As I alluded to earlier, the entitled drivers (“Why should I be made to have to stop and wait for several hundred tons of steel and passengers or cargo - that could crush me to death!! - to go by?”) among us will find some way to circumvent even the barriers in the image you shared.
Well, sometimes you just can’t help stupid… They will be good candidates for the Darwin Award then…
There is only so much you can do to help some people out, after that point, just have to let nature take it’s course… Not trying to be mean, harsh or heartless, just being realistic…
Well, a bridge-ful of officers decades-combined experience at sea, answering to one of the most respected captains, couldn’t prevent a certain ocean liner from speeding into an ice field they were warned about repeatedly, so I guess you have some good points.
I dunno. A new theory talks about brittle or possibly substandard steel and the difficulty the lookout had seeing the ice in time.
Social media theory.
Disproved years ago.
What didn’t help the Olympic Class liners was the decision during design stage to reduce hull steel thickness from 2" to 1".
But what steel they did use proved as up to standard as any steel used in ship work today.
My comment was more about taking those Marconi-grams more seriously, and slowing down and or altering course to avoid collision in the first place. Proactive I believe is the term for such actions.
You haven’t a clue. Massachusetts looked into it for Boston’s MBTA commuter rail system. The cost was well north of $500 BILLION. That’s just ONE medium size city. I can’t imagine what the cost for NYC or Philadelphia would be. So just 3 cities and the cost would be North of 1 TRILLION dollars.
Again, my friend the trainspotter is in favor of eleminating grade RR crossings.
I don’t think NY city has that many RR crossings at grade. Subways and elevateds dominate.
In our little city I can count 15 right off hand without thinking about it. Not a priority at all.
At what cost?
In the city - No. But the commuter rails that span out in all directions. Simple google search says there’s 750.
A few towns away from me, there is a “double” RR crossing, at grade. The really big problem is that the 2 tracks for freight and the 2 tracks for passenger service are separated by ~60 feet, and there is a traffic light ~50 feet from the freight tracks.
Locals usually know to be very careful here, but folks from out of town can be caught unaware, and the traffic backup from the traffic light has been known to trap vehicles between the two sets of tracks when the gates come down. Every once in a while, a car is hit by a train at this crossing.
I’m going to defend Captain Smith on the Titanic. He was warned of the ice field and ordered the planned course further south. But there was a company representative on board and he insisted on keeping the speed up to set a record. I’m sure the rep protested the course change too but CA Smith held to his guns on that. It wasn’t enough of course. Captain Smith went down with his ship as was the custom in those days. It was also his retirement cruise. A shame.
Another myth dispelled. Ismay had no influence over the speed of the ship during Captain Smith’s retirement crossing.
Another likely suicide by train just two hours ago:
Traffic Alert: SR 520 Closure at US 1 and Blake Ave May 19, 2026
SR 520 is currently closed in both directions at US 1 and Blake Ave. due to a fatal train vs. pedestrian crash. Use Dixon Blvd. and Rosa Jones as alternate routes. Officers are on scene directing traffic. Expect delays and use caution
Just as some people purposely cause themselves to be shot by cops (“Suicide by cop”), a few others choose suicide by train. In the process, they ruin a LOT of lives.
In the end, it’s all about them.
+1
Involving anyone else in a suicide plan is incredibly selfish and cowardly.
Still remember touring Annapolis. Leaving I turned east instead of west and ignored the bridge warning signs. After going over the bridge, I could have used thst sewer truck. Then I had to come back again.
If you are referring to the Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge, then you are in good company and not alone, That bridge has a reputation and not a good one… Some folks cannot drive over the bridge and there are several “Drive Over Services” that will drive your car for you and you can hide in the back seat or enjoy the view… 