OPRRMS wrote:

>>snip<
>
>> I had noticed the Park bridge warning
>> lights still on in Alameda, indicating the train
>> was probably still blocking the other side of the
>> bridge.
>
>Thanks for mentioning it. This may become an issue if the case goes to court. Apparently the Park Street bridge tenders have been taking it upon themselves to activate the BRIDGE CLOSED >lights and gates when they hear a train approaching the crossing. It should be noted that the tenders are county employees and have no authority or affliation with the railroad, or its >operations. Given the position of the bridge gates, claxons and lights on the Oakland side, they can distract a vehicle operator from realizing a train has stopped on the crossing. The bridge >tenders didn't previously do that, and it's unclear why they're doing it now.

I would think it is quite clear why the "bridge tenders have been taking it upon themselves to activate the BRIDGE CLOSED" signals -- they don't want eastbound traffic, coming off the bridge on the Oakland side, backing up onto the bridge. If that happens, they can't lift it to allow any shipping through (which is why they are there).