Yesterday 01-09-2005 at about 3pm CST I was online and decided to listen to www.railroadradio.net where live railroad scanner transmissions can be heard from several different areas of the United States. I tuned in Union Pacific’s Roseville Sub to listen for any snow removal action.
However I stumbled onto something completely unexpected. Shortly after 3pm I heard a UP crew call Dispatcher 74 and advise him that they had stopped the train between Blue Canyon and Emigrant Gap because they had passed a woman lying face down in the snow. Shortly after stopping the Dispatcher asked if they were going to check on her, the engineer replied that they had a 3-man crew and that 2 of them were going down to check on her.
At about 3:05pm the crew called the dispatcher to report that the woman was semi-conscious and complaining of right side pain. They did not want to move her for fear of further injury. Also one of the crew members on the ground reported seeing mountain lion tracks in between the rails. So the crew was requesting medical assistance, however with all the snow most most roads were impassable and the rails maybe the only way help could get there.
Shortly after that I heard several other UP people discussing the possibility of using a ballast regulator or maybe a light engine to get rescue people up to the location of the train.
Now the crew called the dispatcher again asking for some medical advise because it was starting to snow. And I also heard what sounded like progress being made with getting the regulator out of the siding.
About 3:30pm again both the train crew and regulator crew are having trouble raising the dispatcher. However once the dispatcher does come up, there is no ETA for rescue people and again the crew on the ground is told to watch out for a mountain lion.
Almost an hour later the decision was made to move the woman and they moved here onto som
That’s cool that they did that for her. It’s also a good thing they found her before the cat did. I remember reading somewhere about a crew stopping to save someone from drounding. You just never know what you’re gonna see on the railroad.
This sounds like a sad story But, at least the UP train crew was there to save this woman’s day!!! Just think if there was on train scheduled to go over that route the poor lady might of been there until Lord knows when. The train crew acted very professionally in dealing w/ this situation and they contacted the right people. It almost seamed as if they were certified in safety and first aid, thats impressive.
You’d think it would help if we were all trained to do at least CPR, etc. BUT, we are not. Quite a few RRders have CPR training, but I think it would help if we all had a little training. Granted a some of the injuries out here are beyond help, the medical knowledge that we could receive could save a coworkers life. I know a little because my dad was medic during the Vietnam era, and my wife is veterinary student. Kudos to that UP crew!!!
I’d bet they would blame the railroad for killing or injuring deer and attracting the mountain lion to the area in the first place. I’m sure her lawyers will too, provided they did n’t catch the redeye to South Carolina…
Nah - SC’s probably got all the Philadelphia lawyers. The CA lawyers are trying to figure out who to sue for mudslide in Ventura County.
As an EMT and an ARC instructor, I’d love to see many more people know CPR and basic first aid. I advocate all HS graduates having had the courses at least twice (original and refresher) as a graduation requirement. It certainly has a lot more to do with life than box lacrosse (lax fans relax - I’m being facetious), and would only take 6-8 hours out of their busy school year…
I’ve found that people who are otherwise capable usually have one of two reasons for not taking the training - “it can’t happen to me,” and “I don’t want to get involved.”
I do have to wonder, though, what was the woman doing face down in the snow so far from civilization?
I think someone with first-hand knowledge should write this up and send it to:
The Editors, the New York Times, West 43rd Street between Times Square and 8th ASve., New York, NY 10036
I think they will print it. There bias is against railroad management and not against railroad labor. (But of course in the end it reflects to the good of the entire railroad industry.)
CPR , First Aid, and AED are great things to know. I am a certified lifeguard and I am glad that I have the training that I do. I have never had to make a rescue or have to use CPR to revive somone (thank god) but I have uesd my First Aid extensivley, And only a few times at the pool where I work. The rest were places around the community, especially with this weather making the roads slick. I have attended to 3 car accidents, and a kid who wrecked his bycicle. As well as some things that thappened in the shop. I am happy that I chose to get certified and I think that everyone should have at least some kind of training. Your local Red Cross will train you for a small fee and only takes a small amount of time. If you do it you will be glad you did!!
But, at least the UP train crew was there to save this woman’s day!!! Just think if there was on train scheduled to go over that route the poor lady might of been there until Lord knows when. The train crew acted very professionally in dealing w/ this situation and they contacted the right people. It almost seamed as if they were certified in safety and first aid, thats impressive.