Russo Loco Wrote:
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> Russo Loco Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > A few years ago a well-known charter operator
> > was observed jumping onto, grabbing his camera
> > gear and then jumping off of, a moving Phraud-
> > O-Phreight™ as it backed through a grade
> > crossing prior to a run-by.
>
> Earl Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > My question would be where was the train crew
> > while this going on?
>
>
> SFAIK, the train crew was running the train - and
> since they were backing around a curve all except
> the fireman were on the opposite side. The
> Asst. Charter Coördinator and his helper(s)
> were busy setting up the photo line and did not
> see what happened. IIRC, Col. Frank S???
> also witnessed the incident.
It is possible that the incident under discussion was a charter in which I participated. That situation was a collaboration between two operators, one from the US and one from overseas. The two had very different approaches to operations, as did their patrons, which made for a difficult situation. When the train stopped, one group waited for instructions from the operator, while the other group dispersed and climbed the nearest hill, tree, cliff, etc. One operator attempted to brief his people and set up a photo line, while the other adopted an "every man for himself" strategy, often scrambling up rockslides and steep hills and setting a rather poor safety example for his patrons. Eventually, the tension between the two groups reached a boiling point, and the US operator and the Railroad Conductor held a "come to Jesus" meeting. At that meeting, the Railroad Conductor indicated that he'd seen numerous dangerous activities and that it was his responsibility to keep people safe. He made it crystal clear that if he saw it happen again, he was going to pull the plug on the charter and we'd spend the rest of our time on a very expensive train ride. After that, the level of organization....and safety, improved considerably.
/Kevin Madore
