Drivers... When will they ever learn?

In the past few weeks, there have been numerous train and vehicle collisions. Semi trucks have caused engineers and conductors to be seriously injured or killed, passengers have been killed or injured. Also, the driver of the vehicle can get killed or injured too. But the question is, Why does this keep happening? Let me go through the major points on why this happens.

1. Semi truck drivers go places they are not supposed to: Sometimes semi truck drivers will cut corners to get a delivery to where it needs to be on time. This can cause semi trucks to stall or get stuck on the tracks when they are not supposed to be cutting corners. This has been happening a lot with Amtrak and Metrolink trains.
2. Drivers get scared when the gates go down while they are on the crossing: I can not help but think of the metro-north crash a month or so ago when six people were killed, including all of the people in the mini van. A mother and her kids were killed when the train hit them. As well as some people on the train were killed.
3. Gate Runners: People think they don't have time to wait for the train to cross, but often this can be a fatal mistake and it happens very often. It is not worth risking your life or the life of the train crew.

That is all I have for today, Let this be a lesson on why you should never take risks when it comes to trains, safety comes first! Please once again check us out on Facebook and Twitter. Until next time, keep calm and railfan on!

Heritage Units Vs. Fallen Flags Units

I apologize, for not posting in a while. I have been busy with school work and other endeavors.  But I thought I would share with you a subject that recently I have been thinking about. This subject has been one that railfans have been discussing all over the United States and Canada. Are Heritage Units better or are fallen flags better? Why don't we take a look at the pros and cons of both of them

Heritage Units: 

Pros:  1. They tend to last longer than fallen flag locomotives.
          2. Excellent Public Relations tool.
          3. They are very attractive.

Cons: 1. Paint schemes can be inaccurate.
          2. Horns are never the originals.

Fallen Flag Units:


Pros: 1. They are originals from their railroad
         2. An original can be better than a copy

Cons:1. They are repainted by the railroad that they are merged or brought into.
          2. Original horns and other features are either rebuilt or replaced often.

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