Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron61
Wes,
The quiet zone sounds like it could be a good thing if they actually will assume the responsibility. What kind of special gates would it take to keep some of these people from going under, over, or around them?
Ron  |
Double gates per side have been discussed and may be in service in some areas.
A more economical solution has been to install lengthy islands in the roadway crossing approach to prevent autos from casually going around the standard one-gate-per-side barriers. The walkways have a similar single gate per side, I believe.
I haven't seen the Quiet Zone gates at Fargo, which are the only ones fully functional in my district right now. I've been working west into Montana instead of Minnesota for a couple years.
Determined Darwin candidates can still break through them.
Another similar solution has been to install automatic horns at the crossings that operate like the common warning bells. These horns are directed only at the traffic and cut down on noise spread to some degree.
Steps to enhance protection for the public and equip locomotives are in full swing. Down the road, expect trains to operate crewless ...like giant conveyer belts ...operated remotely. I kidded a guy about this taking place from our Texas dispatching center, and lo and behold, "remote operating rights" are since claimed in our newest contract for just such, right behind dispatchers.
His reply? "
Texas, hell ....New Delhi !! " Considering that
armed Predator Drones reliably operate by satellite, why not?
And several cohorts feel safe that their American job can't go overseas...
Well, maybe not overseas, just south of the border a bit.
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