Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Grade crossing accidents only. Non-grade crossing accidents will be moved or deleted.

Moderators: freebrickproductions, mlgillson, TommyBNSF, Raco_GS

Post Reply
Brian556
Posts: 156
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 8:46 pm

Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by Brian556 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:42 pm

I would like yalls opinion on this situation:

This near-miss occurred at a very unusual crossing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp2pdEijRL0

GSV: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.802148, ... 312!8i6656

This crossing is very unusual. Its design, in my opinion, makes it more dangerous than a typical crossing. On one hand, if a railfan can nearly get hit at it, how well can you expect the general public to handle it?

On the other hand, if he had not been filming, and paying better attention, it might have registerd with him that the train could split off to the right. It sounds like he expected the train to go straight based on what he has seen it do in the past. This is a new tourist railroad operation that just started up, taking the place of the Orange blossom Cannonball, which shut down last year.

My opinion: This crossing poses way more of a danger to the public than a typical crossing because of its unusual nature. If the are not going to signalize it, they should change their procedure at it, and either yield to road traffic of flag it.
User avatar
cabman701
Posts: 2539
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:06 pm
Location: Largo, FL

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by cabman701 » Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:44 pm

Brian556 wrote:I would like yalls opinion on this situation:

This near-miss occurred at a very unusual crossing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp2pdEijRL0

GSV: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.802148, ... 312!8i6656

This crossing is very unusual. Its design, in my opinion, makes it more dangerous than a typical crossing. On one hand, if a railfan can nearly get hit at it, how well can you expect the general public to handle it?

On the other hand, if he had not been filming, and paying better attention, it might have registerd with him that the train could split off to the right. It sounds like he expected the train to go straight based on what he has seen it do in the past. This is a new tourist railroad operation that just started up, taking the place of the Orange blossom Cannonball, which shut down last year.

My opinion: This crossing poses way more of a danger to the public than a typical crossing because of its unusual nature. If the are not going to signalize it, they should change their procedure at it, and either yield to road traffic of flag it.
Did you see the engineer put his hand out the window and give a stop indication? I'm betting the driver didn't because he was too busy trying to film and drive.

The crossing has a crossbuck, which means it is properly marked and does NOT need to be flagged if memory serves. They would have to if there was no crossbuck, or if there were signals that were not functioning properly. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

All I'm going to say is that this person has a history of doing some questionable things around crossings and railroad tracks in general. I know it's meant to be humorous, and draw people into viewing his videos. But one of these days, karma most likely is going to strike back. I think it's interesting too that he disabled the comments on the video because he knew he was going to get called out on it.
User avatar
ToledoRailfan
No Longer Associated With The Forum
Posts: 3315
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:38 pm

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by ToledoRailfan » Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:42 pm

I guess I can see why you think this crossing is unusual and should be signalized. But I think the foamer who made that video might've purposely driven in front of the train and he's trying to cover that up or he was just distracted by filming the train, both of those things sound like something he would do.
User avatar
ZachL
Posts: 3029
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 4:04 pm
Location: Hillsborough County/Tampa, FL

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by ZachL » Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:54 pm

You know what else that line is famous for??? :WOOT:

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8061988 ... 312!8i6656 :TUP1: :TUP2:
Crossing pictures from Plant City, FL are finally here! viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2538
User avatar
TrickyMario7654
Posts: 1355
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 6:45 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by TrickyMario7654 » Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:59 pm

ZachL wrote:You know what else that line is famous for??? :WOOT:

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8061988 ... 312!8i6656 :TUP1: :TUP2:
Not to mention, this... :LOL2:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8030828 ... 312!8i6656
User avatar
ToledoRailfan
No Longer Associated With The Forum
Posts: 3315
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:38 pm

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by ToledoRailfan » Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:06 pm

ZachL wrote:You know what else that line is famous for??? :WOOT:

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8061988 ... 312!8i6656 :TUP1: :TUP2:
Huh, I didn't know that those were on this line.
TrickyMario7654 wrote:
ZachL wrote:You know what else that line is famous for??? :WOOT:

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8061988 ... 312!8i6656 :TUP1: :TUP2:
Not to mention, this... :LOL2:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8030828 ... 312!8i6656
I was actually looking for that but I couldn't find it. I wonder if they still plan on developing that land. Kind of weird that they installed the signals before a proper road was built, though I guess it does (or did) give workers at the site a warning that a train is coming.
User avatar
NathanFromEngland
Posts: 2369
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Merseyside

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by NathanFromEngland » Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:07 pm

Huh, I'm surprised that we don't know the person driving the car is Mr Alan John Smith.
User avatar
ToledoRailfan
No Longer Associated With The Forum
Posts: 3315
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:38 pm

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by ToledoRailfan » Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:12 pm

NathanFromEngland wrote:Huh, I'm surprised that we don't know the person driving the car is Mr Alan John Smith.
Why wouldn't it be?
User avatar
NathanFromEngland
Posts: 2369
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Merseyside

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by NathanFromEngland » Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:17 pm

ToledoRailfan wrote:
NathanFromEngland wrote:Huh, I'm surprised that we don't know the person driving the car is Mr Alan John Smith.
Why wouldn't it be?
I'm just saying, i'm pretty confused on how we clearly have not brought his name up in the thread.
User avatar
ToledoRailfan
No Longer Associated With The Forum
Posts: 3315
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:38 pm

Re: Near-Miss at Odd Xing in Tavares FL - Opinions?

Post by ToledoRailfan » Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:20 pm

NathanFromEngland wrote:
ToledoRailfan wrote:
NathanFromEngland wrote:Huh, I'm surprised that we don't know the person driving the car is Mr Alan John Smith.
Why wouldn't it be?
I'm just saying, i'm pretty confused on how we clearly have not brought his name up in the thread.
Don't really see why as it was clearly him who made and uploaded that video. And plus Cabman and I have both mentioned him without saying his name or his nickname (Millinumforce).
Post Reply