OldPoleBurner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is it unsafe, you ask!
>
> First of all, it must be noted that the girl was
> standing at the edge of the sound wall behind the
> gate, waiting for an eastbound (on the far track)
> to go by. After it cleared, she stepped just past
> the sound wall (one foot) and was immediately hit
> by a westbound on the near track. I don't think
> she even made it to the first rail. Note that she
> could not see or hear the westbound at all until
> she started across; because (and only because)
> of the sound wall. Also because of the sound
> wall, the motorman could NOT see her either,
> standing just 7 ft from the track!
>
> The crossing is unsafe because the 12 feet high
> sound wall is placed right up to the edge of the
> roadway - AND right up against the trackway (5 ft
> from the first rail). Standing right at the gate,
> it is impossible to see more than a dozen feet
> down the track.
>
> Now if it takes just ten seconds to walk across
> the tracks (thats's pretty fast), you will be in
> harm's way even when a hidden 50mph (73ft per
> sec.) train is 730ft away! But you can see or hear
> for only a few feet!
>
> No train can be seen coming on the near track
> without first stepping into its path. You are in
> its path less than a foot from the sound wall.
> Then add the quiet zone on top of all this. ---
>
>
> That adds up to UNSAFE - under all circumstances!

Had she waited until the gates and lights stopped operating before she walked onto the tracks, the accident would not have occurred and she would be alive today.

This accident is really not materially different from a grade crossing collision where someone drives onto the tracks immediately after a train clears the crossing and is struck by a train approaching on a parallel track.