I am not sure that this is the right forum but since I railfan mostly in NJ and Pa. I'll post it here and if it belongs elsewhere I won't be offended by being forwarded to another forum. A few days ago I was standing in a parking lot adjacent to an NS main line right of way, but NOT on RR property. A fast freight went on by and one of the flatcars had a load of lumber secured by flat metal strips. One of these strips had come loose and was flapping in the air and bouncing up and down and hitting the ground some six or seven feet from the car. This train was travelling at a good 50 mph and if I had been closer, and on occasion I have been, the results could have been tragic. I don't know if this could be detected by the automatic detecting equipment. I didn't have a cell phone and was nowhere near a pay phone, though come to think of it I don't know who I would have called. The bottom line on this is for railfans to keep in mind that this sort of scenario is a potential disaster in the offing and to stay well clear of the tracks. I did not see this strip until it was right in front of me. Anybody else out there ever have a similar experienc ?
That is most definately in the right forum.....it should be made a sticky and posted on the top of every forum!!!
The RR is a dangerous place, a very dangerous place. Usually at crossings or signal huts or other railroad structure, there is a telephone number to call for reporting problems.