08-27-2011, 08:43 AM
I don't know how they worked; but, when I used to help out another mechanic at Sysco Foods which was right next to the U.P. mainline approaching the Industry Yard, I would notice that when a train stopped waiting for the yard lead to clear, the gates would go up and signals would stop flashing. When the train received clearance to enter the yard, the gates would come down, the signals would flash, and the engineer would "whistle" the crossing before proceeding.
There was another crossing right near the shop where I worked that was in an industrial area, not unlike the picture you showed of the Mykawa Yard. When the U.P. crews were working that area, it was common for the gates to be down while the train worked the local industries and the crossing would be blocked for as much as 1/2 hour or longer. It was also a spot where the U.P. would park empty double stacks, and break up the cuts to clear the crossings.
There was another crossing right near the shop where I worked that was in an industrial area, not unlike the picture you showed of the Mykawa Yard. When the U.P. crews were working that area, it was common for the gates to be down while the train worked the local industries and the crossing would be blocked for as much as 1/2 hour or longer. It was also a spot where the U.P. would park empty double stacks, and break up the cuts to clear the crossings.