There is a city ordinance that requires trains to go slowly. I can't find it on the city web site but as I recall they can't go any faster than about 10 miles an hour. I guess that cuts down on noise. I know they are not supposed to toot their horns at the crossings either. There is a downside to the slow trains. The intersection of Chestnut street and Shepard road has been a challenge for years. When a train comes through no one goes anywhere for a long time. The trains are long and slow.
On Saturday I was walking near the science museum and waited for a very long train. When there were about five cars left to cross the tracks it just stopped. I guess we like things slow here in St. Paul.It seems to me that we were promised a pedestrian bridge but it never materialized. There will never be any kind of a bridge over the tracks for cars because the immediate neighbors don't want one. Shepard Road and Chestnut would be a great place for a hot dog vendor to hang out.
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10 miles per hour is really irritating..
Idaho Real Estate
I love, love, love your top photo! Your photographic talents never cease to amaze me (nor does your knowledge of arcane Saint Paul facts–10mph? who knew? But it keeps my toddler happy to watch the trains go by that slowly!)
Mary Kay . . I love to watch the trains go by too.
Trains are awesome. We used to live a few blocks from the tracks and I loved hearing them racket their way down the tracks. However, I DO see the frustration when they hold up traffic …