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http://abcnews.go..../story?id=24758554
For a second there I thought these ladies were going to a Stand by Me train dodge!
Anyone else ever have a close call with a train while exploring ?
I have had two myself. Once I was half way over the Ohio river and two trains were coming from either direction.I have never ran so fast in my life. Another time I wanted to check out this little train depot I always noticed near the highway. The only way I could get to it was to cross the tracks that went over the creek. Again, right when i was in the middle of the bridge...fucking two trains came into view. These days I still cross tracks...but only if i really need to.
"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit." | |
Yes, it was almost THE end for me in a tunnel. Freaking less than 1 inch between me against the wall and the train that took over 5 minutes to go by. WOW. Yeah I thought the light coming at me was some more explorers. Then one time my car got stuck on some railroad tracks in the snow and yep, a train started coming. Got off the tracks BARELY in time. My Mom's uncle got his back broken in a crash with a train. But trains are cool.
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Turn off the internet and go play outside.
http://spamusement...hp/comics/view/137 | |
Ironically enough, the radio station I listen to on my way to work talked about how many people lose their lives due to situations like this. In NorCal, a lot of the trains/train tracks were out of commission for years but they just started the project up again to have trains go from Sonoma to Marin County, etc. Imagine walking on those tracks thinking you have nothing to worry about and then BOOM.
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!" — Dr. Strangelove | |
Posted by Flashyfashionfraud
Ironically enough, the radio station I listen to on my way to work talked about how many people lose their lives due to situations like this. In NorCal, a lot of the trains/train tracks were out of commission for years but they just started the project up again to have trains go from Sonoma to Marin County, etc. Imagine walking on those tracks thinking you have nothing to worry about and then BOOM.
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I am even paranoid on abandoned tracks. Really any tracks I find myself on make me super alert. I hope they send out a notice to people letting them know the trains are running again....
"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit." | |
I'm from Louisiana near the river. Mom had a friend that was out on a trestle with some friends and the train came. The other friends jumped the big jump into the river but Mom's friend froze and was hit. That's one of those stories she never stopped telling me. I only went out once and my brain heard trains the whole time.
[last edit 7/30/2014 4:19 PM by skatchkins - edited 1 times]
Flickr Pitchrs | |
Posted by skatchkins
I'm from Louisiana near the river. Mom had a friend that was out on a trestle with some friends and the train came. The other friends jumped the big jump into the river but Mom's friend froze and was hit. That's one of those stories she never stopped telling me. I only went out once and my brain heard trains the whole time.
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I am sorry to hear about her friend. =(
Your mom is a smart lady to drive home the dangers of fucking around on train tracks. Most parents I think assume kids aren't that stupid...but we are. Here in cincinnati we have loads of train tracks that I foolishly played on as a kid. If I had heard such a story I know I would have stayed far away from them.
"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit." | |
Reminds me of this...
https://www.youtub...atch?v=slJyhOEo-SY
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wow...just wow. If they could cut that into a 30 second PSA it would scare kids enough to stay off the tracks.
"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit." | |
Some common sense stuff can tell you if a rail line is active. If the surface of the track is shiny, it's in regular use. If it's rusty, it's not used much, but still potentially has some traffic. If there are significant weeds / small trees growing up through the tracks it's most likely abandoned.
If there are signal lights, they can also tell you about oncoming traffic. For an engineer, Red means stop, yellow means slow down, and green means proceed.
Actual signals (http://en.wikipedi...n_railroad_signals) are much more complicated, but for a pedestrian, red generally means a train is in the next "block" (could be coming, going, or parked). The length of a "block" varies (can be several miles for a line out in the country, and only a few hundred feet in a subway or urban area). A red signal is a good indication that a train is nearby. Yellow usually means the next block is clear, but one of the next few blocks is occupied. Green means there's nothing happening in the next few blocks. A signal changing from green to yellow/red or from yellow to red means something is approaching you. Going from red to yellow to green means its moving away. Remember to check both directions and consider multiple tracks. Yards and sidings can also have red when occupied by parked rail cars.
Most bridges and many tunnels do not have clearance for people on the side, they're just not designed for that. If you're in an active rail tunnel for some reason, look for safety alcoves and keep in mind how far you are from the nearest. http://fanninsenti...12/09/P9080042.jpg
When exploring steam tunnels I always kept in mind "where is the nearest exit and how fast can I get there if I see security". When walking railroad tracks you should think the same thing, "where do I go and how fast can I get there when a train appears around the next/last corner?"
Turn off the internet and go play outside.
http://spamusement...hp/comics/view/137 | |
Posted by Freak
Some common sense stuff can tell you if a rail line is active. If the surface of the track is shiny, it's in regular use. If it's rusty, it's not used much, but still potentially has some traffic. If there are significant weeds / small trees growing up through the tracks it's most likely abandoned.
If there are signal lights, they can also tell you about oncoming traffic. For an engineer, Red means stop, yellow means slow down, and green means proceed.
Actual signals (http://en.wikipedi...n_railroad_signals) are much more complicated, but for a pedestrian, red generally means a train is in the next "block" (could be coming, going, or parked). The length of a "block" varies (can be several miles for a line out in the country, and only a few hundred feet in a subway or urban area). A red signal is a good indication that a train is nearby. Yellow usually means the next block is clear, but one of the next few blocks is occupied. Green means there's nothing happening in the next few blocks. A signal changing from green to yellow/red or from yellow to red means something is approaching you. Going from red to yellow to green means its moving away. Remember to check both directions and consider multiple tracks. Yards and sidings can also have red when occupied by parked rail cars.
Most bridges and many tunnels do not have clearance for people on the side, they're just not designed for that. If you're in an active rail tunnel for some reason, look for safety alcoves and keep in mind how far you are from the nearest. http://fanninsenti...12/09/P9080042.jpg
When exploring steam tunnels I always kept in mind "where is the nearest exit and how fast can I get there if I see security". When walking railroad tracks you should think the same thing, "where do I go and how fast can I get there when a train appears around the next/last corner?"
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Thank you for the info.This is extremely helpful.You posted something else about train cameras/ bridge cameras before right? or was that someone else...
"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit." | |
Posted by Granuaile
I am even paranoid on abandoned tracks. Really any tracks I find myself on make me super alert. I hope they send out a notice to people letting them know the trains are running again....
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We have gotten signs around town about it, we're a super small community and it's hard to miss the construction workers on the tracks. But it still scares me to think someone could miss that and just mess around on the tracks or go off on the tracks in a more isolated part of the county where there are no warnings.
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!" — Dr. Strangelove | |
http://www.operati...stmas-without-you/
I tried to find the actual news article but it's probably archived.
It wasn't a hangout so much as a shortcut and a convenient spot to stop & chi before needing to be home. Long story short, one night we were all chillin' and a train came and one of us got hit. His body became a meatsack filled with liquid jelly (to put it crudely).
I still go to the tracks and all. Just pay attention people, and dont take stupid risks.
- A. | |
What about hitting the ground? Freight trains usually have a few feet of ground clearance on either side of the tracks.
I love trains. I love everything about trains. But I also deeply respect them. I'll never get closer than twenty feet from a moving train, farther if I'm down hill.
A few years ago a teen committed suicide by putting his neck on the rail waiting for a commuter to come by. One of my favorite locations on my list of the Goat Canyon Trestle, a long-abandoned rail trestle in the California Desert, recently has been seeing renewed use by a small rail company starting up. I'm scared to go there now, freight trains don't release schedules so It's impossible to know when one might be coming.
When there is tranquility, you are in the right place. When there are no footprints, you are on the right path. When there are no tire tracks, you are on the right road. | |
I do not feel sorry for stupid people and/or trespassers on train tracks. I do feel sorry for the crew when something happens because of idiots like those two girls. I photograph and/or video trains every day and you would not believe how many people go around crossing arms, etc just so they don't have to wait three minutes for a train to pass. When it comes to trains two words sum it up....RESPECT RAILS! A link showing the ultimate in stupidity is below...
https://www.youtub...atch?v=nWV-xk89o9Y
https://www.flickr...otos/97792661@N03/ | |
http://www.flickr....rescueme1060/sets/
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Posted by stickbeat
http://www.operati...stmas-without-you/
I tried to find the actual news article but it's probably archived.
It wasn't a hangout so much as a shortcut and a convenient spot to stop & chi before needing to be home. Long story short, one night we were all chillin' and a train came and one of us got hit. His body became a meatsack filled with liquid jelly (to put it crudely).
I still go to the tracks and all. Just pay attention people, and dont take stupid risks.
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Jeez, sorry to hear about your loss... no matter how intelligent you are, there is always at least a slight risk something could go wrong. Reading the story seems like he got confused as which track the train was coming on and happened to be on the wrong one...
I'm sorry for your loss.
Adding on:
Our hobby/hobbies whether it be running rails, draining, bridges, abandoned buildings, etc. is inherently dangerous, and you can only cover so many bases with your safety. Just be aware, as foolish as it might sound, it could really happen to any of us. Stay alert, know your limits, and be safe!
[last edit 7/31/2014 4:21 PM by CatAndTie - edited 2 times]
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." - Andre Gide | |
I never had any experience with trains until a year ago when my girlfriend, another friend, and I went to go take pictures on some tracks near a parked train. I was climbing on the side of the train, when a train coming the opposite direction started coming. I couldn't hear it because of the steam from the parked train i was hanging off of until i finally hear my friends screaming at me. I turn and see The train heading right for me so i jump off and hit the far side track beam on two feet and roll headfirst down the gravel hill... The moment I hit the gravel the train whizzed by. My friend was like "dude... you almost died.... THAT WAS AWESOME!!"
But apparently my keys fell out when i rolled... so it instantly turned into a not an awesome night when the police showed up after we had been there for another 2 hours looking for my keys, and they thought we were terrorists and came at us with guns drawn... Who knew being on train tracks was illegal?!?! Everyone and their sister takes their high school senior photos on them....
Ironically that is the ONLY time i have ever been in trouble with police besides traffic stuff, and it was when i was ENTIRELY oblivious of any wrong doing lol
AAAAAAAAAAAADVENTURE TIME!!!! | |
Posted by AdventureDan
Who knew being on train tracks was illegal?!?! Everyone and their sister takes their high school senior photos on them.... |
Most people don't realize it's illegal to be on the tracks and/or the right of way for the tracks. It's trespassing and they take it seriously. All train crews are instructed to call in any thing they see by the tracks. I've heard them call in on me before on my scanner. Two weeks ago they had to stop a train and wait while the railroad police looked for people riding four wheelers on the tracks.
Last Friday I caught this car crossing the tracks while the lights were flashing and the gates were starting to come down. You have approx 20 seconds from the time the train activates the crossing arms until it passes. I counted off about 8 seconds before I took the pic so they had about 12 seconds left. The train took one minute and 24 seconds to pass. They risked their lives to save one minute and 24 seconds.
I don't mean to harp on this subject but the idiots doing stupid things makes it bad for the railfans that love trains like myself. All train related accidents involving the public can be prevented...
https://www.flickr...otos/97792661@N03/ | |
In the UK it's drilled into us from an early age starting in school that railway tracks = serious danger of death whether from the live rails or a train and unlike general trespass in the UK, trespassing on the railways is a criminal offence taken very seriously if caught with hefty fines and/or time in cells likely.
I've only ever crossed a live railway to get into an abandonment once and only because there was no other option.
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