this is a question for all of you engineers and conductors out there... how close is too close for us to b to the tracks while taking pictures and what is your preference of how close railfans are to the trains. thanx
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how close is TOO close
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Occasionally the metal straps that hold loads onto lumber or flat cars break and "fly" along side the train like a knife. Could extend 20 feet or more from the side. It would cut someone too close in half.
~Ken :: Fairmont ex-UP/MP C436 MT-14M1 ::
Black River Railroad Historical Trust :: [/url]
Black River Railroad Historical Trust :: [/url]
I don't qualify for the engineer or conductor status, I just repair locomotives and spend lots of time testing them, but I would like to offer my observations on this question.
The advice regarding dragging equipment is "right on"! I have seen loose chains, particularly on DODX flats, being thrown through arcs which could easily reach twenty feet from the tracks. I saw one nail and take down a crossing gate some years ago.
Treat any public grade crossing which does not have gates just as if it did have them and stand well outside where the gates would be.
Stay well away from the tracks on the trailing side of a diamond or a turnout when a train is approaching. The impact to the running gear of equipment crossing a diamond at high speed can be as high as 20 G's, and if anything is poorly attached it is likely to come loose and go bouncing down the right of way on the trailing side. One hit by a flying brake shoe could easily be fatal.
The advice regarding dragging equipment is "right on"! I have seen loose chains, particularly on DODX flats, being thrown through arcs which could easily reach twenty feet from the tracks. I saw one nail and take down a crossing gate some years ago.
Treat any public grade crossing which does not have gates just as if it did have them and stand well outside where the gates would be.
Stay well away from the tracks on the trailing side of a diamond or a turnout when a train is approaching. The impact to the running gear of equipment crossing a diamond at high speed can be as high as 20 G's, and if anything is poorly attached it is likely to come loose and go bouncing down the right of way on the trailing side. One hit by a flying brake shoe could easily be fatal.
I have also seen some dragging equipment. Once while watching a train pass one of the flat cars on it had a chain flying out from the side wailing into the ground kicking up ballast. Luckily it had just passed a stopped train and the crew from that train told the passing train of the chain bouncing all over.
I'm a conductor, I will be honest with all of you railfans out there. It does make crew members quite nervous when they see someone relatively close to the tracks. Keep in mind, not only can banding, chains, and other stuff be dragged with the risk of hitting whatever may stand in it's way, but metal fragments from wheel flanges and rails do tend to fly as well, making for some not so nice eye jewlery!! So with all of that being said, I would say that hopefully all of you will use common sense and your discretion.....If I was to give a distance, I would have to say, stay at least 40 or 50 feet from the nearest rail.
not that i am proud of this, but i have stood probably 5 feet from a moving regional traing going 110, but i was with Amtrak Crew members at the time
I've also seen loose metal banding whipping around from the sides of freight cars, particularly centerbeam flats carrying loads of lumber.
There's no reason to be too close to the tracks when a train approaches, even at a public crossing. Today's railroad train is a huge beast - in my opinion, photographers really should stand some distance from the track to gain the proper perspective and show the train in its environment. Roster shots are best gotten when the train is standing still at a station or in a yard.
Another piece of advice I received a long time ago - always have an 'escape route' available in the event of a derailment.
Jim
There's no reason to be too close to the tracks when a train approaches, even at a public crossing. Today's railroad train is a huge beast - in my opinion, photographers really should stand some distance from the track to gain the proper perspective and show the train in its environment. Roster shots are best gotten when the train is standing still at a station or in a yard.
Another piece of advice I received a long time ago - always have an 'escape route' available in the event of a derailment.
Jim
Railbus, that thought has never crossed my mind, but now that i have read, everytime i go out now, i will look for that escape route, thank you
I always keep my distance from the tracks to be safe. I always wave to the crews of the trains. When I'm at a train station, I always stay behind the yellow line. Stay safe out there.