My Amtrak/Railfan Safety Story

[SR1457]

Congratulations on a Job Well Done, Amtrak and rail paxs everywhere should be proud!

[oltmannd]

(sarcasm filter - off)

The 5000 strong Amtrak mechanical department hard at work!  Doing what, nobody has a clue!  But, it sure isn't outbound inspections at Penn...

(sarcasm filter - on)

[robertjohndavis]

Hi,

(I posted this on the General board before I realized there was an Amtrak board) 

Those of you who know me know that I cringe over the whole post 9-11 culture of fear. In Penn Station as I head to work, I tire of hearing "if you see something, say something" blasted over the speakers. And like many buffs I have been hasseled more the past 7 years when out trackside taking pictures.

But...

This is a good stroy about being a responsible railfan and taking "if you see something, say something" to heart in the most practical manner.

I was supposed to have a day off for railfanning today, but it did not work out that way so this AM I was on the train headed to work in New York City. While waiting with my fellow commuters on the Penn Station platform to go up to the concourse, I noticed an Amtrak train 2 tracks over had been damaged and an Amfleet coach had the entire vestibule stair ripped partially off and hanging out over the third rail. If it had been on the platform, it would probably have been torn off when the train came into the station. Since it was away from the platform, no one involved with that train could see it. With the inside step cover closed, the crew on board would have no way to see it. And it was at the rear of the train, far out of view of the engineer. It was a hazard to passing trains and a clear safety issue if there was an emergency.

I went to the Amtrak customer relations desk, told them I was a buff and described what I saw. Within 5 minutes I was down on the platform with two Amtrak managers showing them the issue. They immediately went into action to stop the train from departing, and thanked me very nicely for pointing out the problem.

It was a very positive moment to be a railfan, and at no point did anyone treat me "second class" for being a buff with his eyes open. Amtrak impressed me this morning. 

 

Rob