Safety Facts About Crossing Tracks (1970)

Uses stop-motion photography to illustrate the seven most common driving errors at rail crossings and shows how to avoid these errors.
We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive. Email us at [e-mail] if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.

[@LemonSpacebirb]

In rural Australia we still use this video for crossing safety

[@PaulNoake]

I used to drive exclusively on the Ballarat line before I retired after having a mental breakdown after a fatality there are one or two unprotected level crossings

[@ALL-bj7mj]

I swear I saw this video in grade school.....amazing how youtube brings the memories back!

[@nofeargaming9403]

ALL #9510 KZbin is perhaps one of the greatest inventions ever.

[@erzahler1930]

Yepper, a virtual time machine! I was 7 in 1970. An era when the personal computer didn't yet exist, the smartphone was a multi-line phone with intercom, video games were found only at bars and lounges (the few which existed, that is -- anyone remember "Pong?"), radio was still a significant source of entertainment, and life was much more simple.

[@bobkin611]

They taught you this in Grade school? Wtf!! My Freshman year was the last woodshop class at my highschool and my senior year my brother took the last auto shop class. Very sad.

[@AFriendlyTheo]

These videos are actually really great for anxiety.. educational, calm, logically, very to the point an no bs. love these.

[@juanayala1539]

De

[@amyh3223]

If you have anxiety or trouble sleeping try hobo shoestring his channel help me sleep

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

@@juanayala1539 ????????????????????????????????????

[@danielcarroll3358]

Another of my father's films makes it to KZbin. I remember when this one was made. A model railroader in one of the other departments of the SP was happy to be reassigned to grab plywood and set to work for a few weeks to make the layout. My father, Edward Carroll, and one of the other members of staff did all the stop motion work. I think some of the HO stuff is still in my mother's attic. My father passed on Christmas Day 25 years ago but Mom is still going at 100.

[@noahbossier1131]

can you upload pictures of the ho sale models

[@springfieldpervert2736]

"but should you for any reason get stalled on the track with a train close, dont hesitate, abandon the car and always clear the tracks in the direction from which the train is approaching to avoid being hit by flying wreckage" "instead, run with your arms flailed towards the train on the opposite track"

[@swingrfd]

And tell the wife to wait with the car.

[@Rosiegoodrich]

what if the train derails?

[@fizzypopt128]

@Lazys The Dank Engineer In case the train becomes unbalanced and derails, it has happened before several time.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

@@swingrfd and your son, he's a little shit

[@bobbyheffley4955]

Your car can be replaced. Your life can't.

[@ZakWolf]

A lot of this stuff STILL applies today. Nice HO-scale model trains, too. At 9:06, the crossing gates appear to be the Athearn model from the early 60s, and I also recognized TYCO's lighted factory building in that shot.

[@kenkemzura903]

Could tell they used stop motion photography for the cars. Well done.

[@austinballard6815]

Ya I used to have some HO trains like those. A pretty good job the film makers did I think, using the models. I'm guessing stop action photography they used.

[@X314-l8f]

My dad is a Indiana state trooper he told me about one night him stopping a guy in a chemical carrying truck trying to beat a train. And he had none of it ticketed on the spot.

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

and im the king of pluto

[@Mike-pj1kv]

Pretty cool model railroad examples of crossing.

[@WELIVEWEDIEOMY]

I just never understood why at some RR crossings they would have a sign indicating 'TWO TRACKS'. That is well explained at time index 11:12 in this video. I never felt so stupid after realizing the possibility of what could happen in such a situation if you do not wait until the first train is well out of sight to make sure there isn't one coming in the opposite direction on the second set of tracks!!!

[@willcampbell8997]

5:23, "All your Alcos are belong to us". This video has everything vintage railfanners would like, old locos, signals, jointed rails on mainlines, crossbuck masts with the railroad identifier written on them, etc.

[@macmedic892]

And billboard boxcars, open auto-racks, graffiti-free rolling stock...

[@rogerrobertson2958]

And, no puke-green vests.

[@markschroeder2578]

Better get used to seeing those neon-green reflector vests on railroaders from here on out. Railroad safety rules require them, and they make the railroad employees easier to see in all lighting conditions. Safety first! P.S. I like Alco locomotives too! We Alco fans call ourselves "Alco-haulics!"

[@littlegp18]

Alcos are garbage

[@voidjavelin23]

​@@littlegp18 only ALCo that has 244 prime mover is garbage

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

10:50 those old Catalina's with those 389s always vapor locked when you least expected them too

[@bobbyheffley4955]

And you wonder why carburetors gave way to electronic fuel injection.

[@josephschuster1494]

Instructional videos such as this one NEVER become obsolete, for their lessons and messages remain true today. 🚂

[@mackpines]

Love those old SP crossbucks! Also, when was today's version of the crossbuck introduced?

[@jovetj]

Depends on what you mean by "today's version of the crossbuck."

[@heatherrussell8255]

I love them too.

[@danielgallagher9533]

I believe today's US crossbuck became standard in the 1971 manual uniform traffic control devices. I've seen the design of today's crossbuck in pictures as early as the 1940's. And I've seen them in black and yellow as late as the 1980's.

[@schnarre0]

...Love these older films!

[@mackpines]

Around 10:40 that crossing gate is going down right as the train is about to cross the road. Very dangerous!

[@sethpacholko2112]

It's to ensure vehicles aren't trapped the lights are still active

[@macmedic892]

Today, the gates would be down for 15-20 seconds before the train arrives.

[@trevor8419]

I drive a school bus and always stop at the tracks. I like seeing trains go by and never mind the wait.

[@nottelling8129]

1:47 that burnt out passenger train is so disturbing for some reason...

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

That looks like a Budd RDC - a diesel railcar.

[@ctg6734]

Personal responsibility and respect for laws? What a concept.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

The anniversary of a crash involving a Nyack, New York school 🚌 bus and a Penn Central freight train just passed on March 24th 1972. 3 killed, 40 injured, 8 critically when Penn Central U25B 2563 slammed into a bus at Congers, New York. The impact cut the bus in half and spilled the kids all over the tracks. The crossing was only guarded by crossbucks. The bus operator was put on trial. A 1978 made for television movie 📺 🎥 called Long Journey Back depicted the events. The train scenes in that movie showed an ex-Southern Pacific Alco T6 switch engine slamming into the bus 🚌. It was filmed in California's Central Valley I believe.

[@microbusss]

well 50 years later no one has learned anything! a X is the same as a Yield sign!

[@xboxonegamer8672]

microbusss you mean 48 years later

[@relevanteaglealarms109]

49 Years

[@CultReport]

Im guessing 50 years now?

[@abutts02]

People get dumber and dumber

[@awildjared1396]

I would make the arm long enough to cover 2 lanes, hopefully that would do something. Or if they smash it, I say let them suffer the consequences of their action.

[@ytpmkr5844]

The RXR advance warning sign still used today, as seen in 3:33, 4:36, 5:11, 7:20, 12:03, and 12:05 is probably getting outdated by now, yet I don't know if it will be replaced or not. Other than that, the moral of the story is that you must cross all railroad crossings safely

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

ur outdated

[@ytpmkr5844]

@@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821 what do you mean?

[@MrWc867]

Another issue at ungated "highway" crossings with car speed limits 55 or higher. The morning sun glare from the east and the afternoon glare from the west can reflect off the crossing lights/frame work and it appears the lights are not flashing when they really are. If the track is behind trees you cannot see the train till it's too late.

[@fetchstixRHD]

There was an accident in the UK where that contributed to an accident (if I recall, it was fatal too). The lights reflecting off a wet road surface masked the lights, and a car driver went straight onto a crossing and into the path of a train.

[@kevinwong6588]

This predates Operation Lifesaver, which was founded in 1972. The collision between the RDC and a tanker eerily foreshadows a SEPTA crash in 1982 on the Newtown (R8) branch A former Reading RDC running a local shuttle hit an Arco tanker at Southampton, resulting in an explosion. Within a year, service was axed.

[@PaulNoake]

Happens here in Australia too in my 35 yrs of locomotive driving I unfortunately had 3 fatal level xing accidents

[@PaulNoake]

​​@Mrright87People can't or won't understand that we can't stop on a dime even though we throw our braking into emergency and that what frustrates and angers us brotherhood all around the world

[@dimidomo7946]

Nice video ~ strongly liked. These safety facts, as presented, are so appropriate and applicable across the entire world of trains, cars, buses and trucks. I'm now going to put my Straw Diamond Crown Fedora Hat on and go driving...you know like they did in the seventies. Ha-ha-ha.

[@TexasRailfan2008]

3:12 a upper quadrant wig wag mounted on a pole !!? That MUST be rare

[@danosf]

Very early example of an upper quadrant. Beyond rare.

[@fmphotooffice5513]

Requesting reupload w corrected aspect ratio. Great film.

[@ottomorris8007]

My paternal great grandfather worked for the railroad and sadly was killed on the job when he got caught between two rail cars when my grandmother was quite young. Later when I was grade school I was trick or treating with a classmate and while we walked around her neighborhood we could hear the local trains passing through and ofcourse other sounds like cars, fire truck sirens etc. We just ignored the sounds because they were so normal. Later after my mom and I left and got home my friend’s mom called and told us that her nephew was killed when his car stalled on the train tracks. He tried to get out, but the train was coming too fast and he just couldn’t make it to safety.😔. The accident happened as my friend and I were out earlier and the sirens we heard were the police, fire and EMS racing to the scene. Needless to say I hate being anywhere near train tracks if I can help it.

[@guineapiglady2841]

💐

[@kcmorailfan4784]

Griswold em gate mechs at 9:20. Any clue where that crossing is located at?

[@Ithinkiwill66]

Very scary, and sad. After all of the safety equipment, after all of the decades, we still have ignorance, and impatience...along with arrogants, causing serious injuries, and/or deaths, because drivers that think trains can stop on a dime!

[@zeeboss2762]

It's been stated that it takes 1 mile for a train to completely stop on average, so it's pretty much too late if you're stuck on the tracks especially if the train's going 50+ mph

[@williammcgeehan3424]

Some of the outside scenes look like where the 1971 film 🎥 Duel was shot. Starring Dennis Weaver, a Mack truck 🚚 and EMD & G.E. locomotives of the Espee ( Southern Pacific ).

[@williammcgeehan3424]

7:23 - 7:28 is where a road rage truck driver tried to push Dennis Weaver's car into the path of a Southern Pacific freight tain in the 1971 film 🎥 " Duel " shot on location at Soledad Canyon.

[@ericzerkle5214]

11:17-11:18 vehicles move and scenery moves too!!!

[@randomlocomotive5863]

eric zerkle Goof Spotted *Thomas O Face*

[@jonathanletsa756]

9:32 - 9:51 is my fav part of this video because it reminds me of a channel i used to watch when i was young

[@deadfreightwest5956]

I think I saw an Athearn model locomotive. Can't miss the stamped steel stanchions and wire hand rails!

[@halon7476]

The guy at 11:00 is like " I don't care about the wife and kid"😂

[@MegaZsolti]

10:38 Though they're idiots for standing on the tracks, the gates have just started coming down.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

Lights were already flashing. The gates were still up to prevent people from being trapped.

[@kelvintorrence5994]

In this day and age of 2023 they need to show it more and more.

[@sd90mac61]

Love that model scale layout display, is that ho scale? Very nice, and that model is detailed enough for your presentation. GREAT JOB!!!👍👍👍👍

[@markschroeder2578]

That's HO Scale by the way.

[@jimtyndall1267]

I remember as a child that most RR crossings had only flashing lights and bells. Few had gates.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Almost all crossings have gates today.

[@jimtyndall1267]

@@AVeryRandomPerson In my hometown, the gates are made in a way that it is almost impossible to go around them, unless you just crash through. My remark about when I was a child means more than fifty years ago.

[@ValleySubRailfan4643]

Love seeing all those griswold signals 😍

[@Rickatspeedoflight]

Great video!

[@vlogkillz7346]

1:22 this is why congers and fox river grove happened, because of stupid bus drivers

[@bobbyheffley4955]

The 1972 Congers bus crash led to a federal requirement that school bus drivers have a CDL and that they undergo ongoing training.

[@jacobw446]

"approaching 100million vehicles"..> Over 281 million today.

[@theonewhoknows2]

Back when manual automobiles with carbs were the norm, i can imagine stalling out on the tracks or flooding the engine on the tracks being more common than now.

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

try again

[@menslady125eif2590]

How much longer until people get it? Trains are DANGEROUS! We must NEVER take chances with them!

[@deloreanman14]

Never. It's "something that happens to other people"....until it happens to them.

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

11:03 - 11:07 Wouldn't it have been safer for him to run to the side of the RoW (instead of running between tracks)? He strayed onto the track and didn't know if there was another train coming the other way, could have been hit. Not to mention the risk of slipping and clanking his head on those rails when he strayed towards the adjacent track.

[@frankromero2027]

I’m watching this beautiful program and what do I see? A bus with the name of my home town of Nogales

[@changolini]

I luv these old videos sooo much better then osha and new safety video crap

[@WigWagWorkshop]

Loved seeing those WigWags in this video.

[@ricknibert6417]

I vaguely recall one in Stark County, Ohio that was eventually replaced with mast-mounted lights. The crossing became obsolete in the 1990s.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

2:58 what flim is this?

[@geoffreylee5199]

In the 2020s, STOP 🛑 signs and red lights are now mere suggestions.

[@kevineich5029]

It took the ICC three years to conclude the principle cause of grade crossing accidents was the car operator's failure to comply with laws/regulations... I wonder how many millions of dollars were spent on that study?

[@marlawhite1430]

Hadn't seen this once since I was a kid.

[@gaffneyrailroading1982]

5:25 And that's in 1970 money. It'd probably be triple that in the current era of "gouge, gouge, gouge."

[@fabriciobengozi9650]

The Company For Operation Lifesaver To Response The Railroads Crossing Respect The Wig Wags And Crossing Gates

[@ericzerkle5214]

Im digging the ATSF Alco power.

[@littlegp18]

Alcos are garbage

[@Akira625]

Sure, the film is dated, but the message is still very relevant today.

[@kenkemzura903]

Would like to know some of the locations shown. Very dated. No container trains, no Amtrak, wig-wag signals, lots of boxcar freight, cross bucks on main lines. Lots of memories from my youth. However, the message is still as pertinent today as it was then and before then.

[@michaelbankston7430]

In the olden days, there was a gold rule of thumb when crossing train tracks: STOP! LISTEN! LOOK!

[@mystuff9582]

I love how bus drivers sign say stop at red yet they cant even stop at a crossing.

[@ebnertra0004]

I think that law was still fairly new in 1970. If I tried that now (I drive a bus), someone would notice, and I'd hear about it. I pretty regularly stop when driving my car, even at signaled crossings; both out of habit, and to see if I can catch a train there

[@stevenraymond5684]

3:21 The truck from Duel!

[@jakemckeon2262]

at 8:27 what year are these signals from?

[@stanleybest8833]

Beautiful film and soundtrack, but I see the image as squished. Please redo it if there is a fault.

[@owenvenes]

This has been uploaded in the wrong aspect ratio. It should be 4:3

[@AVROS8199]

4:11 "THINK DRIVER THINK!" ah yes, the sequel to that one meme

[@ZakWolf]

In my hometown of Brockton MA, we have grade-separated crossings (i.e. bridges and overpasses). They built the railroad line that way over a hundred years ago to reduce crossing accidents and because some pretty long freights used to run through the city (now the average freight train passing through here is 20 to 30 cars long.) But neighboring towns have at-grade railroad crossings though, but virtually all of them have modern crossing gates and signals, even in rural areas with light vehicular traffic!

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

I think the reason that the rural roads have warning devices because of some collison happening. Usually they are put in place after an incident. By where I live there is several rural crossings that have very little traffic, you would have to wait a good 15 minutes for a car to appear at one. They originally had no gates or lights until the 2000s, until someone was driving their kids to school and were hit by a freight train. Then the gates and lights were put in. There's a memorial at the crossing now.

[@ZakWolf]

@@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory That's possible. I remember Taunton MA having a crossing with no signals; just crossbuck signs. And this is on a fairly busy street! But in early 2016 they installed gates and signals at the crossing, even though only local freight trains use the line, but at least it's a lot better than just having crossbucks.

[@rollingbox]

The problem in where I live is that the people are impatient and turn around

[@ericzerkle5214]

Old a frame crossing gates..

[@MrWc867]

11:44 now days if you had a car behind you they would be blowing their horn cursing you

[@menslady125eif2590]

Sad but true...and they also might try pulling around you to drive over the crossing.

[@railroadskater2896]

@@menslady125eif2590 Even more sad when they swing around a bus that's stopping at the tracks as it should. How is it NOT "common sense" to other motorists that school buses stop at the tracks?

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

@@menslady125eif2590 and then they are hit by the train instead and you live.

[@scottpool4777]

That’s right when the train railroad crossings down I stop and put my car in park this is it

[@nomadben]

Why did you guys compress the aspect ratio of the film like that?

[@NaCl1252]

Up next on “it’s 4am and I can’t sleep”

[@kellyoleary6599]

Fun fact:the 1970s is home to the first of a train crashing into a school bus which happened in 1972 in Congress NY!

[@notarotomwithhair5637]

I wonder how much railroad trackage featured in this is now abandoned

[@kamala2111]

Sweet vid

[@johnhoward3042]

Bring back wig-wags!

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Why?

[@KISSFanDan1995]

And the wooden A-framed gates!

[@SPNGMalibu18]

John Howard theres actually two at bright side crossing and near bright side yard

[@kenytha5]

John Howard bring Griswold signals back

[@trooper_2783]

John Howard we should bring them back but make sure lights are there too!

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

That's Michael Rye as the narrator.

[@MrWc867]

12:36 just like that oncoming car just did ?

[@AbelG8781]

7:13 I can tell he spoke jibberish lol

[@ericschminke8233]

The tie always goes to the choo choo. (In this case "tie" could be considered a pun.)

[@anthonyholmes195]

Now freight cars have reflective stickers on them to be seen at night

[@EIRR1]

Approach all crossings with caution...

[@Vaas109]

I'm a semi truck driver and I slow down for crossing but sometimes the angles make it hard to look for trains oit of my passenger side so have to rely on the signs and warnings

[@Ithinkiwill66]

I hate those crossings, too, even as a regular driver. There is one particular highway here, when built it was built to compensate for the crossing, so the roadway is crossing the level straight, and therefor no diangle crossing.....makes better sense.

[@ernestpassaro9663]

It’s also hard to judge the speed of approaching trains don’t take stupid chances !

[@Vaas109]

If its a tricky crossing i crack and wi dow get in stopping lane if one is available and come to a compete stop

[@ernestpassaro9663]

@@Vaas109 I always look whether bells and lights are on or not

[@ernestpassaro9663]

I drive a tractor trailer too even if you don’t get killed it’s not worth it they give out huge fines to cdl drivers with possible license revocations !

[@timpriddy349]

Tasty lash up on SP

[@thepmcrew2010]

Wow nice

[@anthonyholmes195]

People who go in front of trains are the same ones who pull out in front if oncoming traffic that is close

[@frankdenardo8684]

If you take a camera you can take photos of the train going through in the comfort of the car. I am a cautious driver.

[@disklamer]

Red light/license plate cameras and automatic hefty fines will quickly disabuse most nonchalant motorist of the notion that they can make it across unscathed.

[@wigwagstudios2474]

3:12 wig wag

[@relevanteaglealarms109]

Griswold pedestal gates and lights

[@thepmcrew2010]

but 1970 the early cossing railroad is the old one

[@sandro950]

Gosto de ver videos antigos, e a trilha sonora de fundo, segurança e cuidados para não aver acidentes. Poa. Rs. 🇧🇷

[@robertgift]

_"Bring back wig-wags."_ No. If one of the two electomagnet coils opens (fails), the paddle does not swing and bell does not ring. Also the red light can appear illuminated if sunlight is behind. If the 10-volt single incandescent filamant bulburns out, no light. (I own a wigwag signal.) *Mee-mool lights (o)T(o)* at least have two lamps. If their flasherelay fails, power goes through allamps! Theyvillight but be dimmer.

[@ZakWolf]

Yes, compare that to a typical modern crossing signal setup, the only motor movement is the crossing gates lowering and then rising after the train has passed, and that leaves a LOT less wear and tear on a motor.

[@marksymbala3454]

Union Illinois rr museum has wig wags

[@user2C47]

@reverse thrust Some crossings have electronic bells, others have mechanical ones, some have both. There _should_ be a modern variant of the wig-wag signal for use in historic communities.

[@Joethaboss66]

There is some truth to what you say but there are several errors as well. To your point about the burning-out coils, if one of the coils burns out (at least a WRRS Autoflag) then the banner will still swing, just in an irregular and inconsistent fashion. In addition, the bell will continue to ring as well because it is on a separate circuit and is not wired in series with the coils since they alternatively switch on and off. Also, the issue of the sun lighting up the banner does not seem that plausible. The optics of the lenses on the banner condense any light that passes through the backside of them so much and only straight forward that in the daytime, you may not even be able to see the wig wags own lightbulb if you stand to the side of one while it is operating. However, if you shine a light on the front side, they behave like a very inefficient and semi-transparent retroreflector. You cannot see the source of the light shining on the front side through the backside at any intensity unless your eyes very close to, or exactly colinear and parallel to the direction it is being emitted from. You also need to keep in mind that you are talking about ambient light passing through two of these lenses, making it even less likely to noticeably appear illuminated. The banner light also has sun visors just like conventional crossing lights for that reason you mentioned. The only instance where this may even be a minor problem is in a place where there is no vegetation, the area is completely flat for hundreds of miles allowing the sun's light to line up exactly parallel and collinear to the wig wag before it is masked by the horizon, and the wig wag is facing either directly east or west. Only then could a significant amount of the sun's light make it through both optical lenses, but even conventional crossing lights would have the same problem, because they use almost identical optic lenses as well, and there is a conical mirror directly behind the bulb or LED. Here is a WRRS Autoflag with a burnt-out coil still operating: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaKYpWqcnr-ViKs In another shot, you can also see that the light is on and not burnt out.

[@BAKU2K2]

The US&S wig-wags with the disappearing banners will leave it's banner suspended when there's no power to the magnets, as the banner is normally held up by one of the magnets when not active.

[@chicnwing4519]

So it took 3 years for a committee to figure out that people don't pay attention to railroad crossings?

[@colelynam6385]

That is why you should never beat a train across the tracks, especially if you are in a hurry.

[@benjaminfernandez104]

Ain’t that that bridge that just got hit by container ship

[@lycossurfer8851]

Short version........person, ATV, car, SUV, or 18 wheeler; the train will still cross the crossing in the same amount of time whether you clear of the tracks or blocking the tracks................

[@JasontheFolf]

Crossings are a source of anxiety? Just like school.

[@banadigan7511]

ರೇಲ್ವೆ ಸುರಕ್ಷೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚಿತ್ರ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ.

[@alexortiz365]

Im just amazed that there is no graffiti on any of the rail cars... times sure have changed

[@MrWc867]

Probably was in places like Brooklyn or Chicago