Passenger Trains > NJT Raritan Line - 8am Fri, 2 killed in vehicle, Crossing wreck,

East of Bound Brook. Reverse peak train to High Bridge. 30 passengers on the train at that point.  Service was suspended over 5 hours. There are light and gates. These are the ex-CNJ tracks. Another pair of tracks just south of it are the former LV, all freight. 

https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2020/01/2-women-killed-when-nj-transit-train-strikes-car-raritan-valley-line-suspended.html?fbclid=IwAR3cWImvwn_QoFDXgRR8eRwl39ykz3TmsvgJ923h6jWxrjWbuJEFvFYJ7FY

https://patch.com/new-jersey/bridgewater/s/gyvlv/nj-transit-train-hits-car-middlesex-boro-killing-two



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/20 17:18 by joemvcnj.

Gates, flashers, and an advance warning light.  What else do people need to warn them that a TRAIN IS COMING, DUMMY!

PRR1361 Wrote:
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> Gates, flashers, and an advance warning light. 
> What else do people need to warn them that a TRAIN
> IS COMING, DUMMY!



As the average US IQ continues to decline, expect more of this.

Lack of attention (much due to "smart" phone fixation), opiates, alcohol, and other drugs also contribute.
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/20 14:51 by Duna.

These are 2 separate railroads about 100' apart here. Nonetheless, when one train comes, I'm pretty sure all gates come down, treating it as though it were a 4 track railroad. There was no NJT train at that time scheduled in the other direction. Of course, we have no idea if a NS/CSX train had just crossed on their railroad, or which direction the car was going. This area is by no means a "quiet zone". Between the 2 railroads, 10 minutes doesn't not go by without hearing trains horns in the area.

The NJT train was in pull mode. Since it was to head to Manhattan on its next eastbound run, it had to have been a an ALP45DP.  On RVL trains, the locomotive is always on the west end. It could well have been going 80MPH. They get up a good head of steam between Dunellen and Bound Brook.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/20 17:06 by joemvcnj.

In its story about this incident, the New York Daily News stated:

"Authorities wouldn’t immediately say if the car was on the railroad tracks when it was hit..."

HUH????????



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/20 18:33 by GenePoon.

Yes.  My recollection is the crossing signals and gates are set up for a four track railroad, so there are no signals half way across for the other line.

The gates come down well before the train is visible, since there's so much space involved.  I've observed a few people over the years go around the gates and make a run for it.  The views are obstructed to the east.

Middlesex borough has another fun crossing at Mountain Avenue. The same two railroads run side by side, but the state decided to build an overpass over one, but not the other. So you go up and over the bridge, and there's a crossing gate at the foot of the ramp

 

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In its story about this incident, the New York
> Daily News stated:
>
> "Authorities wouldn’t immediately say if the car
> was on the railroad tracks when it was hit..."
>
> HUH????????

The NY Daily News and the NY Post often rival and needle each other for really dumb things in the other's pages.

The crossing in question has seen numerous incidents over the years, due mostly to confusion or panic when the gates begin to activate as someone is in the process of crossing. The two parallel lines are less than a 53' tractor/trailer combo apart, but far enough that people often hesitate to finish crossing if the lights come on. Have seen many a person slam on the brakes, to stop short of the track in front of them, not realizing they are now actually sitting on the active track.

It USED to have intermediate flashers between the two lines, but those were removed when the traffic lights at the adjacent intersection were expanded to include the railroad, in an effort to keep traffic from backing up across the tracks.

Honestly, this is one of those locations where the best solution may be to replace the crossing with a bridge across all 4 tracks. If that isn't possible, closing it outright may be the next best choice.

Posted from Android

Vehicle did not have train collision avoidance app.

PRR1361 Wrote:
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> Gates, flashers, and an advance warning light. 
> What else do people need to warn them that a TRAIN
> IS COMING, DUMMY!

So what traffic engineering idiots decided to bridge only one set of tracks?
They'd probably build only half a roof over a new house to save money!

Abqfoamer Wrote:
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> So what traffic engineering idiots decided to bridge only one set of tracks?
> They'd probably build only half a roof over a new house to save money!

It's even worse than that because it is such a steep grade and hump over 1 set of tracks, there is no visibility onto the other side of the hump. So somebody stopped can get rear-ended and shoved onto the grade-crossing. 

As for this crossing, this makes 7 fatalities in 41 years. I don't know what the criteria must be for them to eliminate it, or admit they built something stupid.

NJ-DOT still builds many stupid things. Forcing right-on-red onto busy highways, using the former shoulder as the acceleration lane,  short 3-lane segments on the left side of the road, which encourages roadragers to speed around everyone and suddenly merge back in cutting off whoever is there. Couple that with many drivers who are too lazy and stupid to use turn signals, change lanes on impulse, especially when approaching red lights, failure to turn on headlights with wipers as the law has prescribed for 25 years, or in the half hour after sunset, all explains high insurance rates. Yet they are the first to complain when private market forces react to their behavior, and expect state government to "do something". It is too much to ask for them to learn how to parallel park. I find most of their efforts at such quite entertaining, especially with people who buy SUVs, minivans, and crossovers and don't know how to maneuver them or judge distances.   



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/20 05:44 by joemvcnj.

The Mountain Avenue grade crossing plus bridge has a lot of local businesses at the grade crossing end. A gas station, big car wash, deli etc.

Constructing the bridge over to that side would be very disruptive in a small town.

But, both crossings might benefit from four way gates and better sight lines.

Posted from Android

Abqfoamer Wrote:
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> So what traffic engineering idiots decided to
> bridge only one set of tracks?
> They'd probably build only half a roof over a new
> house to save money!

At said location, the Conrail Shared Assets tracks are at a lower elevation, through a cut, while the NJT tracks (the grade crossing) are higher up on an embankment. If you stood there and looked at it, it makes perfect sense.

Posted from Android