Getting a Cabride With CP Rail?

Question

Hi, I'm a 14 year old railfan. I live along CP's Crowsnest Sub, which sees about 6-8 trains a day. I'm looking to get a cabride. How would I go about doing so?

Answer 1

Having family in the business never hurts ;). To get a ride you' d most likely have to get some kind if liability waiver signed that says you are 110% responsible for your actions and can only stay in the locomotive. Then either the trainmaster for the Sub or the Road Forman of Engines would have to ride along with you and the crew. But your chances are slim to none. Sorry about your luck man :(.

Answer 2

Contact the rail company. Odds are they will say "Because of liablility reasons, we can not allow non-employees in the engine compartment while underway".

Answer 3

For most railroads, it is against regulations to give cab rides.  To much of a safety and liability factor.  I know that when I was working for the DGNO Railroad here in Dallas, TX we were allowed to give rides to our familes, as long as they had a waiver saying if they get hurt the railroad is not responcible.  If I were you I would wait till I turned 18, then work as hard as you can to go to work for the railroad.  All depends on what you want to do later in life.  If you dont mind being on call 24/7 365 days a year, then go for it.  But if you cant handle the on call part, then dont waste your time, or money for the schools.

Answer 4

It's a sad indictment that it is so difficult to get a cab ride.

Answer 5

The things you'd need to do these days to get a cab ride probably can't be mentioned on a family-friendly forum.

Although I can't speak specifically for CP, most major railways have a "no riders" policy - some more strict than others.  The bottom line is, unless you're a railway employee, working at the time, with reason to be in the cab, you'd better not find yourself in there.

In days of old, it was pretty easy to get a cab ride from family, friends, or just an accommodating crew.  But these days, with liability and litigation always a concern to corporations, they don't want a soul on their property or equipment that doesn't have to actually be there.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but barring future employment, the prospects of a cab ride don't look good.

Answer 6

I would say your chances are about 1 in 100 of getting a cabride.  I won't repeat some of the reasons that have been already given, but a train crew can get in trouble for giving cab rides. If you are close to a yard or siding, you may be able to look into the cab with crew permission.  If you do succeed in getting into a cab, know that Canadian cabs are nicer than US cabs.  There are more creature comforts like hotplates and sometimes microvave ovens.