Probably rusty rail on the approach circuit....that's why activation was normal after the train cleared...when it crossed the far approach circuit, the crossing got confused and thought it was approaching rather than clearing. The crossing likely timed out afterwards which caused it to eventually deactivate.
This type of issue is caused by an insulating coat rust on the rails. The older style track circuits worked by the train wheels making an electrical contact between one side of track and the other. Usually the problem is worse with a light engine because when a few cars are added, they will usually wear the rust off. You'll notice that the lights worked when the engine was on the crossing because auto traffic prevents the rust from forming at that spot.
@@MaltaMcMurchy You're welcome, I learned a few things working on the railway for almost 40 years. I enjoyed cthe video, there aren't too many videos showing that type of malfunction since amost all track circuits don't work that way now.
Good video, and helpful to support a safe driving message. the most common cause of this type of malfunction is rust on the rail. That explains the intermittent function and operation when movement hits the polished railhead at the crossing. Drivers have an obligation to stop if a train is approaching a railway crossing in Ontario whether signals are provided or not, and if so whether they are working or not. In addition to a regulatory obligation it makes good sense. Crossing protection has a battery backup which can last about a day in a power failure or interruption situation. As a minimum, looking both ways is a good idea, if view is obstructed, roll down window and turn off radio for a second to listen. These systems work very well but every so often they can malfunction. Crossings with gates are safer because the gates are held up by power and complete failure and battery drain usually means that they are halfway down even if all lights are off.
Imagine every vehicle stopping, looking, and listening at every obstructed view crossing - now imagine that on a busier road at peak times - people going home from work, say, on a dark and dreary day. It wouldn't work for long...
+Andrew Williams Stopping is only necessary when vision is obscured. Most of the time you only need slow down to have enough time to check if anything is coming. But, yes, it IS every driver's responsibility to do this.
Agreed! I happen to believe that, like many things today, they tend to avoid using words, opting to use picturistic like symbols (icons) instead, so to describe something. In Canada's 🇨🇦 case it seems that they prefer to "outline" the X with a reflective red border.
Thank you for watching! This line here runs a limited amount of freight with just two round-trips weekly and with the scaled-back production over the holidays, it appears that the engine had no cars to drop-off on the trip down from Orangeville to Meadowvale, Ontario. I did not catch the return trip but, my guess is that he picked up alot of empty rail cars to return to the manufacturing plants in time to be loaded for the next trip in 2-3 days.
@@MaltaMcMurchy Ok thanks. That crossing doesn't make sense to me. Do the flashing red lights mean stop? Why do cars stop for a few seconds, and then just carry on over?
Transport Canada rules prescribe that this crossing must operate continuously for at least 20 seconds with both, the lights and the bell continuously engaged, prior to and while the train crosses the intersecting roadway. The crossing operated intermittently and thus a defect was identified.
Canadian railroad crossings tend to now use a red outline on the white X rather than to spell out the words "RAILROAD CROSSING" on them. I do remember, however, seeing way back then while in Saint Croix, NB, whereby one blade of the X was spelled it out in English, while the other blade spelled it out in French, something like this: TRAVERSE DU CHEMIN DE FER.
This was my first time filming at this crossing. I was not expecting this to occur as I was relatively new to the OBRY line at the time and unfamiliar with the signalling system. Thanks in-part to this video, this crossing has since been fixed.
Props to that car for taking the time to stop, look, and listen--and live.
ikr
I agree. Your comment has been favorited and pinned.
Probably rusty rail on the approach circuit....that's why activation was normal after the train cleared...when it crossed the far approach circuit, the crossing got confused and thought it was approaching rather than clearing. The crossing likely timed out afterwards which caused it to eventually deactivate.
That was awesome, thank you for sharing!
Thank you for watching! 🌟
I was raised near train tracks, got my butt spanked for playing on the trestle as a kid, thanks, Malta...
Lydia Robertson I'm sorry to hear of the rough time, but I thank you for helping to promote a message of safety in our railfan community!
This type of issue is caused by an insulating coat rust on the rails. The older style track circuits worked by the train wheels making an electrical contact between one side of track and the other. Usually the problem is worse with a light engine because when a few cars are added, they will usually wear the rust off. You'll notice that the lights worked when the engine was on the crossing because auto traffic prevents the rust from forming at that spot.
Thank you for the helpful insight!
@@MaltaMcMurchy You're welcome, I learned a few things working on the railway for almost 40 years. I enjoyed cthe video, there aren't too many videos showing that type of malfunction since amost all track circuits don't work that way now.
That's a wrong side failure very very serious
Good video, and helpful to support a safe driving message. the most common cause of this type of malfunction is rust on the rail. That explains the intermittent function and operation when movement hits the polished railhead at the crossing.
Drivers have an obligation to stop if a train is approaching a railway crossing in Ontario whether signals are provided or not, and if so whether they are working or not. In addition to a regulatory obligation it makes good sense.
Crossing protection has a battery backup which can last about a day in a power failure or interruption situation.
As a minimum, looking both ways is a good idea, if view is obstructed, roll down window and turn off radio for a second to listen. These systems work very well but every so often they can malfunction.
Crossings with gates are safer because the gates are held up by power and complete failure and battery drain usually means that they are halfway down even if all lights are off.
Imagine every vehicle stopping, looking, and listening at every obstructed view crossing - now imagine that on a busier road at peak times - people going home from work, say, on a dark and dreary day.
It wouldn't work for long...
+Andrew Williams
Stopping is only necessary when vision is obscured. Most of the time you only need slow down to have enough time to check if anything is coming. But, yes, it IS every driver's responsibility to do this.
Wow those signals are messed up!! But i like those Cando engines. I'm assumming this is on the OBRY?
This is the southbound OBRY crossing McMurchy Avenue in Brampton, Ontario on Tuesday January 10th 2012 at 10:21 AM EST.
Well that was a bit anticlimatic. Here I was thinking it was a fully loaded train and it's just the engine.
we have that same locomotive here in Winnipeg. But on the side of it says CEMR. which is Central Eastern Manitoba Rail. :)
It's Canadian crossbucks, since Canada speaks English and French
Agreed! I happen to believe that, like many things today, they tend to avoid using words, opting to use picturistic like symbols (icons) instead, so to describe something. In Canada's 🇨🇦 case it seems that they prefer to "outline" the X with a reflective red border.
Good job of those people
Was that a train on a train?
Thank you for watching! This line here runs a limited amount of freight with just two round-trips weekly and with the scaled-back production over the holidays, it appears that the engine had no cars to drop-off on the trip down from Orangeville to Meadowvale, Ontario. I did not catch the return trip but, my guess is that he picked up alot of empty rail cars to return to the manufacturing plants in time to be loaded for the next trip in 2-3 days.
@@MaltaMcMurchy Ok thanks. That crossing doesn't make sense to me. Do the flashing red lights mean stop? Why do cars stop for a few seconds, and then just carry on over?
Transport Canada rules prescribe that this crossing must operate continuously for at least 20 seconds with both, the lights and the bell continuously engaged, prior to and while the train crosses the intersecting roadway. The crossing operated intermittently and thus a defect was identified.
Those crossbucks are weird.
Canadian railroad crossings tend to now use a red outline on the white X rather than to spell out the words "RAILROAD CROSSING" on them. I do remember, however, seeing way back then while in Saint Croix, NB, whereby one blade of the X was spelled it out in English, while the other blade spelled it out in French, something like this: TRAVERSE DU CHEMIN DE FER.
Yes, this is a Canadian Railroad crossing.
What bothers me is that you just stood there.
This was my first time filming at this crossing. I was not expecting this to occur as I was relatively new to the OBRY line at the time and unfamiliar with the signalling system. Thanks in-part to this video, this crossing has since been fixed.
@@MaltaMcMurchy Excellent news!!
computer glitch one happened where I live and I sat on the tracks mybe half an hour till the cpr police came and fixed the problem
Ok