Getting out of a jam.

by Jimmy
(Kingman,Az)

I thought I would relate an experience I had years ago while picking up a load in Baltimore,Md. I think I was downtown or close to it. Can't quite remember, but I had just loaded and was heading toward the big road so I could get moving. It was mid afternoon and I wanted to beat rush hour traffic and get some miles in before bedtime.

I went through a major intersection and approached R/R crossing about 1 short block and suddenly the crossing arms dropped down and had to stop and wait for the train to pass. Well, there was no train. After 5 minutes or so, I got out to give the track a visual and could not see any train as far as the eye can see.

I was the first vehicle behind the gate/arm and could not back up since there were 4 wheelers behind me and that major intersection behind them. This was close to downtown so any train passing would be going slow if a train did come.

Now any trucker worth his salt wants to get going,right? Do not hold me up. Get out of my way, I've got things to do Etc. If you are a newbie, you will see that there will be times that you will have to use a little ingenuity to keep moving. What I did was simply break out my trusty little 1/2" box wrench, and remove the crossing arm, and lay it on the ground.

I scooted across the tracks and could hear the 4 wheelers clapping as I headed out. Problem solved. Yes, I weighed the consequences if I had been caught. But luck was on my side. Jimmy