Two killed by train

[BNSFNUT]

I just read a story on CNN.COM about a man and a child killed while crossing a railroad bridge in WA. While this reading this story the one thing that noticed was that the reporter said that the bridge was marked with no trespass signs but the locals blame the railroad for "NOT MAKING THE BRIDGE SAFER" !!!!.
So as always the railroad gets the blame for one mans stupid move and a child dies because she trusted him.
When will peaple ever learn?

[FThunder11]

Some People are DUMB!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FThunder11

Some People are DUMB!!

I see dumb people, they just don't know they are so dumb.

And they are EVERYWHERE. [:(] [V]

Especially driving cars ! ! ! [:(!] [:(!] [:(!]

[vsmith]

Knowingly walking onto a long railway bridge is like knowingly walking onto a busy freeway, your just asking for trouble. Most RR bridges have no provisions for people crossing and getting caught by a train mid-way.

What was the railway supposed to do? Put up a chain link fence at each end of the bridge and un-lock it up each time they cross it? Thats ludicrous but how much you wanna bet the trial attorney will argue that thats the case?

Personal responsibility is a dying trait in this country I'm sorry to say...

Back in the 19th and early 20th century when RR row's were more commonly used by people as walkways bridges were often built with small outriggered platforms that could be used as a refuge if a walker was caught halfway. But these completely dissappeared by mid century as older bridges were replaced. I beleive these refuges are still found on the Alaska RR and CP lines where the RR is the only access for hikers and local residents.

[tree68]

It's really hard to protect people from themselves.

I suppose a lawyer could get some mileage out of the fact that people have apparently been using the bridge for some time, despite the signs. "Tacit approval," you know.

Despite the cost, some stepped up enforcement is probably due there - even to include 24/7 guards on both ends of the bridge. If it's really an important link "between the two towns," such enforcement might force someone to erect a bridge (even if it's just a footbridge) specifically to address that problem. Let the local taxpayers (who are the ones using the bridge) pay for it if it's that important to them.

[Willy2]

I can't believe that people do that kind of stuff! They have got to be so stupid!

Willy

[mudchicken]

Somewhere back in the archives here, Kenneo & I talked about the problems in this part of Oregon and Washington (Portland/Vancouver)... BN & now BNSF have handed out multiple tresspassing citations (Local government thinks it's harassment?)....Time to break out the "stupid zone" signs...Understand from my BNSF contacts that the legal lizzards have slithered out from under their rocks and have already started ambulance chasing (and one has announced he is filing suit).

[StillGrande]

Also in the article was the fact that 2 other people had been killed on the bridge in previous years. People never learn.
If anyone is sued it should be the municipalities for failing to protect the public and provide a safe crossing for their constituents. Of course, there is no money in suing local governments.

[rrnut282]

Let me get this straight. He trespassed on a long RR only bridge and got caught in the middle by a train and they both died. [xx(] Who is suing the the RR? I'll volunteer to be on the firing squad this *** barrister deserves.[}:)]

Re disappearing walkways
Most of them were for fire protection and inspection work. As more bridges were built of steel the need for fire protection was lessened greatly. As the local fire departments got bigger and better equipment, their capability to fight a bridge fire increased. The final straw was OSHA requirements for safety lines and harnesses for any person working high up.

The platforms spaced every 100-300 feet were for a barrel of water, not a place to get out of the way of a train. Although they were handy for that.[;)]

[Anonymous]

Walkways are still required if the bridge is proximate to a switch. This is to allow the train crew to access the switch and do their ground work safely. Replaced one a couple of years ago for just that reason.

[jeffhergert]

Here in Iowa the UP is adding walkways to bridges, even on the double track. It's for the safety of employees who have to cross the bridge. I also believe it is state law that if a bridge is re-decked, a walkway addition is mandatory if it didn't already have one.
The Kate Shelley high bridge and the south track of the Racoon river bridge have safety platforms for people to get clear of the track. The north track of the Racoon span was re-decked with a new full-length safety walk way.

[Train Guy 3]

" Not making the bridge safer"?.... I thought the coal train headed toward you at 45 miles per hour with the 3 locos up front was enough to keep you off the bridge. I know that thought would keep me off a bridge. The railroads could start sticking up a signs stating that if you cross the bridge they aren't resposible for injury.... wait never mind some lawyer would find a way around that.

[Anonymous]

Looks like Darwins theory of evolution is still going strong.

"The strongest will survive."

[Anonymous]

Hey i am a BNSF fan i live around the BNSF line. But we see alot of train/car and train/people walking near tracks and they blame the RR things i am like people are dumb most crossing around my area have the lights and crossing gates that flash. The other day a BNSF train was comming i stopped for the train a truck behind me goes around me and around the gates the BNSF train almost had the truck for lunch it is like even if you tie you still will lose to the train. And a few months ago in Elk River MN a Semi truck was stopped right on the tracks waiting for the stoplight to turn green and in front of him was a car and a BNSF train was comming and it cut the semi trailer in half. It is like a train cant slam the brakes and stop like a car lol. When ever i see stuff like that i am like if the person is that dumb then cant do much about it

[Anonymous]

I live near the Gold Line light rail line in southern California. Every time I go by the tracks, I see someone trying to beat the train to the crossing, stopping on the tracks, or pedestrians crossing when the gates are down (and there are even crossing arms on the sidewalks!) Additionally, practically everyone races across the tracks as soon as the gates raise enough to let the cars under--few stop for the lights to stop blinking. Sometimes I wi***hat doubleheaded Big Boys could go by here with a long train, and make everyone sit and wait for a long, long time.

Hope you endjoyed my ramblings,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

Or hire some mexicans and bring a nice under powered local to that area and tie up the gates for a LONG time.

My spouse tends to be rushed and try to sneak past the gates, I told her and will keep telling her 2 minutes or less waiting for a train to go by adds years to our life together. It is the one thing I am slowly training her to do wait for the train.

There was a death in Kansas by a man who broke down on the side of the freeway.. and walked 35 yards to stand on the rails to make a cellphone call.

That engineer reported that the man died with the cell phone to one ear and the other hand clamped over the other ear against the emergency whistle blasting while standing on one rail. That man deserved to die for sheer stupidity.

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29

I live near the Gold Line light rail line in southern California. Every time I go by the tracks, I see someone trying to beat the train to the crossing, stopping on the tracks, or pedestrians crossing when the gates are down (and there are even crossing arms on the sidewalks!) Additionally, practically everyone races across the tracks as soon as the gates raise enough to let the cars under--few stop for the lights to stop blinking. Sometimes I wi***hat doubleheaded Big Boys could go by here with a long train, and make everyone sit and wait for a long, long time.

Hope you endjoyed my ramblings,
Daniel

The dumb and Dumber live downunder too. [xx(][:(] Interesting comment Daniel about crossing arms on the sidewalks. [;)]
A similar thing has been introduced here in Queensland, at least on the lines in the Brisbane commuter network, where there are a few grade crossings and commuter EMU's flying past up to 100km per hour.
As the gates come down across the road, metal gates (steel mesh painted white) slowly swing across the footpaths (oops..sidewalks).
I'm not sure if they do that down south in New South Wales etc but Peter (M636C) might see this post and comment on the situation in the southern states.

The gates that swing across the sidewalks seem to be a reasonable deterrent for the pedestrians...

Dave
(Kozzie)

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie


...
The gates that swing across the sidewalks seem to be a reasonable deterrent for the pedestrians...

Dave
(Kozzie)

Only if they are topped by electrically charged barbed wire...

[Train Guy 3]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie


...
The gates that swing across the sidewalks seem to be a reasonable deterrent for the pedestrians...

Dave
(Kozzie)

Only if they are topped by electrically charged barbed wire...

That's way too cruel...... let them get hit by the train.

[Anonymous]

Today, one arm on a crossing gate on the Gold Line malfunctioned and was stuck half-way. From the traffic, you'd wonder how we ever survived the days when there were no crossing arms. The police were having a field day passing out tickets to grade crossing violators.

-Daniel

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

Looks like Darwins theory of evolution is still going strong.

"The strongest will survive."

Most of us wi***hat were true... if it was, we would have less stories like this one... I think a better statement would be "Stupid people find creative ways to get killed", or something like that.

Since simple "No Trespassing" signs obviously don't work, maybe the signs need an illustration on them as well. A train speeding towards a pedestrian might get the point across better, but that's a pretty big MIGHT...

[2c],
-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[MP57313]

Maybe the lawyers will argue that warning signs discriminate against the illiterate, intoxicated, non-English-speaking, and just plain careless folks.

In southern Calif. there are signs in Spanish ("Prohibido") along the Surf line, but I don't know if they are effective in keeping the migrant workers off the tracks. Several years ago a group of them were killed by a late night train...they were using one of the rails as outdoor "bar stools" for some beer drinking, and didn't get out of the way of the train.