Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1918 — BUTTING TRAINS OFF THE TRACK [ARTICLE]

BUTTING TRAINS OFF THE TRACK

One of the most frequent automobile accidents occurs at railroad crossings, when the motorist attempts to cross in front of a swiftly moving train. In the days before automobiles, people used to get killed in the same way when driving horses. Sensible persons learned that a train at 50 mites an hour covers an astonishing amount of spaee in 10 seconds. But when automobiles came along, and were themselves able to cover a good deal of ground in 10 seconds, many people got their sporting blood up. The average motorist dislikes to slow up if a train is some distance away. He takes the chance where he would not with a horse. But there is a lot of difference between 50 and 20 mites an hour, as a great many motorists find out, though they may not live long enough to reflect „on theirexperience. r I9MI At many railroad crossings the trains come from behind trees, buildings, or cuts in the line, so that they can not ibe seen. -The modern locomotive moves pretty noiselessly, unless puffing up a grade. Its ordinary sound would not be heard in an automobile above the noise the motor males. There is an obligation upon locomotive engineers approaching a crossing where the track is not clearly visible from both ends of the road, to blow their whistles several times, so to give a good warning of their approach. If the track at a railroad crossing is not clearly visible in both directions, and if it is not protected by any gate or flagman, it is much wiser for the automobile party to stop and listen. It will take but half a moment, and they can easily make up that loss of valuable time. Automobiles never yet have been able to butt railroad trains off the track, though they continue trying it with regrettable presistency.