Railroad Safety

Today I am going to talk about being safe around trains. James did a similar post back in December, but now that we have more readers, I believe many of you have not read that one, so it is time to do another.

I would like to start by reminding everyone that trains, with the exception of tourist lines and museums, do not exist for our entertainment. However, even the ones that are intended for entertainment are just as dangerous, and the same cautions should be taken around them as with any other trains. The primary purpose of a railroad is to move cargo from one place to another. By their nature, railroads tend to move big and heavy cargo, making trains big and heavy. This also makes them dangerous, and certain precautions should be taken around railroad crossings, stations, and rights of way.

Railroad Crossings:

A railroad crossing is where a road crosses a railroad track at grade. Many levels of protection exist at crossings, depending on how often the road and the railroad are used. Some crossings are used so infrequently that the only protection is a white crossing sign. However, even if the crossing is used rarely, it is still in use. You should always slow down or stop before the crossing to see if a train is coming. There will be no bells or gates to warn you at these crossings, so you need to be careful. Some crossings have bells, gates, and flashing lights. As soon as the gates start to go down, stop. Don't speed up to beat the gates, and don't drive around the gates. You don't know how far away the train is or how fast it's going, and you might not make it. After the train passes, always wait until the gates go up to proceed across the tracks. If the gates stay down, chances are another train is coming on another track. If you drive around the gates because the train is gone, you could be in for a surprise. These same rules apply for pedestrians as well. It is easy to duck under the gates and run across the tracks. Do not do this. Always wait behind the gates for the train to pass.

Train Stations:

A train station is where passengers board a train. Depending on how busy the station is, there will be one or more tracks with platforms on them. Most platforms have a yellow line close to the edge. Do not stand on the yellow line, it is there to protect you from being too close to the track area. Not all trains stop at every station, and some trains go very fast through stations. Standing too close to a train blasting through at 150mph could be disastrous. This is especially true with electric trains, which are very quiet and can sneak up on you without a warning. Lower levels platforms often have pedestrian crossings to cross the tracks to the other side. When using these, always look both ways before crossing and be very careful. Many stations have audio announcements when a train is approaching. Pay attention to these and follow their instructions. They are for your safety.

Railroad Rights of Way:

The right of way is the railroad's property that the tracks are built on. This is private property and all trespassing laws apply. Do not enter railroad property. This is both illegal and dangerous. Unlike the last two places, rights of way often do not have anything to protect people from the trains, simply because people aren't supposed to be there in the first place. Please respect railroad property and keep yourself safe.

There are many ways to railfan and be safe at the same time. A bridge over a railroad line is a great place to take photos of trains. A parallel street, a railroad crossing, a station, a nearby parking lot, all great places to take photos of trains. Just be aware of your surroundings and stay out of people's way, and you will be fine. Most of my best photos come from unusual or uncommon angles, not right next to the right of way or from a station platform.

Remember, if you respect the railroad and the people that run it, they will learn to respect you. Be safe around the trains, and stay out of their way!