by petahgriff8316
Just moved to Medford after two years each in Somerville and Cambridge. Longtime rail and crossing anorak, but have been mystified by a few things I have seen at the infamous West Medford crossing (and adjacent station).
I was down at West Medford yesterday morning, and saw a northbound MBTA Lowell Line train stop and park at the station. Instead of the train pulling into the station and the gates going up, which is what (I have observed to be) is mostly the case with these trains, the last car was pulled past the roadway but was still "on" the circuit, keeping the gates down. Seeing my confusion, the crossing guard came over and told me that "unless the train is pulled further forward, we keep the gates down in case of a rollback." I asked "how often do rollbacks happen?" He did not have an answer, but said it's not worth the risk. I don't disagree with that, but I said "that doesn't seem very efficient." After all, why would a train not be able to pull further forward? Is the platform not long enough for trains of a certain car length? It's worth noting that, later that night, I observed another northbound train pull far enough into the station before stopping that the gates went up. All told, I would imagine it depends on the length of the train, but would love perspective.
Another observation: I used to take the Lowell line from North Station to Lowell daily (reverse commuting). There were a number of occasions where the outbound train I was on was held near Canal St. "to allow the inbound train to clear the station." I asked the conductor why in the world we needed to wait for another train to "clear" the station when there are two tracks in the station? He essentially said it is to "save people from their own stupidity" by preventing them from crossing the tracks while one train is stopped in the station (and the other is approaching). Of course, a number of dual-platform rail stations I've been to (CalTrain/NJT/etc.) with at-grade walkways between platforms are protected by gates and lights, but that would actually require financial investment, and the MBTA barely even spends money on "essential" things, so I'm not holding my breath.
For comparison: Ho-Ho-Kus NJ pedestrian crossing vs. Brandeis Roberts. You tell me which one shows more investment.
However, even without active grade crossing protection at a station, is it really necessary to only have one train occupy a given station? Maybe I'm a grump, but I don't think the MBTA has any responsibility to protect people from their own stupidity. I have trouble believing that it would be found negligent in court in a situation where the person clearly disobeyed safety signs such as "Look Before Crossing" (which are present at many MBTA stations).
Another thing: what does the crossing guards at High St. actually do aside from hold the flag and wave the train through? I fully recognize that intersection is an absolute nightmare with the side streets right there, and I remember at least once incident where a car was hit by an Amtrak Downeaster after going around the gates and seeing a parked MBTA train, but there are AWDs (including gates) and medians, so what is it that the crossing guard does that they don't? And, are they present at the crossing at all hours?
I am not a railroad employee, but I like to think I know more than the average person about grade crossings and their protection. And while I recognize that perhaps I have missed something here, I have to think that these "head scratchers" are things that perhaps members of the general public has observed (and wondered about) as well.
I was down at West Medford yesterday morning, and saw a northbound MBTA Lowell Line train stop and park at the station. Instead of the train pulling into the station and the gates going up, which is what (I have observed to be) is mostly the case with these trains, the last car was pulled past the roadway but was still "on" the circuit, keeping the gates down. Seeing my confusion, the crossing guard came over and told me that "unless the train is pulled further forward, we keep the gates down in case of a rollback." I asked "how often do rollbacks happen?" He did not have an answer, but said it's not worth the risk. I don't disagree with that, but I said "that doesn't seem very efficient." After all, why would a train not be able to pull further forward? Is the platform not long enough for trains of a certain car length? It's worth noting that, later that night, I observed another northbound train pull far enough into the station before stopping that the gates went up. All told, I would imagine it depends on the length of the train, but would love perspective.
Another observation: I used to take the Lowell line from North Station to Lowell daily (reverse commuting). There were a number of occasions where the outbound train I was on was held near Canal St. "to allow the inbound train to clear the station." I asked the conductor why in the world we needed to wait for another train to "clear" the station when there are two tracks in the station? He essentially said it is to "save people from their own stupidity" by preventing them from crossing the tracks while one train is stopped in the station (and the other is approaching). Of course, a number of dual-platform rail stations I've been to (CalTrain/NJT/etc.) with at-grade walkways between platforms are protected by gates and lights, but that would actually require financial investment, and the MBTA barely even spends money on "essential" things, so I'm not holding my breath.
For comparison: Ho-Ho-Kus NJ pedestrian crossing vs. Brandeis Roberts. You tell me which one shows more investment.
However, even without active grade crossing protection at a station, is it really necessary to only have one train occupy a given station? Maybe I'm a grump, but I don't think the MBTA has any responsibility to protect people from their own stupidity. I have trouble believing that it would be found negligent in court in a situation where the person clearly disobeyed safety signs such as "Look Before Crossing" (which are present at many MBTA stations).
Another thing: what does the crossing guards at High St. actually do aside from hold the flag and wave the train through? I fully recognize that intersection is an absolute nightmare with the side streets right there, and I remember at least once incident where a car was hit by an Amtrak Downeaster after going around the gates and seeing a parked MBTA train, but there are AWDs (including gates) and medians, so what is it that the crossing guard does that they don't? And, are they present at the crossing at all hours?
I am not a railroad employee, but I like to think I know more than the average person about grade crossings and their protection. And while I recognize that perhaps I have missed something here, I have to think that these "head scratchers" are things that perhaps members of the general public has observed (and wondered about) as well.