Near collision on tracks in Jacksonville

[@kevinzz276]

As a professional signal engineer of 43 years experience, at any level crossing with lights and other warning devices, once the red lights show that means stop. The same rule applies here in the UK as it does in the US. The fact that two locomotives appeared to block the view of the crossing is irrelevant. The warning to stop is given by the lights, the bell and the barrier across the road. The road user does not need to look for the train.

[@simply_deity]

Don’t try they will keep doing it

[@rajanvarghese2352]

Some folks think that they are really smart until they find themselves in a muddle. 😁🤪🤞

[@simply_deity]

@@rajanvarghese2352 I know the human species can be pretty dumb.

[@maxpenn6374]

Always look for a train at a crossing when there is no signal to stop, or no signal at all. When the crossing gates are down and the bells are ringing and lights are blinking, stop!

[@craig5323]

Pretty STUPID! dmfers. Nice pictures

[@beeble2003]

3:40 "Views are OK when an automobile approaches from the east. But two locomotives blocked the driver's view on the day of the near miss." Gee, if only there was some kind of device to warn motorists that there's a train coming when it's hard to see. I dunno, maybe a flashing light that's triggered by the approaching train? They could make it red -- people know that means danger. Bells are cool. They could use bells, too. Ooh, and they could even do something to block the road... Stand back, everyone. I'm gonna patent this and make a fortune.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Haha! The problem is that this crossing is atypical. It's very wide, across four tracks at the very end of a large yard. The trains move more slowly, so drivers are lulled into complacency. There is a lot of idling, and waits can be very long. People being human, they don't want to wait.

[@beeble2003]

@@ThruAWiderLens Yeah, the railroads should make more effort to avoid blocking crossings for longer than is necessary. That does teach drivers that the lights and gates are a waste of their time.

[@VestedUTuber]

@@ThruAWiderLens One solution to this would be to have gates on both sides of the road on both ends of the crossing, like how the crossings in Orlando are set up. That way drivers can't just go around.

[@fannta79]

No, I'd dismiss the gates everywhere, just red lights! In this manner in a short time we could easyly get rid of all rulebreakers and make this world a better one 😅 ...

[@andysedgley]

@@fannta79 Yeah I just commented about the Darwin Awards! Weed out the idiots naturally!

[@michaelbujaki2462]

Model railroader: It's best to avoid S bends because they cause derailments Railroad Owner: How many S bends can we cram into one junction?

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Soooo true!!!

[@edjohnson9989]

They’re crossovers but maybe that’s the same as an s bend. Dunno. I just know we call it a cross over on the job.

[@michaelbujaki2462]

@@edjohnson9989 There are crossovers in model railroading as well. In model railroading, an S bend is a point in the track where the curve changes direction without a straight piece in the middle. These bends cause trains to derail when you go through them

[@gaming4life25]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Triplex5014]

Sharp S-bends should be avoided with the European buffer and chain coupling because there is the possibility that the buffers slide off each other and lock causing the train to derail. I believe with the knuckle couplers there isn't such an issue except if there is a string-lining derailment.

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

You are supposed to stop when the red lights start blinking. After that it's on you. They can't make it anymore simpler than that.

[@BL-jt3qt]

Watch the start of the video closer. They gates never came down while the first train slowly snaked through the multiples switches.

[@snowowl4019]

@@BL-jt3qt They went down

[@jamesp13152]

I love trains and am so happy when the lights start. I stop and have a great close up view of amazing machines.

[@railroad9000]

And remain stopped until after the lights stop flashing but nobody does!

[@Markus-zb5zd]

that's why in germany the dumped the blinking lights, only fully red lights are allowed if there are lights

[@Roperdude6619]

Doesn’t matter if the two locomotives “blocked the view”… that dummy HAD to go around the crossing gates for the Amtrak to come that close to them.

[@timfischer]

This. No need to add more gates to the other lane... people need to STOP driving around gates. EVER.

[@Xezlec]

@@timfischer There is a need to add a gate to the other lane to make people stop driving around gates ever. If they were just killing themselves, who cares, but they might also damage the train!

[@timfischer]

@@Xezlec I disagree. A second gate could trap people between the sets of gates on either side of the track. And you can't prevent people from doing stupid things they already know they aren't supposed to do. If there were two sets of gates, they'd probably drive on the shoulder or a flat ditch to get around. Then what... build a fence too?

[@ShakarProduction]

@@timfischer That's why the exit gates are staggered. The gates leading onto the crossing for their respective lanes close first to block people from going onto it, then the gates leading off close a little bit later to allow anyone currently on the crossing to get off. Then the gates open exit first and then entrance once the train passes. Drawbridges that have similar barrier gates do this as well.

[@beorlingo]

I percieved that there are No Gates at all at the Side of the rails where the sedan approached from.

[@JL-lg8tk]

Word to the wise: When gates are down, don't go around gates to cross the tracks.

[@Mgameing123]

yep its just dangerous

[@BL-jt3qt]

Watch the start of the video closer. They gates never came down while the first train slowly snaked through the multiples switches.

[@jmcfarlandjr]

@@BL-jt3qt At 00:08 the gate comes down. You can't see the one where the bicycle comes into the screen.

[@saintswillwin1013]

@@BL-jt3qt The gates do come down; the crossing arm is above the grade crossing signal and at the :04 mark you can see it going down.

[@sludge4125]

Captain Obvious has checked in.

[@barroningram7286]

that's a great shot of the train snaking through switches

[@JTTheRailfan]

I agree

[@knuffelbaer1971]

switches or points?

[@perthdave100]

@@knuffelbaer1971 switches in the US, points in the UK.

[@stevedoubleu99B]

Almost hypnotic.

[@kiranb8500]

Switch portion,lead portion and crossing portion..

[@paulgoodman8476]

Views of the approaching trains are irrelevant - flashing red lights and sounding bells mean STOP - end of discussion.

[@johnslyfield5096]

The ONLY exception to what you said is if law enforcement In communication with the railroad or a railroad worker directs you otherwise. I had to walk 3 miles to get around a faulty crossing once.

[@paulgoodman8476]

@@johnslyfield5096 which is irrelevant to the situation here. I worked for a railroad.

[@simply_deity]

Don’t bother trying

[@MJofLakelandX]

I've always said, they need to install hanging curtains on the arms like in some European countries... still, idiots gotta prove their idiocy

[@DieyoungDiefast]

@@MJofLakelandX Be more fun if teeth came up as the barrier started to drop. People would stop running red lights after a few sets of tyres needed to be replaced.

[@ruffian2952]

New pedestrian bridge gets so much traffic. Those two trains in the clear did not block the driver from seeing the flashing lights and gates.

[@itmkoeln]

Even if. The signaling at the level crossing is deciding.

[@donaldthomas7070]

The driver may have believed that the stopped trains or locomotives had triggered the gates. Many motorists don't realize how gates work, or that they go up if a nearby train stops just before entering the crossing.

[@michaeltb1358]

@@donaldthomas7070 Doesn't matter. Lights and barrier mean stop.

[@u2bear377]

​@@donaldthomas7070 Do crossing signals turn off / barriers go up if a train stops near the crossing? In -Soviet Russia- ex-USSR, you can spent _hours_ at the crossing if there is shunting going on.

[@donaldthomas7070]

@@u2bear377, I believe they do, at least in some places.

[@atsfandy]

Conclusion is the gate was down that means stop, and wait, this world doesn't understand a simple philosophy its illegal to go around the gates when they are down the penalty is death.

[@helmitpeak]

The law says you must stop when the red lights start blinking and you certainly don't cross at any time the gates are down.

[@sarge6870]

Guess that driver didn't get the memo!

[@BL-jt3qt]

Watch the start of the video closer. They gates never came down while the first train slowly snaked through the multiples switches.

[@helmitpeak]

@@BL-jt3qt It doesn't matter, that's why you are to stop at the red lights.

[@timbo389]

@@BL-jt3qt the gates were down. You can just make out them coming down.

[@sludge4125]

Thanks, Captain Helmit Obvious.

[@scottmccloud2894]

So typical. They see a sitting train on the tracks, but not the moving one coming up behind it.

[@jeepster2442]

Exactly. Saw the same thing. They thought the non moving train was causing the signal lights and didn't realize the secong train coming. Notice the bike riders in both scenarios just beat the moving train by seconds.

[@kishascape]

@@jeepster2442 I always stop and check all tracks before cycling or walking over. Incase the gate failed.

[@MichaelRBaron]

Not to mention that the gate closes the road 5 minutes I mean 40 seconds before the train comes thru. So you sit there for 30 seconds and stare at a closed gate and an idling train. Seeing how often signals malfunction like this. It's expected that people behave this way.

[@None-zc5vg]

@@MichaelRBaron They could think outside the box and have the idling train stationed further back down the line beyond the curve so that those "chancer drivers" could at least see the oncoming train that's triggered the crossing-lights. That would at least make drivers think twice about ignoring those lights.

[@JawTooth]

I filmed a car just get missed by Amtrak in Sanford, Florida. I'm going to look this crossing up the next time I'm in Florida.

[@kishascape]

Very good sir

[@cinthiamontero9617]

@@kishascape lo o

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thanks for watching Jaw Tooth. You have a great channel BTW, something for us all to aspire to!!!

[@stephensmith6230]

What road and crossing? I live in sanford currently, and brings my curiosity!

[@ThruAWiderLens]

@@stephensmith6230 It's McQuade/Broadway Ave (hard to tell where Broadway stops and McQuade begins), just north of the Beaver Street overpass. My other video posted last week shows more of the crossing.

[@joed9491]

If that train hadn't of been zigzagging because of the rail pattern, it probably would've been going a little faster and those people would see.....for a split second, how well a car holds up against a locomotive.

[@benniepierce6283]

about like a toddler going up against a pro boxer

[@Syclone0044]

You should see how well a donkey and a cow stand up to a 70mph Indian 🇮🇳 train 🚊.... Like Gallagher smashing a watermelon with his sledgehammer I swear to god!! 👀

[@prae7068]

I think you are exactly right: a little bit more speed by the train and it would have been deadly for the car.

[@Anrhok]

Well, best example Germany: The Crossings are the whole street long. The right side of the crossing closes first, the left side closes a few secs later so the last car on the track can pass over quickly. And mostly the Cross closes like 2 or 3 Minutes in front of an approaching train. (depending on its speed mostly) Also most crossings are close to a train station so they are mostly pretty slow... actually doesnt stop the train in an emergency but... the system here is better than in the US

[@GarrusN7]

Not really. India also has crossings that block the entire street but people and motorbikes still sneak around. The system in the US is fine just too many impatient/entitled people choose to risk it. The locals here know this crossing is near a railyard and trains here will be moving very slow so they decided to ignore the warnings and cross anyways.

[@Normal1855]

It doesn't matter if the train blocked the view. If the lights are flashing, and the gates are down, you don't cross.

[@johnslyfield5096]

also if you see the train and can’t tell if it’s stopped you wait

[@seaningram3285]

"Don't Assume - It makes an Ass out of you and Me."

[@simply_deity]

Not worth typing they ain’t listening

[@Gordon705]

Stupid people are supposed to perish before they have kids. Single lane gates are a "Stupid People Trap", SPT for short.

[@twsjct]

Exactly. Blocked view is no excuse.

[@harishrp4449]

"Two days later I went for a closer look ..." this sentence was so much like an NTSB officer :)

[@DomoniqueMusiclover]

Yes

[@kishascape]

I like how he not only shows the clip of near miss but a full investigation and analysis afterwards hehe

[@harishrp4449]

@@kishascape Quite mathematical.

[@mt5144]

One day someone will get hit by a passing train if people keep crossing on railway lines & the consequences will be Fatal, so this video is vital.

[@thissoaios]

@@mt5144 no

[@teslaric9729]

Why is everybody in such a hurry to get nowhere?

[@paulsmith5398]

Wow!, Tesla Ric!, you sure hit that nail squarely on the head about "why is everyone in such a hurry to get nowhere!" With multiple tracks, gates down, and lights flashing, i would darn sure wait for anything coming that i couldnt see.

[@NortheastCorridorFilms]

Tf do you mean? If you driving a car, no shit you need to be somewhere

[@paulsmith5398]

@@NortheastCorridorFilms and blow through a rr xing with a train coming? only a nutcase like you would risk YOUR life and a BUNCH of others! An idiot blew through a crossing with a train coming, my son-in-law was the engineer, a train just doesnt stop on a dime going 55, moral of story, the car driver is DEAD, he got ground up beyond recognition! So think about THAT next time YOU are in a hurry with a train coming!!

[@NortheastCorridorFilms]

@@paulsmith5398 Im not saying you should blow a crossing lol Im just saying cars are used for getting somewhere

[@cak8132]

It’s not so much that they’re in a hurry. A lot of people think that the rules just don’t apply to them. Or maybe they think it’s some kind of game to dodge the train.

[@downhillking2]

Your last character generator says “Thanks you for watching!” I want to thank you for taking the time for producing outstanding video, taking the time to allow us, the views, to examine your point of view from appropriate vantage points. Great job! Great chain of logic leading to a concise conclusion.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Wow, thank you Ulysses. Very much appreciated!!!

[@davidthaler7018]

Concise. Yes. Correct? No, IMO. Gates down, lights flashing means “Stop”, not “cross anyway by going around.” Presence of the other locos means nothing!

[@ThruAWiderLens]

@@davidthaler7018 Thank you for watching, David, and I appreciate the input!

[@Canedave1]

They went around the gate. If you’re gonna be dumb you gotta be tough!

[@BL-jt3qt]

Watch the start of the video closer. They gates never came down while the first train slowly snaked through the multiples switches.

[@TonboIV]

@@BL-jt3qt Please stop repeating this in every comment. If you watch this at even 720 you can clearly see the gate lowering at about 5 seconds in, long before the train gets to the crossing.

[@RyanRWHoldings]

The gates start to come down at 3-4 seconds after the start of the video. You should take more notice of things. You're clearly one of those 'would be' drivers that would pass the red flashing lights and say "I didn't see the gate move" as an excuse after being hit by the train. Note that in each case the gates start to go down more than 20 seconds before the train reaches the crossing. All the vehicle drivers have to do is wait for the gatesto raise again, it's not that difficult a concept to understand.

[@evanwest1929]

Remember when crossbucks and occasional flashing lights were sufficient crossing protection? In fact, they still are.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

I wish they were sufficient protection. There were 815 deaths at US rail crossings in 2018, an average of more than two every day.

[@stevemarshall3481]

I actually love stopping at a crossing, for me it only happens maybe once every 5 years so not a problem but I'm in the UK and there's not actually that many crossings where we live, I've seen the length of some trains in the USA and that might be the problem, people play chicken cos the train might be one of those 2 mile long ones that I'm guessing would hold you up for 30 minutes 🤷‍♂️ , obviously I don't know the length of time one of the super long trains takes to pass so if you're in the USA please let me know, cheers 👍

[@natechatigny7107]

Northeast USA here - It can certainly be that way Steve. My youth was spent uphill from 3 railroad crossings (each about 1/3 of a mile from each other) and if we were leaving and we heard the train coming, sometimes it was a race to get to a crossing before the lights came on so we could get to the highway and go where we needed to go. The trains at this particular junction would typically park for 10 minutes, change tracks, and then keep going, and they were anywhere from 20-50 cars on average so it was usually a big ordeal. Me though, I always loved the trains and would watch em every chance I got.

[@princeofhyrule2205]

The normal length of a freight train by me is about 100 or so cars and takes about 10 minutes to pass. Ive seen some that take upwards of 15 mins or more in my area; but they r much rarer. When running late for work\school, waiting that long is really not ideal. What makes it even worse is when a long train stops at a small station and blocks like a mile worth of crossings. When trains sit idley for 30+ mins, that is extremely inconvenient. So yeah, sometimes the trains really suck. But, I do respect and appreciate a good train from time to time as long as I’m not in a rush :)

[@Jordi-Jan]

Some things: 1st- when the trains approach, gates close. So the car should NOT have crossed. 2nd- the fact two locomotives block the view reinforces the respect for the gates 3rd and worst: when the car crosses in front of the Amtrak, the loco is already clear of the stopped locomotives, and has been already for a few seconds. No excuse or justification acceptable.

[@macmikey]

Not to mention the engineer doing the proper approach horn sequence. Those idling locos have nothing to do with this at all. And I hope no engineer has to be a part of an accident with a passenger vehicle. Imagine how seriously shook up they would be.

[@Mima_the_vengeful_spirit]

In France, crossings are rare nowaday (they are mostly replaced by bridges/tunnels) but those which are still active have: -blinking light and siren -gates closing on both sides of the road -cameras watching over said crossing. trying to cross when the blinking light is, of course, forbidden (you are fined if you do so). If you got in between gates unwantingly, these are made so you can push them in case of emergencies. one last thing, no matter what, the train conductor is not responsible in case of crash.

[@Steve-xf4uv]

That car must have gone around the gates on the left side, so was well aware of the danger he was putting himself and any passengers in. Also he had sufficient time to stop once the train was visible but chose not to. Pretty stupid !!

[@CollaredDom]

Exactly. Which is why the OP's conclusion is wrong. That driver had plenty of time to stop once the train was visible, but either wasn't paying attention, or still thought they'd be fine. Luck was the only reason they actually were fine.

[@beeble2003]

@@CollaredDom It doesn't matter if the train is visible. The lights and bells and barrier are there so you don't have to see the train or try to judge its speed.

[@stereoplayers]

Some people are just SOS: Stuck On Stupid.

[@kelli217]

The only time I was ever tempted to cross when a signal was going, I could see that there was nothing moving for a mile in either direction for the track nearest to me, and there was only one other track at the crossing. The train that was causing the signal was idling on the far siding, and when the engineer noticed me sitting there, they backed up the train until it cleared the signal, and I was able to go. I waved to say 'thanks.'

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

Beautiful long distance view of the departing Amtrak weaving through the turnouts. I really liked this. James.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thank you!!

[@bostonrailfan2427]

interesting track layout there, can almost have the train on four different tracks at once thanks to the closeness of the switches: thank goodness for slow speeds!

[@edjohnson9989]

Its probably an interlocking.

[@TexasDronePilot]

Great Video! I wish our country was leading the way in railroads. I have enjoyed riding parts of Europe on high-speed rail. It was great fun passing other trains at 200 mph. It only took a few seconds because at the combined speed we were passing each other close to 400 mph. Their tracks are straight once you get out of the stations. Their lines are fenced on both sides and they have no grade crossings.

[@Soandnb]

America's WAY too sparse for rail to make sense in most cases.

[@ProvenScroll]

@@Soandnb Then why does America have one of the largest most efficient freight train networks in the world

[@VestedUTuber]

The US is actually one of the leading nations for rail, just not for passenger rail - our rail services are heavily focused on freight and have been like that since they were first started. Passenger service in the US was actually primarily used as a form of advertising for the freight services, since rich business owners tended to travel by rail and in turn would be exposed to how efficient the rail company's freight services were - by getting a close-up view every time they passed a freight train on another track. Meanwhile, Europe primarily focuses on passenger service, with freight taking a back seat due to the lower loading gauges and lack of space for large marshaling yards, and the lack of demand for freight service by rail.

[@Soandnb]

@@ProvenScroll because freight isn't people, and the dynamics between hauling goods vs hauling people are massively different.

[@GarrusN7]

@@ProvenScroll Because that's freight and not passenger. Two different things.

[@fermitupoupon1754]

Despite this crossing being at a slow-speed section of rail, how hard can it be to see the lights at the crossing? Over here, the gates at a crossing close when a train is 400 metres away. So on the one hand that means it might take a minute for a crawling train to get there, on the other hand if it's an intercity train, it'll be there in 8 to 10 seconds. Which is why it's illegal to enter a level crossing unless you're able to clear the intersection and in my experience people are pretty good at keeping crossings clear. I don't care about the 1000 euro fine, or the minimum of 10 days of suspended driver's license. It's the simple fact that a 350 tonne train hauling hundreds or arses at over 160km/h will pulverise a car and the people in that car. Yes I've been stuck at a level crossing in the middle of nowhere BC for 40 minutes waiting for some ungodly intermodal freight train to pass... But I've also been at crossings where it took all of 15 seconds for 2 huge commuter trains to pass through at incredible speeds.

[@tom201090]

If a crossing is activated with lights &/or barriers you stop and wait until the crossing deactivates and the lights are off. Should a crossing have no lights you STOP, LOOK, LISTEN...and obey any additional commands (e.g. phone the signaller) which may be posted by the crossing. If the car had been hit the lawyers of the car driver might well have used the 'two locos and half barrier excuse.' But the crossing was working fully and the barriers were down. And, as the crossing activated 40 seconds before the train arrived, there would have been more than enough time for the car to stop.

[@ThePlayerToBeNamedLater]

Double gates are often not used so that vehicles don't get trapped on tracks. If someone really wants to go around they will. Stupid has no cure.

[@stereoplayers]

Some people are just SOS: Stuck On Stupid.

[@renaldojason]

Imagine losing your life because you couldn't wait 15 seconds

[@NQY-flyer]

Just imagine if it went somewhat wrong That car driver after being hit would get out of his car ins furious rage knuckle the train engineer across the chops and blame him! for not stopping! 😧

[@Eructation1]

So many impatient people are dead. If they could wait just a few seconds then they could have continued having a full and varied life.

[@outhere8690]

I'd only have to imagine because I realize my status in life, try not to be a horribly selfish pos, & am not in any hell-bent rush to get anywhere.

[@garyallen1056]

Yeah- people wanna hurry up to die....

[@BryanTorok]

Part of the problem is that with two trains sitting that close to the crossing and not moving, a driver might think the lights and gates are for those trains. I've seen trains sit close to a crossing like that for 30 or 40 minutes with the gates down. Of course people will become frustrated and drive around the gates. Then after a while, that becomes the norm and they do it without looking for another train coming.

[@TheRailStation]

Close call. Nice Shots

[@dietmarogaza101]

Lo 7

[@robertocalero654]

@@dietmarogaza101 vzvzvzzvvzzzvzzv?vzzvvzvvZvvzczzzvcvcnvxvvvczzzvvvzzvbc

[@robertocalero654]

@@dietmarogaza101 vvvvvvvvvvzvZvzzvvb?zzvcv v

[@robertocalero654]

@@dietmarogaza101 vvzvzvcvzzzvzzv

[@robertocalero654]

@@dietmarogaza101 vvxvxvvxvvcvcvvVvvvz

[@quitzxy]

Hey ive been to that exact intersection while i was trainhopping. Even stopped at the church right on that road the car was driving on and hung out to hear people talk.

[@rahulgupta9975]

You thought the 'Near Collison' was supposed to happen between the Two Trains, right?

[@Syclone0044]

Yepppp

[@baruq4786]

Yes.

[@PhilLove531]

Yes sir

[@MaltaMcMurchy]

Wow! That driver was really lucky. It really drives home the message to be safe around railroad tracks. Thank you for this informative presentation!

[@WaffleRailProductions]

Holy crap. That was sure a close call. They really get some good speed through the turnouts too.

[@bootsnall8996]

So typical just ignore the gate that is already down, and drive around it.

[@gojeda]

The driver still violated the signal. Conclusion: obey the signal.

[@lynnkramer1211]

Local vehicles become blind to these at grade crossings due to the railroads parking and blocking them for hours several times per day. There are laws concerning these crossings, but without the laws being enforced, there is no compliance. Corrupt politicians cry for Gun Control all of the time. Where is the railroad enforcement? Law without enforcement is not effective. Gun Control is not effective because there are all kinds of laws about gun crime already and there is NO enforcement of the ones that are already in place. Traffic control is the same. Enforce the GD laws or change the infrastructure. Do both.

[@TheNasaDude]

OBEY THE SIGNAL would make for a cool T-shirt

[@macdieter23558]

​ @B L : If you look closely you see that the gates come down. Your error comes from the pole (lightpole or sth like that) directly behind the gate. The pole is much thicker than the actual gate and irritates you. I have been working for the german railway for more than 25 years and can assure you that you can´t fix stupid. - We had 6 feet high walls around the tracks and kids climbed over them to play on the tracks. - We had fully closing gates and car drivers which lifted them up to cross the tracks. - We had a woman at a fully closing gate that blew both gates (before and after the crossing) with high speed and told the police there were no gates, she didn´t do anything. (Her limousine was a convertible afterwards) - We had grandpas crossing the tracks with their bicycles who told us they now do it for 40 years and never had an accident. One grandpa wanted to sue the railway for a new bicycle because one day the call became too close. He had driven around a fully closing gate AND the pedestrian gate.

[@rickieodem488]

Maybe I'm just a cynical bastard, but I look at this as a kind of intelligence test. I do feel sorry for the crews who get elected to thin the herd however.

[@kishascape]

Natural selection.

[@Markus-zb5zd]

yeah but the train personal will suffer from that as well...

[@lynnkramer1211]

You are not cynical. You are just accepting this situation as an unsolvable situation but it is not. You and the others who might live in these locations need to make your overlords quake in their boots. You are the people who have the power, not the overlords who think that laws and courts are for them to use against you. The People have the Power, only they need to wake up.

[@Syclone0044]

@@lynnkramer1211 What exactly are you proposing as the solution to magically make reckless drivers have better judgment?

[@NQY-flyer]

@@Syclone0044 consider! Stopping at a red light and just wait patiently?

[@suzannewilde6733]

I have seen the metal plates that come up from the roadway. Washington DC has them when they block off a certain section. I have seen people stand on the plates to keep them down so cars can cross. If they want to cross, they will.

[@dathyr1]

As Scott says, didnt see the moving train, but even so, people are always in a big hurray to go nowhere and cant wait for the gates to go up again. I see it all the time. Remember all ties will go to the on coming Train.

[@joeaverage3657]

When the gates are down and the lights are flashing, and you are on the tracks, ignoring the facts, you can't blame the wreck on the train.

[@TheNasaDude]

Where I live they upgraded all RR crossings with barriers that close both ways, about 15 years ago. Now they are replacing the most used crossings with bridges. They are doing this without closing the RR or the road. A small tunnel is excavated below the RR near the crossing, concrete beams are put below the RR without moving it so the RR gets its bridge, and cars then pass underneath. Concrete walls are built around the tunnel ramps so the soil cannot crumble. When the pasaage is ready, the old crossing gets sealed and traffic is routed through the new tunnel. A side effect is that the tunnel is offset to the side of the old road, so drivers must slow down to negotiate the new curves

[@itmkoeln]

In Germany double barrier crossings are illegal (to be newly built) in the signaling guidelines as cars and pedestrians could get stranded between the closed barriers. That being said driving arround barriers is a road offense that makes you a pedestrian for at least one month if caught...

[@TheNasaDude]

@@itmkoeln our crossings have barriers that can be opened if you push really hard at their tip, or if you're in panic by flooring your car and forcing your way out. Better replacing a hood or a windshield than totalling your car under a train. Most barriers are easy to get around on foot anyway

[@timbo389]

I’m surprised no one has picked up on the malfunctioning signal gate that is out of view at the beginning of the clip. You’ll see the power supply for the lights is failing. Blinking, then fading to black, fading back to blink for a few more seconds before fading again and again. Is there no way for that to be communicated to railroads so maintenance can be done?

[@justinsrailvideo8195]

The fading you see in the video is only what the camera picks you. That is what LED lights do on camera. LEDs are not a steady, they flash are a very rapid rate that they naked eye can not see. However since a camera has a frame rate. The camera will catch the LEDs ether on or off. That is where the fading occurs.

[@Syclone0044]

@@justinsrailvideo8195 Excellent explanation 👏🏼👏🏼 Anyone who’s followed a car with LED taillights will notice how instantly they turn both ON and OFF. So the American power grid is A/C current operating at 60Hz and most people still record at 30 FPS for some reason (even though 60 FPS @ 1080 HD has been a choice since iPhone 6). So your camera ends up misaligned with the 60 pulses of electricity and weird effects happen. It’s much worse when you record a 120 or 240 FPS slow mo and then play it back at 30 FPS. The fix if you’re doing that is to use lamps with incandescent bulbs 💡

[@ThruAWiderLens]

@@Syclone0044 All good points. This was filmed at 60 fps and still the sync is off at times.

[@kendufresne]

Cool video, I like how the train crosses those tracks. As I'm driving, I usually do slow down, look and listen before proceeding. In a case when I'm driving a bus, it's required for us to stop, look and listen before crossing.

[@michaelsteele4587]

Those two locomotives were blocking the view yes...BUT...the gates were still down therefore, anyone going around the gates and continuing to cross the tracks can't put blame on anything blocking their view on the other tracks.

[@emdB67]

not to mention that as they were crossing the first tracks, they'd have been able to see the Amtrak train and still had time to stop. They obviously felt they were too important to have to wait for a train.

[@InvaderNupo]

I use to love near here and loved watching trains go by and work the yard.

[@andrewhinkley6435]

They probably went by extra slow for you folks!

[@canadiandeplorable6413]

The tie always goes to the train.

[@RailroadGuy49]

At 1:20 the red car is in violation, even though the gates are not lowered. The flashing red lights are the same as any stop sign, or flashing red light at highway intersections. Whether the gates are down or not, a flashing red light means stop. The lights were flashing a full four seconds before the red car reached the stop line on the pavement.

[@bluebear6570]

If it weren´t for the people who have to clean up the mess afterwards, I don´t mind of those idiots get run over. Darwin at his best!

[@railroad9000]

Thinning out the gene pool!

[@R.Oates7902]

It's hard to believe cars, bicyclists and pedestrians think they can beat a deadly TRAIN at railroad crossings! It's shocking!

[@paulsmith5398]

They do have 4 gates on each crossing on the UP line from Chicago to St. Louis, and signs at most crossings that read, "trains may exceed 80 mph". Ive seen/timed freights doing close to 80, thats fast, they just dont stop on any kind of money, let alone a dime!

[@Syclone0044]

If you’ve seen 80mph FREIGHT trains in USA, you should video and post them because you’ll set a new KZbin record. The fastest one I’ve seen “Very very very very fast freight train” (yes 4x very) seemed to conclude in the comments that it was a 69mph track limit(?), but boy that train was blistering fast!! Big difference when it’s a heavy freight vs a lightweight short little passenger train at that speed!

[@paulsmith5398]

@@Syclone0044 from paul smith, since i dont have access to a radar gun, the only means i have are to estimate how long it takes a 60 foot freight car to pass a certain point, if it takes less than one second, its going over 60 mph. The UP line through where i live is designated as a "high speed corridor", and there are signs posted that read, "trains may exceed 80 mph". A few years back, i was filling up with gas, and i heard a train approaching at high speed from the south, it had 3 UP freight engines pulling what appeared to be a disabled Amtrak engine and 5 or 6 cars. The train passed the gas station in right at 4 seconds, so i know those freight engines are capable of speeds greater than 60 mph.

[@paulsmith5398]

@@Syclone0044 from paul smith again, i googled the speeds allowed by freight trains in the USA, and they ARE allowed to go 80 mph loaded, and about half that empty, so, i guess i was right for a change.

[@MrThedwp]

Not sure if it applies everywhere but from my experiences the boom gates go down earlier for Amtrak's as opposed to freight trains for obvious reasons

[@martynlewis4344]

Drivers here in UK complain that our barriers come down way too early at crossings, I think our system is a lot safer after seeing these clips.

[@river94]

Not to mention trains over there are ridiculously short compared to here. Some of the bigger monsters will hit up to around 6.5km, no joke

[@Biigfish559]

From very limited experience, American trains seem a lot slower than in the UK.

[@Adeline9418]

Back in the early 60's there was a train called the Silver Meteor that came through Denmark SC about every night. So cool. I know this is not the same one but makes me wonder if it's a descendant.

[@englishruraldoggynerd]

What a gorgeous sinuous piece of track! Great video, thanks! 👍🏻😷🛤🚆

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thank you for watching, English Nerd! I saw some great twisty tracks outside of Norwich during an afternoon of trainspotting once in the 80's. Will never forget that!

[@kosikumah7249]

What's wrong with waiting 2 minutes after you see the red lights? Why risk dying in a two-second stunt? Crazy.

[@sw6188]

Too many impatient people. They think they are the judge of when they can move, not the barriers and lights.

[@user-sh9du2nv5y]

That Amtrak looked like a Snake wiggling its way on the tracks

[@rontucker8389]

Gates on both lanes, from what I could tell, could possibly trap a car between the two barriers and on the tracks. Simply stopping when the current gates are down should be sufficient. People going around the barriers is on them. You can’t cure stupidity.

[@phillipwilliams1415]

It seems that close call could have been avoided. From the viewpoint you shared, it seemed that both gates were down!

[@celestinofaginas1281]

Too close for comfort for that car! The train was just about to mow through the crossing! Good video either way

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thanks for watching, Celestino, and for your very kind comments.

[@robertglas5854]

Is there is no need for drivers who have an obstructed view to carefully edge into the crossing 'til they have a clear view? Also, since when is it ok to just drive through a red blinking light? Just some thoughts.

[@sarge6870]

Red blinking lights AND the arms down!!!

[@BL-jt3qt]

Watch the start of the video closer. They gates never came down while the first train slowly snaked through the multiples switches.

[@jasperherridge3168]

@@BL-jt3qt uh, yeah they did

[@heidifisher7693]

@@jasperherridge3168 No, they didnt. a bicyclist and a car went through right before thr train. the gate is in between those two pole looking things. still up

[@TonboIV]

@@heidifisher7693 Yes they did. At the start of the video, at about 4 or 5 seconds, I can clearly see the gate on the right of the image coming down. The near miss car crossed well after that happened.

[@dennisb-trains23]

Awesome video. Did you send this to amtrak and the yard involved? Great job!

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thank you, Dennis. I didn't send them the video but they are well aware of the problems. They've sent the police to chase me away from taking video here!

[@dennisb-trains23]

@@ThruAWiderLens they are curmudgeons 😃🚂 . Be careful my friend! I just subscribed but I swore i was already. Done now! Have a great weekend 😀

[@jaswmclark]

The reason gates only drop over half the road is to allow vehicles to get off the tracks if they are on the tracks when the gates are activated. We used to gate both road lanes, and in some problem areas still do.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

I hadn't considered this, but it's a great point James.

[@megatronacepticon]

One solution I've seen at some crossings in NZ is to have traffic islands in the center of the road on either side of the track to make it harder for cars to drive around the barriers while not blocking cars who were already on the crossing when the gates came down.

[@mohamednajeebmustafa2399]

Yes, they can put the gates at such a place that even if the train rushes the driver must have sufficient space to retract or go ahead towards the gate. IN INDIA there are many crossings where the same is followed. In case some vehicles crosses the gate it stops at the other gate completely away from tracks.

[@robertgift]

Well done video! Thank you. Understandable thathe driver assumed the closestanding locomotive activated the mee-mool lights *(o)T(o)* . For that reason there should also be gates across the opposing traffic lanes.

[@mathiaskronemann8170]

I was raised in a train driver's family, and was told to never ever cross tracks when gates are closed or the red lights flashing. And, if there are only a rail road crossing sign, ever look twice before even attempting to go ahead. Since then, I never walk or drive willy-nilly over railroad crossings. So, education is more important as having full closing barriers.

[@CollaredDom]

Or common sense.

[@stereoplayers]

​@@CollaredDomWhat's common sense?

[@stereoplayers]

I have some family members in the past (before my time) that have worked for the railroad in one form or another, so railroading is in my blood. I myself, have worked for a heritage railroad (all volunteer but treated as a regular full time job). One of the rules in our timetable (although something similar is probably in GCOR or NORAC): Expect a train on any track at any time.

[@JustBen81]

We usually don't have gates at both lanes in Germany to prevent cars getting stick between the gates. The only crossing I know which has gates in all lanes has a radar system to stop trains - which causes several issues if a pedestrian decides to cross anyway (its close to a station. As a European I'm always amazed how slow American trains are. I took the Acela ponce and it was decent - not spectacular but ok-ish. The acela unfortunately is the ecption.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thank you Ben. I took the Acela about 8 weeks ago and recently posted a video on it. I agree--okay-ish but not spectacular. Love the German trains!!!

[@anscrailfanner6812]

WAY TOO CLOSE. oh my lord.....

[@siddheshsharma22945]

Nice Captures . These are AHBs I guess - Automatic Half Barriers . As suggested in the video they close around 40-50 seconds before the train is about to approach the Level Crossing . Now irrespective of the fact whether another train is blocking the view of the Car Driver , the closed gates , ringing bell and the blinking Red Lights are confirmation to the car driver about the approach of the train . In such cases anyways the driver must not start crossing the Level Crossing . He/she would be a fool to do this . Putting entire life in danger just to save 20-30 seconds is sheer madness . P.S. - The reason for being Half Barrier is to let the vehicle already negotiating the Level Crossing to cross even if the gates close .

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thanks so much for watching, Siddesh. One of the problems with this crossing is that the freight trains move slowly, the passenger trains move much more quickly.

[@MatthewRailfan-ox6si]

all those cars and those people on the bike ran a red light because the solid red light on the gate at the very end is considered a red lite and they ran it

[@sankrisiv]

What a fantastic zoom and high location for this shot!!! Long train snaking the switches is truly an eye candy!

[@monkey4387]

I honestly thought at the beginning the csx locomotive was gonna be the closed call

[@robertsheldon4325]

Imagine, being that close to a 3 day vacation and it’s gone. Damn.

[@tytn9978]

in my jurisdiction, you don't try to go around a gate when it is down, ever! I don't know what the fine for such is, since I've never tested that law, but I expect it would be steep, given the damage that such an inappropriate move could cause. By damage, I don't mean just the physical damage to the car and the engine (though probably less so to the latter, given its size); I mean the psychological harm to the engineer, who, even in the right, would still experience pain, and perhaps grief as well. I also watched the cyclist run through the lights, just seconds before the engine hit the crossing, and can only wonder, what is so important that one couldn't wait the few minutes for the train to pass by!

[@eugenekleis3836]

I love all of your videos and stories on KZbin on trains everyday

[@jeremypreece870]

Hello from the UK. Nice video and a great shot of the passenger train snaking over all of the points. My conclusion is slightly different. In all of these near misses, red lights are flashing and barriers are lowered across the road. Theses are not there for decoration! Cars are not going to win a contest against a train, and a draw is fatal. Impatient risk taking drivers and railways crossings are a very bad combination - the world over.

[@MichaelRBaron]

In the UK you have signals that work. In the US we have signals that shut down roads for hours because they're broken.

[@sanjaykumarsingh1970]

That was a great observation and conclusion. It was not really about the car driver being reckless. He didn't even have a clue about the incoming Amtrack due to a blocked view. Needless to say that railroad crossings can be dangerous specially like these ones. Lastly, if the rail road signal says red don't risk crossing it no matter what.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Yes, no one should cross against a red signal. Unfortunately, some people get impatient. Thanks for watching Sanjay!

[@christianbarnay2499]

A barrier down across the lane, red light flashing, audio signal ringing and a set of tracks crossing the road. Agreed, no clue. The driver did not need to look for the train. Everything around him was screaming at them to stop right there and wait.

[@h8GW]

In some towns, it's just better to separate the grades...

[@sau002]

Nice video. Thorough analysis

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thank you, Saurabh. Appreciate your comment!

[@Roger_Stenning]

You're making excuses for the driver's utterly reckless and impatient driving. You do NOT pass signals at RED, whether they're at a road junction or a level crossing. PERIOD.

[@TonboIV]

I'll go through a red light if there's absolutely no-one on the cross street AND plenty of visibility in both directions.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

You are absolutely correct that the driver was "utterly reckless and impatient." Nevertheless, more could be done at minimal expense to make this a safer level crossing. It seems stupid to have gates at all if they can be so easily ignored.

[@MikeJones-bl6lu]

@@TonboIV please do that in front of a cop.

[@TonboIV]

@@MikeJones-bl6lu If there were a cop there, the road wouldn't be empty. It's silly to wait for a red light when there's literally no-one else there and you can see hundreds of meters in both directions.

[@MikeJones-bl6lu]

@@TonboIV it’s never a good idea to run red lights. It’s done by people who should have their license and vehicle taken away from them permanently.

[@ThatCodeBlue]

Great work! I’m glad to be a new subscriber. My opinion is they should make the timing at least 60 seconds with longer gates.

[@oddholstensson619]

Too long stop time undermines the authority of the gates. The gates shall be down as short time as possible in relation to the sites characteristics. Too long and people go around the gates, too short time and the crossing risks not to be cleared in time. Longer gates also risks people to be trapped between the gates. In some places this is solved by the entry gates is lowered first, then the exit gates. And important is, if you got stuck between closed gates, drive throught them. They are designed to break if doing so. There is much cheeper to repair your vehicle than if you got hit by the train.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thank you Code Blue. The timing of the gates is a significant issue, as Odd H says. This crossing is particularly challenging because there are 4 tracks, and trains come through at varying speeds.

[@mtnman1984]

My guess is that idling units drop the gates quite a bit and people that frequent the crossing get sick of it. Same thing happens in my home town. Short of there being a lurking second train moving through.

[@giths19]

the approaching Amtrak train has its horns blowing. That should tell you a train is approaching. Gambling with 5 seconds is not worth the risk.

[@Statalyzer]

You're probably right. It's the boy who cried wolf.

[@thierrypauwels]

I do not know whether 4 gates, or a gate on each lane is a solution. In Belgium 50 years ago, 4 gates or 2 large gates completely blocking the crossing was the standard. But they removed them, because if for some reason you are caught between the gates, there is no more escape. I think they must have had some accidents due to cars that could not evacuate the level crossing in time because of the 4 gates.

[@CoopyKat]

So right away in the video we see a FOOL slowly and casually riding his bike across the tracks - with a TRAIN coming right at him. I don't understand people's foolish behavior around trains. They are fast as hell and strong, they are nothing to be messed with.

[@trainwreck2377]

What about that black car. I think that might have been even worse

[@donavonrobbins1908]

Thing is, the train in question snaking through the switches at a slower pace than the train used to estimate the signal timing. That one was on the main line and moving faster. Either way, a red light is a red light.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thanks for watching Donavon. The fact that there are 4 tracks here and that the trains move at different speeds makes this a particularly dangerous crossing for those that choose to drive around the gates.

[@ironcityrailfan8467]

I see a CSX Geometry Train locomotive on the siding near the local.

[@MrGMS1221]

In Italy you phisically can't reach the railway when the trains come, first because the bar is large side to side of the street, and when it's down, you can't even surround it because the are barriers about 3-5 meters on the verge.

[@allenra530]

You can't fix stupid, but sometimes the locomotive will bestow a Darwin Award on it.

[@lynnkramer1211]

Railroad personnel are killed and injured everyday in vehicular collisions. And this was an Amtrak train FULL of people and not toilet paper. What if it was crude oil or propane? Wrong answer.

[@seraphina985]

@@lynnkramer1211 Honestly people like this should be relieved of their driving licence clearly DMV made a clerical error issuing it in the first place as they are obviously not qualified for safe operation of a motor vehicle.

[@Gabriel-he6ih]

That CSX freighter just magically became a Norfolk southern lol

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Haha! 2:49 And it wasn't even photoshopped! I just noticed that you can even see the engineer in the window of #4628. Thank you for watching, Gazdagagi, and for commenting!

[@Froggyman145]

They need to install cameras at every single rail crossing.

[@lynnkramer1211]

Cameras alone without enforcement is like the police and emergency mop up crews who show up after the carnage is done. Get a clue, and then let the politicians, and the railroad owners and shareholders feel some heat or nothing can change. Fight the corruption, don't just accept it as inevitable.

[@brianb8516]

@@lynnkramer1211 the cameras should be sharp enough to read number plates, and the owner/driver can get a visit from the LE man.

[@davemartin8409]

Trees, walls or buildings can also block the view of a moving locomotive and controlled crossings. Still stop.

[@mbone4679]

Yeah, this crossing definitely needs four gates!

[@johnfitzgerald764]

Maybe it just needs to be closed permanently.

[@AvinashReports]

Wow that's amazing

[@DavidJones-dy2ul]

Totally agree with you - People should take grade crossing safely seriously!!! However, I will add this caveat - why do we even have grade Crossings? We're the richest country in the world. I was thinking whether or not I should voice this opinion and then I noticed The Pedestrian / Bicycle Overpass in the background. There's the right idea! I've seen grade crossings flasher activation failures. I would think with the money saved on electronics (and electronic and mechanical maintenance) it makes the overpass/underpass scenario financially feasible in the long run. Amtrak's done this with the Northeast Corridor. I understand there are no public grade Crossings between Boston and Washington.

[@Anto34ish]

This is the correct answer.

[@stereoplayers]

But, then, how many people would actually USE it?

[@shaunlowekey4525]

But it seems that this is an ongoing situation or problem, so they need to put a gate up, that should help a little much better.

[@vadimminchenco1540]

In Belarus you will lost your driver license for a long time, when you should go to red traffic-light on railroad crossing.

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Thanks for watching, Vadim. We could learn something from Belarus!!

[@marktegrotenhuis]

If the gates and lights are working, like they were at the time of the close call, you don't have to see the train. You just stop and wait for the gates to open AND the lights to stop flashing. Crossing while the gates are still moving can be dangerous too, because if the timing of a second train is just right, it can happen that the gates come down again before they are all the way up. At Dutch railroad crossings you are made aware of that by a sign that says (roughly translated): "Wait until the red lights are off, another train might come."

[@ThruAWiderLens]

True, Mark. Unfortunately a lack of trust is endemic in the US right now. Many people don't really believe that a train is coming, if they can't see with their own eyes that it is approaching.