Let's look at these common sense safety statements shall we?
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You put yourself there
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Not always..There are streets, alleys and sideways that bunt against the tracks..Then some cities has busy main lines running down the center of the street..As people get accustom to these hazards mistakes are made and death and injury is the results.
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You pay attention or not
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Sadly nobody can pay attention 100% of the time including railroad men..There lays the fatal trap that leads to injury and death.
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You put yourself in danger or not (just being there is dangerous)
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Not really..I been railfanning for years and always keep a safe distance.But as a former brakeman I know the dangers..Again keep your wits about you and use good common sense and there is NO danger other then derailing cars in the event of a derailment..However by having a escape route and watching the train at a angle as it comes toward you that minimizes the risk after all if you see ballast flying and hear unusual noises from the train then you can bet something is amiss.
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You get distracted... you probably will be distracted... "or not isn't really an option
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Again nobody can pay attention 100% of the time but,by using good common since like staying away from the track there should be no danger.
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You have something to do/attend to/see... worst is "in a hurry"
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Sadly today just about everybody is in a hurry this of course leads to accidents of all types.But,when one is railfaning he should be relaxing and not in a hurry.
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You forget things... like one train will hide another.
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This is true on double tracks or around yards..However,on a single track one train can not hid the other.So,common sense will tell you one MAY be following the train that just went by..At any rate you have a few minutes or maybe longer before the next train but, like ALWAYS stay off the tracks and you will be ok.Remember NTAT-Next Train Any Time.
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When YOU hear a train horn YOU get clear OF ALL LINES... the one you see ain't necessarily the one that blew...
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Again stay off the tracks and you're good..Nothing like horse sense when railfaning.
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When the tail of a train passes... another may be coming on the next track... Don't put YOU in front of it
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Again good advice for double or triple main lines-obey the Stop,Look and Live rule.
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When the last container on a flat goes by in the dark it doesn't mean that it isn't followed by a string of empties. Don't walk YOU into it.
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This has been a problem for years so now by Federal mandate railroads are apply reflector tape on side of freight cars from better night visibility..
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When you wait for a train to clear so you can cross wait clear of the track. Don't put YOU in the path of another train
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This is a repeat of the above so I will say-Stop,Look & Live.
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When you walk out your home put home behind you... wether it was a row or a great day... You want to walk back in at the end of your shift.
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Sadly that will never happen..Minds will wonder to home and things to be done at home.
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As far as fatigue...This causes more accidents..People working 11pm-7am are at the highest risk of having a on the job accident or a accident on the way home regardless how many years a employee been working midnights according to a study by NHSC and other such groups.
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As far as radios as a brakeman I had to stand near the train while talking on the radio..As far as hand held scanners used in railfaning most railfans I know has them secured in a carrying case attached to his belt..
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As far as railroad men getting into the mode that is not always true.Minds wonder,mistakes are made and somebody looses a limb or his life.Sadly the "perfect" railroad man doesn't exist.Fatigue is the main culprit and personal problems takes its share.NEVER think railroad men are always safe.YOU could lose your life because of HIS MISTAKE.Ask any crew that has survived a head on because the other crew ran a absolute stop.Ask a brakeman or conductor that lost a leg because of a mistake by another railroader..
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As far as railfans not standing a chance don't bet the farm many railfans know the dangers as well as the railroad men.Railfaning is SAFE when COMMON SENSE is USED.