Noted in passing: Always expect a train

[kinzel]

Man seeks reward for stupidity:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08312008/news/regionalnews/zapped_amtrak_trespasser_sues_126902.htm

In other news:

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8e637cb2-d28a-4141-81c6-ccf807950f18

http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8887988&nav=menu1344_2

Note -- it appears that people are being killed in train-car incidents almost daily. Please do not try to outrun a train to the gate, do not walk on the railroad tracks, do not go swimming from railway bridges, and don't climb on trains. Really.

Comments

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

I was a passenger in a car that almost got hit by a train many years ago. The road crossed the tracks at a spot where the tracks were lined with big old factory buildings that blocked any view of oncoming trains. The crossing gates and lights had a problem, most likely caused by rain, and they didn't do their thing until after we were on the tracks with a huge train engine blowing its whistle at us while the engineer madly applied his brakes. To add insult to injury, the gates did eventually come down and just barely missed hitting the rear of our car. At least they prevented the car behind us from being on the tracks because I'm fairly sure that another car wouldn't have made it across.

That was at least 25 years ago and crossing tracks where I don't have a good view or where I can see a train in the distance still makes me nervous. Seeing people intentionally go around gates makes me want to scream.