AN INNOVATIVE, TRAIN-ILLUMINATED PASSIVE WARNING SIGN FOR HIGHWAY-RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS

There is a need for effective, low-cost devices at low-volume grade crossings and a renewed interest in research and development of promising devices. Burlington Northern and 3M Corporation teamed up to design a warning sign designed to give drivers on the highway approach better warning of approaching trains. The device, referred to as the Passive Warning Sign (PWS), is designed to look "active" when a train is approaching a grade crossing. Light from the train locomotive's headlamps strikes the side panel of the sign and is redirected through a front panel by a special 3M, patented, thin-film material. The redirected light rays light up the front panel so that it appears to be internally illuminated. The PWS is sensitive to very low light levels and appears to light up when a train locomotive with standard road headlamps is 609.6 m (2,000 feet) or more from the crossing.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/pubs/semisesq/session2/russell/
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0965231003
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Authors:
  • Russell, E R
  • Rys, M
• Conference:
  • 1996 Semisesquicentennial Transportation Conference Proceedings.
  • Location: Ames, Iowa
  • Date: 1996-5-13 to 1996-5-14
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 61-64

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Illuminating engineering; Passive restraint systems; Railroad grade crossings; Thin films; Warning signs
• Identifier Terms: BNSF Railway
• Old TRIS Terms: Illumination engineering
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00721845
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0965231003
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 5 1996 12:00AM