Re: [ihc] RE: To tell the truth....

["T.R.E.Jr." <T_R_E_Jr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

---I will check on it again, but it hadn't changed for as long as I could
remember and last I knew the book stated that the speed limit for passenger
trains was 45 mph and for cargo (government) it was 60. Even in Chicago when
running the newest tracks the speed limit was followed. However, I agree
that the passenger trains do seem to go a little faster than allowed, even
back then when I last read from the book. Trust a radar gun? I want to see
it. I have been stopped three times and told what the gun recorded when I
knew it was BS... not saying you are lying, just saying that from my
experience, police officers have been known to hallucinate  ;-) ... maybe
due from the stress that comes with the job. If you are not an official,
then maybe you were parked too close to the power lines for too long. Just
kiddin'.

---It won't take me long to find out what the limits are now though. It is
possible they changed, I have noticed no cargo/freight trains that even
appear to be traveling over 60 though, here in Alabama nor in
Chicago/Burbank/Oak Lawn/Tinley Park/Willow Springs/Buffalo Grove, Illinois.

---Thank you,
-T.R.E.Jr.
-`73 Scout II (StoneThrower)
-`51 Farmall H (Heinz)
-`49 IH fridge (presently unnamed and in need of a compressor)
-`49 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-door Sedan (Papapalooza)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <scoutdude@domain.elided>
To: <ihc@domain.elided>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 4:10 PM
Subject: [ihc] RE: To tell the truth....


> TRE;
>  I don't know what passenger trains are limited to 45 mph, but it sure
isn't
> Amtrak. I have personally clocked Amtrak trains at 79 mph on certified
police
> radar, on more than one occasion. My understanding after working several
> vehicle vs. train crashes is that the speed limit is somewhat dependent on
the
> track conditions (some tracks have as low as 15 mph speed limit), but
other
> tracks are 'high speed' and on those the speed limit is 80 mph. I've never
> seen a freight train going as fast on those same tracks as the Amtrak, so
I
> have to assume for the freights the limit is quite a bit lower- probably
about
> the 60 mph you mentioned.
> Dennis
>
>
>
> Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 00:52:56 -0600
> From: "T.R.E.Jr." <T_R_E_Jr@domain.elided>
> Subject: [ihc] Re: To tell the truth
>
> - ---If it makes you feel any better, the legal maximum speed limit a
cargo
> (government) train can be going is 60 mph. So regardless of what he said
it
> could be going on the track, if no laws were being broken, the train could
> have been traveling closer to what you said. Just thought I would pass
that
> lil' tid-bit of info regarding transportation laws.
>
> - ---FWIW, the speed limit for passenger trains is 45 mph.