Railroads have a program called "Operation Lifesaver." The companies employees go to schools, fairs, and other public events and tell people not to die needlessly because of an altercation with a train.

If you would like an "Operation Lifesaver" presentation at your school for your kids or whatever, contact a RR office near you.

This is a picture of a U.P. stack train at Dekalb, IL on July 12th at Nelson Road. Train was stopped by a Dragging Equipment Detector and this is what the Conductor found upon inspection. Apparently the driver couldn't stop before he ran under the moving train. Being a stack train they could have been moving at 70 MPH.

By the front wheel you can see a hand. There is no excuse for having to die like this, yet about 1200 a year do. In the last ten years the total has dropped by about 1000. I like to attribute this to the program.

Remember, it's no big thrill for us to sit in the cab of a locomotive and watch people get killed right in front of your eyes and know there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it.

Be Careful!!! Look, Listen, Live!!!

Party On,

Mark