Arresting train crews??
OAK HARBOR -- Ottawa County Sheriff Bob Bratton says he's had enough. He's threatening to arrest Norfolk-Southern railroad crews if they block intersections. He's sent a letter to the railroad saying he means business, which is welcome news to one Carroll Township mother of two.
Tammy Favro and her kids live between a series of railroad tracks criss-crossing Carroll Township. She's stopped for Norfolk-Southern trains many times. "When it comes to taking the kids to school, a lot of times it makes it hard to get around them," said Favro. "They're stopped, or going too slow to go alround them. I have to go at least five miles out of my way."
"Since March first, there have been 51 reports of blocked crossings," said Sheriff Bob Bratton of Ottawa County. "Eighty percent of them lasted 45 minutes to well over an hour."
Last weekend, there was so much congestion that emergency crews were detoured on rescue runs. That's why Bratton is threatening to arrest Norfolk-Southern crews if a train blocks an intersection. "The railroad has got to understand that because of their problems in scheduling, many trains should not be our problem."
Short of arrest, Sheriff Bratton thinks the best way to keep trains moving is to break them up so intersections will not be blocked. "We understand the train traffic has increased due to gasoline prices going up. When you're running 5-7 trains a day into the Toledo yard and then moving out, that's where the backlog starts," said Bratton.
Favro says something needs to be do to make sure she can deliver her kids to school on time. "I could see how that could be something that would help the situation," she said. "Try it and see how it works out."
Ottawa County and Norfolk-Southern officials meet Wednesday about the blockages. The railroad will not comment until after the meeting.
Tammy Favro and her kids live between a series of railroad tracks criss-crossing Carroll Township. She's stopped for Norfolk-Southern trains many times. "When it comes to taking the kids to school, a lot of times it makes it hard to get around them," said Favro. "They're stopped, or going too slow to go alround them. I have to go at least five miles out of my way."
"Since March first, there have been 51 reports of blocked crossings," said Sheriff Bob Bratton of Ottawa County. "Eighty percent of them lasted 45 minutes to well over an hour."
Last weekend, there was so much congestion that emergency crews were detoured on rescue runs. That's why Bratton is threatening to arrest Norfolk-Southern crews if a train blocks an intersection. "The railroad has got to understand that because of their problems in scheduling, many trains should not be our problem."
Short of arrest, Sheriff Bratton thinks the best way to keep trains moving is to break them up so intersections will not be blocked. "We understand the train traffic has increased due to gasoline prices going up. When you're running 5-7 trains a day into the Toledo yard and then moving out, that's where the backlog starts," said Bratton.
Favro says something needs to be do to make sure she can deliver her kids to school on time. "I could see how that could be something that would help the situation," she said. "Try it and see how it works out."
Ottawa County and Norfolk-Southern officials meet Wednesday about the blockages. The railroad will not comment until after the meeting.
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And after he arrests the crew, where is he going to find a tow truck big enough to haul the train off????? 0 -
Does anyone else remember what movie the name Favro was in? LOL ok, i will stop.... 0 -
One of our local townships started to fine the railroad for blocking the main street through town. The town is located near a Ford factory so the train is always blocking to road while loading cars.
The court threw out every argument made by the township because railroad crossings and lines fall under fed laws and the township has no authority0 -
A few months ago there was a stopped train blocking a highway on my way home, was in no particular hurry but when I could see the train crew on the cat walk having a smoke it kind of P'd me off, another 100 yards and they would have been off the crossing. Got out and walked up to the crossing arm and there was a sign there with a phone number on it to call if there was a problem with the barrier. Gave the crossing number to use as a reference. Pulled out my cell and dialed it, went through the usual, press 1 for english, etc until it said to press 6 for a crossing problem, did so and went through a couple more menus. Finally got a real live human on the line. Got my most official voice and told them I was trooper Murphy of the North Carolina Highway Patrol and if they didn't have a real good reason for blocking my road, I was on my way to the front of the train to arrest the operator for blocking a road, how long before they could send out a replacement driver? Person on the phone in a very polite manner asked me to hold, I was on hold for less than a minute, he came back on and informed me that he had contacted the crew and that the train was going to move momentarily, appoligized for the inconenience and promised they would not block the intersection again. Seems they were ahead of schedule and were taking a break. Took about 20 more seconds and the train moved on. 0 -
Actually, local officials do have control - but only in case of an emergency.
Recover the air, release the handbrake, start/run switched to run, main gen field switch up, reverser handle in the direction you want to move, and throttle up!0 -
quote:Originally posted by A J Christ
A few months ago there was a stopped train blocking a highway on my way home, was in no particular hurry but when I could see the train crew on the cat walk having a smoke it kind of P'd me off, another 100 yards and they would have been off the crossing. Got out and walked up to the crossing arm and there was a sign there with a phone number on it to call if there was a problem with the barrier. Gave the crossing number to use as a reference. Pulled out my cell and dialed it, went through the usual, press 1 for english, etc until it said to press 6 for a crossing problem, did so and went through a couple more menus. Finally got a real live human on the line. Got my most official voice and told them I was trooper Murphy of the North Carolina Highway Patrol and if they didn't have a real good reason for blocking my road, I was on my way to the front of the train to arrest the operator for blocking a road, how long before they could send out a replacement driver? Person on the phone in a very polite manner asked me to hold, I was on hold for less than a minute, he came back on and informed me that he had contacted the crew and that the train was going to move momentarily, appoligized for the inconenience and promised they would not block the intersection again. Seems they were ahead of schedule and were taking a break. Took about 20 more seconds and the train moved on.
Your phone number was just recorded...and you committed a felony. Sorry bud.0 -
Forgot to add that the township got tagged with the railroad's legal bill too. It was rather steep since they had to fly in lawyers 0 -
I'm a volunteer fireman in our little town. A number of years ago every time a train came through town a grass fire would start along the tracks. I witnessed it happen three times and had to go out three times with the fire truck to put the fire out. The last time it happened the wind blew the smoke across the highway and caused a two car crash. I took the truck out to put the fire out parking it on the shoulder of the highway. As I stepped out of the truck a car flashed by missing me by inches. When the deputy sheriff arrived at the accident I went over and told him that if the sheriffs office didn't arrest the train crew I'd stop the train myself and take them off at gunpoint. It's funny, they never had another fire along the right-of-way after that. Dave 0 -
I understood that they had a certain amount of time to block intersections and then they were required to uncouple cars [:I] 0 -
As far as I know a train can only block a crossing for 15 minutes. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by BT3
I understood that they had a certain amount of time to block intersections and then they were required to uncouple cars [:I]
http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/cross_chp3.pdf0 -
i wish they could arrest illegal aliens for blocking traffic in so cal 0 -
Telling someone that you are a LEO in order to get them, or someone else, to do something under color of authority (when you have none) is not something that I'd ever want to get caught doing! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by use enough gun
I'm a volunteer fireman in our little town. A number of years ago every time a train came through town a grass fire would start along the tracks. I witnessed it happen three times and had to go out three times with the fire truck to put the fire out. The last time it happened the wind blew the smoke across the highway and caused a two car crash. I took the truck out to put the fire out parking it on the shoulder of the highway. As I stepped out of the truck a car flashed by missing me by inches. When the deputy sheriff arrived at the accident I went over and told him that if the sheriffs office didn't arrest the train crew I'd stop the train myself and take them off at gunpoint. It's funny, they never had another fire along the right-of-way after that. Dave
Stack fires are spectacular. I was driving a GM1200 down in Mound City pulling a string of cars to the pit. Had to get enough momentum to make it up hill to the pit and the stack caught on fire. I was really working the motor. First a couple of sparks came out of the stack then 10-12 feet of flames. Hot coals start pouring out the stack and bouncing off the loco and cab. There is nothing to do but take the loco through the pit and far enough away and let it burn it's self out. These yard engines spend so much time idling they get some bad buildup in the stack. They don't warm up enough to run properly and use a lot of oil. Sooner or later a spark ignites it. Good times.
Another time at St. Louis while loading barges at night, one loco went over the Terminal Railroad Bridge with a stack fire. Sparks were raining down into the river. The Terminal Railroad has a lot of old GM engines.
Stack fires a night are fun to watch!0 -
One other thing worth getting arrested for.
I used to love blowing the horn at night. We had a safety rule that said the horn must be blown every time the train is moved. I made sure everyone knew I was about to move down one hopper.[:D]
I did get my butt chewed out the next morning, but I never blew it without moving the cars or in an "unsafe" manner. Besides, we worked down by the Sewer treatment plant and it wasn't a residential area on Hall Street. Anyone sleeping was probably also on the clock at the time and needed to be awaken every 15 minutes.0 -
This one runs along the back side of our pasture.0 -
PI$$ing in the wind. It takes 2 years for a message to get to the "right" person... another 5 for a decision to be made... and another 2 to do something about it. 0 -
Stack fires, yep seen 'em! Seen two BN sw1200's come up the grade out of Gibson yard in Omaha pulling a long consist. Must of been real heavy too. At night, you could see the dust from the sanders, and it sounded like both loco's were in run 8! Both locos were spewing sparks like a cutting torch. When the went past the Amtrak station, people were running away!
LOL!!
Got Guns?0 -
....Hmmmm...Never saw a stack fire, but how many of you are old enough to have seen a hotbox flying down the track, with the crew unaware? 0 -
Saw a hot box in west Raleigh, about 1973. It started fires along the track from the NC Sate campus to Cary. Lots of sparks then smoke. Anyone know a signal to the crew to indicate a hotbox? 0 -
Yes, the signal is to pat the top of your head with one hand while rubbing your belly in a cicular motion with the other. Sounds crazy but true. Some of you old timers might recall the Pacific Fruit Express, well I seen it roll thru Grand Island with a journal smoking like a chimney. I think I was 10 at the time.
Got Guns?0 -
Just kidding. You pinch your nose with one hand and tap the top of your head with the other!!! LOL!!
Got Guns?0 -
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