I took the Fireman's School last week, The open yard takes on a whole different meaning in the cab of the locomotive. As is clearly indicated on warning signage around the yard, visitors should expect any equipment to move in any direction, at any speed, on any track, at any time. In the cab, the crews expect visitors to dart out from behind any cars at any time. Being in the cab, I was very nervous. Fortunately, all of us in the cab (students and professionals) kept a sharp eye out for people in the path of our train / locomotive at all times, and our movements in the yard tended to take place at glacial speed, or something close to it. Fortunately, all the guests we encountered were respectful and mindful of safety. We never had anyone step out in our path (trees on the line after the rains were another matter).
One aspect I hadn't thought of very much prior to taking the fireman class was the constant communication & attention to safety in the cab. The fireman and engineer were required to visually confirm the alignment of every switch we encountered (even in the yard) and we had to communicate with each other to make certain the alignment of the switch was correct for our path and that we were in agreement as to the switch's alignment. When traveling through the yard, the cab was a constant hive of activity of multiple sets of eyes watching out for the safety of guests on the ground, switch alignments being called out, and then the usual aspects of the job at hand. I thought I'd be watching the fire and the water as my primary focus. Instead, safety was my primary focus, and that was doubled down in the yard.
Having the open yard is a wonderful gift, and the crews are keenly aware of its risks. I hope that guests continue to be mindful of safety and that they think about safety at least half as much as the crews do.
Dave
