Snowmobiles Not Wanted
Winter in New England has a unique appeal to folks, bringing thoughts of fun and frolic while the snow flies. Ice fishing and skating, skiing and snowboarding - these are just some of the staples of one’s Winter diet. For the railroader, though, there comes the dreaded encounter with the snowmobiler, the unexpected trespasser who does not anticipate a train and who considers the railroad right-of-way an ideal superhighway for full throttle operation of his sled. These encounters are near misses most of the time, but for the locomotive engineer, who must make the decision to slow or stop the train, none of these encounters are wanted.
Most locomotive engineers experience close calls at grade crossings, where people ignore or defy the warning devices and signs and try to cross the tracks before the train gets there. These people do not stop to think that the engineer must decide in a fraction of a second if he should apply the brakes, and whether they should be applied in emergency or not. In an emergency brake situation, there is the real possibility of cars derailing, for the brakes in emergency are not under the control of the engineer and slack action or “run-in” can cause momentary instability of a car. In a derailment situation, there is always the possibility of public safety consequence. On the other hand, the engineer is vulnerable to “second-guessing” by the same public, particularly if there is a collision with the vehicle.
In the case of the snowmobiler, there are no defined crossings, no warning lights or signs indicating that a train is coming. Worse yet, he should have protective gear on his head, which can limit both hearing and peripheral vision, and the noise of the machine itself can drown out any warning horn blast or bell from a locomotive The thrill of racing the machine can cause him to rely on his maneuverability to keep him safe, but the train itself is not the only obstacle he will face: there are bridges, switch stands, trackside signals and signs, piles of rail and ties, etc. And he may be capable of outrunning a train, but if he fails to see or hear it, his capability may not matter.
The New England states have statutes which declare snowmobiling on railroad property without permission to be unlawful and punishable by arrest and fine. The railroad, the states and local communities as well as many snowmobile clubs have tried hard to spread the word about the dangers of snowmobiling around the railroads. The Operation Lifesaver program has devoted effort to this education as well. “NO TRESPASSING” signs placed throughout the property leave no doubt that the railroad is no place to play. Yet, just recently, the “Wall Street Journal” cited a near miss of a snowmobiler with an AMTRAK train in New Hampshire, indicating that the message has not been heard by all.
If you have a chance to tell a snowmobiler that the railroad is off limits, please do it. You may just save his or her life!