loneliest road in America," though.

[Max Rockatansky]

The western endpoint they have for US 6 appears to be Firebaugh, California. 

[Henry]

Also, the route they drew for US 6 is wrong; for as long as I've been alive, it has never gone through Las Vegas. While it's true that the loneliest road in America is indeed a part of that route, that section is too far north to come near Sin City. They owe the Grand Army of the Republic an apology for that error.

[Scott5114]

I don't think an apology is necessary. The Grand Army of the Republic might have enjoyed a nice stay at the Flamingo.

[mgk920]

The Grand Army of the Republic was formally dissolved in the late 1950's - when the last surviving 'Union' combat veteran of the Civil War passed on.

Mike

[kphoger]

The Grand Army of the Republic was formally dissolved in the late 1950's - when the last surviving 'Union' combat veteran of the Civil War passed on.

That wouldn't stop a President from issuing an official apology to them...

[Scott5114]

The Grand Army of the Republic was formally dissolved in the late 1950's - when the last surviving 'Union' combat veteran of the Civil War passed on.

The hotel portion of the Flamingo opened in 1947, so the Grand Army of the Republic could have stayed there (although it was only three stories at the time, rather than the 28 it is now).

[D-Dey65]

If anyone feels like moving this post to a more appropriate board, I won't complain.

Tonight I felt like rewatching a YouTube video featuring a bunch of car chases from episodes of CHiPs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5MDVC1DWpE

Around the 0:40 second mark in the one above, there's a railroad crossing warning sign in the background that has a supplemental sign telling motorists how many tracks are at this approaching crossing. I've never seen anything like that before, or if I did, I forgot about it. Usually in the USA, and as far as I know most surrounding countries, you don't find out how many tracks are at the crossing until you're right there.

[Roadgeekteen]

Am I the only roadgeek with like no interest in cars proper? Like I'm not into car designs or features even a little bit.

[Roadgeekteen]

Oh, and it just dawned on me that I've been a member of AAroads for longer than the famous Agentsteel53 (Jake) which seems insane to me given how prominent he was early on. His last login was in 2016, so 2009-2016 vs 2017-2025.

[formulanone]

...there's a railroad crossing warning sign in the background that has a supplemental sign telling motorists how many tracks are at this approaching crossing. I've never seen anything like that before, or if I did, I forgot about it. Usually in the USA, and as far as I know most surrounding countries, you don't find out how many tracks are at the crossing until you're right there.

I feel I've seen a few "2/3/4 Tracks" signs placed under crossbucks (example), but they weren't brown like that example.

[Scott5114]

Am I the only roadgeek with like no interest in cars proper? Like I'm not into car designs or features even a little bit.

Nope. I couldn't give two shits. The car is just there to provide a way to move me closer to road signs.

[D-Dey65]

...there's a railroad crossing warning sign in the background that has a supplemental sign telling motorists how many tracks are at this approaching crossing. I've never seen anything like that before, or if I did, I forgot about it. Usually in the USA, and as far as I know most surrounding countries, you don't find out how many tracks are at the crossing until you're right there.

I feel I've seen a few "2/3/4 Tracks" signs placed under crossbucks (example), but they weren't brown like that example.

Actually, that example is yellow.


Here's something else though; two of these "Wrong Way" signs are unnecessary. That's on the northbound entrance ramp to the Canoe Creek Service Plaza on Florida's Turnpike, just in case you're wondering.

[1995hoo]

....

Around the 0:40 second mark in the one above, there's a railroad crossing warning sign in the background that has a supplemental sign telling motorists how many tracks are at this approaching crossing. I've never seen anything like that before, or if I did, I forgot about it. Usually in the USA, and as far as I know most surrounding countries, you don't find out how many tracks are at the crossing until you're right there.

I've seen a few signs advising of the number of tracks, but I've only seen them together with a crossbuck, and they've been in the same color scheme as the crossbuck. I suppose, in theory, the sign you reference in that video followed the "color consistency" principle insofar as the show used a round yellow-and-black sign instead.

[kphoger]

Around the 0:40 second mark in the one above, there's a railroad crossing warning sign in the background that has a supplemental sign telling motorists how many tracks are at this approaching crossing. I've never seen anything like that before, or if I did, I forgot about it. Usually in the USA, and as far as I know most surrounding countries, you don't find out how many tracks are at the crossing until you're right there.

That's a W48 sign.

Here is a .pdf of the sign specs, dated 1971:
https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/signs/w/w48-ca-a11y.pdf

Here is a .pdf of the 2014 version of the California MUTCD, with the sign in question visible on page 9 of the document:
https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/signs/ca-sign-chart-2014-rev3-a11y.pdf

And here is the requirement for their use:

Part 8 — Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings

Chapter 8B — Signs and Markings

§ 8B.06 —  Grade Crossing Advance Warning Signs (W10 Series)

Standard:
A Grade Crossing Advance Warning (W10-1) sign (see Figure 8B-4) shall be used on each highway in advance of every highway-rail grade crossing, and every highway-LRT grade crossing in semi-exclusive alignments, except in the following circumstances:

[...]


Standard:
08 — The Number of Tracks (W48(CA)) sign shall be placed below the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Advance Warning (W10-1) sign at grade crossings with two or more tracks.

Intrigued by the fact that this sign is apparently required, I set out to find a level multi-track crossing with a state highway.  And wouldn't you know it, but here's the very first one I landed on:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QMvihC4RmNJ2ooSu7

And here's the second one I landed on:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8X5bh3rfq8kiVkkb8

[D-Dey65]

Intrigued by the fact that this sign is apparently required, I set out to find a level multi-track crossing with a state highway.  And wouldn't you know it, but here's the very first one I landed on:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QMvihC4RmNJ2ooSu7

Do you know what else I noticed? Between the standard W10-1 sign and the crossing itself, there's a W10-12 sign. Most places I've driven on have only the W10-1 sign and then the crossing. They also don't necessarily have any bi-directional look signs (R15-8) for the sidewalk crossings.

And that speed limit sign is partially hidden by shrubbery. That's not good.