Freericks Wrote:
> There are enough responsible folk out there railfanning who know what they are doing, know
> how to get in touch with the railroad in an emergency and are a legitimate additional set of
> eyes and ears.

I wholeheartedly agree! 100%, with everything you've said.

But I worry about convincing professional railroaders of these facts. Hell, I am one, but I still find it a very hard sell to many of my associates.

Many are very jaded about their own jobs and cannot understand (or refuse to) why anybody would like railroading. They assume fans or anyone else who do enjoy it are woefully inexperienced, or just plain nuts. They are therefore intensely disrespected.

It isn't always just railfans that get the butt of this bad attitude either - but also dedicated professionals that love their work get it the shorts too. But frankly, I do not understand them either! How anyone can really succeed at something they hate, or even how they can have a happy life at all (hating a third of it), is beyond me.

Other railroaders have had "hard" experiences, caused by the stupidity or dishonesty of railfans, or other trespassers and onlookers (they tend to not notice the difference). I've had a few myself! - as I've reported on here before. But just imagine, what that locomotive engineer would be feeling right now, if he had hit that truck with those kids in it!

Fortunately, a smart railfan just happened to come along, a responsible citizen actually, and undid the stupidity of another, and just in time too. - this time! That locomotive engineer should be thanking Drew; but whether or not he even hears about Drew's action; he'll also be cursing the idiot that Drew saved.

All I suggest here, is that while we continue to try to provide something positive that these railroaders will respect, we must also try to encourage (by consistent "Social Pressure") the Darwin Award candidates to be less stupid and more responsible - and perhaps avoid giving a railroader yet another bad experience.

Yeah - I know, that may be a hard sell too! -- But nothing is lost by forever trying!

OPB


PS And BTW, Thanks for your frequent contributions here. I enjoy those great photos of yours and your Dad's, and especially the recent "Glint Picture". It's on my desktop now. And I especially appreciate the humanity along with your photographs. That's the real art of it! Keep 'em coming. . . .