by Engineer Spike
In Streator, IL, they found a cash cow by ticketing trains for blocking crossings. One street went to just a cemetery. At 0300h, who would be there? The railroad warned crews that they would be get in trouble for any more crossing tickets. Soon afterward, I blocked some crossings on the Conrail-Santa Fe connector. There was a road parallel to the track on both sides. Streets crossed the track at every block. I was having air trouble, and stopped so at least one cross street was open. I never saw a police officer.
Soon after, I received a cordial invitation to an investigation. After telling the local chairman what happened, he said the company would drop the issue, if I agreed to write a statement. A company lawyer called me about this. Her case was based on safety of the brake system, and federal airbrake laws having precidence over local laws, on blocking crossings. I left the company shortly later, but was half worried that I would be dragged to court to testify.
Soon after, I received a cordial invitation to an investigation. After telling the local chairman what happened, he said the company would drop the issue, if I agreed to write a statement. A company lawyer called me about this. Her case was based on safety of the brake system, and federal airbrake laws having precidence over local laws, on blocking crossings. I left the company shortly later, but was half worried that I would be dragged to court to testify.