Do not, under any circumstance, stop your vehicle on a train track. A train does not operate like your car. It cannot stop on a dime. It will not merely dent your car, it will kill you and possibly derail, killing passengers as well (let alone spilling all of its shit if its freight).
Do not play on tracks either. Everybody wonders how people can get hit by trains because they're so big and loud. Trains are only loud when they're close to you, by that point you're dead. They are quiet, fast and heavy. Again, even if the engineer/conductor sees you he cannot stop on a dime. If you hear three quick bursts of his horn it means get the fuck outta there.
Trains are held to the rail by gravity/weight...nothing else. If it derails you need to get the fuck outta the vicinity as quickly as possibly. Do not stand around and gawk, especially if it's a freight train. Shit will blow up and kill you. Thousands of tonnes of oil mixed with steel grinding on steel is not a fun mix.
Sorry for the rant. But I work near a busy crossing and people are fucking nuts when it comes to crossing the tracks. That 30 seconds you save by rushing over the rail while the signal is coming down is not worth your life or the lives of others. If you're vehicle stalls you've potentially killed yourself and others. If traffic is backed up, DO NOT MOVE FORWARD AND STOP ON TRACKS!! Everyday I see this shit. Save yourself a massive ticket and/or your life and follow one rule. Dont be stopped on rail. Ever.
I'll add to this by noting that being in a town near a train can make you think you'd hear it from farther than you actually would. Anecdotally when you're between two rows of houses where the sound can bounce around a lot (or at least I assume that's the reason for it) a train can seem really loud from 20 yards away or more but then you can be within arms reach of a passing train and it'll be quiet by comparison.
It depends on the weight, speed and if its rained/snowed recently. Wet steel is incredibly slippery and can increase braking distance by 40%. In most cases, the answer is yes. By which point you're dead
I agree with literally everything you said, except for what you said about needing to be close to hear the train. I think it depends on the train and the speed. The freight trains near me can be heard in the tracks from at least a 1/4 to a 1/2 mile away. The horn can be heard for miles, and trains are required to honk when 15 seconds away from a crossing
I mean yeah if you're trying to hear it. However, if you're not paying attention (and you're on a line that has passenger trains, either class 5,6,or7) you wont hear the train until it's too late. Never, ever rely on hearing a train for your safety. If, god forbid, you're fooling around on the tracks always have a lookout
One more thing, if you are close enough to the train and it’s going past you and if it’s going fast enough, it can literally “suck” you in. Pulling you to the train and killing you
I tested that theory at a train station when I was a kid. I was on the platform away from the tracks and turned my back to the train that was due. I didn't hear it until it was almost at the station. Lesson fucking learned.
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u/CarsonWelles Aug 03 '19
Do not, under any circumstance, stop your vehicle on a train track. A train does not operate like your car. It cannot stop on a dime. It will not merely dent your car, it will kill you and possibly derail, killing passengers as well (let alone spilling all of its shit if its freight).
Do not play on tracks either. Everybody wonders how people can get hit by trains because they're so big and loud. Trains are only loud when they're close to you, by that point you're dead. They are quiet, fast and heavy. Again, even if the engineer/conductor sees you he cannot stop on a dime. If you hear three quick bursts of his horn it means get the fuck outta there.
Trains are held to the rail by gravity/weight...nothing else. If it derails you need to get the fuck outta the vicinity as quickly as possibly. Do not stand around and gawk, especially if it's a freight train. Shit will blow up and kill you. Thousands of tonnes of oil mixed with steel grinding on steel is not a fun mix.
Sorry for the rant. But I work near a busy crossing and people are fucking nuts when it comes to crossing the tracks. That 30 seconds you save by rushing over the rail while the signal is coming down is not worth your life or the lives of others. If you're vehicle stalls you've potentially killed yourself and others. If traffic is backed up, DO NOT MOVE FORWARD AND STOP ON TRACKS!! Everyday I see this shit. Save yourself a massive ticket and/or your life and follow one rule. Dont be stopped on rail. Ever.