Steam & Excursion > UP844 fatality ruled an accident

See the Trains Magazine release here:

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/08/05-investigators-rule-up-844-excursion-death-accidental-family-agrees

Mesmerized by enthusiasm at the wonderful sight. Aren't we all? Maybe forgot to step back after doing a longer shot. I feel very bad for everyone involved; I feel bad about it and I was not involved. In the 45 years I have chased trains on the DP Line nothing like this has ever happened. Always have your own situational awareness turned fully on, even behind the camera viewfinder, and Safety is of the First Importance. My sincere prayers, condolences and best wishes for her husband and their family and friends. === === = === JLH

Well stated.  It was one of those things over which the crew has no control.

Last year according to the FRA...

“The FRA data concluded that train deaths have grown steadily in the past 10 years, peaking in 2017. The federal agency said that 888 people died due to train-related incidents last year, and 575 of them were considered trespassers, like Stobe.”

( Stobe was a Baltimore, MD, man as part of the news reporting & story..)

So, 575 were “knowing trespassers” on the RR property ...
How many days in a year??
How many deaths per day??

(Answer: 1.52 intentional, trespasser, deaths, every day of the year, in 2017...).
I’m gonna be sick...

Trespassers on RR tracks...

There’s no explaining how or why these people decided to stand in front of moving trains bearing down on them.

That’s 575 train crews who’s lives are forever changed and who’s memories are deeply branded,
with dreadful emotions & feelings that will haunt them for the rest of their lives...

It’s numbing, but it s Reality.
To us observers, there’s no comprehending these senseless acts of commission.

They are hardly “accidents”. People don’t “accidentally” trespass on RR property. Remember the porno-movie gang with a full sized bed on CSX’s
bridge? Which resulted in deaths...

My concerns are with the railroaders who’s lives and families are shattered as a result..

The “casualties” brought this on themselves.
They’re in God’s care now.
There’s no explaining the individual deaths..

W.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/18 13:17 by wcamp1472.

What also is amazing is how this victim turned out to be a regular railfan oriented person who seems to have had experience being trackside. In short, she was one of us, and the moral of the story is that this can happen to anyone. Condolences to her family.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/18 11:46 by rev66vette.

That’s even MORE horrifying...
But explains a lot...

W.

Posted from iPhone

The true Moral of the story is this;

We all have a responsibility to watch out and care for each other.  This means everybody, from the crew in the locomotive to our own fellow railfans and even as high as the entire railroad system itself.   The question that should be asked is:  What, as railfans can any of us do to prevent this in the future?  How do we become more aware of our fellow railfans and how do we intervene when we see something bad about to happen.  Truth is, in this situation, everybody/anybody that was close enough to do anything....did.  This is why we have an "accidental" ruling.  

I think the railfan community takes the biggest lesson here.  We need to do a much, much better job of making sure that all of us stay safe.  This is top down, from chasing to crossings to track side, we just need to watch, help and loving enforce the basic and oh so important safety rules.  It really is all that simple.   Tough, tough lesson for all of us and something to never be forgotten.  

Again, all of us need to rally around the family, the crew and all those who have had to deal with this and offer our support and kindness.  No matter who you are, it touches and hurts all of us.  

John E. Rimmasch

Well put.
Thank you, John..

W.

(That’s why there’s a ZOOM button on cameras.... so you save your assets...)

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/18 13:02 by wcamp1472.

Well said John and so true. I'm so grateful that I've never had the misfortune of hiting anyone while I've been running although I've had a couple of near misses.  As John says let's all try to do a better job of being our brothers keeper.

   Ross Rowland

As bad as it was for the engine crew, did I read that her son was there taking photos too?  The whole thing is sad beyond imagination.

I also feel bad for all involved, but it's good know that not everyone blames someone else for a loss like this and sues, though understandably people often attempt to find fault when deluged with emotion from a great loss. But you know, I don't think it was the right time for the UP spokesman to put in a plug for the 4014 if indeed that came up at the same time response to the accident.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erswhilepublications.com

Came up on a guy walking his dog down the tracks at Tuscola, Illinois, yesterday.  Sure he got out of the way, but still.... what the hell are you thinking, you idiot!?!?!?

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/18 17:13 by MaryMcPherson.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As bad as it was for the engine crew, did I read
> that her son was there taking photos too?  The
> whole thing is sad beyond imagination.

I thought I read that as well, but no, it was an unrelated couple and their 13-year-old son on the opposite side of the track from the victim that witnessed it.  

As others have said it just shows that anyone can become distracted and do something dumb, such a sad story.

I drive by the BNSF main through Anaheim/Yorba Linda every day and I always see people crossing the tracks but the other day was the first time I actually saw someone shooting on the tracks. These two teenage girls were standing on the main taking photos of each other and about 1/4 a mile down was a train just clearing the signal bridge, thankfully he was still moving slowly. I didn't really notice them until I was almost past them or I would have told them to get out of there. The strange thing is this section is one of the least photogenic areas ever to take photos of yourself on the tracks.

Thanks for this post and link, hkyman16.
I was wondering about who the lady was, if she had family, ect...
And I'm sure many others were wondering about that also.
Very Sad, and Many thoughts and prayers go out to her husband, family and all who knew her.

Reading about how familiar she was to this area, reminded me of a recurring theme contained within all the occupational safety training I've received over the years, and that is to be even more vigilant when doing repetitive actions, or when in familiar areas.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Famous slogan both about safety and security related occupations:
“Familiarity breeds contempt..”

Meaning that we if you’re overly confident because you’ve done something so often, you get sloppy and inattentive .... your “sharp awareness edge “ is gone...
terrible results often ensue..

You become contemptuous of your working surroundings.... a very common cause of so many tragedies..

I can reel off a lot of infamous train related wrecks... with contempt as the underlying cause...

Sad, but true...

W.

Posted from iPhone

RailRat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for this post and link, hkyman16.

You're welcome Jim. My friends and I were thinking this could have been the end of mainline steam as we know it. Thankfully, this may not be the case.

Wasatch-RR-Cont Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think the railfan community takes the biggest
> lesson here.  We need to do a much, much better
> job of making sure that all of us stay safe. 
> This is top down, from chasing to crossings to
> track side, we just need to watch, help and loving
> enforce the basic and oh so important safety
> rules.  It really is all that simple.

Well said John, something I used to practice back in the 90's while railfanning and especially during UP Steam events in Idaho/Nevada, even before getting a job as a sub-contractor for UP, that required track safety training.

When out filming trains alone, I would always make sure the engine crew saw me WALKING AWAY from the tracks, and at least 15 to 20 feet out, as they approached!

While filming UP Steam events, I would always politely let folks know they need to move further away from the tracks, whether they were railfans, or just there to see the train. Many of them, especially the kids, are so thrilled that the Steam engine is coming, they kind of forget about everything else. Some of them have no Idea what can happen to them.

Sometimes I would have to break away from concentrating on getting that great shot, for a few moments, if I saw people too close to the tracks, and let them know.

Dont do very much railfanning these days, but still, I let folks know if I see thier car tires looking very low, some folks get embarrassed or offended, but most say Thank you.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Agree with John - can't not agree!

I recall seeing a kid sitting on the rail in Chicago photographing MILW 261 long ago - I told him kindly to
get off the rail but he insisited he was safe since the steam locomotive was on the inside track.  We almost
got into a fight but got him to move and explained why it was important.

As for the incident - so sad, now with a face to it.  I'd be willing to bet it is BECAUSE she and her husband
were railfans that they did not chose to sue.  Imagine if they were not - "big business is always at fault" even
often when they are not.  It's easier to settle then to fight, sadly, and some lawyer no doubt would explain
the fault lied with UP not providing enough security... or a missing fence.  Lack of cushioning on the loco...

Sad story - glad UP did not get further penalized.

/Mitch