If you need a photo that shows why you should be careful around RR tracks, try this one:

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00185982+Rh-982

Moderators's warning, it is grisly and not for the faint of heart. Kevin Gillespie

This is indeed a serious reminder of why "Safety First"is not just a slogan, but has to be a way of life on the railroad. We had a 19 year old summer temp brakeman who got in between cars on a long cut of hoppers that were being drilled . He was found by the conductor cut across the groin area seperating both legs and crushing part of one hip. While he did live by some miracle,it was a horrific thing to happen to anyone let alone a young man not even 20 yet. And some of the worst scenes I've witnessed were the carnage left behind at a grade crossing "accident". These collisions with automobiles not only affect the auto's occupants,but they weigh heavy on the minds of the train crew and other railroad personell who are involved at the time.

While my stomach's not very happy I clicked on that link (before you do, note that it's not for the faint of heart!) I suppose the picture does very well show the dangers associated with railroads. Everytime I'm at a public rail event I marvel at how there's one or two fans who will perform all kinds of stupid manuvers in their attempt to "get the perfect shot." Heck, I worry more about the chasers who are more intent on shooting photos out the window than actually driving their car. Sometimes I wonder whether the operation in question would be liable for a serious injury / death as a result of chasing the train. Is there any precedent for that?

Though I'm preaching to choir on this board, it's not worth it folks.

Now you know why many railroads are hesitant about allowing other operators (especially volunteer groups) to operate on their lines. Can you imagine a volunteer group on a freight railroad and having one of their members use the opportunity to go about taking pictures? I bet they would frown on that.

We never got offline with the 6325 but it was clear if/when we did it was to be strictly business.

You've got to love this..... Someone can post an link to an image of an person killed by being cut in half by an train, while an discussion on something actually related to railway preservation gets locked.

Bob, Did you maybe think for an second that there might be younger children looking at this web site or people who don't really want to see a image of someone killed, after being cut in half by an piece of railroad equipment?

Posting an link to an image of someone cut in half, without at least posting an warning... Real mature.... Real mature...

-Switchman

Kids see stuff more grisly than that on the TV news from the Middle East everyday, and play video games with worse scenes. One of our crews just ran over a girl in Delson last week, that was lying on the track wrapped in a blanket. I've yet to hit a human, but did pull the rear of a preceding train off a similar suicide victim, before passing the scene. I make no apology.

This is the truth - period.

I just tadded a warning. I thought of deleting it yesterday, but the need for all of us to be careful around railroad tracks made me leave it despite the gruesome subject matter.

But on second thought I think a warning is in order, and I have added it.

Before the air brake, 1 out of every 2 brakemen lost their lives on the RR each week. So in the late 1880's, the first ever industrial Federal Safety Act was enacted to require automatic air brakes on RR equipment.

This is the not so pleasant side of railroading reality.

Expect a train on any track, at any time, in any direction.

Please discuss this at your daily safety briefings. This is also, RR preservation of the most precious kind!!

Thanks,
Scott Kwiatkowski

Personaly I thought 'Grisly scene' was enough of a warning. And it is about as clean as it can get.
And quite frankly it's about as frank as you can get.
Wether your moving heavey freight or that caboose out of the restoration shop it's something to take to heart...

Totally tasteless and tacky!

My initial reaction was that it was inappropriate to show the graphic image in the website. On the other hand, it serves as a graphic reminder that whether you are working in the business end of railroading or repainting cars in a museum, this is real equipment, heavy, massive, and capable of doing horrible damage to life and limb. I think the reality of railroad injuries cannot be too strongly stressed. That being said, the image of a dismembered corpse being cooly surveyed by law enforcement was, perhaps, more than I would have expected on a railroad preservation site. The shock factor makes an impression, but perhaps only as a reminder for those who are already aware.

This is merely real life and truth. Few people seem to be able to handle those things today.

If you are in this profession,or you love it as a hobby,sometimes the truth in seeing is much better than the truth in telling,no matter what the age.At the age of 11,I went to a gruesome wreck with my grandfather.I had heard the stories,but at that moment,I knew the truth..these things will kill you,and kill you quickly.

although the pic shocked me the first few seconds, it settled into my mind as a reality that would serve me well, the visual impact will be in my mind as i work around tourists and railfans at a popular short line, their safety is job one reguardless of assigned duties that day. i hesitated to show the link to my teenage son who also is employed at the same RR, after a spell i did show it to him, hopefully to heighten his awareness of the potential realities associated with rail roading mark andrews