12 July 2006
Engineer Traumatized by Crossings
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Difficult job: Railway staff say drivers and pedestrians
don't seem to realize that a train travelling at 50 km/hr can take up to two kilometres to come to a complete
stop.
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Salmon Arm British Columbia - Dangerous: Too
many citizens take risks on rail tracks.
One CP Rail engineer has few kind words for certain Salmon Arm citizens who carelessly get in the way of his work.
"They're just stupid people - even downtown, the two crossings - they're always running those crossings in front of us at the
last minute. The lights are going but they can't wait two minutes."
The engineer, who asked to remain anonymous, was on board the eastbound train that, on 28 Apr 2006, hit
19-year-old Jeremy Duffy whose body was found at the tracks. Police and the coroner are still investigating how the
incident happened.
On 18 Jun 2006, at approximately 1:45 p.m., the same engineer was onboard a train that came close to hitting another
man on the tracks near a memorial to Duffy.
While the engineer admits such close calls are practically part of the job description, this recent one may have been too much.
"I am fed up," said the engineer. "I am just stressed right out. I am probably going to retire early now because of
this.
"I've had so many close calls over my career I've lost count."
It is against the law to trespass on CP Rail property, which can run between 50 and 100-feet to either side of the
rails. Penalties can be up to a $10,000 fine and/or one year in jail. Despite such deterrents, and the availability of designated
railway crossings along the tracks, CP Rail spokesperson Ed Greenberg said pedestrian-related rail injuries and deaths
continue.
"In Canada, in 2005 there were 174 people who were killed or injured as a result of coming into contact with trains, but that
doesn't include the many near misses that our crews, and crews from other railways, experience every day," said Greenberg.
Greenberg noted a recent case of another close call in Red Deer, Alta., in which a young man was walking the tracks with earphones
on listening to music.
"Our investigator charged the young man under the provincial act, which was a more minor offence," said Greenberg.
"We didn't go under the federal Railway Safety Act. We did feel that some sort of deterrent was required."
Travelling at 50 kilometres an hour, a breaking train can travel another two kilometres before it comes to a complete stop. Because
of this, the chances of someone on the tracks surviving an incident with a train are slim. The trauma resulting from such
incidents, Greenberg commented, touches everyone involved.
"Whenever there's a situation involving a pedestrian or motorists with one of our trains, it's not only a traumatic experience
for family and friends, it's very difficult for our employees who are involved in that situation," said Greenberg. "It's
the last thing a railroader wants to experience in his or her career."
Larry Parsons, a constable with CN's local rail police, said downtown Salmon Arm can be bad for people crossing the tracks near the
terminal instead of using designated crosswalks.
In response to such behaviour, Parsons said he and CP regularly run educational programs and safety blitzes in the area to promote
public safety and the importance of using crosswalks.
As for incidents like the one at the Duffy memorial site, Parsons said he has discretion over how certain situations are handled.
"We're going to take into account - the condition of the individual and the circumstances as to why that person is
there," said Parsons. "His safety is very important, along with the safety of our employees. We just can't have people
walking randomly on the property."
Having experienced one death too many, the engineer is hopeful the message will get across that rail regulations shouldn't be taken
lightly, and that people willing to put their own lives at risk by crossing the rails consider the perspective of those driving the
train.
"After that happened, after I killed this young kid, I had it all arranged to have three weeks' holidays, so I get back and I
am not even into my second trip and I nearly hit a woman in Salmon Arm," said the engineer. "It's like that every trip.
It seems like every second trip or third you're having so many near-misses. It's a real tough
job."
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