If engineers had let people run the choo-choo on occasion (usually freights), and the trains never wrecked, why is this suddenly becoming a big issue now? From what I understand, railroads and the general public are making a big deal of even letting anyone in the cab anymore. I don't hear complaints about truckers letting people in. Why the double standards?
Believe it. We spent a substantial portion of our rules class on "human factors" and the fact that we can be criminally charged for certain things. My days as a volunteer on a tourist railroad would end immediately if I got nailed with a $7,500 person fine (never mind what the railroad could get hit with).
It is apparently obvious to the feds that simply having rules isn't enough - there has to be some teeth there...
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...
I can't believe the engineer could be that much of a bonehead. Most of us in our various jobs could face jail time for doing the wrong thing.
http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5426
Since when did things start going this far? I thought at worst the engineer would get fired. Now they're going to start doing this stuff, too? I assume freights will be under attack just as well? That if any non-engineer person so much as touches any of the controls, that they and the train crew face jail time? How did things get this bad?
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