Let me tell a tale of just after I marked up as a promoted conductor.
I was working the 14g outta Harrisburg Terminal (fuelpad relay) and was in the process of making a setoff of switcher power before continuing onto Morrisville.
As I was working the switches to come off #2 main, I saw a railfan step between the rails and stand infront of a UP unit that happened to be a widebody. Now, when I say 'stepped infront of' I meant so close he could have bumped his tummy on the knuckle. He then proceeded to stand there and take a picture looking up at the engine's cab.
What if the handbrake failed at that particular moment and the engine rolled towards him? What do you think his chance of survival would have been?
Now, as a railfan myself, I don't begrudge anyone a picture. Afterall, I nabbed one of the 4275, F-unit booster last week as it was shifted out of JBS. However, this person should have been stopped, detained, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent... not just for tresspassing, but for just plain abject stupidity.
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__ J. D. Gallaway __
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