Uploaded May 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On a very windy March 31, 2016, H28 returns west from Leola on the New Holland Secondary toward Lancaster's Dillerville Yard. Little did I and the crew of the train know that the journey would be fraught with an emergency situation. I set up just east of the Horseshoe Road crossing just outside of Leola with the hope that the pair of GP38-2's would put on a good throttle and exhaust show climbing the hill to Leacock. Aside from minor camera jostles, the wind actually enhanced the "crop-dusting" effect of the exhaust and all was a good show; however, that changed several car-lengths into the train when you can hear the emergency brake being applied just as the head-end is going over the crossing to the west. Immediately it was obvious what had just happened behind the camera—a red pick up truck had failed to yield for the flashing red signals (no gates), stopping on the tracks. Thankfully, the male driver in his 60's was not severely injured and was only taken to the hospital as a precaution. I did not take any additional video of the crossing or the accident out of respect for the train crew and the first-responders, but hopefully a valuable lesson can be learned here! According to the crew of the train, anywhere from 5 or 6 cars drive directly in front of the train on it's routinely move between Lancaster and New Holland. But just because crossings may only be marked by a cross-buck or flashing red lights and no gates, is no excuse to not to slow down or stop and look for the train which has right-of-way, as infrequent as it may be, it's velocity and size are no match for an automobile.
On a very windy March 31, 2016, H28 returns west from Leola on the New Holland Secondary toward Lancaster's Dillerville Yard. Little did I and the crew of the train know that the journey would be fraught with an emergency situation. I set up just east of the Horseshoe Road crossing just outside of Leola with the hope that the pair of GP38-2's would put on a good throttle and exhaust show climbing the hill to Leacock. Aside from minor camera jostles, the wind actually enhanced the "crop-dusting" effect of the exhaust and all was a good show; however, that changed several car-lengths into the train when you can hear the emergency brake being applied just as the head-end is going over the crossing to the west. Immediately it was obvious what had just happened behind the camera—a red pick up truck had failed to yield for the flashing red signals (no gates), stopping on the tracks. Thankfully, the male driver in his 60's was not severely injured and was only taken to the hospital as a precaution. I did not take any additional video of the crossing or the accident out of respect for the train crew and the first-responders, but hopefully a valuable lesson can be learned here! According to the crew of the train, anywhere from 5 or 6 cars drive directly in front of the train on it's routinely move between Lancaster and New Holland. But just because crossings may only be marked by a cross-buck or flashing red lights and no gates, is no excuse to not to slow down or stop and look for the train which has right-of-way, as infrequent as it may be, it's velocity and size are no match for an automobile.
