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Re: Tourist Railroad Safety
Author: Erik H.
Date: 06-02-2012 - 19:53
Tie Plate Wrote:
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> 20+ replies and I'm still confused as to how Erik
> H. is qualified to fully assess the two situations
> when he can't answer basic questions about the
> operations.
OK. It is a standard gauge railroad using full sized railroad equipment. It is not the Disneyland Railroad, or the Washington Park & Zoo Railroad, or Knotts Berry Farm. It's a real train, using real full sized locomotives.
I do not know if the railroad is accountable to the FRA. How am I supposed to know? Is there some sign somewhere that says "This railroad is accountable to the FRA" or "This railroad is exempt from FRA regulations?" Please, enlighten me rather than bashing me.
What I know is that it's a railroad. There's a train on it. There's a railroad crossing. There's a road across it. I've already mentioned that they are public crossings.
I don't know if these groups categorize themselves as "museums" - neither one of them have a facility that the public would commonly refer to as a "museum". Neither one has a building that is open to the public that displays artifacts like a "museum".
I would presume that these are "railfan" groups, but what is a "railfan" group? Is there some category or some legal basis that says they are a "railfan" group versus something else? I guess they might be a historical operation...they sure don't run SD70Ms or Dash 9-44CWs.
How am I supposed to know? I know what a railroad is. I know what a grade crossing is. I guess as a licensed motorist I'm supposed to be able to identify a crossing and then judge my actions based not based upon the MUTCD regulated signage for a railroad crossing - but by who the hell manages the equipment? What if I never see the equipment - and then one day there's a train there - am I supposed to change my driving attitude based upon what kind of train it is? Is there really a different? DOES IT MATTER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC?
If you want to get snotty with me because I don't know the answer, please enlighten me so I can better answer your question. If you're just going to rant because there's been 20 posts and I don't know the answer because I just don't know how this railroad is regulated, spare me. I'm sorry I just don't know the answer and you would rather get into a pissing match or just show that you have a huge ego than actually being friendly and helpful...people like you are part of the reason I've slowly stepped back from this hobby because apparently it's more fun to criticize people for asking questions than answering the questions - or better yet, not say anything if you don't have anything to contribute.
-------------------------------------------------------
> 20+ replies and I'm still confused as to how Erik
> H. is qualified to fully assess the two situations
> when he can't answer basic questions about the
> operations.
OK. It is a standard gauge railroad using full sized railroad equipment. It is not the Disneyland Railroad, or the Washington Park & Zoo Railroad, or Knotts Berry Farm. It's a real train, using real full sized locomotives.
I do not know if the railroad is accountable to the FRA. How am I supposed to know? Is there some sign somewhere that says "This railroad is accountable to the FRA" or "This railroad is exempt from FRA regulations?" Please, enlighten me rather than bashing me.
What I know is that it's a railroad. There's a train on it. There's a railroad crossing. There's a road across it. I've already mentioned that they are public crossings.
I don't know if these groups categorize themselves as "museums" - neither one of them have a facility that the public would commonly refer to as a "museum". Neither one has a building that is open to the public that displays artifacts like a "museum".
I would presume that these are "railfan" groups, but what is a "railfan" group? Is there some category or some legal basis that says they are a "railfan" group versus something else? I guess they might be a historical operation...they sure don't run SD70Ms or Dash 9-44CWs.
How am I supposed to know? I know what a railroad is. I know what a grade crossing is. I guess as a licensed motorist I'm supposed to be able to identify a crossing and then judge my actions based not based upon the MUTCD regulated signage for a railroad crossing - but by who the hell manages the equipment? What if I never see the equipment - and then one day there's a train there - am I supposed to change my driving attitude based upon what kind of train it is? Is there really a different? DOES IT MATTER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC?
If you want to get snotty with me because I don't know the answer, please enlighten me so I can better answer your question. If you're just going to rant because there's been 20 posts and I don't know the answer because I just don't know how this railroad is regulated, spare me. I'm sorry I just don't know the answer and you would rather get into a pissing match or just show that you have a huge ego than actually being friendly and helpful...people like you are part of the reason I've slowly stepped back from this hobby because apparently it's more fun to criticize people for asking questions than answering the questions - or better yet, not say anything if you don't have anything to contribute.
