One not so smart and very lucky photographer:
https://www.facebook.com/scott.shields.31/videos/3169084723118102/
Oh brother.
First off, people need to realize that thing’s coming at 'em a LOT faster than they think it is.
Second, they need to watch out for that “disconnect” that can happen when they’re looking at a display screen or viewfinder of a camera. WW2 combat cameramen noticed it. Nearly all have said that filming the action looking through the viewfinder got them into a mind-set that they weren’t really there, and the dangers of the battlefield wouldn’t touch them. Sadly that wasn’t true, and lot of them died due to that “disconnect.”
That person was lucky beyond belief.
Also, very few non-railroad people know the significance of a series of short blasts–GET BACK FROM THE TRACK!!!
I’m worried idiots like this are going to ruin steam programs for the rest of us that truly enjoy them and stay back at a safe distance.
Such individuals may overwhelm the Darwin nominations.
It never ends. I saw a similar event at the 2009 event in Owosso. Fellow just had to be at the end of the photo line. He was actually outside the kill zone, but just barely, and ignored the repeated (and increasingly urgent) toots, and the admonitions of the fans near him.
Some people simply have no clue.
While all of the FRN’s in this video are candidates for an award, the imbicile shown at the 0:25 mark wins.
I won’t make any “Darwin Award” remarks, but I will say my “Sympathy Reservoir” is just about drained dry for foolishess like this.
I glad no-one was killed, but more for the sake of the head-end crews and the families of those fools.
A fellow Train Order Operator on my Seniority list created a situation analogus to the first incident shown. She wasn’t so lucky. She had to hand up Train Orders to the train on the far track from the office, she did not Hold the train on the near track to the office until she had completed handing up to both ends of the train on the far track, she got rolled between the trains passing in opposite directions.
She was the daughter of the Road Foreman of Engines on the division.
Years back I witnessed a CSX freight go into a penalty brake application due to a drone in Fostoria who dropped his roller blade on the crossing and doubled back to grab it…
What I find disturbing is that no one, in particular the person filming this, attempted to get the lady out of the way! Nobody was yelling at her nor did anyone grab her by the scruff of the neck to jerk her out of the way!
So, there is more than one “not so smart” person on the scene.
I’ve seen several videos where the offending photog had to be physically removed from danger. They don’t seem to think that the verbal warnings or sounding of horns/whistles applies to them.
The one I cited in Owosso ignored a number of exhortations to move back.
I am sure the people all thought the whistle was being blown FOR the fans.
Almost a repeat of the unfortunate photographer who was struck by the 844. You have to pray for these people. We all expect to go home to our families.
I don’t know what drive people to get the " perfect " shot. People every day fall off of cruise ship balconies, into the grand canyon and other cliffs. It’s not just a steam locomotive that makes rational people make very poor decisions.
The geranium on the windowsill just died, but teacher you went right on.
Huh?
It’s from a book of poetry about children who don’t like excessive pedantry or control imposed on them when in mandatory school classes.
“We should listen, and listen, and listen … to YOU.”
More interesting than I (as a chronic, longwinded, pedantic curmudgeon) really care to admit.
Wow. In the words of the great philosopher Marty McFly, heavy man, real heavy.
Murphy,
In this case it is used to show that forumites care more about ridiculing and calling one person a fool than the fact that someone on scene could have prevented what happened…but DIDN’T!
Gee, thanks for the generalization.
Yes, there were people there who could have, and should have, taken action to prevent the incident.
But that doesn’t make the “victim” any less of a fool.
Unfortunately, the fellow probably has framed the coat and tagged it as “torn by 1225…” to show off to his friends.