I've heard of and seen cars trying to beat trains at crossings. Usually the crossing is minimally protected, and sometimes the cars even drive around the gates. But on Sunday, April 13th, I saw something a little odd. I was out hoping to catch the BNSF Special heading up to Superior. That train went by about 9:30, but I decided to stay around because the light was pretty good and it's a nice spot(between Osborne Rd and 77th in Fridley). About 10 am, I was setting up to photograph an Eastbound, when a small, blue, Geo Metro-like car just drove straight through the lowered crossing gates Unfortunately, I wasn't expecting that, so I didn't get any photos of the car, but I got plenty of the aftermath. Needless to say I called in to the hotline to report this, and the next two trains through obviously changed how they approached the crossing. The photos are accompanied with descriptions.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1125582
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1125579
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1125575
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1125577
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1125573
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1125581

_________________
My Pics: http://goldeneye98.rrpicturearchives.net/
My Vids: http://youtube.com/user/goldeneye98

So thats how that happened. A BNSF signal maintainer had pulled up as we passed by there, which was right after the H-DILLIN had passed through.

_________________
Aaron B.
Elk River, MN

Too bad they won't be charged for the damages. If they are going to drive through a gate I doubt they care much about their car anyway so any damage to their vehicle would be inconsequential to them. They must have been in a big hurry.

_________________
John Fladung
Saint Paul, MN