BNSF Fatality

[Anonymous]

Member killed in Colorado
RADIUM, Colo. -- Burlington Northern Santa Fe conductor Mike J. Crouse, a member of Local 500 in Grand Junction, Colo., was killed late Friday night, Dec. 17, when he was hit by a Union Pacific (UP) train at Radium, Colo.
Crouse was 44 years old and had been railroading since 1979. He was married and the father of a six-year old daughter and two stepsons.

According to reports, Crouse was killed as he prepared to do a roll-by inspection of the UP train.

From UTU website news

[Anonymous]

That's terrible!!! And the second conductor killed by trying to do a rollby inspection in the past month!!! I've had many engineers tell me to not even get off the engine because roll-by's are too dangerous and that I can see just as much from my seat as from the ground. I feel it's a neccessity to watch a passing train because you never know if something will be wrong or if something is hanging off the side that could smack the lead engine; I just don't feel it's neccessary to be on the ground.

[jjlamkin]

My prayers are with him and his family!! There must be a better way?

Jim

[cherokee woman]

Locomutt and I are so very, very sorry to hear this. This kind of loss is
bad any time of the year. But at Christmas, it really makes me sad for
the wife and kids. They will be in our prayers.

[JoeKoh]

Our prayers go to the family
remember
stay safe
Joe

[mudchicken]

In the high country, east of Osterod in Grand County. The area around Radium is rough, snowy and not a whole lot of fun to work in. (ex- DRG/DSL/DNWP Bond/Moffat Sub.)

Not the kind of news one ever wants to hear.

Darn/Rats!/[:(][:(][:(]

[csxengineer98]

a moment of silence for another fallen brother.....

csx engineer

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by n_stephenson

That's terrible!!! And the second conductor killed by trying to do a rollby inspection in the past month!!! I've had many engineers tell me to not even get off the engine because roll-by's are too dangerous and that I can see just as much from my seat as from the ground. I feel it's a neccessity to watch a passing train because you never know if something will be wrong or if something is hanging off the side that could smack the lead engine; I just don't feel it's neccessary to be on the ground.

Better that something smack your engine than smack you. If you can't see it from a safe location it isn't worth seeing...

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

a moment of silence for another fallen brother.....

csx engineer

Rgr. R.I.P. brother, R.I.P.

LC

[Anonymous]

Is it railroad policy for conductors of stopped trains to get off the engine and do rollby inspections or is it on a railroad by railroad basis? Just seems that this is a terrible waste so close to christmas.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Michael27

Is it railroad policy for conductors of stopped trains to get off the engine and do rollby inspections or is it on a railroad by railroad basis? Just seems that this is a terrible waste so close to christmas.

the conductor is supost to get on the ground and inspect passing trains if his train is stoped...this is what they mean by roll by inspection...i know csx has this rule..and im sure others have it too...
csx engineer

[bbrant]

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[mvlandsw]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Michael27

Is it railroad policy for conductors of stopped trains to get off the engine and do rollby inspections or is it on a railroad by railroad basis? Just seems that this is a terrible waste so close to christmas.

The conductor is required to get off and watch one side of the passing train while the engineer watches the other side from on his engine.

[FThunder11]

Thats sad, but couldnt a roll-by be done from the little platform on the front of a locomotive???

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FThunder11

Thats sad, but couldnt a roll-by be done from the little platform on the front of a locomotive???

No locomotive on the other side!

[daveklepper]

Terrible news. I know the line and the location. Needless and terribly wasteful tragedy. I hope some good comes out of this and that the BNSF will review the procedure to make it safer.

[Anonymous]

Lets also keep the crew on the train that hit him in mind also, they won't have a happy holiday either after watching the BNSF conductor step in front of their train. Prayers to all those involved.

Smith

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Terrible news. I know the line and the location. Needless and terribly wasteful tragedy. I hope some good comes out of this and that the BNSF will review the procedure to make it safer.

have to remember that this is a dangours industry...and the rule book is writin in blood....it is sad when anyone is killed in the line of duty... but no matter how many times they rewrite the rule books...and change or add rules...fatalitys will aways happen in this line of work....and all it takes as a mechinal falure or just a split second laps in consentration... so even with all the rules...it still comes down to some luck to stay alive in this job...
csx engineer

[dldance]

The roll-by inspection was instituted to improve safety by spotting defects before they become hazards. Thus it is doubly sad when the safety procedure creates a hazard that causes loss of life.

dd

[heavyd]

Most guys I worked with would not get off. Unless you are at a location where you can RUN away from the tracks without having to cross a ditch or fence or water or trees... The railroad is a funny industry. They are all about safety. When we were training they told us we HAVE to do get out and do roll-bys. The conductors I trained with said most of the time it is very unsafe! Anything can fly off freight cars and cut you in half! The sad part is, some conductors out there will turn you in if you don't inspect their train when they pass you. Dambed if you do, dambed if you don't

[daveklepper]

Can you guys take this up with the Union and get some common sense into the application of this rule? There are lots of rules in the rulebook that don't apply when applying them would constitute a serious safety violation, why not this one also?

Sure if a train goes into emergency, you have to go out and walk (probably both sides) of the train to inspect where a knuckle broke or air hose damaged or even a derailment. But suppose this happens in a howling snow blizzard and then you look back and see an avalanch of snow or rockslide about to cover the rear of your train. The sensible thing is to forget the rulebook and power you and your conductor and the locomotive to a safe spot, leaving the freight train behind to be picked up after the emergency to human beings is well over.

That is only one example.

[dldance]

Back in the day's when there were real station agents, I watched as a agent friend of mine did roll bys. His first words to me were "watch out for shifted loads." He had just missed being hit by a broken band from a lumber load the previous night.

dd

[daveklepper]

I probably knew Mike Crouse, because he may have been a brakeman or conductor on the passenger train (Amtrak or RGZ) on one of my many Denver -Salt Lake and return trips. I think the name is familiar. The trainman I remember the most was named Jason and also played the "cello, sometimes with either or both the Denver Symphony and the Colorado Springs Symphony. A real loss, they were (are) all great people.

[Rodney Beck]

Hi group my name is Rodney I worked as a conductor for a litte over 2 years before getting in the engine program to become a engineer. The above statement is right the rule book is writen in blood and the cover should be in red and not black. Getting off the motor for a roll by is a judgement call I know that the rule says that a roll by must be done from the ground but when it is not safe to do it I will stay on the motor. The above statement is right stuff can fly off cars. The biggest share of the time I inspect passing train standing by my trains motors.

Rodney

[Anonymous]

If I get off to inspect I am standing right underneath the engineer behind the motors. I have told the Chief RFE in my area and he agrees that what I do is okay. I most cases the territory I ride on does not allow to get off on the other side due to steep grades right off the ballast into a water filled ditch, etc. If the company is so crazy about safety, then I will get off when I feel it is safe to do so, otherwise I'll just keep a real good eye on the passing/oncoming train from inside the cab.