Racing train

**G535** · 09-16-2007, 08:59 PM

Seat belts are compulsory here but they didn't save any of the idiots who tried to beat the trains. People need to know that trains can't stop immediately, even slow moving trains can take up to one kilometre to come to a complete halt and fully loaded freight trains travelling at track speed can take well over two kilometres to stop. Education might help some people but you can't educate idiots.

**dukedogsmom** · 09-16-2007, 09:21 PM

Here's the video
http://www.nwi.com/special/train/

**Catty1** · 09-16-2007, 09:27 PM

That last video shows she was racing that first train...IDIOT!

I hate it when stupidity incurs the death penalty...

I wonder if a billboard or large sign near crossings would help: "Slow trains take 1/2 mile to STOP."

**Lady's Human** · 09-16-2007, 09:45 PM

If someone is too ignorant to realize that a 7500-20,000 ton object is going to take a LOOOOOONG distance to stop, another sign ain't gonna help.

**dukedogsmom** · 09-16-2007, 09:54 PM

Speaking of trains, there's a bunch of dumb people in this video
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=25244

**ramanth** · 09-16-2007, 11:46 PM

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

There's a track where I live. Typically the trains go through pretty fast. Today, the gate was down and I was the first car to it. Looked down the track and the train was pretty much sitting there a couple hundred feet away. I looked again and saw that it was moving, just very slowly.

If I waited there, I'd probably be late for work.

So I turned around and took a different route. I could of been across well before the train but no way would I dare.

**Cinder & Smoke** · 09-17-2007, 12:08 AM

<gasp>

Tell me she didn't ...

Originally Posted by ramanth

... the train was pretty much sitting there a couple hundred feet away.
I looked again and saw that it was moving, just very slowly.

If I waited there, I'd probably be late for work.
.
.
.
.
.
.

So I turned around and took a different route.

OMG!
I almost *died* between "IF I'd waited" ...
and "So I turned around ..."

GOOD GIRL!

I **HATE** diggin ex-people outta *smushed* cars & trucks at RR crossings.
The car / truck ALWAYS looses those contests!

**crow_noir** · 09-17-2007, 03:06 AM

There's something you could do if you ever won a small lotto

If I become rich remind me OK?

We have plenty of billboards near tracks around here.

Originally Posted by Catty1

I wonder if a billboard or large sign near crossings would help: "Slow trains take 1/2 mile to STOP."

**ramanth** · 09-17-2007, 07:10 PM

Gotcha Phred!

I never mess with trains. No way!

Once the gate was malfunctioning and even though there was an officer there directing traffic, I still was real uneasy about going around the gate to cross the tracks.

Creepy feeling.

**cassiesmom** · 09-17-2007, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Catty1

I wonder if a billboard or large sign near crossings would help: "Slow trains take 1/2 mile to STOP."

I don't think so ... at least not around here ... you know how Chicago is the Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler ... I know intuitively that trains need a long stopping distance, but that doesn't come to mind when I'm late and the gate is descending. When the tracks were laid there was not as much auto traffic, of course. People are more cautious for awhile after serious accidents like this, and then they start slacking off again. One thing that might help is more bridges and/or viaducts so that the trains can keep moving and the auto traffic can too.