Look, Listen, LIVE!!!!

K

Klinger

The Chicago CTA guy
No, I do not work for Operation Lifesaver, but you have all heard these words. While I want to bring a little personal experience to this message.

The single scariest train related incident happened to me today. I was running diesel 400 through the north end of Lakeside Park, running at a good 7 MPH. the train was about 3/4 full, so it was about 28,000 pounds total.

All of a sudden from behind a tree, this 12 year old kid jumps out in front of me trying to go ride the go karts with his friend. I threw the train in neutral but hit reverse, hit the brake, yanked on the horn and prepared for the worst. Very quickly the kid turned around and jumped back over the fence and gave me a look like it was my fault. Since I had thrown it in reverse, I nearly stalled the engine, sure it was not kind to the transmission, but I released the brake and pulled into the station. We never caught the kid, but we looked for him for quite a while.

About 20 back from where this happened there is a maintenance grade crossing where we blow the horn to alert the public the train is coming so they can get pictures. The is a bridge that actually crosses the tracks for guests.

It was perhaps the single scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I don't even want to think of what things would be like if things went wrong.

So PLEASE, Look, Listen, and LIVE!!!
 
Cripes!

Well, there will always be those stupid motorists who try to beat trains to grade crossings, and fail... :sleep: I'd rather wait 3 minutes at a crossing (well, of course - I'm a railfan :p ) then becoming splatter on the tracks.


Those who play chicken (or whatever its called) with trains are complete and utter morons.

People can be stupid :confused:


-- There. My regularly scheduled winge has left the station.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkMYRDH_NEo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FtTK9xwJ4w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyFo8WVKW7w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7o1HmdR01Y&feature=related
The last video shows some Park Policy which addresses the ADA.
Dogs (handicap assistance animals) are not allowed on amusement park rides, even though they are "Service Animals". They must remain off the ride. Persons with disabilities can ride the rides, but their Service Animals must remain behind, untill you get off the ride. If you wanted to ride a rollercoaster, or a Scrambler, your Service Animal can not ride.
 
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I've volunteered at a Day Out With Thomas event now for several years, and this year was the first time I've actually been in Thomas. We have him on the back of the train, as we go out from the station and then proceed backwards, and right outside the station is where we go through a small park. There is no fence on either side of the railbed (never is a problem normally), but believe me, Thomas seems to sometimes bring out the worst in parents. I've seen kids run towards the track only to be stopped by the parents after Thomas starts whistling quickly, or only after one of us in Thomas is yelling for them to back up. One of the worse I've heard from others is a mother grabbing her kids and plunking them down on the ballast and then running back between 10-20 feet to get a good photo of them with Thomas.

Luckly, this doesn't happen often, and most parents are very good about keeping their kids back, but it's those few times that make me think my hair's going to turn white prematurly...
 
Sounds like a tourist line.

I was running diesel 400 through the north end of Lakeside Park, running at a good 7 MPH. the train was about 3/4 full, so it was about 28,000 pounds total.
Click to expand...
That's only 12.5 tons... At 7 MPH you should have time to stop If you follow emergency breaking procedure. see GCOR 6th edition 6.22 & 6.23.
 
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Very scary my friend. By the way, NEVER throw it from forward to reverse. You will mess up the traction motors, and the generator, as well as take longer to stop, as a reverse spinning wheel has less grip than a braked wheel, and thus, produces less friction.
 
I'm not really sure what type of transmission these small, miniature, putt putt, amusement park trains have, or if they even have traction motors; or if they drive like a truck, (like the Dorney Park "Zepher"). But I never have had the guts to see what happens, when I would throw my car into Reverse, when I have to stop.:hehe:
 
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Your transmission would self destruct, trust me on this. I saw it happen once while I was flagging a race. Some Camaro driver was used to driving a 5 speed transmission that he had in his normal Camaro, and tried to shift into 5th in a 4 speed car that he was borrowing from a friend. Unfortunately, 5th was reverse.
 
I like how this thread is supposed to be about OLS but instead everyone is criticizing Klinger's driving.

peter
 
:( I am not going to start talking about other members of this community,but there are alot of people who don't heed the warnings given and that are out here that constantly try to beat the train to the grade crossing which by chance,costs them their lives and their car,we keep stressing the situation that it takes a fully loaded train a mile to stop,but still they try their luck and lose in the end,and if it was a fuel truck that was trying to cross the tracks before the train got there,the results would have been far more tragic for those on the train and everone else who lives by or near the railroad tracks!
 
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evan123 said:
Sounds like a tourist line.

That's only 12.5 tons... At 7 MPH you should have time to stop If you follow emergency breaking procedure. see GCOR 6th edition 6.22 & 6.23.
Click to expand...

The "Ruth" 400 does not operate anything like a typical train. We put new brakes on this year, so unless you pump them (much like a car on ice without ABS) the wheels just lock up ans slide. Of course that was the last thing on my mind.

Second, reverse was not the intended gear. I mean to hit neutral, see the throttle is directly linked to the transmission. This is diesel mechanical not diesel electric. But the linkage is so messed up reverse now starts where forward is suppose to be, and neutral is a small sliver between forward and reverse. You get the throttle position a little to far back, you hit reverse. A major rebuild and redesign is being planned at the close of the season.

And putting the 400 in reverse while moving happens daily due to recent mechanical problems. All it does is lock up the wheels (still have forward momentum overcoming the torque of the motor) and stall out the engine.

And this thread is about being diligent around trains. We all, as rail fans still have to be careful trying to get that "perfect shot" not about "What you should do when a kid jumps in front of your train"
 
No offense, but you're driving miniature trains, if someone has trouble avoiding a miniature train going 7mph then that is quite funny. Now if it was a rumbling freight or an amtrak then it would be a different story.
 
at 30,000 pounds, it will still slice a limb, which sadly has happened to us before

If you don't have anything constructive to say, don't say anything at all.
 
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