Yesterday, I was driving home and traffic was stopped for about 15 minutes. The train gates were down and flashing red, but there was a yellow truck on the tracks with a hook or something. What was happening there, and why would there be a delay this long?
Rona Lachat
The train gates were down and flashing red.
OBVIOUSLY you were required to stop.
Many things can go on train tracks other than just trains.
Yellow truck on the tracks
Colour of truck means little.
with a hook or something
Obviously truck has a something or a hook as part of it. From your brief description a crane.
What was happening there? Excellent question
Probably needed for something along the tracks. HINT a crane is used to lift something.
Why would there be a delay this long?
They could be in position for days at a major incident.
Could be something like a tow truck. Similar to what would be used to haul a bus or big rig truck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zny8w0nmA0g
Truck waits just like trains for permission to proceed down tracks when safe to do so.
could be just one of many specialized things going to or returning from an incident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlI1XuqYWi8
Does take a few minutes if the vehicle has the ability to convert to road method and get off or onto the tracks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnt6n0lJYOk
regerugged
Looks like a maintenance vehicle. It lines up rails or ties that are out of alignment.
Mike
Where was the crossing so somebody here can investigate?
Ron
A yellow truck with a hook is commonly referred to as a crane. I would imagine it was lifting something
Anonymous
Presumably there was damage to the track or the overhead power cables; and the truck was repairing the damage.
Fifteen minutes isn't especially long to wait; would you have preferred they didn't fix it and people were killed?