At that time, crossing gates were hand-operated by means of a crank mechanism. Generally, each crossing had four separate gates. Due to the extreme length and great weight of the wooden gates, they had to be counterbalanced by very heavy cast-iron weights at their bases. Snow or rain could cause the wooden gates to become even heavier than they normally would be. Additional weight could be added to the massive counterweights as needed by the gatekeeper, who would place cast-iron disks, each weighing approximately 20 to 30 pounds each.
As a train approached, the gatekeeper would crank the gates, and these would remain down until the train passed safely. Hopefully, they ate a good breakfast and were well drilled in the art of both clockwise and counter-clockwise cranking motion.
The gatekeepers often had their own little shanty to hang out in-between runs. Some were no bigger than an outhouse whose only purpose was to block the wind while others may have been spacious enough to include a few chairs, a desk, and a wood stove. The design formed the basic warning sign still in use today but vastly improved with automatic warning advances.
These were used through the mids when reflective buttons became common. Overpasses separated trains from automobiles, but they were expensive to build and required extensive regrading of either the railroad or the roadway, and sometimes both. As a result, overpasses tended to be built only at the busiest crossings.
Railroad Crossings 15 artifacts in this set. Exhibit View. This expert set is brought to you by: The staff at The Henry Ford. Railroad crossings are dangerous places. Rail companies first protected their busiest crossings with employees who waved flags or lanterns, or lowered gates, when trains came through. Later, automated lights and gates, operated by electrical relays wired to the track, alerted people of approaching trains.
The X-shaped crossbuck, which marks public railroad crossings in the United States, is now a universally recognized warning sign. Make Cover Photo. Car Stopped by Guard at Railroad Crossing, August Photographic print Before automated signals became common, the busiest railroad crossings were protected by railroad employees.
Use default description of artifact Details Share. Railroad Crossing Signal, September Photographic print Wigwag railroad crossing signals -- named for the way they swung back and forth when activated -- first appeared about Automobile Waiting at Railroad Crossing for Train to Cross the Road, December Photographic print The automobile's growing popularity in the early 20th century brought an increase in railroad crossing accidents.
Railroad Crossing Warning Sign, March Photographic print Grade crossings between railroads and public roadways in the United States are generally marked in two locations. Louis Railway Freight Car, April Photographic print The driver of a Ford Model T waits for a loaded hopper car to clear a railroad crossing in this photograph.
Gift Cards Give inspiration for every occasion. At some crossings, a "cantilever" extends out above the street with additional flashing lights to warn motorists in multi-lane situations.
Many modern crossing signals have "constant warning" technology which not only allows for the warning time, but adjusts to the speed of the oncoming train to give the same amount of warning, regardless of whether or not the train is moving slowly or very rapidly.
The goal is to give adequate warning, but not too much time that would encourage motorists to disregard the signal. The Federal Railroad Administration minimum warning time is 20 seconds.
Many states issue orders specifying the designed warning time at each crossing. Designed warning times vary from the low 20s to the high 30s, depending on the circumstances at the crossing. In addition to the signals and signs, Federal rules require train crews to begin sounding the horn at least 15 seconds before entering the crossing and to continue sounding the horn until the engine crosses the roadway.
Locomotives are equipped with a triangle of bright headlights, one mounted high and centered, and two on each lower side of the front of the locomotive. They are illuminated night and day when the train is in motion. On Union Pacific, crossing signals are inspected regularly for a variety of safety checks. Many factors, such as frequency and speed of rail traffic, motor vehicle traffic, and crossing collision history are considered when determining which crossings will be signalized.
Rail crossing gates serve to warn drivers, not as impenetrable barriers. Vehicles sometime get trapped on the crossing when the gate lowers behind them. The gate is made of a lightweight material that will yield when struck by a vehicle, thus providing an escape for a trapped motorist. Federal law requires trains to sound their horn at all highway-rail grade crossings. Drivers often do not pay attention or do not expect to see a train at familiar crossings.
The blast of a locomotive horn may be the only warning that gets the driver's attention. Never assume that a seldom-used track has been abandoned. To notify officials about poor visibility at a railroad crossing, please contact INDOT Customer Service at , or the railroad directly using the number posted at the crossing.
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