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Trouble on the Train
Mar. 31st, 2020 02:29 pmThe "little BN" local BNSF switch job often ties up for the night across from our house when the crew has been out so long (or there is sufficient congestion on the Nevada Subdivision) that they aren't able to get back to their home base in Sparks before their federally-mandated maximum twelve hours of service runs out. (This is known as "going dead on the law," so if you ever hear a railroad crew saying that they are "going dead," it doesn't mean fatal.) When this happens, they tie down the brakes on the train and a contract van comes out and collects them to drive them back to Sparks. (Officially, the moment they hit twelve hours, even if they're waiting for the ride or in the van back to Sparks, they are "on rest," which I think is silly, but that's railroading.) The locomotives generally idle all night long in cold weather to prevent them freezing up, with software on board often changing the idle speed or shutting the units down and restarting them depending on conditions.
Late yesterday afternoon, Lisa pointed out to me that a couple of transients were walking around the parked train (two locomotives and several cars parked on the "house track"). Then they climbed up onto the trailing unit BNSF 155 and opened the cab door and went inside. As we understand it, locomotives are often not locked up because in order to put locks on the cab doors, you'd have to issue keys to everyone who might ever operate them, on account of locomotives are sent all over the place.
( Summoning the Authorities )
I don't like being the bad guy here, but this was a potentially hazardous situation, so I felt that I had to do so. And for what it's worth, it may have earned us a brownie point or two from the local crew, who know that we're here, as it shows that we're responsible neighbors looking out for them and for their employer's equipment, not just a couple of "foamers" (or "anoraks" as our British friends would call us). Our home was originally a Southern Pacific railroader's house, and I reckon that he would have done the same thing, although actually he might have gone out himself and told them to leave, as he wouldn't be trespassing by doing so.
Update, April 1: As I'd forgotten to photograph the pair of locomotives at the time this incident happened, I took a picture when they came by on April 1 to switch the House Tracks. Between the time of this incident and April 1, they had been turned so they pointed the opposite direction they were oriented during the incident.
Late yesterday afternoon, Lisa pointed out to me that a couple of transients were walking around the parked train (two locomotives and several cars parked on the "house track"). Then they climbed up onto the trailing unit BNSF 155 and opened the cab door and went inside. As we understand it, locomotives are often not locked up because in order to put locks on the cab doors, you'd have to issue keys to everyone who might ever operate them, on account of locomotives are sent all over the place.
( Summoning the Authorities )
I don't like being the bad guy here, but this was a potentially hazardous situation, so I felt that I had to do so. And for what it's worth, it may have earned us a brownie point or two from the local crew, who know that we're here, as it shows that we're responsible neighbors looking out for them and for their employer's equipment, not just a couple of "foamers" (or "anoraks" as our British friends would call us). Our home was originally a Southern Pacific railroader's house, and I reckon that he would have done the same thing, although actually he might have gone out himself and told them to leave, as he wouldn't be trespassing by doing so.
Update, April 1: As I'd forgotten to photograph the pair of locomotives at the time this incident happened, I took a picture when they came by on April 1 to switch the House Tracks. Between the time of this incident and April 1, they had been turned so they pointed the opposite direction they were oriented during the incident.
