Train Crossing

The train, barreling down the tracks, is like a enormous silver battering ram that could slice through anything in its way. Luckily for you, there is a nice sound and signpost that alert you to the approaching danger. You sit and stare at empty space waiting until at the last moment a huge metal thing shimmers past your sight, almost slamming you to the ground, blocking out the entire world for a minute. A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path on one level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. Other names include railway crossing, railroad crossing, road through railroad, train crossing or grade crossing. Early level crossings had a flagman in a nearby booth who would, on the approach of a train, wave a red flag or lantern to stop all traffic and clear the tracks. In the early days of the railways much road traffic was horse-drawn or included livestock. It was thus necessary to provide a real barrier. Thus, crossing gates, when closed to road traffic, crossed the entire width of the road. Manual or electrical closable gates that barricaded the roadway were later introduced. With the appearance of motor vehicles, this barrier became less effective and the need for a barrier to livestock diminished dramatically. Many countries therefore substituted the gated crossings with weaker but more highly visible barriers and relied upon road users following the associated warning signals to stop. In many countries, level crossings on less important roads and railway lines are often "open" or "uncontrolled", sometimes with warning lights or bells to warn of approaching trains. Ungated crossings represent a safety concern; many accidents have occurred due to failure to notice or obey the warning.