Re: NNG: not everything is fun and games

This can happen on any railroad, no matter how small or infrequent. The Sumpter Valley very nearly had a pedestrian accident a couple of years ago.

There was a man, well known to everyone, who lived near the tracks at the Hwy. 7 crossing. He had known medical issues which sometimes caused him to become disoriented, and even pass out. After he was found laying on the highway some well meaning but unthinking person suggested he walk on the tracks instead. Later, the afternoon train from Sumpter, running tender first, came around a curve to find John staggering up the tracks, and by the time the train stopped he had disappeared from view behind the tender. With their hearts in their throats the crew jumped out to find him leaning against the coupler. After that he was strongly admonished to never walk on the tracks again.

We have also had two incidents of persons riding ATV's on the tracks. We did not hit anyone, but it was close enough that the riders were abandoning their machines.