Western Railroad Discussion > 2 Trespassers struck by UP Spreader

Unfortunately 2 trespassers were struck by a UP spreader yesterday afternoon near Soda Springs, CA on the Roseville Subdivision. The mother and son were out hiking in the snow during whiteout conditions and may have become lost. This incident is one more example to stay clear of the tracks, especially in snowy/icy conditions. Sadly the mother did not survive and her adult son was severely injured.


KXTV-Ch. 10 Sacramento
http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=52426&catid=2
Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/latest/story/1499659.html

I feel sorry for the two. If it was whiteout conditions, I'd find it hard to believe that they'd do it on purpose. White out conditions normally take place when the wind is blowing and if the wind is blowing that hard, trust me, you can not hear anything or see very far. All you focus on is the ground directly in front of your feet. I hope that no one holds it against them. I live in a state where such conditions are common and I can understand.

Mariah Rich

According to a newspaper article, the two thought they were on a trail when the spreader came by during the whiteout. They may not have even realized they were trespassing. Obviously they could not see the rails if if a spreader was there removing snow.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/26/state/n162929S29.DTL&tsp=1

It was a zoo up on the hill today and I thought it was strange that the flangers where calling out every civilian seen by the tracks. Guess this is the explanation.

Ron
http://www.railfanrails.com/


WR-44 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Unfortunately 2 trespassers were struck by a UP
> spreader yesterday afternoon near Soda Springs, CA
> on the Roseville Subdivision. The mother and son
> were out hiking in the snow during whiteout
> conditions and may have become lost. This
> incident is one more example to stay clear of the
> tracks, especially in snowy/icy conditions. Sadly
> the mother did not survive and her adult son was
> severely injured.
>
>
> KXTV-Ch. 10 Sacramento
> http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyi
> d=52426&catid=2
> Sacramento Bee
> http://www.sacbee.com/latest/story/1499659.html

In years past while shooting pics of the flangers and spreaders, it was quite common to see skiers using the middle of the tracks for a cross country trail. Some people just are oblivious to their surroundings.

In Soda Springs where the fatality hit took place, the open areas of the UP MOW parking areas, other parking areas and the wide open (frozen) Lake Van Norden would make the UP Roseville Sub mainline ROW a little harder to make out in complete white-out, built-up thick ground snow conditions. I'm guessing the previously flanged ROW would allow for easier hiking and appear to be a "trail" to the untrained eye. I feel and pray for the son that survived now without his mom on Christmas Day.

~~~

espeeboy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In Soda Springs where the fatality hit took place,
> the open areas of the UP MOW parking areas, other
> parking areas and the wide open (frozen) Lake Van
> Norden would make the UP Roseville Sub mainline
> ROW a little harder to make out in complete
> white-out, built-up thick ground snow conditions.
> I'm guessing the previously flanged ROW would
> allow for easier hiking and appear to be a "trail"
> to the untrained eye. I feel and pray for the son
> that survived now without his mom on Christmas
> Day.
>
> ~~~

I'm with you on this, Ryan--very sad, and thoughts and prayers go out to all involved. Once again, a grim reminder about how dangerous it is to be on those tracks--esp. during a blizzard. You can't see well and those flangers are authorized at 40mph so they can throw the snow--the message: stay in the clear!

Not only Spreader 0perators but all railroaders worst night mare. Anyone or anything trapped in the trough left by the flangers is doomed as there is no way to get clear of the RR equipment due to the windrow of snow on each side of the rails. You just hope you can see them far enough away to stop.
From experience not hearsay.