070517 Light rail crossing, Charlotte, N.C.	Ernest H. Robl stock photos: Railroad & Rail Transit Safety This page provides a small sampling of images related to railroad safety in North America.	030272 Grade crossing work, Durham, N.C.
Click on the images to view a larger version with a more detailed caption. The numbers preceding the captions are the file numbers of the original transparencies.

	Left: 980583: All that remains of a tractor-trailer that pulled into the path of an Amtrak train.
	Right: 960976: Demolished remains of a mobile home stalled on a grade crossing in the path of a freight train.
	Left: 860014 Special coupler and hazardous materials placard on tank car.
	Right: 980441: Video surveillance equipment at a grade crossing in Salisbury, N.C., to record violators who go around lowered crossing gates .
	Left: 971630; Right: 980078: Grade crossing identification plates at a rural crossing (left) and an urban crossing with gates and lights (right). The placards contain toll-free numbers to report hazards at the crossings.
	Left: 970479: Four-quadrant crossing gates at Morrisville, N.C.
	Right: 981019: Operation Lifesaver (see below) sends out its safety message with hats, key chains, and bumper stickers.
	Left: 001429 Close-up of tight-lock coupler on modern diesel locomotive.
	Right: 981129 Firemen and paramedics practice extrication of an injured railroad crew member from a locomotive cab.

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is a joint industry-government educational effort to reduce grade crossing and trespasser accidents on railroads and rail transit systems.

With the growing number of new rail transit systems, particularly light rail transit systems, whose trains operate at grade in urban areas, OLI now has special programs devoted to rail transit safety. State OLI groups work with transit systems staring new light rail operations to educate residents of the area about rail safety issues.

Please contact either the national OLI office or your state OLI program for additional information on railroad safety or to schedule an OLI presentation to your group or organization.

Link to the national Operation Lifesaver site. Link to the North Carolina Operation Lifesaver site. (The national OL site contains links to other state OL organizations.)

Remember:

• Trains cannot stop in a short distance. if you walk or drive into the path of an oncoming train, you will get hit by that train. Trains also cannot swerve to avoid hitting you.

• Always expect a train, on any track at any time. Railroads are private property. If you are on the tracks anywhere except at a designated crossing and do not have permission to be there, then you are trespassing.

• Just because you are standing outside the two rails of a track does not give you adequate clearance. Most railroad equipment overhangs the outside of the rail by several feet. Stay well clear of all tracks.

If you are interested in railroad safety issues, I hope you will also take a look at the sample chapter from my introduction to railroading, The Basic Railfan Book. That sample chapter deals with a range of railroad safety issues, including both safety around railroads and how to report safety problems to railroads.

• To view that chapter, click here.

• To begin with the general description of the book, click here.

For additional rail images, see the general Railroad page.

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