I would assume the falling rock comes from the meager cliff face to the right of the junction? I think two trains on the same track in opposite directions would be enough pucker factor.
Ex railroader here. That’s what track warrants/train orders are for, so no need to pucker. Exclusive permission for one train to operate between X and Y, reporting clear by phone or radio. Most shortlines are single tracked, and many Class Is are also single-tracked in places. A dispatcher control who enters and who stays clear, either by issuing clearances or warrants (verbal permission) over the radio, or else by signal indication in CTC territory. It’s all extremely safe and has been in use for well over 125 years.
That’s also an old photo. A bit of searching shows that’s the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad. The track coming in from the right is almost certainly abandoned, and the turnout to what looks like a siding ahead is long gone; the line is single-tracked through Calico Rock today.
My only quibble with that photo is the doofus who took it was standing between the gauge, which is a yuuuuge no-no in the industry. You could accidentally trip over your own two feet, fall over, and knock yourself out on the railhead. Sub-optimal if a train is coming. Could ruin your whole day, in fact.
As the doofus who took the pic, allow me to point out the fact that there was considerable rust on the rails, and I decided to risk my life for those few seconds. Had I fallen and knocked myself out, I could probably have lain there until I became a skeleton, at which point the arrival of a train would be inconsequential.
I would assume the falling rock comes from the meager cliff face to the right of the junction? I think two trains on the same track in opposite directions would be enough pucker factor.
Ex railroader here. That’s what track warrants/train orders are for, so no need to pucker. Exclusive permission for one train to operate between X and Y, reporting clear by phone or radio. Most shortlines are single tracked, and many Class Is are also single-tracked in places. A dispatcher control who enters and who stays clear, either by issuing clearances or warrants (verbal permission) over the radio, or else by signal indication in CTC territory. It’s all extremely safe and has been in use for well over 125 years.
That’s also an old photo. A bit of searching shows that’s the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad. The track coming in from the right is almost certainly abandoned, and the turnout to what looks like a siding ahead is long gone; the line is single-tracked through Calico Rock today.
My only quibble with that photo is the doofus who took it was standing between the gauge, which is a yuuuuge no-no in the industry. You could accidentally trip over your own two feet, fall over, and knock yourself out on the railhead. Sub-optimal if a train is coming. Could ruin your whole day, in fact.
As the doofus who took the pic, allow me to point out the fact that there was considerable rust on the rails, and I decided to risk my life for those few seconds. Had I fallen and knocked myself out, I could probably have lain there until I became a skeleton, at which point the arrival of a train would be inconsequential.