Train Crossing Reporting

This information is important for everyone since if you see an incident which affects the tracks, knowing to call the Crossing Hotline with the DOT number could save lives. Don't assume that the police or fire department have been trained in how to report incidents.

I saw this posted on a forum and it seems like useful information in case of an accident involving train crossings. Unfortunately, I copied the text which didn't include the author information. There was a recent accident involving a plane crash, which ended up on the train tracks. The police officers called dispatch 6 minutes prior to a train hitting the wreck, which likely means that the proper number wasn't called. This also applies to everyone who sees an incident which involves the tracks since it can take some time for police or fire to get to the scene and call, if they know to call and know to give the DOT number.

Just to add to the paragraph on trains and noise, I used to take the Metrolink, as well as prior to that I took Amtrak numerous times. I disagree that trains are quiet, but they are QUIET when coming at you and noisy when in front of your face, or in other words quiet just before it is too late. Several times I was waiting for a train, not really paying attention, looking off into the distance only to suddenly find a train in front of me, never had heard it coming. Had I been on the tracks, it would have been far too late.

I mentioned to a fellow rider about how quiet trains are when coming at you and he basically laughed at me. When I saw him about a week or so later he admitted that trains were quiet when coming at you. You don't realize this unless you are paying attention and this is why people have been killed due to thinking that they would hear an oncoming train.

The post:

Hello folks.

I am going to make this short since I was a badge holder once and now I play with trains.

If you guys want to be the best out there when you gotta work around trains, please keep in mind a few things.

1. If you EVER need the trains stopped at a crossing, call the Crossing Hotline.

2. The Crossing Hotline is a 24/7 manned number that can get trains stopped in a minute or two or even faster.

3. You can reach the Crossing Hotline the fastest by looking for the BLUE and WHITE signs that are posted on the masts and at the crossing houses. Those signs are called ENS signs. Emergency Notification System.

4. If you have to stop traffic on the tracks and you are not at a crossing, you can still call the crossing hotline, and you will most likely be transferred to the chief, HE/SHE has the power to stop trains for you at that point.

5. ENS signs have the Crossing Hotline phone number, the D.O.T. number for that crossing and the street name of that crossing as well as maybe the CPUC number. The CPUC number has certain things in it that we can identify like the SUB or Milepost that we can cross reference with a crossing.

6. The D.O.T. number is OUR VIN. If you give us the DOT number we can tell you who owns that crossing and where it is located at. NO NEED FOR CROSS STREETS!

7. Cross streets given to crossing hotline/ chief is frowned upon. Trains do NOT use cross streets and in some cases, like, say if a plane crashed at Osborne St and the police or fire people call up and say the crash is at the crossing located at Osborne and San Fernando, well, there is a crossing at Osborn and one at San Fernando and in times of urgency, things like that might confuse some people. So if you will reference a street, please ONLY REFERENCE the street that crosses the tracks at that crossing.

In my current position I get the chance to speak with a lot of dispatchers and from time to time, officers and it seems as though they all get excited to learn what the DOT number is. If anyone ever needs to look up crossings for CA, you can go to the CPUC website CPUC rail crossing inventory data This is a very powerful tool to have on your laptop or workstation. Moreso for dispatchers because sometimes people call 911 and complain about a crossing and the police dispatchers are not sure who to call. So they call us thinking that we are Metro... Well, we have to correct them and if I am on the phone, then I will usually let them know where they can get a current listing (it gets updated about 1-2 times a year).

How do you know that once you called it will work for you?

You will not see any trains- OR, if you DO see a train, you will see it come to the crossing, stop, and a guy will get out and walk it across the crossing like a puppy, then hop back on and it will take off at full speed. That is called a Protected Crossing and until a Maintainer shows up, it will stay that way and ALL trains will do that until it is released.

What about station stops? If you ever want to watch a rr crossing in action, sit at a station and watch the crossing on the nearest street. Once a train enters the station from the opposite side and is heading towards the street, the crossing arms will drop. They do this because they measure electricity on the rails and their measurements tell them a huge piece of metal is coming, so they drop. Then they sit there and because the train has been stopped for a few minutes making a station stop, the gates will start to come up and people will start to drive through, but then the train moves 1 inch and the gates freak out and come back down as the train starts to take off right there at the station. It DOES freak people out and they DO tend to call 911 and the crossing hotline about it. But please understand that inside that engine or cab car is an engineer who is NOT allowed to proceed through the crossing unless the gates are down and it is safe to do so. He will not take out any cars, but he will proceed slowly towards the crossing until it is safe to take off, then once the gates are down, he will spin the wheels faster.

Finally, please remember that trains are faster now and they are SILENT. Train locomotives run on electricity with diesel generators charging the batteries in a suppressed compartment and you might not hear them until they are upon you and about 100 feet away. Now that many commuters around the IE and LA area can go 90 MPH, they are taking advantage of it.

Stay safe and please do not ever hesitate to call the crossing hotline.

Good day,
Thank you for the info. At this time, we can't do a full story on this subject. Our reporters are busy with other assignments.
Best regards,

Sylvie Belmond
*Editor*
Simi Valley Acorn
www.simivalleyacorn.com
818-706-0266 x402
805-910-7501 cell
@SVAcorn

Interesting, while I get that there are other stories, this issue could save lives if people are informed, which I would think would be quite important with all the train crossings in Simi Valley, but I guess you have other priorities, which I have to wonder if any of those stories would save lives of people. As I said, the story about a recent plane crash which ended up on the tracks and the train wasn't stopped could have ended up quite differently. It shall be interesting to see what those more important stories are.

I appreciate your input and response. It's Monday morning and as I'm sure you understand, we have many incoming emails. Your suggestion will be given full consideration as soon as possible.
Thanks again.
PS: One way to help inform residents about these concerns could be via our letters to the editor if you wish to write one. 350 words max.

Sylvie Belmond
*Editor*
Simi Valley Acorn
www.simivalleyacorn.com
818-706-0266 x402
805-910-7501 cell
@SVAcorn

I understand very well what you are saying, but I am not sure that you do and how it is viewed. I never said to have it in the next edition, but you said "At this time, we can't do a full story on this subject.", which is an indication that you have no interest in a story which can save the lives of people. You last sentence above confirms that. You are free to do what you want and to set priorities, but realize how that reflects on you and your paper.

Letters to the editor don't get the attention that a story would, as well there is the limit. I am not sure that you would publish my letter as I think it is important to mention that you don't think that this issue is important enough for a story, as well letters can't be published elsewhere, so that might also be an issue. Thanks for making your view very clear as to what is and isn't important.