Stalled on a Rural Railroad Crossing With a Train Approaching
At 7:15 a.m. you are driving a compact car south on a gravel county road in rural Nebraska. You cross a set of railroad tracks with no gates and only a crossbuck; the crossing has a slight hump. Your engine dies just as your front wheels clear the near rail, leaving the rear half of the car on the tracks. The car will not restart. A train horn sounds from the northwest, and you can see a freight train about a half mile away, approaching at what looks like 50 mph. Your passenger is a child in the back seat. The shoulder is narrow and soft from recent rain; a utility pole is about 30 feet east of the crossing. The crossing has a blue sign with a DOT number.
1. What should you do in the first few seconds?
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Get everyone out of the car immediately. Do not stay inside to try the starter again or call from the driver's seat. A half mile at 50 mph is roughly 36 seconds, but trains can be closer than they appear and the horn may carry. Unbuckle the child, move away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle toward the approaching train, and keep going until you are well clear. Moving toward the train feels wrong, but it takes you out of the path of debris, which is thrown in the direction the train is traveling. Do not stop at the utility pole or the soft shoulder.
2. Should you try to push the car off the tracks before calling 911?
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No. A compact car on a slight hump with soft shoulders is not something one person can reliably push clear, and the train may arrive while you are behind the car. Your first duty is to clear people, then call 911. Give the dispatcher the blue DOT number on the crossing sign, the road name, and the direction of the train. If you have time after everyone is safe and the train is still far, stay clear and warn anyone approaching. Do not return to the car for belongings.
3. The train passes without hitting the car. What should you do before moving the car?
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Do not assume the crossing is safe just because one train has passed. Wait until the lights, if any, stop flashing and you can see clearly in both directions; on multiple tracks, a second train can follow. Check that the car is not damaged and that the crossing surface is clear. If the car still will not start, call for a tow and keep people away from the tracks. Do not stand between the rails or use the car as shelter. Report the stalled vehicle to 911 if it is still blocking the crossing.