One not so smart and very lucky photographer:
https://www.facebook.com/scott.shields.31/videos/3169084723118102/
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Oh brother.
First off, people need to realize that thing's coming at 'em a LOT faster than they think it is.
Second, they need to watch out for that "disconnect" that can happen when they're looking at a display screen or viewfinder of a camera. WW2 combat cameramen noticed it. Nearly all have said that filming the action looking through the viewfinder got them into a mind-set that they weren't really there, and the dangers of the battlefield wouldn't touch them. Sadly that wasn't true, and lot of them died due to that "disconnect."
That person was lucky beyond belief.
Also, very few non-railroad people know the significance of a series of short blasts--GET BACK FROM THE TRACK!!!
Johnny
I'm worried idiots like this are going to ruin steam programs for the rest of us that truly enjoy them and stay back at a safe distance.
IbanezGuinessI'm worried idiots like this are going to ruin steam programs for the rest of us that truly enjoy them and stay back at a safe distance.
Such individuals may overwhelm the Darwin nominations.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
It never ends. I saw a similar event at the 2009 event in Owosso. Fellow just had to be at the end of the photo line. He was actually outside the kill zone, but just barely, and ignored the repeated (and increasingly urgent) toots, and the admonitions of the fans near him.
Some people simply have no clue.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
While all of the FRN's in this video are candidates for an award, the imbicile shown at the 0:25 mark wins.
I won't make any "Darwin Award" remarks, but I will say my "Sympathy Reservoir" is just about drained dry for foolishess like this.
I glad no-one was killed, but more for the sake of the head-end crews and the families of those fools.
zardozWhile all of the FRN's in this video are candidates for an award, the imbicile shown at the 0:25 mark wins.
A fellow Train Order Operator on my Seniority list created a situation analogus to the first incident shown. She wasn't so lucky. She had to hand up Train Orders to the train on the far track from the office, she did not Hold the train on the near track to the office until she had completed handing up to both ends of the train on the far track, she got rolled between the trains passing in opposite directions.
She was the daughter of the Road Foreman of Engines on the division.
Years back I witnessed a CSX freight go into a penalty brake application due to a drone in Fostoria who dropped his roller blade on the crossing and doubled back to grab it...
SD70DudeOne not so smart and very lucky photographer: https://www.facebook.com/scott.shields.31/videos/3169084723118102/
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BigJimWhat I find disturbing is that no one, in particular the person filming this, attempted to get the lady out of the way! Nobody was yelling at her nor did anyone grab her by the scruff of the neck to jerk her out of the way!
I've seen several videos where the offending photog had to be physically removed from danger. They don't seem to think that the verbal warnings or sounding of horns/whistles applies to them.
The one I cited in Owosso ignored a number of exhortations to move back.
I am sure the people all thought the whistle was being blown FOR the fans.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Almost a repeat of the unfortunate photographer who was struck by the 844. You have to pray for these people. We all expect to go home to our families.
I don't know what drive people to get the " perfect " shot. People every day fall off of cruise ship balconies, into the grand canyon and other cliffs. It's not just a steam locomotive that makes rational people make very poor decisions.
The geranium on the windowsill just died, but teacher you went right on.
BigJim The geranium on the windowsill just died, but teacher you went right on.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Murphy SidingHuh?
It's from a book of poetry about children who don't like excessive pedantry or control imposed on them when in mandatory school classes.
"We should listen, and listen, and listen ... to YOU."
More interesting than I (as a chronic, longwinded, pedantic curmudgeon) really care to admit.
Overmod Murphy Siding Huh? It's from a book of poetry about children who don't like excessive pedantry or control imposed on them when in mandatory school classes. "We should listen, and listen, and listen ... to YOU." More interesting than I (as a chronic, longwinded, pedantic curmudgeon) really care to admit.
Murphy Siding Huh?
Overmod Murphy Siding Huh? "We should listen, and listen, and listen ... to YOU." More interesting than I (as a chronic, longwinded, pedantic curmudgeon) really care to admit.
Murphy Siding
Murphy,In this case it is used to show that forumites care more about ridiculing and calling one person a fool than the fact that someone on scene could have prevented what happened...but DIDN'T!
BigJimIn this case it is used to show that forumites care more about ridiculing and calling one person a fool than the fact that someone on scene could have prevented what happened...but DIDN'T!
Gee, thanks for the generalization.
Yes, there were people there who could have, and should have, taken action to prevent the incident.
But that doesn't make the "victim" any less of a fool.
Unfortunately, the fellow probably has framed the coat and tagged it as "torn by 1225..." to show off to his friends.
BigJim Overmod Murphy Siding Huh? "We should listen, and listen, and listen ... to YOU." More interesting than I (as a chronic, longwinded, pedantic curmudgeon) really care to admit. Murphy,In this case it is used to show that forumites care more about ridiculing and calling one person a fool than the fact that someone on scene could have prevented what happened...but DIDN'T!
I HAVE confronted people doing dumb things around RR tracks... (allowing a child to "tightrope walk" on the rail at a remotely controlled switch, such that the child slipped a couple of times into the space between the rail and the point; standing IN THE GAUGE to take their photo; etc.). Each time I was told to "Mind your own business and get away from us!" along with the customary hand sign.
The only way to "save" someone is to convince them that they are about to die, and that sometimes takes a whole lot of convincing!
I have often wondered if it would be possible to extracate a child's foot from a closed switch... I am fairly certain an approaching train would get there long before the switch could be moved back remotely (considering the time to place a call, convince someone to contact the dispatcher, reset the advance signal, wait for the timeout and then send the command to move the switch.
Semper VaporoI have often wondered if it would be possible to extracate a child's foot from a closed switch... I am fairly certain an approaching train would get there long before the switch could be moved back remotely (considering the time to place a call, convince someone to contact the dispatcher, reset the advance signal, wait for the timeout and then send the command to move the switch.
You probably won't be able to remove the foot. But it probably won't be attached to the kid's leg at that point, either.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I've often wondered how often people get ensnared in remotely-controlled switches. It has happened, right?
Lithonia OperatorI've often wondered how often people get ensnared in remotely-controlled switches. It has happened, right?
I am not aware of the NTSB getting involved in trespasser incidents - they are much too numerous for their limited staff to investigate and are much too local in nature to be able to establish some form of National directive that would be effective in limiting the incidents. Don't Trespass is the only possible directive and that directive would not reach the trespasser.
Local investigations and their results only get disseminated in the area of the incident.
BigJim SD70Dude One not so smart and very lucky photographer: https://www.facebook.com/scott.shields.31/videos/3169084723118102/ What I find disturbing is that no one, in particular the person filming this, attempted to get the lady out of the way! Nobody was yelling at her nor did anyone grab her by the scruff of the neck to jerk her out of the way! So, there is more than one "not so smart" person on the scene.
SD70Dude One not so smart and very lucky photographer: https://www.facebook.com/scott.shields.31/videos/3169084723118102/
What I find disturbing is that no one, in particular the person filming this, attempted to get the lady out of the way! Nobody was yelling at her nor did anyone grab her by the scruff of the neck to jerk her out of the way! So, there is more than one "not so smart" person on the scene.
It wouldn't surprise me one damn bit if the person who dragged a "smart-phone zombie" out of the path of an approaching train was sued for assault by the zombie.
Certainly there'd be plenty of witnesses to back up the "dragger," possibly even video, and maybe a fair-minded judge would throw the case out of his court with a stern admonition to the person doing the suing, but this would be another case of "nobody wins but the lawyers."
That being said, I'd drag the zombie and risk the suit.
Flintlock76It wouldn't surprise me one damn bit if the person who dragged a "smart-phone zombie" out of the path of an approaching train was sued for assault by the zombie.
Or got physical because his "perfect shot" was ruined.
Flintlock76That being said, I'd drag the zombie and risk the suit.
It's not that easy.
For you to accomplish that in the 'instant' case, where you have appreciable heifer inertia to overcome, you would have to spring toward the track, with considerable acceleration/acquired velocity and hence momentum. When you get within grabbing range, transferring any of that would have guaranteed a hard and probably lethal strike -- now with you, too, in the lethal zone; if you had the misfortune to be holding onto her at that moment, as she gets propelled forward by impact you will swing around and into the valve gear.
Assuming you do grab on and can swing her out of danger, you still have that momentum and you will rotate around the mutual center of mass ... howdy, Mr. Berkshire, we've got to stop meeting like this and after our little OQKBFP I think that'll happen...!
The only alternative likely to 'work' is to tackle right across the main as hard as you can. Good luck with THAT in court! And if you tackle even a bit short, let's hope the photo line lets you use their phone charging cords for the tourniquets around where the lower legs used to be.
Beginning to appreciate the inconvenient physics only as you arrive in the arena, so to speak, is not going to be a happy thing.
It's fun to do virtue signaling, but the practical implementation of attempted heroism can be much more difficult and considerably less amenable to smug opinions... and quite possibly more disastrous than the alternative.
What is needed, perhaps, is some group acceptance of how to get people standing too close to move back. If photorailfans could agree on this half as well as they complain about jumping photo lines, we could easily get self-policing to work well in advance of one step too close to the danger line.
If I recall the UP autistic-kid video, it was in fact a stranger that picked him up by the shoulders and moved him over; at least one other person can be seen 'reasoning' with the kid, of course not being noticed. That was an example of reasonable action... with inevitable bad ending if not done.
OvermodWhat is needed, perhaps, is some group acceptance of how to get people standing too close to move back. If photorailfans could agree on this half as well as they complain about jumping photo lines, we could easily get self-policing to work well in advance of one step too close to the danger line.
During this thread, I've wondered about a hi-rail or speeder with poles sticking out both sides. Add to that an ongoing announcement that the train won't be through until the pole doesn't touch anyone...
Or maybe, in areas with a high number of photographers, painting a line with marking paint (like surveyors, etc, use) at the safe distance.
Bar with spray nozzles on the ends, hinged like a folding ruler for storage and transport, laid across the pilot beam as you back down for a runby, spraying chalk with a tap from brake air?
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