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Re: Photographer vs. train in Eugene, OR
Author: Ernest H. Robl
Date: 12-14-2010 - 15:17
I participate in Operation Lifesaver activities in North Carolina, and one of
the amusing/sad aspects of the quarterly business meetings is hearing some of
the strainge things that happen around the tracks.
A few years ago, a CSX official reported that during one night, he received
several emergency phone calls to come to the same location. A track crew was
doing major track renewal work, and as part of that, had had to dig up a grade
crossing on the north-south main line to get out the old ties and reballast the
site. As part of the work, the grade crossing was closed for a little over a
day, with those needing cross the tracks being able to use a detour to another
grade crossing about a quarter of a mile away, which was being reworked on a
different schedule.
The closed grade crossing had very large barricades and detour signs on both
sides, yet this did not deterr several individuals who decided they were going
to cross the tracks there anyway, and who then, of course, got hung up on the
tracks where there was now no pavement. One person had tried to drive around the
barricades by going through a ditch with a 4WD vehicle -- but which could still
not climb over the tracks; another person had actually physically moved the
barricades aside before trying to drive over the tracks.
Another memorable story from an OL meeting: One OL presenter gave a safety
presentation at a large industry. During the presentation to several hundred
people, she asked how many of those attending crossed railroad tracks on a
daily basis. Only a few people raised their hands. Well the ONLY entrance to
this railroad-served industry crosses the CSX main line. In other words, none
of those attending would have been able to get to work and that meeting without
crossing the tracks. But that didn't even register with most people.
-- Ernest
the amusing/sad aspects of the quarterly business meetings is hearing some of
the strainge things that happen around the tracks.
A few years ago, a CSX official reported that during one night, he received
several emergency phone calls to come to the same location. A track crew was
doing major track renewal work, and as part of that, had had to dig up a grade
crossing on the north-south main line to get out the old ties and reballast the
site. As part of the work, the grade crossing was closed for a little over a
day, with those needing cross the tracks being able to use a detour to another
grade crossing about a quarter of a mile away, which was being reworked on a
different schedule.
The closed grade crossing had very large barricades and detour signs on both
sides, yet this did not deterr several individuals who decided they were going
to cross the tracks there anyway, and who then, of course, got hung up on the
tracks where there was now no pavement. One person had tried to drive around the
barricades by going through a ditch with a 4WD vehicle -- but which could still
not climb over the tracks; another person had actually physically moved the
barricades aside before trying to drive over the tracks.
Another memorable story from an OL meeting: One OL presenter gave a safety
presentation at a large industry. During the presentation to several hundred
people, she asked how many of those attending crossed railroad tracks on a
daily basis. Only a few people raised their hands. Well the ONLY entrance to
this railroad-served industry crosses the CSX main line. In other words, none
of those attending would have been able to get to work and that meeting without
crossing the tracks. But that didn't even register with most people.
-- Ernest
