On our recent trip to Denver, we took a ride on the new electric line to the airport. I couldn't help but notice that at every grade crossing there are nice new four-quadrant gates, but there are also at least two flagmen, one on each side, to flag the crossing. As the train passes, the flagman is standing there in front of the gates, holding a stop sign or a red flag, although there's no way you could drive around the gates. What a waste of time and money! Unfortunately, I couldn't get a good picture because of the screens in the windows.
But wait, it gets better.
The same thing is true on the line to Arvada, even though it isn't open yet and no trains are running. There are flagmen (or women) stationed at every grade crossing, waiting to flag non-existent trains. So they just sit in their lawn chairs all day. And our cousins who live there say they are there 24 hours a day! Nice work if you can get it. Who ever thought this was a good idea?!?