Two safety items

[tomikawaTT]

In my main line of work, we had a name for people who didn't maintain complete situational awareness.  We called them casualties, and sent them back to base in body bags.

I personally approach a railroad's right-of-way the same way I would approach a minefield subject to hostile fire.  KNOW what you are stepping on BEFORE you put your weight on it.  EXPECT a train, even if the rails are rusty from disuse.  NEVER step on a rail, even where it crosses a road at grade.  Treat anything electrical (especially third rail) with GREAT respect.  Don't EVER put yourself in a position where you could be hit by a train just to get a picture or sketch a track layout.

After decades of "inspecting" rail facilities on two continents, I can honestly say that the worst thing that has ever happened to me is sunburn.  I don't think that luck had anything to do with that.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964, largely from his own photos and notes)

[BRAKIE]

Well, all you said is good common sense that most of us picked up on years ago... Thanks for the reminder.

[joseph2]

Thanks for the posting.I feel the most dangerous part of my job is when I train workers to be switchmen at my employers railyard.Thank God we never had any serious injuries.   Joe

[jbloch]

Dave;

Great advice!  In the US here, pedestrians don't have a lot of access to the rails, except of course via auto--there are still many areas(mainly rural) in Ohio that don't have crossing gates, so your advice should be heeded by us all whether on foot or while driving.

Jim

[Dave-the-Train]

I've just posted on another forum and want to repeat my warnings here in the hope that you will all be encouraged to keep yourselves safe.

FIRST... have you tested your smoke and C0 alarms recently... whether it's by burning your breakfast or whatever...  (What do you eat that gives off C0???).

Okay... that nag out of the way...

I'm posting this as written 'cos i think it makes the point without intro or adjustment...

I've worked on the rails for more than 25 years and trains can come on you without you knowing it for lots of reasons. You don't necessarily see them, hear them or feel them (the least likely)

(Smooth wheels on smooth rail ,especially ribbon rail, should not be creating much vibration and can produce none that you will feel on the ballast). (A train doesn't need to be moving at much speed at all to kill you).

When I get knew people to mentor I always ask them what the most dangerous thing on the track is. The answer is "You are".

• You put yourself there
• You pay attention or not
• You put yourself in danger or not (just being there is dangerous)
• You look out for yourself or not
• You get distracted... you probably will be distracted... "or not isn't really an option
• You have something to do/attend to/see... worst is "in a hurry"
• You forget things... like one train will hide another.
• When YOU hear a train horn YOU get clear OF ALL LINES... the one you see ain't necessarily the one that blew...
• When the tail of a train passes... another may be coming on the next track... Don't put YOU in front of it
• When the last container on a flat goes by in the dark it doesn't mean that it isn't followed by a string of empties. Don't walk YOU into it.
• When you wait for a train to clear so you can cross wait clear of the track. Don't put YOU in the path of another train
• When you walk out your home put home behind you... wether it was a row or a great day... You want to walk back in at the end of your shift.

One of the biggest killers is probably fatigue... just a bad night's sleep... messes up your attention and focus.

Here in the UK mobile phones are banned on track except for authorised use and that is only permitted standing in a place of safety. -> You can easily walk from safety to unsafe... or slip - 'cos you weren't paying full attention.

You know the thing about not using your mobile and driving... well, it applies on track... except that if you mess up it will be you that loses the argument.

Hands free sets and ipods/etc are totally banned on track.

Radios have to be hand held and again used standing in a place of safety.

I can't say how many near misses I've had. I can recall three where I came within inches of being hit by trains at speed.

Twice recently I've taken myself off track because I've realised that, even though there were no trains about at the time, I was moving wrong and had not looked up and/or not looked in the right way. Both times I had a coffee, got my head on right and started again. I'm still alive.

You don't need anything outside you/your head to not be aware of a train movement. "Domestic troubles" probably run a close 2nd to fatigue. Whether its bills or a row with the significant other. A friend of mine recently came within less than an inch of being wiped out. Train went into full emergency - not that that would have saved him - everything was sorted... mistake made...(next) they should have escorted him off track... he promptly nearly got splatted by another train. They pulled his tickets for a couple of weeks 'cos they want to keep him alive.

This is all professional rail people... the public and rail fans don't stand a chance. Yopu don't know how to switch into "the mode" as we might call it.

First stage of switching (as I've said) is when you leave home for work. You don't turn that back off until you get back home. There are then levels of alert as you go lineside, prepare to go on track and go on track.

Sorry if I've "gone on" I would like to help you all to be aware... working with trains is a bit like working with guns... a gun is not going to get up on its own and shoot you.

 

Hey!  Go check your alarms!