# Don't plan a parade route to cross railroad tracks **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 16, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192 "2012-11-16T15:09:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/81 "2012-11-19T18:12:48Z")
I tried to clarify in my post above. No, those are not the same things, but the timers are connected. It is crucial that they are, so traffic at the intersection can be moving and not bocking a clear exit from the tracks when the crossing signal starts. It’s explained within the first couple minutes of the video. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/82 "2012-11-19T18:18:31Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > It’s not clear from the reports. > > From the report, “crossing’s southbound traffic signal…crossing’s warning lights …” These are not the same, or at the same intersection/tracks? > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I tried to clarify in my post above. No, those are not the same things, but the timers are connected. It is crucial that they are, so traffic at the intersection can be moving and not bocking a clear exit from the tracks when the crossing signal starts. It’s explained within the first couple minutes of the video. Was answering musicat via smartphone slow user. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/83 "2012-11-20T15:00:59Z")
Just throwing this in for consideration. [Here is an aerial photo](http://geekalabama.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/untitlediiu90.png?w=584&h=376) of the crossing where the accident occurred. Note that there are traffic lights on both sides of the crossing within a few vehicle-lengths of the tracks; this, unfortunately, is fairly common all across the flatland areas of Texas. I suspect a contributing factor may have been the lead float being stopped for one traffic light, while the following float was trying to stay clear of the intersection on the other side of the tracks. I haven’t seen any indication that the parade organizers ever thought of contacting the railroad (probably Union Pacific in this case) to inform them of the parade. The railroad could have issued temporary slow orders rather than have trains barrel at track speed through that part of town. I’ll also just mention that although I’m an ex-railroader and current safety professional, I still managed to almost get trapped on a crossing last year. Just after a piece of track equipment had passed and the gates raised, the line of cars I was in stopped due to a person attempting to turn left from the single traffic lane, just as I drove onto the track. At that moment, I looked left and sure enough, there was another piece of track equipment approaching at speed (I should have remembered that track machines often travel in convoy). Luckily there was just enough space for me to back up far enough to clear the track, although so little that when the crossing gate came down it landed on the hood of my car. There’s now a scratch there that reminds me every day to wait at the crossing until there’s at least one car length of space ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/84 "2012-11-20T15:18:12Z")
It calls to mind the [car that got stuck on the drawbridge](http://wxow.images.worldnow.com/images/10954789_BG1.jpg) when it went up. (And no, that’s not photoshopped.) The driver said she got confused when the lights began flashing and the bell started ringing. It is thought that she had made it past the lights, perhaps slowed down, then when the gates lowered, she panicked and braked to a halt instead of continuing, since there are always a few seconds delay before the bridge goes up and she could have made it. But nothing can take the ultimate blame away from the bridge operator, who had a clear view of the entire drawbridge from the little hut on the side. _He didn’t fucking look_, until the honking of horns alerted him to the possibility that something might be wrong. He stopped the bridge in time and lowered it before the car tumbled down, but just barely. I don’t know what happened to the ship that was passing beneath; it must have been a small one. A big one couldn’t stop in time, and requires a fully-opened bridge. _But that’s what the bridge operator’s job is there for, to compensate for the unforseen._ If we didn’t need the human component, he could be replaced with automation. The analogy would be the truck driver. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/85 "2012-11-20T17:35:24Z")
I’m puzzled by the notion of a parade stopping at traffic lights. Every time I’ve seen a parade, the police seal off the cross streets and either turn off or ignore the traffic lights. Without that you don’t have a parade, you just have a bunch of vehicles going in the same direction. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/86 "2012-11-20T18:34:30Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Just throwing this in for consideration. > > [Here is an aerial photo](http://geekalabama.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/untitlediiu90.png?w=584&h=376) of the crossing where the accident occurred. Note that there are traffic lights on both sides of the crossing within a few vehicle-lengths of the tracks; this, unfortunately, is fairly common all across the flatland areas of Texas. I suspect a contributing factor may have been the lead float being stopped for one traffic light, while the following float was trying to stay clear of the intersection on the other side of the tracks. According to the video, this, and every other, intersection next to a crossing turns green a little before the the train warning signals start going to prevent just this kind of occurrence. They said the signals were operating properly at this intersection. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/87 "2012-11-20T19:32:00Z")
Isn’t the fact that it happened in Texas enough explanation as to why it happened? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/88 "2012-11-20T21:43:37Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > I’m puzzled by the notion of a parade stopping at traffic lights. Every time I’ve seen a parade, the police seal off the cross streets and either turn off or ignore the traffic lights. Which, in this case, would have meant stopping the trains, or if Union Pacific wouldn’t cooperate, knowing when they were due so you could take appropriate action. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/89 "2012-11-29T02:39:21Z")
Veterans sue railroad over fatal crash in Texas [http://news.yahoo.com/veterans-sue-railroad-over-fatal-crash-texas-203401463.html](http://news.yahoo.com/veterans-sue-railroad-over-fatal-crash-texas-203401463.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/90 "2012-11-29T03:59:41Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Veterans sue railroad over fatal crash in Texas > > [Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More](http://news.yahoo.com/veterans-sue-railroad-over-fatal-crash-texas-203401463.html) And the truck company. Not that you can tell from the short headline. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/91 "2012-11-29T04:11:51Z")
Never begin to cross a railroad track unless there is room on the other side for your vehicle. Simple. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/92 "2012-11-29T04:17:43Z")
“Hey! There’s no train suppose to be in this parade!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/93 "2012-11-29T04:59:58Z")
I guess it trained on their parade. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/94 "2012-12-05T10:17:04Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I guess it trained on their parade. I don’t believe in hell (or heaven), but I’m willing to reconsider, just for you… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/95 "2012-12-05T10:22:15Z")
I’ll save you a place by the fire. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/96 "2012-12-05T11:38:06Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ll save you a place by the fire. 😃 From what I can tell, it’ll be a massive Dopefest down there. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/97 "2012-12-05T12:52:59Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Veterans sue railroad over fatal crash in Texas Are they going to sue Sir Issac Newton too? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/98 "2012-12-05T13:02:46Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Are they going to sue Sir Issac Newton too? Nah, their grudge remains with the RR tycoons who stole their land. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/99 "2012-12-05T13:13:59Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Nah, their grudge remains with the RR tycoons who stole their land. Did they sell their souls to the company store? ---
**Author:** ![Sodalite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Sodalite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sodalite)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192/100 "2013-01-11T06:25:48Z")
[http://news.msn.com/us/float-driver-wont-face-charges-in-train-crash](http://news.msn.com/us/float-driver-wont-face-charges-in-train-crash) At least as far as legal trouble, the driver is in the clear. The group that invited the vets and put the event together didn’t bother with a parade permit. Union Pacific was never notified that a parade would be crossing their very active tracks. I seriously doubt they told the truck drivers that they hadn’t done their homework. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-plan-a-parade-route-to-cross-railroad-tracks/641192.md?page=6)