European Railroad Discussion > NYT: Ukrainian RTCs and RR Guards

https://nyti.ms/2TYfE1X

What an interesting photo essay. dwatry and I have planned a train chasing safari to Ukraine in June, but the way things are just now I suspect that won't be happening this year. There are similar structures alongside automated grade crossings in Latvia as well, and they seem to be mainly manned(!) by women.

I have some shots in Latvia of the women doing this same job holding flags as the train passes.   In Romania the stationmasters (stationmistresses?) seem to perform the same task, and they also redecorate the stations to look somewhat like a home living room!

They have the same thing in Russia as well. I assume that all post-soviet countries continue the tradition of having a female stationmaster and female crossing guards. On some non-modernized lines, they also have switchman's shanties at the ends of yards that are largely occupied by women too.  This scene is from 3 weeks ago in the Russian town of Ostahkov.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/20 00:32 by pkwlsn.

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pkwlsn Wrote:
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> This scene is from 3 weeks ago in the Russian town of Ostahkov.

That is one remarkably good photo!

Ray

Unfortunately a log in is required. I won't be giving the NYT any of my information much less money.  Too bad. From the posted photo and one photo available looks like a good article.  From my experience there, most of the women at the level crossings tend to be older. The station flag women younger and in many cases very attractive. I also note safety vests appear to be finding their way into the country. In 2004 they were rare. 

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Unfortunately a log in is required. I won't be
> giving the NYT any of my information much less
> money.  Too bad. From the posted photo and one
> photo available looks like a good article.  From
> my experience there, most of the women at the
> level crossings tend to be older. The station flag
> women younger and in many cases very attractive. I
> also note safety vests appear to be finding their
> way into the country. In 2004 they were rare. 

You can enter a made-up email address and password to register and gain access without having to verify your real email. It took me all of two seconds. Definitely annoying though.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/20 04:10 by pkwlsn.

Do you know what the yellow flag the man is holding means, slow?

pwh Wrote:
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> Do you know what the yellow flag the man is
> holding means, slow?

That's what I had assumed as well, but it actually means 'proceed' or 'highball'.

Posted from Android

> This scene is from 3 weeks ago in the
> Russian town of Ostahkov.

That is a great photo!

Very nice photo series. I didn't need to log in- this time. Looks like Natalia rides a motorbike. In 2nd photo, the little sign in sand pile says "sand". I'm thinking there might be others like "petunias" or "carrots", more than for traction.  6th from bottom, sign on the wall says "safety- above all!"

This was in northern Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2018. The woman was tending the garden before & after the train (it's moving away from me). Overhead structure hides(?) only a large steam pipe. Some building still use steam heat from central plants.
 

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simpler times.

a man, his wife, and their dog living in a remote place to do their part...............

66

"The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshiped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology which fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete. A case to be filed under "M" for "Mankind" - in The Twilight Zone"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Obsolete_Man

Here are a couple I took from the Trans-Manchurian, somewhere between Perm and Kirov,a couple years ago. The first is a newly bult grade crosing gaurds tower and the second shows the crossing protection, try getting past that barrier.

More at: Trans-Manchurian



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/20 09:12 by GettingShort.

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GettingShort Wrote:
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> Here are a couple I took from the
> Trans-Manchurian, somewhere between Perm and
> Kirov,a couple years ago. The first is a newly
> bult grade crosing gaurds tower and the second
> shows the crossing protection, try getting past
> that barrier.
>
> More at: Trans-Manchurian



Both crossings employ the superior grade crossing safety technology. Because it works.

Florida should send a delagation to investigate.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/20 15:40 by Duna.

Duna Wrote:
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> SNIP
>
> Both crossings employ the superior grade crossing
> safety technology. Because it works.
>
> Florida should send a delagation to investigate.

The rental car companies use these barriers. Extremely effective.

Florida law is very generous to injured motorists. Nobody will install these barriers on a public road without legal immunities.

Posted from Android

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Duna Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SNIP
> >
> > Both crossings employ the superior grade
> crossing
> > safety technology. Because it works.
> >
> > Florida should send a delagation to
> investigate.
>
> The rental car companies use these barriers.
> Extremely effective.
>
> Florida law is very generous to injured motorists.
> Nobody will install these barriers on a public
> road without legal immunities.
>
> Posted from Android

Military bases use them too and they're very effective, but, they're expensive to install and they require way more maintenance time and money then a set of gates.

PHall Wrote:
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>
> Military bases use them too and they're very
> effective, but, they're expensive to install and
> they require way more maintenance time and money
> then a set of gates.



Note that wherever these sure-stop devices are installed, they are in addition to gates, lights, bells. Not an either-or situation.

Too expensive for US railroads & public agencies, but not for Russia, Ukraine?...ok.  Seems we'd rather spend our money on lawyers.

The "can't-do" attitude is becoming too common in the US.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/20 19:17 by Duna.

The NYT article noted that rail Crossings in Russia and Ukraine are already highly automated. But the crossing guards remain.

I think the amount of automation in US crossing protection varies widely.

Posted from Android