Federal law provides that crossing signals activate twenty seconds before the
train reachs the crossing. There is no distance requirement, however in
Illinois the whisle must sounded within 1200 feet of the crossing. Many signal
systems are set up so that the signal activates at the proper time regardless
of the speed of the train, i.e. further away for faster moving trains.
________________________________
From: Robert McNay <CptMatt@ameritech.net>
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 3:58 PM
Subject: [CBQ] Question on Current General Rail Operations
Hi,
I have question about current operating rules or standards. Is there a rule
or standard distance for when crossing gates activate?
I ask because, most times, I see crossing bucks and lights activate, the
train is usually still a good distance down the track. Until today.
I was filling up at a gas station at the intersection of Irving Park and
York Roads (I think that's Bensenville IL, just southwest of O'Hare). I
looked up and noticed across York, just to the south, a coal unit train
coming from the east, heading around the curve to go north on the tracks
that parallel York Road on the western edge of the airport. It surprised me
because, the train was maybe only 1000 feet from the Irving Park Road
crossing and nothing had activated. I kept watch, it kept getting closer
with nothing happening. Then, finally, when it was only about 200 feet from
the crossing, the lights started blinking, the bell sounded and the gates
dropped. (I'm sure of that distance because the streetlights are 50 feet
apart and it reached the 4th one from the intersection before the signals
started).
I was worried a bit because they are in the process of relocating the tracks
and had built an overpass for Irving Park, so there is a lot of rail
construction happening. I was beginning to wonder if the construction crews
had screwed up the system.
Rob McNay
Chicago IL
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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