Posted by Robert Kosusnik on Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 1:27AM :
In Reply to: Drive Safe out there posted by Tug Boat Lonnie on Friday, June 28, 2002 at 4:37PM :
I work for a railroad (The Alaska Railroad). And it CAN NOT be STRESSED ENOUGH, when crossing railroad tracks, especially crossings with two or more tracks, ALWAYS BE ON THE ALERT FOR A TRAIN FROM EITHER DIRECTION. Just two weeks ago a railroad employee working in a railyard in Tn. died from injuries after being hit by a string of cars that started rolling on their own. For as big as they are, trains can move very quietly, especially a piece of rolling stock that doesn't have the hand brakes set right and starts to roll away. Also, just because a train is stopped on one track, doesn't mean that there isn't another train coming from the other direction on the same track, or that there isn't one coming from either direction on another track in places where there is two or more tracks. A few years back at a grade crossing in Ill. while one train was stopped on an outside track at a multi track crossing, a woman unknowingly walked into an approaching freight train coming down on an inside track when she decided to walk around the stopped one. The stat's are frightening, there are more train and automobile crashes than what most people would believe. And just because they are up high in the locomotive doesn't mean that the train crew is safe. They can be injuried and possibly killed to. So remember, When at railroad tracks, a train can come from any direction, at any time, without warning. And it doesn't have to be a train either, it can be a piece of on-track equipment like a locomotive crane, tie tamper, or maybe a hirail truck. Be alert at railroad tracks. The life you safe might be yours or a loved ones. Robert
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