How do train suicides affect the train drivers?

Question

Train suicides or 'one under's can affect the drivers of the trains as well as the suicidal person's family. I want to know whether there is anything talking about how driver's are affected by such situations.

Answer 1

A good friend was a train driver. Had this happen to him. He was off work for over 6 months. After 2 months back he decided he just could not carry on. He kept seeing the woman step out in front of him. He had been a train driver for over 20 years. He had hit many animals in that time, but could never get past hitting a human being even though it was intentional on her part.

Answer 2

there's not much you can do from the cab if someone jumps in front of your train, its not like we can stop that much tonnage on a dime. i don't mean to sound cold blooded but if they decided that there life wasn't worth living they were going to end it one way or another.

i would have a much harder time if i hit a car and killed a child.

Answer 3

Just ask yourself this question - how would YOU feel if someone jumped out in front of your car in order to commit suicide?

The engineers are affected in different ways, but most times the companies will give them time off to get their emotions under control before letting them go back to work.  Some engineers never go back to driving the engine.  They take other jobs.

But what really bugs me are the stupid people who try to beat  trains at crossings!  Trains don't stop like cars!!  Even slow-moving trains will take over a half mile to come to a stop after hitting a car.  If you want to feel like Superman, just content yourself with out-running the train without trying to cross in front of it.

Answer 4

If you saw someone get splattered right in front of your eyes don't you think you mite get a bit freaked out too?

Answer 5

emotional experience they allow for counseling if it is very stressful.

Answer 6

They see the guy, the guy disapears. oh wait he's under the train..

oh well.

Answer 7

How would you feel if someone stepped out in front of you, and you coould do nothing but stop about a mile after you hit them?

Answer 8

It affects engineers and conductors in varying arrays.  There have been instances where they may never see the person, pull into the station and guess what they find on the grill of the train and under it.

You can imagine it cannot be a good situation to be in.

Fortunately, for these individuals, there are often Peer Support groups that talk with them and help them through these situations as well as pastors in the crew, etc.  As another poster mentioned, they also have time off to help cope as well as counseling available.