In that last photo. The billboard on the right. Look what it says now:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.106833,-80.6600329,3a,15y,294.2h,93.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5p_DQDgYnVEV_buMtCxGlQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
lol
I was just browsing through, admiring all the wonderful work, and had to comment on the billboard message “Vegetation at crossings kills”. After retirement, I picked up a little part-time job at a golf course just down the street from my house … I walk down two or three times a week during the golf season, and keep their fleet of 120 gasoline carts in good order.
One of Canadian National’s major freight mainlines runs right through the golf course (including a spectacularly long, scenic, high-level bridge over the Rouge River). There is one level crossing on the property - no flashing lights, no automated gates - just a few big signs warning that “Train Time Is Anytime”. It’s a simple gravel approach so golfers can continue their game on the other side of the tracks.
Unfortunately, CN had neglected to trim back the bushes and brush all along this section of right-of-way for a good number of years, and some of the undergrowth had become sizeable indeed. One of our young groundskeeping employees was taking his mower across the tracks last summer. His ear protection headphones had his favourite music playing. He slowed down, stretched his neck to glance left past the trees, turned his head to glance right, and got clipped by the fast-approaching lead locomotive.
Spun his mower full circle into the ditch. Fortunately, no injuries, but some major mower damage, and a young guy with a scary “close call” story to tell. CN police were on the scene for two days, and a big work crew showed up the next day and spent a week cutting back all the overgrowth. So, yes, Vegetation at crossings can kill!