I was wondering about train crewmen safety in the present-day. Trains go through very remote locations and I was thinking that the engineer, conductor, and any other personnel seem fairly vulnerable out there all alone. Has there been any reports of persons hopping on moving trains, namely the locomotive, and harassing or bothering railroad personnel within the last decade? Obviously the crewmen are in radio contact with the outside world and they could lock the cab doors, but what other, if any precautions are taken to ensure railroad personnel safety while out in the wilderness?
Its called a mag lite. Those things cna kill people! lol Except for the nut with the bow and arrow, I havent heard anything.
Guy with the bow ‘n’ arrow, did I miss something, or is that a joke that went over my head?
Mag light huh? Or a crowbar would do the trick. lol
My friend is a conductor on the CP and he always carries a mag lite. Those hurt!
About the bow and arrow, some nut tried to hijack Union Pacific train, but forgot the crew could use a emergency fuel cutoff switch.
Some people are strapped you just dont know about it
Airbrake wrench lantern pliers ballast spike anything I can get my hands on! Iam more worried about dropping trains in Chicago than out in rural america. Give me a train to Creston,Quincy, Lacrosse,or Peoria any day!
Plus being a very big guy helps no one usually messes with me so why worry? Stay alert in areas where it could be bad and always carry something with you like listed above. I have no problems bashing someones head in if they want to do me harm.
It’s specifically against the rules to carry any firearms while on the job, and route_rock is right about big cities being more scary than rural places (hunters want to shoot deer, not humans). However, most crooks are either after a free ride, or the cargo, not the crew specifically. I’ve been told that a fusee is a good thing to carry with you (dog or bear repellant!). I hate having to walk a train in emergency in certain inner-city areas, even though it’s mostly winos that you encounter.
Your best defense is the Motorola (radio, even though we have started using I-Coms). If you don’t feel safe, DON’T GO OUT THERE. Sometimes trains on adjacent tracks or yard personnel can come out and help you, so there are more bodies out there. Of course, when walking a train in emergency, you are going to be carrying a wrench, air hose, and other toys that my come in handy (hehehe)
I thought this forum was dead too, I guess not though. Thank you again exabopper for your expanded anwser.
Fusee’s as dog repellent I have done but BEARS!!! Give the Bears a break they are int he playoffs !! whats that? Oh! The voices in my head have informed me you mean real Bears!!! Does this mean Kodiak droppings contains berries twigs little bells AND railroad fusee’s in your neck of the woods? Stay safe !
Bears huh? Never heard of that.
I wonder if the engineers place bets on how long the new hire will last on his first emergency check in some gang/ghetto area? lol
Anybody got any stories about this kinda stuff?
My friend got a bottle of booze dumped on him and i bet it stung like a b*** but not as bad as bears?! lol
There’s a great scene that is not so false in “The Border” where an SP freight rolling through El Paso is overwhelmed by illegals coming across the border. When I was stationed at Fort Bliss, we used to go down to the Bridge of the Americas to watch the illegals wade across the Rio Grande. Trains were pretty much a target for transportation. I understand that there is a lot more security running around the yards now… but I wouldn’t want to be the UP conductor doing a train walkdown in El Paso.
Erik
WHY DO THEY NEED FIRE ARMS THEY HAVE FUN TOYS LIKE LISTED ABOVE THAT IN CuRTAIN SITUATIONS COULD SERVE Ya BETTER [:I]