Massholes know train-crossing warning lights never really mean anything

are quite badly behaved, but New York drivers are rather badly-behaved as well, many of them. Unlike a lot of Bay State drivers, however, at least many New York drivers, as badly behaved as they may be, are alert.

Yes, the red lights were definitely flashing.

When he pans to the street, you can hear them. When he pans to the train, you cannot.

and passes the spot at least twice daily, I can tell you that the bells do indeed ring as well as signals which flash. The crossing bells start way before the train ever shows up.

It never ceases to amaze me that so many drivers will keep going over the tracks as the train approaches. Because any train literally crawls through at this point (per the video) perhaps the car drivers think that it is no big deal. Very foolish anyway you cut it.

make them do the 50 hours of community service, then it'll stop.

...at a low speed crossing.

I see it happen at home in Andover, where we have slower moving commuter trains (due to the station), but also Amtrak that comes through at 60 mph. The same people who pull into an intersection without having a place to go on the other side (blocking the box) often do it on railroad crossings, where the non-traffic fine penalty can be a bit more severe.

The signal bells are loud enough and no new lights are needed. The trains, as they come through, also blow their horns which are very loud. If you, as a driver (or cyclist and/or pedestrian), can't figure out that "gee, train tracks, bells, lights, oh, horn...must be a train...me stop" than I don't know what to say.

as you can see from this Street View.

Then we'd have one fewer dummy in Massachusetts and a damaged T locomotive?

That was the Watertown branch of the Fitchburg line, and the tracks are still there.

https://goo.gl/maps/2YbLvFa8zYx

The cars are ferried along the line to the maintenance facility at North Station.

Also, I believe produce that is shipped in via CSX goes that way en route to Chelsea, but in any event the small amount of freight uses a spur by North Station to get to its destination.

The Grand Junction is the sole Boston-area connection between the north and south sides of the commuter rail system. Since all heavy maintenance is carried out at Boston Engine Terminal in Somerville, equipment is regularly moved back and forth via the Grand Junction. Work trains also use it carrying things like ballast and ties around the system.

Amtrak also uses the GJ to move Downeaster trains to Southampton St Yard for service.

Additionally, CSX uses it for one daily freight train to Chelsea/Everett, carrying primarily produce and scrap metal.

The branch once in a while plays host to things like the Circus Train as well. It's actually an unexpectedly busy rail line, seeing on average 2-3 moves a day.