One of our worst nightmares has come true: an excursion train on a regular run struck and killed a pedestrian, on Dec. 30th at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, Ca.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_train01.34d0e15.html

also posted in Flimsies; not much more there than the who, what, when, and where..............

Official statement from OERM on the incident. Any questions should be directed to Museum President Tom Jacobson outside of this forum.

Man Commits Suicide On Tracks

On Saturday December 30, 2006, at approximately 12:45 PM, a museum train consisting of a locomotive and two passenger cars was proceeding north in the vicinity of San Jacinto Street in Perris. A man was walking along the east edge of the railroad right of way heading south. After the engine passed his location the man headed toward the moving train and apparently lunged under the last car of the train. The Riverside County Sheriff was called to the scene to investigate. The preliminary ruling is that it was a suicide and the train crew could not have done anything to avert the actions of the man. The coroner removed the body and the train was released at approximately 3:00 PM. No one on the train was injured.

Very sorry this occured during the Holidays for the crew members, people on the train, and, the administrative headaches for all involved.

No one signed up for this duty.

Best wishes to everyone as you work through the details.