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Close Call a Reminder About Railroad SafetyRailroad spokesman says never walk on tracksANCHORAGE - The Alaska Railroad calls this encounter much too close for comfort – when a train packed with tourists made an emergency stop to avoid hitting children on the tracks. It happened Wednesday just north of bird point on Turnagain Arm. The railroad says at least 30 children from a day camp were walking on the tracks, 20 more were in the right of way, accompanied by more than a dozen adult chaperones. The train slammed on the brakes and stopped about 500 feet from where they'd been standing. “You've got a large moving object trying to stop in a very short area in a very short period of time,” said Tim Sullivan of the Alaska Railroad. “It's not something that is easily done it takes a lot of power to do that it doesn’t stop on a dime.” He added that people often think they can hear a train approaching, but that isn't always true: The best advice is never walk on the tracks. |
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TedtheBear said on Monday, Jul 23 at 8:44 PM
I have walked on tracks before but I did as an individual. I never led any children on to a track and that act of pure recklessness is the key to the problem. You can't blame the kids if the adults among them are too stupid. No one was injure this time because the random factors were in their favor. Such complacency will surely lead to future death(s).
97319256Deb Hunt said on Monday, Jul 23 at 7:43 AM
Re: toot toot comment. Yep, I sure have as a child, but not accompanied with a responsible adult. The key is "putting the children at risk".
97196576toot toot said on Monday, Jul 23 at 3:16 AM
So you mean to tell me none of your commenters have walked on train tracks before? stuff happens, at least no one was hurt.
97177191Old Timer said on Sunday, Jul 22 at 3:13 PM
The adults should be charged with trespassing and child endangerment. I would not have my child in their program. They are teaching children that it is "okay" to BREAK the law. Hope every adult that was involved has lost their job.
97145081Deb Hunt said on Sunday, Jul 22 at 1:20 PM
What were the "adults" thinking??? I travel that road rarely and when I do, I always see a train. The day camp staff should be admonished. If I were a parent of a child attending that day camp, I would seriously consider finding another organization in which to trust the safety of my child.
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