Continuing the series based on photos taken during yesterday’s Danger Train outing, here’s several pictures of where the rail repeatedly crosses other roads in order to get from Main to Fannin. Several of these crossovers are at shallow angles, resulting in difficult and confusing crossings. Neal got one picture of a truck trapped on the wrong side of a crossing gate that I hope to link to eventually.

This photo shows exactly what i’m talking about when it comes to “shallow-angle crossings.”

EDIT: Other blogs and stuff:
WriteTeacher’s account and pics (including a vacant building).
Isiah Carey of Fox 26 covers the gang! Twice!
Kevin’s photos from that day! (Check out the schedule I asked him to get a picture of).

Head below the fold for more.

This is where the Richmond line would have to tie in to the existing Red Line.

Notice that the first two vehicles are already in front of the crossing gate, while still being some distance from the intersection. Also, the street goes from four lanes northbound to one right here. Two lanes are forced to turn left, one right, and then one slides over to go straight. Only what happens is, drivers in the right-turn lane find at the last moment that they are in the wrong lane and go straight. This either causes an accident, forces the driver to their left to hit the brakes (also chancing an accident) or forces the driver to their left into the train’s ROW. I’m told that HPD sits in the parking lot on the far side of Sears and makes a mint here, but we didn’t see anyone there when we came through.

An addition to mobility?

Fortunately, south of 610, there isn’t much traffic on Fannin.

The same cannot be said of Braeswood during the week. Remember: 2 trains per six minutes, during rush hour.

What genius dreamed up this system? And they want to do the same thing to Richmond? Only now, in what can only be a futile effort to split the Afton Oaks residents from the opposition group, the Mayor is talking about Richmond to Edloe, down Edloe, across the HOV lane, and then down Westpark?

To quote the movie Gung Ho, “This is Loonytunes!”

So that means I just have to end this post with: “Be-de-be-de-be-de-ba, That’s all folks!”