CSX Tragedy & Railfan implications

I’ve been in a couple of fatalities in my career. There’s been far too many close calls to mention. A year or so ago I had an appointment at my audiologist’s office. She had a picture of her daughter which was taken in the middle of some tracks. It reminds me of a time that I’d just brought a train across the border from Canada. Customs wanted to look at a car, so I escorted them back. One officer started walking in the middle of the adjacent track. I got him out of there and explained that any track is considered live, just like his sidearm is always considered loaded.

Near my home is an industrial track, which happens to be next to a park/playground. My nephew sat his baby daughter in the gauge, snapped a picture, then posted it on social media. I told him about what a bad idea it was. He ought to know better because he’s a firefighter, who at some point has or will see a train vs. person incident. His wife got pissed at me, but that’s OK. I almost wish that the local gum shoe Buford T. Justice caught him. Buford would have surely made the point by threatening trespassing arrest and possible referral to child welfare authorities. Maybe then his b!tch wife would see that I wasn’t trying to be an a-hole.

In 2009 I attended the big steam event at Owosso, MI. On Sunday, 765 had subbed in for 1225, which blew a flue, on the all day trip.

Of course, there was quite a crown waiting for the train's return. Most folks got into the photo line so they could get their shot. Not one guy, who was standing close enough to the tracks that he got a number of warning toots from the engineer, which he ignored - I'm sure he didn't realize they were intended for him.

I was well back from the tracks, and he's in my shot of 765 on her return.

Over the years, and when I visit Miami airport to watch planes, there is a favorite spot for viewing planes arriving and departing. I also like the live track that's in between the parking area and the airport fence. But what is stressing about this location is the people that walk the tracks, sit on the tracks, pose for professional photos.......etc etc. It amazes me that amongst them, nobody is paying attention to their surroundings. The have little kids stretched out on the rails getting photographed. Crazy.

There is no limit to today's stupidity. The New York Post reports on their web site (with accompanying video) that three photogenic youth posed for pictures on the tracks of the Chicago Loop. They soon discovered that the signs warning about the third rail dangers were accurate. We can all feel sorry for someone who hurts themselves, but at one point you have to look at all the warning signs, all the thousands of things we read about live rail, and wonder how and why these young idiots can't take safety seriously. When I hear their friends crying and whining about fences and warnings and the railroads responsibility, I just have to shake my heard. No train has ever hit anyone other than a trespasser, EVER, unless the train were derailed.

FL9: From reading the current news links at www.chicago-l.org the electrocution incident occurred on the
Lake Street L (Green) Line at the Ridgeland/Lake Station in Oak Park - and NOT on the Downtown Chicago
Loop CTA elevated structure - see this local Oak Park, IL newspaper article about what had happened:
https://oakpark.com/2023/08/08/man-elec ... -oak-park/

High level platforms - and signs about the potential danger of the 600 VDC third rail being present - were not
enough to keep these two from going on to the tracks just to take photos...

When I see pictures of people taken on railroad tracks anyplace I look at the track and background line(s)...
Was it a little-used slow speed track or even abandoned - or is it on what obvious (to us at this Forum) as a
busy main-line rail route in which some trains can travel at high speeds?

Getting back to the original topic about this tragic accident: Was Dakota Williams an active member of the
rail enthusiast community in the Utica area that was known to other railfans? As an example: Was he a member
of a local NRHS chapter or other rail-oriented group?

The vast majority of responsible rail enthusiasts are quite aware of any potential dangers of unsafe activities
on or close to trackside - as example I like to be able to read passing car numbers which is not doable if you
are too close to the train - in high-level plarform areas (all LIRR stations) that means standing at the back of
the platform as far away from the edge as I can depending on the location...

We all know that some fans share their trainspotting with all of us through venues such as YouTube...
What gets me at times is seeing videos from awkward angles that are too close to the passing train to try
and read identifying information such as numbers and reporting marks - and sometimes from far too close
to the "danger zone" of the platform edge...I fully understand Engineers and Train Operators being vigilant
and/or apprehensive when anyone is too close to live tracks in any situation...MACTRAXX

When I was a kid, I recall going to Something at DC, union station, and rode the LRC to Landover and back.
Afterwards, we saw an operation lifesaver film, which had kids playing in tracks, getting shoe laces stuck in a switch,
and then they we dead and ghosts. Needless to say, that left me very conscious around tracks.
Does anyone else recall that film? It really needs to go viral, so folks learn.
And yeah, every time I see pictures of people on shiny tracks, I think darwin on line one.

I thought that was an Amtrak sponsored ad.