Amtrak train hits 111 mph in test run

As a railroader by trade this thread scares me. I've hit several idiots, livestock, wildlife etc. there is no possible way to effectively improve the safety of every grade crossing in America. Right now we being the railroad are 50 years behind on crossing updates. Most AC powered locomotives are capable of speeds well over 100 mph. I've ran intermodals at 75 mph through west Texas, and that was fast enough for me. Amtrak has several trains that run about 85 mph and I can't tell you the destruction that would cause in a serious accident. Food for thought the next time you see a freight train barreling down on you at any speed imagine the sheer tonnage. The train I was running last night was 15,587 TONS not something I want to dance with, even locomotives running light power tip the scales at 415,000 lbs each. Oh and Obama's point of view on railroads is "let the computers run them". Which brings me to "positive train control" one of the greatest things to ever come out of Washington DC. In the next 5 years it will be in full effect and all trains will be driving themselves, the Obama admin wants to create jobs, but then they turn around and cut millions in favor of a computer. So look twice at every crossing there might not even be a human on that train. I'll get off my soap box now, remember, "look, listen, live" and teach your kids to stay away from the tracks.