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Post by ~MnM~ on Jul 11, 2014 20:44:41 GMT -6
I just had to run out and therefore also cross the Main Street tracks...upon my return the gates were down, and two trains were going through. The one heading north was traveling at the normal speed, but the one heading south was really crawling for quite awhile. I guess that the train that hit this young man was traveling southbound, and didn't stop completely until Lundy Street. There were railroad men monitoring the Main Street crossing. When both trains had passed through that intersection, the gates weren't going up, and here I could see yet another train coming from the north. A black pickup truck stopped at that intersection just went ahead and went around BOTH gates................. WTH!!!! For one that driver was a total and complete idiot.....and for two........... I yelled at the railroad guys standing outside "keeping watch". I said, "did you NOT see that truck go around both gates?", the one man answered, "Ma'am we can't tell you to go around the gates." I said .."YEAH, no kidding, but DID you SEE that pickup truck do that, did you get his license plate number??" So yet again the guy said to me, "we can not advise you what to do." And I said..."well then, you best get a cop down here then to help you....... ADVISE, unreal!!" AGAIN................. people mind the crossing gates! And ...SPD, I think the railroad needs some assistance from you guys down there!!! JMHO......M
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Post by chevypower on Jul 11, 2014 21:39:17 GMT -6
Prayers out too the Family, may the lord watch over this man, sad that this is the brother of the other person who also was taken from us. PLEASE Look over this family Dear God as they need the strength at this difficult time.
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Post by rocket on Jul 12, 2014 6:53:22 GMT -6
Going around the gates is illegal. I remember Illinois lawmakers passing a state law on this and soon right after there were state police officers riding on the engine watching for law breakers going around the gates. I know it is a hefty fine if caught and don't remember if they also included suspending or revoking your license for doing so or if they also included jail time . This was like about 12yrs ago when they passed this law.
I pray and hope I never come across this type of tragedy while sitting at the crossings waiting to cross. Can't stand to bear witnessing seeing someone getting hit by a train and then keep having nightmares seeing this tragedy replay itself .
I think bnsf should redo the tracks and dig down 20-30ft below ground from morrell st to Livingston rd and relay the tracks and put in bridges over the tracks and put up fencing all along the tracks thru town To reduce the risk of anyone getting hit by the trains.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2014 7:14:45 GMT -6
Going around the gates is illegal. I remember Illinois lawmakers passing a state law on this and soon right after there were state police officers riding on the engine watching for law breakers going around the gates. I know it is a hefty fine if caught and don't remember if they also included suspending or revoking your license for doing so or if they also included jail time . This was like about 12yrs ago when they passed this law. I pray and hope I never come across this type of tragedy while sitting at the crossings waiting to cross. Can't stand to bear witnessing seeing someone getting hit by a train and then keep having nightmares seeing this tragedy replay itself . I think bnsf should redo the tracks and dig down 20-30ft below ground from morrell st to Livingston rd and relay the tracks and put in bridges over the tracks and put up fencing all along the tracks thru town To reduce the risk of anyone getting hit by the trains. Or individuals could remove their headphones and pay attention to whats going on around them...
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Post by rocket on Jul 12, 2014 7:25:21 GMT -6
And you know that no one is going to remove their head phones while riding or walking. Which I think is also illegal while riding or walking. If not ,it will soon be illegal if accidents keep happening involving the pedestrian or bicyclist has head phones or ear buds in both ears obstructing their hearing of their surroundings.
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Post by dumdave on Jul 12, 2014 8:38:09 GMT -6
There was a horrible accident there on Main when a car load of teens went around the gate. Early 1960's I think.
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Post by cityslicker on Jul 12, 2014 8:47:52 GMT -6
Rockit, why blame the railroads, they should not be liable for any idiot that violates the law and safeguards ? Let them listen to their earbuds when they are laying in a casket or incinerator. How far does industry have to go to make the world idiotproof? Half the time violations are dropped in the court system, ex: a judge in Ottswa that had a cell phone violation dropped when he got his D.U.I. I wonder if he has to use a breath monitor as part of his sentence, like the rest of the counties' population?
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Post by ~MnM~ on Jul 13, 2014 21:56:18 GMT -6
There was a horrible accident there on Main when a car load of teens went around the gate. Early 1960's I think. Awww DD...those were all good friends of my sisters............so sad!!! M
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Post by dumdave on Jul 14, 2014 8:31:40 GMT -6
There was a horrible accident there on Main when a car load of teens went around the gate. Early 1960's I think. Awww DD...those were all good friends of my sisters............so sad!!! M I knew one of the girls that was killed. She & I went to the same church toghther. Very tragic event for Streator.
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Post by no1inparticular on Jul 14, 2014 10:07:14 GMT -6
IMHO, the rail road companies could, and should, be doing a bit more on their end... Granted, folks definitely know better than to play chicken with trains but, given the sheer number of trains that pass right through the middle of the city, isn't it past time for some barrier walls?...I know this isn't a 100% fool-proof solution, but when there are over 200 trains barreling through every day, it would serve as a deterrent as well as reducing the noise...The rail companies are making money hand over fist, yet they seem to be the ones getting away with being gross polluters with the noise, particle pollutants, voc's from the diesel, etc... Now I'm not foolish enough to believe that they would stop everyone from going on the tracks, but I believe it would occur with less frequency if barrier walls were in place...
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