Railworks America

I never can understand people when they think it's okay to film or take photos on tracks. CP posted this article to their FB page and it goes quite well with this story. http://blog.wppionline.com/2015/01/why- ... ign=buffer

Even his looks couldn't save him earning a Darwin Award.

Has to be just unthinkable for whoever was in the cab at the time. :(

This is in bad taste, and should be removed from the forum.

It's not in bad taste. Aside from the title faux pas, it nevertheless highlights a serious and all too frequent event among those you would think had an once of common sense. If not the victim, then at least someone on the photography crew should have known better. Shame on those involved, except condolences to the engineer, who will likely never forget the incident.

I love articles like this. Keep them coming! Anytime the dominant gene S-TUP1-DEE can be removed from the pool, it's a good thing. To bad though it could not have happened sooner, as this guy had apparently made videos prior to this incident showing his intelligence while exercising on the rails. Way to encourage others to display their stupid as well.

Unfortunately, it shows just how pervasive this gene is in our society that even with the high profile mow-downs that have happened in the last couple of years, including the Allman movie accident here in GA, that these loons still think this is a good idea. The last time I was out for photos, a "professional" photographer was nearby photographing children on the tracks, while the mother stood by smiling and giving encouragement. The cops are to busy to deal with this, and Operation Lifesaver just shakes their heads and gives a "tsk,tsk,tsk" about it, so I don't even report it anymore.

gwgardner wrote:This is in bad taste, and should be removed from the forum.

And you are the one who decides that, of course.

Chacal wrote:

gwgardner wrote:This is in bad taste, and should be removed from the forum.

And you are the one who decides that, of course.

He is merely suggesting and entitled to his opinion. Personally I agree with him. This topic is just tabloid junk.

Well I must admit that I've been guilty somewhat of this behavior. In 2008 when I got my first HD video camera, my tripod was set up dead in the middle of the main line on top of Tehachapi Loop directly above tunnel #9. I was filming a train climbing. As it looped around and got closer, I realized to myself "Hey dummy! You had a brain fart and set up the camera on the track the train is on... move it". So I calmly moved the camera to the siding track and continued to film. A climbing train is so slow that you have plenty of time to get out of the way. They are pretty slow going down the grade too.

Passenger trains (especially light commuter trains) are especially dangerous. They are fast and very quiet in comparison to a heavy freight train. When I lived in Milwaukee for a bit, a Milwaukee-Chicago Amtrak Hiawatha commuter train going 70mph snuck up on me while I was walking a few feet along the side of the tracks on a curve. I heard the rails and the wind resistance sound first, turned my head and there it was. Took me by complete stealthy surprise. Scared me for a second. He gave a quick toot of the horn and it whooshed past me. A few feet closer and I'd be slammed. Luckily I keep that distance in mind when I walk besides tracks to avoid being hit.

I have to admit, when I clicked on this thread I was thinking it had something to do with the La Mesa Model Railroad Club in San Diego Club or maybe Miniature Wonderland.