RSS FeedAnatomy of a Grade Crossing Accident
by Steve Eshom
In many regards the 1960s were different than today but unfortunately in some regards they were not. Despite how much people think highly of the current era or romanticize about history people make mistakes in judgement today just like in the past.
Take this photograph of a grade crossing accident in Toppenish, WA taken sometime before 1963. While the true story of this incident is not easily found, it appears from the photo someone did not heed the clearly marked crossing and ended up with their automobile draped across the bulldog nose of a Northern Pacific F unit (NP 5407A if you are keeping score).
What distracted this driver? Probably the same sorts of things that would distract a driver today…the radio (hey, maybe Kennedy was on the radio?), traffic, food, a passenger, or maybe they were just in a hurry. Most likely, just like today, it was not a situation where getting to the other side of the tracks was something that couldn’t wait a few minutes.
We have learned a lot since this photograph was taken. We have come to know that the refined oils and fuels we use to keep our cars moving are hazardous to the environment and treat spills with the utmost care (23-19!, 23-19! for Monsters Inc. fans). So today it is highly unlikely to find someone simply hosing the spilled lube oil, anti-freeze, and fuel from the pavement! We also understand more about the factors that cause pedestrians and drivers to not recognize a train is approaching and through improved technology, improved visibility at the crossing, and improved visibility of the approaching train we’ve made crossings safer. On top of that railroads and local agencies have made a tremendous effort to close as many crossings as they can even though the alternative is expensive.
We haven’t learned a lot since this photograph was taken. Not all drivers have gotten the basic message and unfortunately as long as grade crossings exists the basic fact is these accidents still occur So Look and Listen and lead your friends and family to do the same!
March 31st, 2008 at 8:04 pm
You make assumptions about that crossing crash that may NOT be valid. For example, how do you know that (1) the warning devices were working at the time of the crash? (2) the engineer properly sounded the horn? (3) the Track Circuit didn’t malfunction and turn on the warning devices when the train was very close to the crossing?
I can show you a picture of a car that was hit by an Amtrak train in Michigan in 2004. The railroad claimed that the warning devices—bells, flashing lights and gates—were all working. Unfortunately for the railroad, many witnesses told the police that NOTHING was working at the instant of impact. The railroad, ever faithful and caring about human life (sure, and my cat is a brain surgeon), ran a Rail Grinder over the track the next day and then failed to tell the police or the FRA that they had done that. Now, why would the RR clean rust off the rails the day after the DOUBLE FATAL crash? Could it have something to do with their obsolete and extremely dangerous 1872 Track Circuit? Did rust on the rails cause the Track Circuit to fail to detect that train that smashed into the car and killed a mother and her daughter (YOU BET!) SO, BOTTOM LINE: don’t jump to conclusions about any particular crossing crash unless you have done a complete and thorough investigation of all possibilities. BTW, do you know what a Track Circuit is and how it works? Do you know who invented it and when it was first tested? Do you know what “tail ring” is? Do you know what “failure to detect” is? How about ” false activation?” What is a shunt and how is it related to the Track Circuit? Last question: Are you a shill for Operation Lifesaver?