It’s downright scary how quiet trains are in the snow.
I know I’ve been working in a yard and had either a train or car sneak up behind me. Not a good feeling. It’s one thing I always made sure to pound into in any new guys’ heads out here when working in winter weather.
When I look at the photo (above), it looks like a comfortable routine that is bound to go wrong someday. I agree with zugmann about the snow and cold muffling train sound. This does strike me as tempting fate. A person has to consider that they could faint into unconsciousness at any time. Walking between the rails is a bad place to fall down unconscious. IF one simply had to walk where she is walking, they should turn around and look back every 5 seconds. I don’t see that sort of urgency in her photo. People become complacent, and they just assume that trains make a big clatter and noise, so obviously a train cannot sneak up on one.
Some people are simply less averse to risk than others… looks like this lady likes to live on the edge a little more than most people do. Ever watch kids skateboard down a railing sideways? Probably not a smart thing to do or even legal… but it beats waiting around for old age.
Who owns the railroads? It is not as simple as you thing once you look into the matter. If the railroads were a totally private concern then why did they have to ask to get a charter in the first place and be subjective to the ICC and later the STB?
The investors own the railroad.
Many corporations were/are chartered - not just the railroads.
Since the railroads needed long, linear properties, their methods of acquiring ROW varied. So, indeed, there are a number of ways that the railroads secured their properties.
But the bottom line is that the ROW is the property of the railroad, unless it’s owned by some other entity, such as local municipalities - which is happening a lot with regard to local shortlines. Even then, it’s still “private property.” Ever see a sign that said “US Government Property - Keep Out?”
Regardless of how the property was acquired, in most cases, the railroads are paying property taxes on their ROWs. And that would be a hallmark of private ownership.
Regulation also occurs in a number of realms - transportation is just one. Most often regulation is the result of what some view as a monopoly.
Regulation of a railroad’s economics isn’t the same as ownership of the railroad (unless it goes way too far - farther than we’re talking here - and then it’s an unintended consequence, not by right). Compare: Registration and licensing of your car by state isn’t the same as ownership of it.
As between the railroad (with some type of written granted rights in the property, whatever they may be), and trackrat888 (as a trespasser, with no claim or written indicia of ownership whatsoever) - trackrat888 loses every time, as the railroad’s rights are paramount to his (essentially none).