Traffic light green gate up but lights flashing?!

[newbtrainz]

Waiting for a green left arrow to turn left across the tracks.

Gate is down, lights are flashing.

Train goes by.

Get green arrow, gates go up, start turning.

Crossing lights continue to flash indefinitely. No train ever comes.

What happened? Is there danger in this situation? I.e. could another train come after the traffic light turns green and gate goes up if crossing lights are flashing.

 

[bnsf971]

Could be, and likely is, a glitch in the system. With the lights flashing, you are supposed to stop. If you can clearly see in both directions there is no train, you can proceed with caution. There should be a small sign bolted to the crossing signal with the owning railroad's name, phone number, and crossing number. Call the number and provide them with the crossing number, and they'll send somebody out to take a look.

 

[newbtrainz]

Are the traffic lights linked to the crossing signals? I would think so otherwise they would be allowing green light left turns to a closed gate.

 

[bnsf971]

Are the traffic lights linked to the crossing signals? I would think so otherwise they would be allowing green light left turns to a closed gate.

Some are, some aren't. It depends on the municipality that owns the traffic lights, who owns the railroad, and what, if any, relationship there is between them.

 

[Redman80]

I can't tell you how many damn crossings I had to protect because of some malfunction.... but this is something different