What have been your most frightening moments whilst involved with Museum Railways/ Railroads ?

Question

Whilst at Ferrymead Railway, in Christchurch, over Labour Weekend last October, I had to save the life of a visitor.

It happened in this way: whilst doing my Duty as Crossing Keeper; all decked-out in Uniform, Safety Boots, Hat, and Jacket, and holding the reflectorised dots that comprise the word STOP, a fairly good-sized group of peoople approached me from the back.

One in particular - a young boy of about 5 - was running out in front of them. His father called-out to him to stop, as did I.

He would not. I dropped the signboard, and grabbed the kid. If I had not done so, he would have been properly mangled by the incoming Train. I 'handed him back' to his Father, and told this boy off. I was unprepared for a Funeral.

The Shunter on this incoming Train from Ferrymead Station, had seen this incident. Later on, he met me, and I told him about what had gone on.

Congratulated all round by those whom witnessed what I had to do.

But my poor heart was fair racing !

Answer 1

Hi I work for Norfolk Southern in middle Georgia USA

My scariest moments have been

School bus that almost pulled out in front of my train.We were doing 45mph

People walking out in front of a 15mph train I mean less that 10 ft

Almost head on collision with a track man in his hyrail truck

he was in my track authority.We were only going 10mph but this was the scariest moment I've had yet

Answer 2

Well, this incident didn't scare me because I knew what was going on, but it sure as h**l got everyone else's attention!

An engine under steam always draws a crowd where ever the commanding rails take it.  In many instances, news of the arrival of any steam giant makes the papers and media broadcasts in advance, which usually guarantees a throng of onlookers.  Although having made many trips up and down the I-5 corridor on the west coast, whenever the SP #4449 is out and about, it draws a large audience.

Many is the number of people who have seen an engine under steam, usually in the context of tourist lines, such as the Cass Scenic Railway, the Sierra Pacific, Roaring Camp and Big Trees, the Skunk and many others that still not only survive, but thrive, still serving their masters faithfully even though quite aged.  They’re wonderful old tea pots, but not necessarily imposing.  The heavy road power of the past presents a different image, large machines that can be frightening.

Though by no means the largest of the steam era giants, the GS-4 class of Northerns operated by the Southern Pacific were  engines of generous proportions.  Out-shopped by Lima in 1941 following Southern Pacific’s design, the grand dams boasted drivers that were nearly seven feet tall (80 inches), 26x32 inch cylinders, a booster engine on the trailing trucks and carrying 300 psi of boiler pressure.  At 475,000 lbs and just over 108 feet in length (today’s diesels are around 72 feet, coupler face to coupler face), it was imposing to say the least.

And so it did on one of its southward journeys, in early ‘86, when at that time I was a Road Foreman of Engines, headquartered in Dunsmuir.  Naturally, I accompanied the train across my district.

Even when departing Klamath Falls westward, in early morning on a weekday, a throng had gathered to see the beautiful engine with graceful lines and stunning livery prepare for departure.  A nice part of this scenario is that spectators were allowed in very close proximity, unusual when the train is tied up overnight in a terminal.

As it stood being prepared for the day’s run to Sacramento, 300 miles south, an adoring horde was gathered around the friendly giant, having lost any fear as it was blotted out by the fascinating, panting marvelous machinery that stood before them.  When it turned, suddenly, not so friendly of a creature.

An oil burning locomotive, the fireman had the responsibility of keeping the fire lit while keeping the fire from producing too much steam pressure.   When too close to the edge of the fire going out or staying lit, sometimes an unusual thing happens, called “drumming.”  This is caused by the fire actually going out, for a split second, then reigniting, with a loud “whooomp” each time the fire came back to life, like the noise made when a Bar-B-Q fire flashes over, only very, very  loud and disconcertingly, and usually in rapid, unevenly spaced succession, WHOMP!  WHOMP WHOMP! Etc.  Unless someone knows what’s actually going on, it is guaranteed to scare the h**l out of you.

All were gathered round as close as they could get, in a carnival like atmosphere, shutters of cameras clicking like mad.  Then “WHOOOMP,” and she started drummin’.  You should have seen the pandemonium.  It was like a crowd running from Godzilla.  These people scattered like when one spooks a flock of pigeons and they all take flight at once.  I had to laugh my tail off.  There were no injuries in the backward stampede, fortunately, because the threat was certainly there.  These folks were reeeeeeeeeally wanting to distance themselves from that which a moment before they had been trying to get as close to as possible.  I would imagine for those with the weakest intestinal fortitude this was the last time they volunteered to be in intimate contact with an engine under steam.  At least, when dealing with one of these intimidating behemoths.

Answer 3

Definitely none, even so I was on a derailing on a bridge and passe within 4 weekis 3 RR accidents, one on an emergency track after a gas and oil train blew up in a station. All as passenger!!!!

I sometimes turned around in shock if someone was crossing the rails kind of front of a train