Maspeth: Slow moving Freight hits Tractor-Trailer 7/8/2015

https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L16739" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Brief, fair-use quote:

Federal Railroad Administration Launches Focused Safety Review of New York & Atlantic Railway

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today launched a comprehensive, focused safety review of the New York & Atlantic Railway’s (NY&A) safety culture and management practices. Today’s announcement follows FRA’s launch of an investigation into the July 8, 2015, train-truck collision at Maspeth Avenue in Queens, New York. NY&A has committed their full cooperation as the safety review moves forward.

The safety analysis conducted by FRA will review NY&A Railway's compliance with federal regulations, its operational practices and its overall safety culture. The safety analysis team will be composed of multiple-discipline safety inspectors from FRA Region 1.

...

FRA’s rail safety team will look at:

NY&A operating departments;
Engineer and conductor certification;
Locomotive engineer oversight;
Grade crossings diagnostics;
Operation control center procedures and rail traffic controller training;
Human factors; and
Compliance with federal operating practices regulations.

Copied post from LIRR thread per Dutch's link:

Progressive Railroading

While the article does not mention LIRR, operation of the signals, etc. would seem to be in their purview, not NY&AR's. Without preempting moderation, and knowing the two railroads are intertwined, we should probably keep this to the portion that's NY&AR involvement (i.e. operation of the train).

Here's the LIRR thread: Maspeth Grade Crossing Accident

Brief, fair-use quote:

FRA launches safety review of New York & Atlantic Railway

Specifically, FRA inspectors will examine: NY&A operating departments, engineer and conductor certification, locomotive engineer oversight, grade crossing diagnostics, operation control center procedures and rail traffic controller training, human factors, and compliance with federal operating practices regulations.

After the review is completed, the FRA will report its findings and recommendations, and evaluate the short line’s follow-up to the recommendations.

"In this safety sweep of NY&A, FRA will provide recommendations on specific areas where the railroad must improve to meet the high safety standards FRA and the country expect," said Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Feinberg.

Sir Ray wrote:Question - since the trains are required to stop before at that crossing before proceeding, is there a Stop Sign or equivalent signal for the train at that location? Or are some trains not required to stop at the crossing?

Thread bump, because it turns out that they did in fact place a "Stop Sign" to alert the engineers to stop at the Maspeth Ave. Crossing.
QNS article from January 2016 (just stumbled across this story it myself after 6 months). Also wondering why just a plain black-on-white sign, you'd figure some red would have been used.

Since this sign is visable to vehicle traffic,the LIRR or NY&A could not use the color red,
or even follow the shape of a stop sign.
Lets see how long it stays "clean" before the "taggers" have at it.

The "stop sign" you guys are referring to is different from those your used to on the paved roadway.

On the railroad it's referred to as a "Stop Bord" and had absolutely nothing to do with motor vehicle traffic. Regardless if they they can see it. Is a railroad signal used in many locations for various reasons.
Most cases it's to increase safety. train must stop. Then be governed by the special instructions for the location that specific stop board governs.
Sometimes you have a tower that needs to give your premission, a utility brakeman, or maybe even just the timetable special instructions.

In all cases it requires the train to stop before proceeding in accordance with the associated special instructions and authorities.

Today's Newsday (Pages 2-3) has a long story about NYA's long-standing safety issues, especially crew certification problems, lack of record-keeping, etc. It also mentioned something I had not known about this Maspeth accident, that the engineer fled the scene, and did not return to the Railroad. His employment was then terminated. How reassuring it is to know that NYA hires such competent, responsible people to operate its trains.

If salary and benefits suck, employees suck......period.