Re: (erielack) Two killed by passenger trains within 48 hours

[Charles_Walsh_@_Berlex.com]

Will,

I was only commenting on the relevance of the topic to this forum.  Don't
get me wrong, I certainly agree that it can bring back very bad memories.
But by the same token isn't the lack of discussion of the topic part of the
problem?  I think the culture has changed somewhat, but we still have a
ways to go.  In fact, I recall from high school (same timeframe as the
South Orange deaths) where there was some sort of two-bit safety program
conducted by the local police department which discussed walking on
railroad tracks and how you should never do it, etc., etc.  Never was it
discussed how you would safely do it if you still decided to walk the
tracks in spite of all the warnings.  There was a similar attitude towards
sex...we won't tell you how do do it safely because you might do it, not
realizing that for both the kids would have sex and walk the tracks anyway.
(Maybe they'd be LESS likely to do it if they had more accurate information
on it.)  Anyway, what they should have done was gotten someone from the E-L
to come in and tell the kids how dangerous it is, how you can get killed,
but if you're stupid enough to walk on an active railroad always be looking
behind you as well as in front of you.  I'm wondering if the E-L had such a
program?  I know we have Operation Lifesaver now but, correct me if I'm
wrong, doesn't that focus on grade crossing safety rather than safety on
the rest of the railroad?

Chuck



                                                                                                                                  
                      William Shultz                                                                                              
                      <wshultz1_@_twcny.rr.                                                                                         
                      com>                To:     Charles_Walsh_@_Berlex.com                                                        
                      Sent by:            cc:     Ken Clark <portlandturn_@_yahoo.com>                                              
                      erielack-owner_@_list         EL List <erielack@lists.railfan.net>                                            
                      s.elhts.org                 erielack-owner_@_lists.elhts.org                                                  
                                                  bill guimes <vze3fhdr_@_verizon.net>                                              
                                          Subject:                                                                                
                      12/01/2005 12:23 PM         Re: (erielack) Two killed by passenger trains within 48 hours                   
                      Please respond to                                                                                           
                      William Shultz                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  



Well Chuck,

Considering we have current and former train crew personnel on this
list, do you really think they want to be reminded of these sorts of
events? I doubt they need any reminder of something most if not all of
them have had to deal with first hand. I agree with Bill, leave it to
read in your evening paper or NJN news report.

Will Shultz

Charles_Walsh_@_berlex.com wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> Suicides (or even unintentional deaths) are an issue that many locomotive
> engineers will have to deal with during the course of their careers.
It's
> a significant problem, and it's been pooh-poohed until very recently.  I
> understand that NJ Transit actually has a psychological counseling
program
> for engineers that have been involved in such accidents.  I'm sure that
> many other railroads have similar problems, although it's done quietly.
> I'd be interested in knowing how the E-L handled this issue.
>
> I lived very near the spot in South Orange where three teenagers (two of
> whom I knew personally) were killed back in the early 1970s by a
Gladstone
> express.  The enginner went all the way to the end of his run without
> knowing that he had hit anyone.  The other three never knew what hit
them.
> What was never reported at the time was that they had been walking west
on
> Track 2 when an eastbound push-pull consist was starting up from South
> Orange station with a monstrously noisy U34CH on the rear.  They crossed
> over to Track 1 (the center track) not realizing that the Gladstone
express
> was approaching from behind them, probably because they never heard it.
> The fourth teenager happen to glance eastbound and saw the train
> approaching at 60 mph and jumped just before it would have hit him.  The
> lone survivor ran to the Shop-Rite just eastbound of the station where
they
> called the police and fire department.  One of the kids that got hit (who
I
> knew) was the son of a fireman who happened to be on duty and the father
> ran the short distance to the accident scene to find out that his son had
> been killed.
>
> So, maybe this is a morbid topic...but I disagree that it isn't relevant
to
> this forum.
>
> Chuck
>
>

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