Is there anywhere to file a complaint on stopped trains blocking all the crossings in a town? It's becoming a weekly - almost daily - occurrence here in Edgewood.

There are 3 railroad crossings in town - one on FM 859 - the next on the next street over - and another on a country road about 1/2 mile down. There are NO other ways through town - besides about a 15-20 minute drive around to 19 or back into Wills Point. Wife was made late to work this morning - and now can't get home for lunch/to let the dogs out.

Is it legal for a train to stop and block every single crossing - multiple times per week - for extended periods (20+ minutes)?

There used to be an emergency underpass in town - but the RR Company filled it in and removed it.

One would think this creates a pretty big public safety issue - not to mention the nuisance for people who live around here. They always seem to do it during morning rush hour or lunch time. Getting to be quite annoying. I understand the need to stop - but I do not understand stopping and block every single crossing in town.

Bated breath. Rosenberg is the worst.

don't have that problem here in big city.

where's Edgewood?

Baited breath does not work in 911 calls when your life is on the line does it??




There should be a number for the RR to call at each RR crossing.

Call you local PD and ask how they are going to respond. Call your mayor.

The state of Texas currently does not have any statute to enforce time limits on how long a railroad company can block a crossing, according to TxDOT.gov. In 2001, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal laws preempt state anti-blocking statutes.
That article is dated May 13, 2019

It’s all the toilet paper that needs to be delivered.

UP pretty much holds all the cards and tells everyone to F-off.

Incorrect. This is from the TXDOT website:

The only legitimate authority to regulate blocked crossings is the federal government.
Multiple times in the past the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has been requested to begin the rulemaking process to determine effective measures to regulate blocked crossings. Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1994 (FRSA), 49 U.S.C. § 20101 et seq. (2000), is the main source of the railroad industry’s contention that state and local laws are not enforceable.

Yep - pretty much what I've been told from the few phone calls I've made. I filed a complaint with TxDot and the feds...not that anything will be done.

Would certainly suck to be in need of immediate medical care or LEO help....or hell if your house was on fire. Seems like UP could get their [censored] sued off for that one.

Strawn is bad too! There are 4 crossings but they are all pretty close together. Gotta drive down to Mingus to get around.

I've been stuck at that one! Cresson is one of the worst, that crossing has it's own FB page. They are finally building a bypass around town and an overpass over the tracks.

Stuck at the Cresson Train
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=182030978576411&__tn__=C-R

Build an overpass.

Have no clue, but I wanted to tell you if you haven't tried the BBQ on 19 just south of 80 / Edgewood, you should try it. Called "BBQ And a Prayer". it's right there with the homemade ice cream lady. Good luck with the train thing.

Been happening here forever. State and city finally built overpass on the north and south end of town. But there’s an area a little further south that gets used as a switching yard with 3 sets of tracks. Intersection closest to my house and a couple in the middle of town are blocked on a regular basis.

Found this.


"The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost | Poetry Foundation
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—. I took the one less traveled by,. And that has made all the difference. n/a."

Heard that from several people now. Will have to try it out - Cowburners in Mineola has been my go to place for a while.

That should help First Responders a lot.

Thanks Ox !

What have you added?

Start petitioning at town hall to get an over pass built!

you've obviously never been to Edgewood.

I don't live in the city limits - we're unincorporated. So mayors and city council meetings are a moot point for me anyways.

There are two crossings in our town about 100 yards apart +or-. Sometimes they will stop so the engine is just over the crossing, blocking both. Do this just to change shifts and sometimes for close to an hour. There is one other way out of town but takes a few minutes to get back to the main highway. It would take EMS or other area FD an extra 10 minutes to back track and get into town.