by Passenger
Otto Vondrak wrote:It's a pretty serious topic, so folks tend to get a little worked up. No offense meant towards you.So I see, but learning that is worth doing.
Thanks to all.
Railroad Forums
Moderator: Robert Paniagua
Otto Vondrak wrote:It's a pretty serious topic, so folks tend to get a little worked up. No offense meant towards you.So I see, but learning that is worth doing.
2nd trick op wrote:Allow me to add a strong second to Mr. Vondrak's point.I can vouch for the fact that the yards attracted so really strange characters, some of who WERE dangerous. The fellow I told you about earlier in the thread who got his foot cut off at Charlotte, NC? Upon investigation, the railroad cops discovered he was wanted in Charleston, SC for MURDER! He had "hoboed" his way north to Washington, DC then caught freights back south in hopes of throwing the cops off his trail. He might have gotten away if he hadn't gotten careless getting off a train at Charlotte Yard!
(snip)
Not everybody you meet at the yards is a dangerous nut, however. Many of us just have a penchant for technical detail and being able to watch the "real thing" at work that the sanitized atmosphere of the museums can't provide. But a thanks for raising the issue and allowing the regulars here to add our insights.
GSC wrote:An 18-yo kid at work told me just the other day that he was considering doing some freight hopping... An otherwise intelligent kid. You never know.Doubtful.
10more years wrote:Just my opinion: We've noticed a few more "riders" in the last 6 months, probably due to economy. I've never been partial to going back in a consist and finding "extra riders", and my conductors are never happy about being surprised by riders while working. Maybe, the question should be, how would you like it if you were surprised by a strange, usually extremely dirty and smelly, person who had invaded your work place? And it was dark, and you were in the middle of nowhere (or even in a "bad" part of town) and you were by yourself and there was two or three or more of them and you were 1/2 mile from the engine?Found one in my car once I thought the back door passenger side door was locked befor going off to start a shift at the James St. Wegmans in Syracuse a few years ago found a bum/hobo in the back seat sleeping when I go out off my shift. It was far from being a good expirence in the summer I tell you. The car stunk so bad I drove the car with the windows down till I could get the car cleaned and the smell out.
10more years wrote:Just my opinion: We've noticed a few more "riders" in the last 6 months, probably due to economy. I've never been partial to going back in a consist and finding "extra riders", and my conductors are never happy about being surprised by riders while working. Maybe, the question should be, how would you like it if you were surprised by a strange, usually extremely dirty and smelly, person who had invaded your work place? And it was dark, and you were in the middle of nowhere (or even in a "bad" part of town) and you were by yourself and there was two or three or more of them and you were 1/2 mile from the engine?I don't like those kind of surprises either. But these bums may be surprised to know that brake sticks and lanterns have more than one use.