I have just seen an appalling video on Twitter; a young woman was taking a selfie as 2816 and train were approaching, and while composing the reverse shot got too close to the track. She made what looked like no more than incidental contact with the right cylinder, but was unresponsive and, by reports, killed on impact.
Publicity events like this need to be very limited in scope, closely managed and well coordinated. The locomotive should have been run on very short stretches only, at slow speed, with security all along trackside. That's just the way it is nowadays..
Railroads and their rights of way are DANGEROUS - all the time, every time.
When you enter railroad property - you have to have your mind 'in the game'; this applies no matter if you are an employee or a visitor. Feature operating steam engines are even more dangerous than diesels as they have varying side width and exposed spinning and sliding machinery which can easily maim or kill the unwary.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I agree. And didn't we just see exactly the same kind of accident on the UP a few short years ago?
Same me, different spelling!
Ulrich Publicity events like this need to be very limited in scope, closely managed and well coordinated. The locomotive should have been run on very short stretches only, at slow speed, with security all along trackside. That's just the way it is nowadays..
Backshop Ulrich Publicity events like this need to be very limited in scope, closely managed and well coordinated. The locomotive should have been run on very short stretches only, at slow speed, with security all along trackside. That's just the way it is nowadays.. Stupid people would still do stupid things and wind up as contestants for the Darwin Award.
Stupid people would still do stupid things and wind up as contestants for the Darwin Award.
True.. and that's all the more reason to curtail these types of activities. From the footage I've seen there were lots of people milling about the track, pointing cameras, grabbing selfies etc. People haven't changed over the years, but our tolerance (as a society) for risk and loss has.
This happened in Hidalgo, Mexico during the 2816 tour.
- Ed Kyle
I disagree about stopping events like this or cutting back on access.
We see the same issues in National Parks. Someone falls from a cliff or is attacked by wildlife, trying to get that 'special' photo.
We can't protect everyone from everything.
York1 John
York1 I disagree about stopping events like this or cutting back on access. We see the same issues in National Parks. Someone falls from a cliff or is attacked by wildlife, trying to get that 'special' photo. We can't protect everyone from everything.
It would depend on the event and on who is putting it on. Was the CPKC steam extravanganza worth it in light of what happened? Some might think so.. that the death of one careless women is part of the price to be paid..i.e. collateral damage..for publicity and exposure. Others might argue not.
The rising cost to insure such events along with the risk of expensive and prolonged litigation are also factors that tend to discourage would be organizers. We used to have an annual truckshow here...every year.. it was all fun and entertaining until some kid split his head open playing around on some equipment. I know I know.. kids.. booze.. loud music.. heavy equipment.. what could possibly go wrong?
CPKC has been having the diesels lead since that incident.
Ed KyleThis happened in Hidalgo, Mexico during the 2816 tour. - Ed Kyle
With the incident happening in Mexico - some would say the people are less than human. They would be wrong, but that is the way they think.
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