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BNSF asks residents to cease cleanup of unused tracks
Its a good policy to follow: When somebody throws trash in my front yard I pick it up for the good of the neighborhood. The railroads need to do likewise, whether its debris, old ties and even graffiti covered freight cars. All are bad for the trackside community.
Fine them just like any private property owner if they let high weeds & trash build up on the railroad & ROW.
Hopefully BNSF used a little tact while informing the residents about not trespassing.
Ah the fruits of our litigious society…
Mr. McFaddens’ point is well taken. BNSF should done something more than just pave over the crossings. BNSF should have got on Doe Run Resources case for dragging out the issue of enviromental clean up this long. 10 years?.. Still, tresspassing on railroad property is still the issue until BNSF turns over the land for trail use.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Now here’s a marvelous opportunity for Mr. Buffett’s Railroad to engage in some more effective PR: the BNSF could have come back to the community’s leaders and said something like, “Well, legal issues make your impromptu cleanup a real problem. But let’s do this instead: we’ll have our agents out there on X-date and pass out a bunch of waivers, safety gear and we’ll join you in a major cleanup. As a sincere thank you for your spirited initiative, we’ll even bring in an executive train for a day of excursions over that line. How would that suit you?”
Although I’m a rabid train fan, I fault BNSF on this one. If BNSF owns the line they should have a high rail checking it out every few months and if there are any problems it’s on BNSF to correct them. Also, if BNSF has the line properly posted as private property then the BNSF and local police should keep the school kids off the tracks. Sounds like a golden opportunity for an Operation Lifesaver team to visit that school and do some training. However BNSF, if there hasn’t been any traffic on that line in ten years, pull up the tracks and sell or give the land to the city/town. Problem solved!
I ride Amtrak frequesntly and I must say, it presents the dirtiest side of the U.S. Traveling through the countryside, small towns, and large cities, there’s enough trash to fill Lake Michigan (an analogy). I don’t think any railroads, save a pure tourist line, is interested in cleaning up. It adds nothing to the bottom line. However, guys like on American Pickers could ride any cross country train once and catalog enough GPS locations of junk to make them rich beyond their dreams!
It is sad that interest in the people and community are being pushed aside over the courts. Next on the list of do-gooders will be the good samaritans at accidents. To think that owner of this company toots his horn over charitable giving but doesn’t rise to the occasion to help a community keep itself clean and safe.
BNSF got this one wrong…Kevin Bunker said very nicely
First, I am amazed that I seem to agree with Jeffery Guse, and second it appears that most comments overlook what may be the real problem, that being lead contamination. If the environmental issue is lead existing along the right of way, then anyone who walks along that right of way could sue for lead contamination, and probably win.
Way to go, BNSF. Your PR rating is obviously the least of your concerns, as is how you present yourself to others and the degree of importance you demonstrate in community connection.
Way to go, BNSF. Your PR rating is obviously the least of your concerns, as is how you present yourself to others and the degree of importance you demonstrate in community connection.
Fred from Illinois, not to offend but you are a little behind the times. There have already been cases of good Samaritans being sued by accident victims. That’s why a law was passed to protect people voluntarily administering CPR from liability.
What if it comes back into service and it has become the norm for kids to use ?
I guess it is only fair. If someone where to fall and trip they would sue BNSF for $100 million, not the city, and certainly not blame themselves!
If this were Fark, BNSF would get the “Assinine” tag for this one.
Either BNSF needs to stay on top of cleaning its ROW or donate this long unused line for a trail. There’s no danger of anyone getting run over by a train… all the road crossings have already been paved over.