A question not just for the professionals?

Question

Whether a rail worker, rail-fan, pedestrian, motorist or "dare devil" (Examples of dare devil - playing chicken with a train, train surfing, etc.); Be HONEST. You'll like as not be chided or criticized by the ignorant for your efforts at an answer or for admitting to risky behavior that may have contributed to your dire circumstances, but, that is the POINT. (Not the ridicule, the events.) Though foolish behavior is almost always the root (you've got tons of company there), I'm curious and I think perhaps an honest answer may demonstrate to someone a folly they'll perhaps not repeat if informed here.

What has been your scariest moment around the railroad?

How did you get into that frightening situation?

Break a law or rule to do it?

Did you think you'd get out of it alive, or merely maimed?

How did you get into it?

How long was the duration of the event? Was it a "surprise" situation?

What have you learned?

Would you do it again, now that you know better?

Answer 1

My moment was when I forgot just how hot steam locomotives can get when fired up.

We were all set for a steam day at the rail museum where I work, and I had been helping fire up our loco - an 0-4-0 industrial saddle-tank.

Sawing pieces of timber to go into the firebox, putting in the first load of coal, lighting up with cotton waste soaked in paraffin, more coal, getting the fire even,watching the needle creep on the pressure gauge....

Above the firehole door is a shelf, where the driver whom I'd been assisting had put his welcome cup of tea.

When the cup was finished I went to take it and burnt my hand, because it had absorbed all the heat of the boiler which  at a working pressure of 160 p.s.i. is around 300 degrees Centigrade in the water space.

I won't be making that mistake again!

Answer 2

Well my scariest moment was about ten years ago.I was on a double stack train going west to El Paso Texas.The dispatcher had us stop and pick a crew up off a train to take with us.They rode the second unit.The dispatcher told us we were the hottest train on the entire UPRR that night due to the fact we were hauling shut down cars for the Hermosillo Ford plant.That hot status was going to change in about 12 miles.I was running 65 mph when we had a rail break under the lead unit.It sounded like a rifle shot going off.We went into emergency and i immediately hit the bail.The lead unit stayed on the rail but everything else went in the ditch.They measured it off and we stopped in 620 feet from 65 mph!It took just a few seconds to stop. I thought we were dead.We stopped so fast i thought the cars were going to come over the top of us and kill us all.The only reason we survived it was the fact that the first stack pac stayed coupled to our power.It drug us to a stop and everything piled up against that first car.Needless to say it shook the guys up pretty good on the second unit but they weren't hurt.The only thing left on the tracks was our lead unit.You can imagine what the rest of the train looked like.Not to toot my own horn ,but i was proud of the fact that after the crash analysis they told me that me bailing the engine brakes so fast saved all our lives.They said if i hadn't everything would have been pulled from the track.Me bailing kept the consist stretched tight and kept the other units from rolling over.As for learning anything from it Bob,i don't really know. I do know that we were very lucky and that the good lord just wasn't ready to take us that night. That's the only reason i'm here tonight to tell you about it.

I was pretty scared going up the Cal P years ago on a perishable train at 83 mph with a crazy person at the throttle but that's another tale for another time lol

Glad your still with us Shane.Sounds like it was a close call for sure  

Sheesh Haley that was a close one!They say most of our rules are written in blood.

Answer 3

I grew up watching trains by the Susquehanna river. The old PRR line from Harrisburg to Have de Grace MD. I've seen 2ND Gen Diesels and GG-1's. I knew, by the time I was 7, how deadly they could be.The scariest moment I've dealt with, was when an Idiot cut thru the drop arms in front of a N&W coal drag in Norfolk Va. I was sure he was going to end up in pieces. Luckily , the train was only doing yard speed

( 5mph)at the time. So, it really wasn't me but, witnessing such idocy sure did reinforce what I'd learned 20 years before.

Answer 4

I come from south east england in britain.

Three years ago or more, i was driving a train full of passengers between ashford and tonbridge, bound for charing cross. The train was a 750 volt DC third rail, electric multiple unit, class 375 traveling at around 90mph.

I was slowing down to meet the "level crossing speed limit" of that area which was 80 mph. I applied the brakes slightly and moved the elecrical controller gear down slightly, but the train only slowed down 5mph, which is how far i lowered the gears. The brakes were suposed to take care of the rest. I applied the brakes again and watched the air flow monitor; there was no change.

At that moment i realised that the brakes would not work, to cheak i applied them more and more and more untill i had the full brake on, the train did not slow down at all! I moved the gear down again so that i could make sure the train would travel at 80mph for the level crossing.

Other than that i was terrified of what would happen, if the brakes did not work at all it could take up to 15 miles to stop and it would be very dangerous to cancel all traction on a 100mph rail line.

The next thing i did was call the conductor to the cab and alert charing cross station and tonbridge station. They told me to cancel the traction slowly and that they would alert th next trains, however there was one only fifteen minutes behind me so it was not so easily done.

Trying to ignore the worry of the train behind me, i slowly canceled the traction, 5mph at a time and reduced the electricity being taken from the third rail to minimum. It took me 10 minutes to stop it completely and then as if by pure bad luck i could see that there was a signalling problem. I tried to radio the driver of the train behind me to see if he knew about the problem, he did not. He was around 5min away from me traveling at 100mph. I alerted the passengers to take any seat in the front 8 coaches and not the back 4. Seeing as this was late evening, this wasnt much of a problem.

A few minutes later the event happened, the train lurched foward at least 20 meters when the 8 coach unit crashed into the back at 10mph. Seeing as there was no brakes we flew foward. No one on board my train was hurt. There were a few injuries on the train behind including the driver. It was not safe to let my passengers out of the train due to there being electric rails at the dead of night. No one was hurt anyway and getting out wouldnt have stopped the injuries on the train behind.

The event was about an hour and a half of pure h**l. When the electricity on the line was canceled we could all get out and wait for ambulances.

It was a big surprise and i have learnt not to base all my reliance on technology. And to be more greatfull of it.

After the investigation, it was revealed to be sabotage, otherwise there was no way for the fail safe brakes to fail in my point of view. I bloody hate the idiots that did it aswell.

I won't be able to do it again seeing as i now design trains and test them. Well i surpose it could happen in testing but there will be no trains to crash into the back of us.

It was the worst experience of my life.

Answer 5

About 4 years ago I was switching in the yard and had the engineer drag the cut out.  I missed counted the cars and decided to just hop on instead of having him stop.  The engineer was mouthy and I didn't want to listen to his c**p about not counting right and having him stop.  He's pulling by at 10mph.  The rail is above the walking path about a foot and a half.  I didn't realize till it was over, but the bottom ladder rung was about chest high while standing.  Regardless..I started running with the cars and jumped and grabbed hold of the grab bar, but didn't jump high enough to get my feet in the rung.  Just my knees.  After being drug about 4-5 cars I finally got my knees up and feet in.  Radio was dangling and skipping across the ground....I was out of breath....and shaking like crazy.  Had indentions on my knee caps for about 4 months after........thought they scarred.  Now I know why there is a rule about getting on and off moving equipment, and running.  Bad combo, but wont be doing it again anytime soon.

Answer 6

I remember this one like yesterday, one because it was so traumatic, but more because I tried to save someone's live and my work partner ended up saving mine.

Back in my High School Days I lived in Chico, California which is located about 120 Miles North of Sacramento on Highway 99.

This area is a large agricultural area, with the mainstay crops being Almonds, Rice, Peaches, Walnuts, Apricots, Nectarines, Prunes, Kiwi, and Bee Hives.

This portion of the tracks is frequented by College Students both crossing the tracks and trespassing on them.  This particular portion has always has issues with people getting killed on the tracks, because for some reason they feel as if they can play chicken with the trains.

This particular morning my High School buddy Rich and I were pruning the Almond Orchard that was located near the tracks in this area, and the Chico State University being about 1/4 to 1/2 mile from this small Orchard.  Close enough that people walk their dogs and things long the grade.

I was up in one of the older Almond Trees pruning out some of the higher branches.  I need to state this Orchard was one of my favorites because of its location next to the tracks, and being a train nut, took the according break for beans as necessary when Southern Pacific would roll by.

I was just getting ready to climb out of this tree when I heard the familiar sound of horns.  This meant there was about 4 minutes until the show began.  As I was climbing down out of the tree I looked up the tracks in the Northbound direction and saw a person walking down the center of the rails facing away from the direction of the on-coming train.

At this point I started to run towards them as fast as I possibly could with my work partner hot on my trail.  As I got closer I could see a pair of head phones in the person's ears.  I looked over my left shoulder and all I could see was the big red nose of the locomotive with the brakes full on, then suddenly everything went black.  All I could hear was screeching steel, and feel rumbling ground under me.  I kept feeling pressure on my back and head, then heard my partner telling me to keep my head down.  

By the time the screeching and rumbling stopped, the caboose was nearly directly over my head.  I was hauled to me feet by my partner and the guys in the caboose came out and were asking me if I was alright.  I nodded my head, and I asked if the other guy was OK.  

Well the answer was less than satisfactory, and much to my horror viewed my first human disaster.  When I told the rail crew what I saw, and why I was running towards that person, they told me to sit tight, because I was going to need to witness on behalf of the engineer.  Whom to this day, I cannot remember his name.

But I can tell you this.  I will never forget that event.  I can tell you this, on that day, at that very moment, I had a new found respect for trains.  I consider myself pretty lucky, because had my friend not tackled me, I would not be here to tell this story.

What I did learn fro this, is that it really can be too late to save a life.  

As for doing something like this again, well I'm not sure.  Now that I hear of these accidents on a fairly regular basis, I am actually convinced these people who trespass on the Railroad Property, and get killed are probably doing the rest of society a favor.

Though in my situation, from an on-looker the same could have been said about my noble effort to save that person's life.

In retrospect, I look at my effort to save a life as a good one, but I also consider this as the stupidest thing I ever done.

Answer 7

I lost my grip and got slung between the engine and our lead car twice, in a matter of seconds,  while we were kicking cars in our yard one night. I went completely under the sill step (bottom step of the engine, right in front of the lead wheel) and was almost cut in half.

Somehow I managed to pull myself back up, both times. My engineer finally saw me missing and stopped. I think it scared him almost as bad as it did me.

I had a gash and bruise from my hip to below my knee where i went under and could hardly walk for a few days.

Yes it was a rule violation, getting on/off moving equipment. To make it worse I was training a new hire.

Thought for sure I was a goner but you would've had to  beat my right hand off of the grab iron with a 10 pound sledgehammer.

It was only a few seconds but seemed like several minutes.

They have that rule there for a very good reason, and now I know why. Running for an early quit just ain't worth it sometimes.

Answer 8

Back in 1980, at the Foundry, of the Hillside Railway Workshops, in Dunedin, New Zealand,  I was the Storeman there.  On a certain Friday, I was chased around the floor, by some other Foundrymen.   And then, my left foot got entangled with my right leg, and I spun around, and fell back.  Striking the Moulders Boxes' handle ( solid steel of 1" to 1 1/2" in diameter ).  And the resulting blow was located on the back by the Spine.  Certainly close to it.  Felt as though the whole place had crashed down onto me.

I got hauled off to the Health Centre, and Heat-Lamped.  As well as severely reprimanded for this dangerous breach of the Safety Rules.  I could have easily been killed by either the Forklift Truck, or met my Maker via molten metal.

This was over a timeframe of 30 - 60 minutes, in all.

What did I learn from this ?   Disobedience is fatal to your health !  Obedience saves your life !!!   Live the Rules, and save your bacon.  AT ALL TIMES.

And, no,  I have not been stupid to do this dangerous stunt again.  Nor let myself be led into danger like this certainly was.

Answer 9

This is a difficult one, but I cant think of many times I have been really truly frightened, other than the brief scare you get coming around a curve and there is a headlight staring you right in the face, and you realize it is on an adjacent track.

I was hostling one night at Hinkle Yard, and as I was stepping up to catch the bottom step on the locomotive, my foot slipped and I came inches from getting my left foot ran over by the wheel. (this was in the day when you could still get on and off moving equipment)

I had dreams about that one for a few years.

Duration was instantaneous of course, and it is always gainst the rules to get hurt so I am sure I broke half a dozen.

Hitting a vehicle and taking the long walk back to see what you will find and what you can do is frightening, terrifying in some ways but not scary for your own well being.

Maybe I am just not smart enough to know when I should be scared.

Answer 10

I'm more of a train buff than a dare devil, and I've learned that I like steam locomotives more so than diesel locomotives.

Answer 11

i was working as a carman in a so cal railyard at the time.  in our manifest yard there was a train on trk 208 that needed an airhose between the trailing unit and the first car in the train.

trk 207 is immediately adjacent and had a road parallel to it so i drove up th eroad to where i neede to do the repair.  track 207 was clear.

i was monitoring the 'yard' channel on the radio.  this channel is different from the one the car dept, used at the time.  i knew there was an inbound due at any time but i did hear that he was to take the train into/onto one of our intermodal tracks.

never the less;  i monitored both channels.  i took my tools and a new hose between equipment on trk 208 and replaced the hose and made the air.

picked up my tools...stepped back from between the equipment and over the rail.  as i was turning and placing my left foot over the rail stepping into 207;  i looked up to see a locomotive and an engineer with his eyes as big as dinner plates!

he was at most 15' away and still moving.

seems amonst all the noise between equipment i had failed to hear the yardmaster tell him to yard his train in the manifest yard instead of on the ramp.

definately a surprise event and i learned to trust my eyes instead of the radio

i promptly hopped out of the way and followed them to the round house after putting his power away and profusely apologizing for almost getting run over and for d**n near ruining his day at the end of his day.

Answer 12

A couple:

First, when I was a new conductor, I was a brakeman on a yard switch job.  We were flat switching without air, and the foreman kicked a car and it stalled on the lead.  I went to the car and had the engineer make the hitch, while the foreman was at the head of the next car.  The couplers bypassed on the stalled car, and I said on the radio, "the hitch didn't make."  The foreman thought that the pin didn't drop, so he called for a second kick instead of re-doing the hitch - the engineer poured on the power, the stalled car lurched sideways, and the rail turned over spilling the cars on the ground, right where I was standing.  I ran like a sissy, but d**n that was something I didn't need to see a few months into my career.

Second, I was a spare board engineer on a local, and we were running short on time.  The moves we needed to make required splitting the power and a couple of other things, and we had a lot of cars.  After I mated the engines back up after that, I was light engines and coming into a speed restriction, so I put on a little independent - NOTHING.  I didn't have 10 seconds to wait for the dynamic, and had no cars, but I put on some automatic anyway and that worked.  After slowing down, I looked down, and sure enough, I had forgotten to cut in the independent (the auto was fine though).  

====================

Come to think of it, the best one was when I was a spare engineer on a local job with a conductor that was in too much of a hurry.  I was new and was trying to do everything safely, and he was in a hurry to make a commuter window.  He egged me on to shove him faster toward a siding, and as I was speeding up, he suddenly told me to hold up, as a switch was wrong and I was headed straight for a cut of cars!  I shot 'em, but we still made a hard hitch.  First night on the job, and I d**n near killed the guy.  Since then, I read on a company bulletin that, "there is a difference between working with a sense of urgency, and working dangerously."  I take that to heart these days - I am in NO hurry.