William, you are correct the railroads and the unions have developed mechanisms to assist those in the running trades. However, you can't change the landscape let alone the subdivisions that they must go through every day or so. In my own way I have on occasion surreptitiously removed the markers and flowers, left by the friends or family of the victims by the right of way. I know this might be cruel or to some in bad taste to do so, but the crew who through no fault of their own are forced to remember their helplessness of the event. I distinctly recall an incident shortly after a fatality involving an intoxicated male, trespassing on the track. The crew reported that the family and friends were gathered near the ROW and started its show their anger by stoning the train after it sounded its horn and bell due to their proximity to the tracks. The conductor of that assignment had been originally involved in that incident. I have gathered and bagged body parts from such incidents and it's no fun, but I was trained to do so. Being dispatched to such a scene, one has the time to mentally prepare for the task ahead, you learn to deal with it professionally. Not so for the crew who have mere seconds. But I digress, the peer groups, railroads and the unions are doing their best to support their employees. As a start, the media must begin to report the facts of such incidents and not slant them toward the uneducated sympathizing do gooders . Some railroads over the recent have had
tasked their public affairs departments call the media to insist corrections be made. It's not an nice old man walking his puppy on the track picking flowers it's a trespasser on the property who did not heed the posted signage. I'm retired now but I still remember the real victims.