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by Mikeyaintskerd from Gibsonton

Last Post 7 days, 8 hours Ago


A train crashes into a car.
Jul 16, 2007 | 4:51 PM
Category: News
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If the people in Polk County are really wondering how it could happen twice, a train kills a woman on the tracks and then kills 4 people in a car, there is a serious problem.  I would like anyone who has the time to look at some train tracks sometime.  Then follow those tracks (at a safe distance of course) until you find a train.  Then, if the train is stopped, walk up to it and try to pick it up.  Try to push it.  Imagine it moving at about 10 mph and trying to stop it.  I do not know what the news is doing trying to make it seem like the train should not have been there or something, or should have stopped, but thats a few dozen tons of metal.  Trains do not stop that easy.  So if your still trying to wonder how it could happen twice and want to know what you can do to keep it from happening to you, then I have a few answers.  Number 1, how could it happen twice?  Well there were to sets of stupid people who battled a train and surpise surprise the train won.  Number 2, how can I keep this from happening to me?  Stay off the train tracks and when the gates come down and the lights start flashing, wait for the gates to go back up and the lights to stop flashing.  DUH!  Here are a few more questions that I have.  Did the train jump off the tracks and hit the people?  Did it pick up speed and purposely try hit someone?  Did the operator of the train perdict the future and know that someone was going to try to beat the train and switch tracks and change the travel times just to make sure they were there to hit them when they crossed.  For crying out load.  ITS A TRAIN!
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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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dvduncan read my blog
Jul 17, 2007 | 5:20 AM

I agree Mikey , people just don't get it ...I really feel bad for the family of these people and the train operator as well . I can't even imagine how hard it has to be to see a car of people right in front of you on the tracks and not be able to do a thing about it.
PastorD read my blog view my photos
Jul 17, 2007 | 7:56 AM

Train + car = DEATH!!!!! DUH.... I really don't mean to be ugly here, and I certainly feel horrible for the families of these young people, but WHEN WILL PEOPLE LEARN....... Land of village IDIOTS!!!! :( :( :(
michelled read my blog view my photos
Jul 17, 2007 | 8:24 AM

I feel bad for the family, but I aslo thought about "survival of the fittest". Sounds cruel, but who does that? Were they just young and foolish or were they doing drugs and drinking. A normal person does not try to "out run" a train.
FloydFreak read my blog view my photos
Jul 17, 2007 | 2:33 PM

We went over this a few months ago the last time this happened around here.

DON'T STOP ON THE TRACKS - NEVER, NEVER, EVER - PERIOD. And DON'T drive around a closed crossing gate thinking that you can outrun a train. You might be able to. But if you cannot, guess what happens?

It's too bad that it occurred, but as they say, ***t happens.
leasheryn read my blog
Jul 17, 2007 | 6:40 PM

I remember that discussion very well, Floyd. You made a lot of excellent points at the time.
I guess there are people out there who still don't understand better late than never. When attempting to dodge a train, you're going to obviously end up on the never side of that old proverb.
There is nothing in the world that is more important than personal safety or the safety of others. That should always come first. It's not funny playing chicken with a train and ends up being very messy.
There are too many people out there who have the wrong focus in life. They believe they have to be first all the time and don't care about how they get there. I guess better late than never doesn't occur to them.
AmtrakBill
Jul 17, 2007 | 10:40 PM

Let me introduce myself . I’m a retired Amtrak Engineer , and yes we are still Engineers not train operators . I would like to share with everyone a day in the life of a Railroad Engineer . It might be a weekend ,a holiday , or the middle of the night . Its not a 9 to 5 job . You start your day with a job briefing .with the crew members you will be working with . Reviewing safety rules , etc . then you inspect your Locomotive and all paper work . Do your brake tests . Etc. before long you are controlling a massive machine with possibly hundreds of lives in your hands . As you roll on down the road you might see a farmer on his tractor stop to wave and give you a smile , you wave back and return the smile . A little further you might see a child on a bicycle giving you a sign to blow your horn so you give him a little tot . and you think what a great job !!! But you also know that almost every trip there will be a close call at a crossing someone feels the need to risk their life to beat the train . When they don’t make it and you collide with a vehicle . It is no longer the greatest job in the world but the worst the first thing you do is get emergency help on the way . Then you ask yourself did I do everything I could to avoid this . You might put your head in your hands and say a prayer that they made it out ok . You might lay awake at night for sometime to come praying for the family . Wishing you will never be involved in a crossing accident again . Then you see the morning paper and the head lines read Speeding Train kills a family . Or Amtrak train sla
AmtrakBill
Jul 17, 2007 | 10:40 PM

Let me introduce myself . I’m a retired Amtrak Engineer , and yes we are still Engineers not train operators . I would like to share with everyone a day in the life of a Railroad Engineer . It might be a weekend ,a holiday , or the middle of the night . Its not a 9 to 5 job . You start your day with a job briefing .with the crew members you will be working with . Reviewing safety rules , etc . then you inspect your Locomotive and all paper work . Do your brake tests . Etc. before long you are controlling a massive machine with possibly hundreds of lives in your hands . As you roll on down the road you might see a farmer on his tractor stop to wave and give you a smile , you wave back and return the smile . A little further you might see a child on a bicycle giving you a sign to blow your horn so you give him a little tot . and you think what a great job !!! But you also know that almost every trip there will be a close call at a crossing someone feels the need to risk their life to beat the train . When they don’t make it and you collide with a vehicle . It is no longer the greatest job in the world but the worst the first thing you do is get emergency help on the way . Then you ask yourself did I do everything I could to avoid this . You might put your head in your hands and say a prayer that they made it out ok . You might lay awake at night for sometime to come praying for the family . Wishing you will never be involved in a crossing accident again . Then you see the morning paper and the head lines read Speeding Train kills a family . Or Amtrak train sla
AmtrakBill
Jul 17, 2007 | 10:48 PM

cont. Then you see the morning paper and the head lines read Speeding Train kills a family . Or Amtrak train slams into a car . Or a train plows into a truck. Etc. but never do you ever hear of the injury to the Engineer . Or the family of the Engineer that see the hurt and pain he or she is going through . When I retired my thoughts were I will finally have weekends off . I will be able to sleep nights instead of working them . I will be home with my family on holidays . But most of all I have seen my last crossing accident . I applaud the brave people with one hand on the horn and the other on the brake just trying to make a living . I also thank Amtrak for the support and help offered to employees when needed.
Neanderthal read my blog
Jul 18, 2007 | 6:05 AM

You leave public property (highway or street) when your vehicle enters onto private railroad poperty and then, you are at "your own risk." That is why railroad property is called "right of way." Flashing lights, gates, bells and the warning: "R.R. Crossing Stop Look and Listen" posted at grade crossings can not save a life when they are ignored. It is hard to ignore "May they rest in peace," however.
michelled read my blog view my photos
Jul 18, 2007 | 8:19 AM

AmtrackBill, I hope your struggle with the tragedy's you have witnessed will ease over time. We hit a dog, there was nothing we could do to avoid it. It ran out from a driveway right in the path of the car. I still cry about it. It doesn't matter that it's not your fault, all you feel is the pain that is the result. Peace for you.
lisantampa read my blog
Jul 21, 2007 | 5:05 AM

AmtrackBill I do not believe I could ever be an Engineer (train.) God bless those who can. Neanderthal, EXCELLENT point and kinda eerily accurate at the same time.
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Mikeyaintskerd

I am a 25 year old, married, Boilermaker. I have a one year old son. I have been out of the blogging situation lately and have decided to come back and give my two cents every chance I get.

Member Since: 9/30/2006