Looking At Montclair's Railroad Gates: Patch Exclusive

What can go wrong with a railroad crossing gate in Montclair?

Plenty, as it turns out.

NJ Transit inspection records from 2012 to 2015 – acquired via an OPRA request - show that more than 85 gate malfunctions were reported at railroad crossings in Montclair during that three-year period.

Some of the reported problems included:

• In April of 2013, the engineer from NJ Transit train #530 reported that “the gates here at Glen Ridge Avenue keep going up and down even though I am nowhere near the circuit.” An inspector found that the crossing was “clear on arrival and working as intended.”
• In March of 2014, a NJ Transit police officer reported that the Laurel Place crossing gates were stuck down.” A NJ Transit employee noticed that the crossings were also down at Bellevue and Lorraine avenues, Jerome Place and Mt. Hebron Road. A NJ Transit worker replaced a defective breaker on the normal signal feed at Jerome Avenue.
• In February of 2014, a dispatcher reported that a gate was stuck down at the Grove Street crossing. An inspector found that the northwest traffic gate was obstructed by plowed snow and unable to recover.
• In November of 2012, a NJ Transit dispatcher reported that the north pedestrian gate at the Pine Street crossing was “stuck in mid-position.” On arrival, the inspector found a sign was blocking the gate from recovering.
• In April of 2014, a dispatcher reported that gates were activating and recovering without a train present at the Laurel Place crossing. An inspector resolved the problem by replacing a defective transmitter board.
• In January of 2013, NJ Transit police reported that the gates were stuck down at Bellevue and Lorraine avenues, Jerome Place and Laurel Place. Workers repaired a broken rail at Bellevue Avenue and a defective IPI board for the crossing unit at Bellevue Avenue.

CASE STUDY: NORTH FULLERTON AVENUE

According to NJ Transit records, there were 10 reported instances of potential malfunctions at the North Fullerton railroad crossing between 2012 and 2014:

• In July of 2012, a motorist reported that gates were activating and recovering with no trains in the area. After conducting a test, NJ Transit inspector wrote that the gates were “clear on arrival” and “working as intended.”
• In August of 2012, a NJ Transit dispatcher on eastbound train #6264 reported that the crossing gates were “stuck down.” After conducting a test, an inspector wrote that the gates were “working as intended.”
• On Sept. 5, 2012, a dispatcher on westbound train #1081 reported a possible broken gate that “was on top of a vehicle while approaching the crossing.” After conducting a test, an inspector wrote that the gates were “clear on arrival” and “working as intended.”
• On Sept. 8, 2012, a Boonton police officer reported that the gates were “stuck down.” After conducting a test, an inspector wrote that the gates were “clear on arrival” and “working as intended.”
• On Jan. 11, 2013, a pedestrian in the area reported that the gates were activating late on the Montclair line. After conducting a test and watching train movement, an inspector wrote that the gates were “clear on arrival” and “working as intended.”
• On Jan. 25, 2013, a NJ Transit dispatcher on train #6237 reported a “broken gate.” An inspector “rehung the northwest traffic gate” and “replaced gate flashers,” then declared the crossing “working as intended.”
• In April of 2013, a NJ Transit dispatcher reported a “broken gate” on the Montclair line. After determining that the gate had been “struck by an unknown vehicle,” an inspector “replaced an 18-foot gate for the northeast quadrant,” then declared the crossing “working as intended.”
• In March of 2013, a NJ Transit dispatcher reported that “gates are pumping.” After conducting a test, an inspector wrote that the gates were “working as intended.”
• In February of 2014, a NJ Transit dispatcher reported that “gates are not going down.” An inspector noted that the northwest gate counterweight was “frozen in a bank of ice.”
• In June of 2014, a NJ Transit dispatcher from train #6252 reported that “gates were coming down slow.” An inspector conducted a “station stop restart” giving an 11 second warning time, which showed that the gates were “fully horizontal 12 seconds from descent.”

Send Montclair news tips, press releases and photos to eric.kiefer@patch.com