Passenger Trains > Trespassers

A Cascade train in the northwest, the Silver Star 91, and train 4, the Southwest Chief all delayed on 2-13 due to trespassers.  Three in one day.

Sad.

John Webb
Trinidad, CA

I think that there are far more occurances that don't get mentioned. There were two alone on Tuesday in Contra Costa County (SF BAy Area), California. A BNSF train struck a trespasser at about 0600 hours in Oakley, which ultimately delayed San Joaquin Trains 710/711.  Then a Capitol Corridor train struck a trespasser near Martinez, CA a little after 1000. I am not sure if 711 also got held up by this as well. Probably did, along with some Capitol Corridor trains & san Joaquin 712.

I wonder what a full total of nation-wide trespasser strikes in a single day would be

Gary

SN711 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think that there are far more occurances that
> don't get mentioned. There were two alone on
> Tuesday in Contra Costa County (SF BAy Area),
> California. A BNSF train struck a trespasser at
> about 0600 hours in Oakley, which ultimately
> delayed San Joaquin Trains 710/711.  Then a
> Capitol Corridor train struck a trespasser near
> Martinez, CA a little after 1000. I am not sure if
> 711 also got held up by this as well. Probably
> did, along with some Capitol Corridor trains & san
> Joaquin 712.
>
> I wonder what a full total of nation-wide
> trespasser strikes in a single day would be
>
> Gary

Gary,
You’re correct— there are more happening all of the time—and many that don’t get reported other than w/ RR /police reports; obviously, they take their toll on all of us who run trains. It’s so routine anymore that it’s scary— just like seeing the filthy homeless encampments along the ROW that seem to grow with each passing day, and sadly the source of many of these trespasser strikes, as well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/20 03:57 by IC_2024.

MAY HAVE A BUNCH TODAY, VALENTINES

make that 4. A Downeaster (Amtrak) whacked a trespasser in Falmouth, ME

IC_2024 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SN711 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I think that there are far more occurances that
> > don't get mentioned. There were two alone on
> > Tuesday in Contra Costa County (SF BAy Area),
> > California. A BNSF train struck a trespasser at
> > about 0600 hours in Oakley, which ultimately
> > delayed San Joaquin Trains 710/711.  Then a
> > Capitol Corridor train struck a trespasser near
> > Martinez, CA a little after 1000. I am not sure
> if
> > 711 also got held up by this as well. Probably
> > did, along with some Capitol Corridor trains &
> san
> > Joaquin 712.
> >
> > I wonder what a full total of nation-wide
> > trespasser strikes in a single day would be
> >
> > Gary
>
> Gary,
> You’re correct— there are more happening all
> of the time—and many that don’t get reported
> other than w/ RR /police reports; obviously, they
> take their toll on all of us who run trains.
> It’s so routine anymore that it’s scary—
> just like seeing the filthy homeless encampments
> along the ROW that seem to grow with each passing
> day, and sadly the source of many of these
> trespasser strikes, as well.

Sorry you have to go through that.  Must be horrible...But what is it with people today.  Do you think most are suicide?

TriRail in Florida also had a trespasser death on Thursday night.

Posted from Android

Suicide by train is easier to accomplish than suicide by cop.


bluesboyst Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------


> Sorry you have to go through that.  Must be
> horrible...But what is it with people today.  Do
> you think most are suicide?

SP4360 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Suicide by train is easier to accomplish than
> suicide by cop.
>
>
> bluesboyst Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
>
> > Sorry you have to go through that.  Must be
> > horrible...But what is it with people today. 
> Do
> > you think most are suicide?

SP4360, just what are you trying to say here anyway??  Just another snide suicide remark?  (My first guess)  Or, perhaps you're saying these are the only methods of suicide you are aware of?  Not so likely, eh?  

Suicide is nothing to joke about....it is, in fact, a life and death matter.....a factor not so many here seem to take note of.....or care.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

There may be an "indiffence" level of risk taking, where individuals don't care enough about their safety/survival to take prudent precautions but instead invite risks; at that point in their lives they just don't care any more.
But while dwelling at that level of depression/indifference they don't want to take an obviously suicidal action.
I think some of the highway driving I see is by people in this frame of mind.
And I often thought some employee safety issues were in this category too.
"Deaths of Despair" is the catchphrase, and sadly it affects railroads as we read here.
Be of good cheer and carry on.

railstiesballast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There may be an "indiffence" level of risk taking,
> where individuals don't care enough about their
> safety/survival to take prudent precautions but
> instead invite risks; at that point in their lives
> they just don't care any more.
> But while dwelling at that level of
> depression/indifference they don't want to take an
> obviously suicidal action.
> I think some of the highway driving I see is by
> people in this frame of mind.
> And I often thought some employee safety issues
> were in this category too.
> "Deaths of Despair" is the catchphrase, and sadly
> it affects railroads as we read here.
> Be of good cheer and carry on.

Well said, RTB... Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and the “price for freedom is eternal vigilance”, indeed — something I learned from my father working with farm equipment when I was a young man— this training served me well for my RR career, indeed.
For the other poster who asked about the trespasser fatalities that I’ve experienced... I would say that RTB said it well here. In the last four fatalities — in less than a two year period— I noticed that two of them walked into the path of the train at crossing sidewalks ( with flashers/gates), one ran directly in front of the cab car in the middle of nowhere, and one jumped off a station platform as I was making the stop.
And, all you can do is say a prayer for these desperate folks’ souls, and their family and friends. I do look forward to retirement and running tourist trains at ( practically) restricted speed... That will be a lot easier on my blood pressure for sure.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/20 18:07 by IC_2024.

           Thinning the herd as they say. Unfortunately we are producing more of these tresspasser suicide data points than are being removed from the gene pool .

Let me spell it out for ya. Someone hell bent on doing themselves in find it easier to walk in front of a trian, rather than creating a rucus to get cops involved with a few dozen bullets flying. This is today's screwed up society, whether it be someone on drugs thinking they can stop a train like superman, over dosing, or just can't take life anymore. Yes, it's a real problem that the govt. , whether on the local or on the federal level does not want to get involved with. Got it now?

agentatascadero Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SP4360 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Suicide by train is easier to accomplish than
> > suicide by cop.
> >
> >
> > bluesboyst Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> >
> >
> > > Sorry you have to go through that.  Must be
> > > horrible...But what is it with people
> today. 
> > Do
> > > you think most are suicide?
>
> SP4360, just what are you trying to say here
> anyway??  Just another snide suicide remark? 
> (My first guess)  Or, perhaps you're saying these
> are the only methods of suicide you are aware
> of?  Not so likely, eh?  
>
> Suicide is nothing to joke about....it is, in
> fact, a life and death matter.....a factor not so
> many here seem to take note of.....or care.
>
> AA

SP4360 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let me spell it out for ya. Someone hell bent on
> doing themselves in find it easier to walk in
> front of a trian, rather than creating a rucus to
> get cops involved with a few dozen bullets flying.
> This is today's screwed up society, whether it be
> someone on drugs thinking they can stop a train
> like superman, over dosing, or just can't take
> life anymore. Yes, it's a real problem that the
> govt. , whether on the local or on the federal
> level does not want to get involved with. Got it
> now?
>
> agentatascadero Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SP4360 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Suicide by train is easier to accomplish than
> > > suicide by cop.
> > >
> > >
> > > bluesboyst Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > >
> > >
> > > > Sorry you have to go through that.  Must
> be
> > > > horrible...But what is it with people
> > today. 
> > > Do
> > > > you think most are suicide?
> >
> > SP4360, just what are you trying to say here
> > anyway??  Just another snide suicide remark? 
> > (My first guess)  Or, perhaps you're saying
> these
> > are the only methods of suicide you are aware
> > of?  Not so likely, eh?  
> >
> > Suicide is nothing to joke about....it is, in
> > fact, a life and death matter.....a factor not
> so
> > many here seem to take note of.....or care.
> >
> > AA

Sir,  "Spell it out for me?"  Your point was clear from the beginning, even if it has no relevence.  I don't believe you are seriously suggesting that you know the thinking of those who are about to kill themselves.....indeed, no one does.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA