Passenger Trains > Another grade crossing accident: Amtrak Palmetto in SC

Local news at noon reports the northbound (Savannah to New York City) hit a pick-up at the Main St crossing in Moncks Corner (county seat of Berkeley County) SC.  No injuries to the driver (!) or 55 passengers on board.  No mention of engineer but I'm guessing he was OK.  (shaken, I'm sure)  Moncks Corner is north of Charleston.

With so few long distance Amtrak trains hard to believe there are that many grade crossing accidents involving Amtrak.    Some drivers are total moroons. 

Generally, passenger trains are slightly faster than most freight trains.  They are also usually substantially shorter.  Traveling at 60 to 79 MPH, most passenger trains pass in 15 seconds or less.  Add to that the 15 or 20 seconds that the gates are down before the train reaches the crossing.    How stupid do you have to be to risk your life for 25 or 40 seconds?

John

wa4umr Wrote:
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> Generally, passenger trains are slightly faster
> than most freight trains.  They are also usually
> substantially shorter.  Traveling at 60 to 79
> MPH, most passenger trains pass in 15 seconds or
> less.  Add to that the 15 or 20 seconds that the
> gates are down before the train reaches the
> crossing.    How stupid do you have to be to
> risk your life for 25 or 40 seconds?
>
> John

The learning curve in South Florida seems to have kicked in with BrightLine. Finally.

The fast trains were clobbering pedestrians, bicyclists, cars that went around the gates on an almost weekly basis.  Now, the rate has settled back to a more normal one every three or four weeks on FEC, BrightLine, and Tri-Rail combined.  People finally got the message.

That said, I saw one jackass in a pickup go around a  down crossing gate with lights and bell a little while ago.  Followed by several more folks.  FEC had high railed the crossing, the rail truck was a block or so past the crossing on single track.

Some Floridians are transplants from up north, such as the NEC and Chicago. So they should be no stranger to 79MPH passenger trains at grade-crossings. 

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Some Floridians are transplants from up north,
> such as the NEC and Chicago. So they should be no
> stranger to 79MPH passenger trains at
> grade-crossings. 

Yes, you'd think so.
 

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Some Floridians are transplants from up north,
> such as the NEC and Chicago. So they should be no
> stranger to 79MPH passenger trains at
> grade-crossings. 

What grade crossings are you referring to on the NEC (North East Corridor)?  There are very few grade crossing between New York and Washington, DC. if any, on the NEC. 

NJ Transit has some fast running, as does MetroNorth. They have fatal encounters now and then.

Posted from Android

PlyWoody Wrote:
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> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Some Floridians are transplants from up north,
> > such as the NEC and Chicago. So they should be
> no
> > stranger to 79MPH passenger trains at
> > grade-crossings. 
>
> What grade crossings are you referring to on the
> NEC (North East Corridor)?  There are very few
> grade crossing between New York and Washington,
> DC. if any, on the NEC. 

And all the suburbs. LIRR for one has 200+ crossings and hundreds of passenger trains a day.

There are NO grade crossings on the NEC between New York and Washington.