Oppo PSA re railway crossings

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94) 11/21/2016 at 09:44 • Filed to: None

4

38

Sparked by a reply in the Alternate Route post below. You can read my original comment !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

YMMV. This is a general guide based off personal observation and specific local crossings may not conform, though I find it to be largely accurate.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 09:52

2

Can confirm #5. Looks a hell of alot smoother in photo than it actually is in reality.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 09:52

5

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 11/21/2016 at 09:54

1

Photos rarely do justice to elevation changes. I believe you

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/21/2016 at 09:54

0

Hey, whatever floats your boat. Certainly better than hitting it under braking.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 09:56

1

PSA: Do not attempt to longboard at speed over a railroad crossing. You will have a bad time.  

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 11/21/2016 at 09:57

0

Or roller blade. Unless you have either very quick legs or a fetish for broken bones.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:00

2

Oh it’s not that bad just alternate legs or jump!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 11/21/2016 at 10:01

2

Refer to: quick legs. I don’t.

Mercedes Streeter > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 11/21/2016 at 10:02

0

4 tracks? Shit, I think I’ll just take the long way around.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:06

0

check this shit out.

https://www.google.com/maps/@44.4891251,-73.1121032,3a,75y,182.7h,58.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ski49WB8nHfxAkseIFOlBYQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

OPPOsaurus WRX > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:06

3

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:08

1

I think we can sum it up with: small wheels and railroad tracks aren’t friends.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/21/2016 at 10:12

0

Photos aren’t great for elevation changes. Walk me through it?

Autofixation > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:19

1

3rd Ave

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4201567,-82.454453,20z/data=!3m1!1e3

https://goo.gl/maps/zfSdxhA4Xev

This is a hump with about 12 feet elevation change from where the road is flat to where the tracks are. The road is straight on both sides. The fastest I’ve hit it was at 70 and it still allows for a perfect landing. Anything below 50 won’t get the wheels off the ground. The speed limit there is 30...

Rainbow > Mercedes Streeter 11/21/2016 at 10:20

2

Look again. ;)

I count 5 tracks. That’s like.... That’s all of the tracks.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Autofixation 11/21/2016 at 10:25

0

How is it at 30? Its plated so it shouldn’t really be bad anyway.

Rainbow > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:26

1

Here’s one near me that has poorly treated wooden plates which haven’t been replaced in at least 10 years. That missing chunk by the street name in the picture is so harsh that I see lost hubcaps laying around it every now and then.

There’s also a second track with rubber plates just out of frame, but that one is decommissioned and I’m just waiting for it to get paved over. It’s been unused for about as long as that wood has been there...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:29

2

Access to the interstate from my town (in the direction that matters) has a Type 2/Type 3 based on direction. People constantly hit the brakes - because putting extra load on the front suspension over the bump when the suspension is already getting a brief load increase not counting the rails is a GREAT IDEA.
“BANG! SLAM!”

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Rainbow 11/21/2016 at 10:34

1

I find the rubber largely useless, personally. That said, I haven’t seen most of it and it’s probably the way the crossing is set up that makes it feel useless.

I prefer steel plates.

Rainbow > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:37

0

Yeah, the rubber just flexes way too much.

Still better than wood, though. I’m not sure I’ve seen that anywhere else.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/21/2016 at 10:38

0

Exactly what goes on in the example I used in my comment... And the worst thing is, they conclude after an uncomfortable crossing that it was because they weren’t going slow enough... I don’t usually go that way anymore, but when I did... Most annoying thing was getting behind 2 people (so both lanes blocked) who thought that way.Most fun thing was when one lane was blocked that way... that’s when you blow by them and they’re sitting they like “WAT”

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Rainbow 11/21/2016 at 10:39

1

So maybe that wasn’t a location thing... That’s the feeling I got, like it was doing nothing to stop the drop into the rut.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:43

1

It’s okay if they slow down *before* the crossing if they slow down *enough*. A light “bump... bump”. Most of the time, however, it’s a double whammy of slowing down exactly to the speed that the tire drops all the way in, and being on the brakes - making it harder for the tire to climb out on its own merits *AND* dramatically increasing load while the car is still moving fast enough to hit hard. Worst. Possible. Choice.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Rainbow 11/21/2016 at 10:46

1

Wood plates in my hometown, badly eroded. In some respects worse than none at all and definitely worse than concrete. Just makes a wider pothole with a steel bump right in the middle...

JGrabowMSt > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:49

2

I shimmy over slightly so I dont end up in the grooves from countless trucks slowing down. Even when there are no plates or it looks uneven, shimmy towards the shoulder for a smoother ride. I rarely lift for crossings, but I dont take them quickly.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 10:56

1

and *YES* it really does have reverse crown so the middle of the road is lower and the plows have to lift like 3-5 inches above the road surface to cross it in the winter, leaving a huge ice/slush/snow berm in the middle of the road that hides the real danger below, and also contributes to local frost-heaves due to melting into the cracked and awful pavement. It’s a low speed crossing for the trains, so the railroad doesn’t really care how awful it is, and it’s one of the busiest intersections in the state, with poor detour possibilities so the town keeps putting off repaving it too.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/21/2016 at 11:00

0

It depends on the crossing, of course, but for the one in my example, I find it better to hit it under acceleration. Doesn’t have to be a lot. Just enough that it’s front end lift instead of nosedive. Though from a purely theoretical POV, it’s probably best, if you can time it right, to hit under power and to let off as soon as the front wheels hit the second track, allowing the front to settle and the rear to rise. Come to think of it, I may have done that without thinking about it... Coming the other way I have to make a left turn at the next lights. So, if I’m in the right lane to get by a track-stopper, I’m on the brakes almost immediately... and it’s a very smooth crossing under those conditions.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > JGrabowMSt 11/21/2016 at 11:02

0

Yeah, I would generally (if I think about it) try to stay out of the truck ruts too. For the one in my example, my preferred path coming from that direction was actually to change lanes as I crossed the tracks so I’d get the unused bit in the middle.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/21/2016 at 11:05

0

Ew. Still, could be worse... it could cross at right angles as well so you couldn’t go 1 wheel at a time.

JGrabowMSt > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 11:07

1

Most crossings by me are single lane, or in high traffic areas where during normal hours, you wouldnt be able to. theres one really rough crossing by me, but I avoid it under all costs. I will drive out of my way now that the Magnum is lowered.

shop-teacher > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 11:31

1

Looks about right to me.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 11:59

2

There’s a local crossing that If I hit at about 95 mph the wheels won’t be on the ground to hit the rails in the first place. :D

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 11/21/2016 at 12:28

0

Good job :)

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 14:47

0

Wait, you guys have crossings filled with poured asphalt/concrete?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 11/21/2016 at 14:51

0

Yes and yes. And also steel, wood, etc.

Basically depends when it was laid down, what the budget was, whether anyone has complained about it, and so on...

How are yours done?

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 15:03

1

Most modern ones are hard rubber plates, though wood and occasionally concrete slabs are used as well, depending on the environment and road traffic requirements. The problem with poured material is that you can’t easily remove it for maintenance, so when your rail geometry and/or crossing deform, you can’t really counteract without breaking it up.

I think we do use asphalt in a couple of places, but that’ll be limited to low speed lines with very little rail traffic.

Autofixation > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2016 at 17:26

1

At 30 it is super smooth. They did a very good job with this crossing.

TheRealBicycleBuck > OPPOsaurus WRX 12/17/2016 at 18:31

0

Dudes need to lay off the energy drinks. So much shake....