We found this email making its way around the web. It was reported to have been written by a Locomotive Engineer. Considering the number of avoidable railroad crossing accidents that happen each year, we thought we would share it. And there is a photography component as well:

Let’s start with some DON’Ts:
1) A train is really, really big. Can we all accept that? Not even
your Ram/F-350/Hummer/douche-mobile is a match for the smallest
locomotive. You say you have a Cummins diesel? Caterpillar? Detroit?
*/Oooooooh/*. Well I have an “EMD 567″ on a */bad/* day, and even its
pathetic 2,000 horsepower will pound you and your gleaming pickup into
the fourth dimension, so please, stay behind the white line!
2) I hate blocking crossings. Seriously, I feel like a complete
asshole when I stop a train in the middle of the road and leave two
dozen motorists to ponder their lattes and ask what the hell I’m
doing. The truth is, sometimes it has to be done, so don’t honk at me,
flip me off, or scream at me from the window of your Dodge Caravan as
you’re shooting a U. Instead, be patient and try to believe that
there’s a point to what I’m doing. It’s called “switching”, and my
conductor is depending on me to work slowly and not run his ass over.
If you don’t believe me, Wiki that shit.
3) Don’t climb on the equipment. I hate to sound like your mother, but
you’re saving me a lot of paperwork and horrifying flashbacks by
staying off the equipment. To you it might look like an abandoned
train or a free ride, but when that bastard starts to move with you on
it, there’s a damn good chance you won’t be able to hold on. As long
as you’re on Wikipedia, punch in “slack action” and see what comes up.
Also, the romance of riding freight trains is total bullshit. They’re
really dark, really cold, really windy, and hobos are f*ing SCARY.
4) Don’t put shit on the tracks. It’s dangerous to me and my
conductor, and it’s ten times more dangerous for you and everyone else
on the ground. If you’re wondering “can a train go over a rock?” the
answer is YES. There’s only one problem. You probably haven’t wondered
where the million shards of rock are going to go at four times the
speed of sound, have you?
5) Stop whining about the horn. Countless accidents have been avoided
because drivers missed the flashing lights but heard the horn. You’d
have to blast Miley Cyrus and Lil’ Bow Wow pretty f*ing loud to
drown out a five-chime, and often that’s the only thing that saves
people. Still, that’s no reason to keep your stereo at 80 decibels as
you’re rolling through a crossing at sixty without looking both ways.
6) By and large, railroad cops are major douche-bags, so when you’re
trespassing on railroad property, keep your head out of your ass.
These guys didn’t make the cut into the real police force, and they
will ream your ass inside and out to make up for their resulting
inferiority complex. Also, walking on bridges and in tunnels is
extremely dangerous. Ask yourself: If a train comes, where will I go?
Trains are much wider than the rails they run on, so don’t be fooled.
Now for some of the DO’s:
1) If you see a large object (like a garbage can, or an F-350) that’s
about to get love-tapped by a hotshot freight train, get in the clear.
If the shit’s about to fly at a railroad crossing, run to the side of
the street that the train is coming from. That way you’ll be behind
the point of impact and you won’t have to worry about catching that
beautiful pickup and its over-confident driver square on your f*ing
shoulders. If you run away from the train you’re just putting yourself
in the line of fire, and the death toll could very possibly be two.
2) If the gates stay down and the lights stay flashing, stay where you
are. I guaran-damn-tee there’s another train coming, and speeding onto
the tracks the moment the first train clears is a lot like celebrating
a touchdown too early. WHAM.
3) When you’re waiting for a train to pass, it’s a good idea to stay
back thirty or forty feet. Trains are operated by professionals, but
often they’re /*loaded*/ by total assclowns. I’ve heard some real
nasty stories about payloads falling off flatcars and crushing people
in their vehicles, or doors sliding off boxcars and ripping through
everything in their path. It’s rare, but shit happens!
4) Always report problems or suspicious activity. If you see a
photographer with a radio scanner and a big-ass notebook, ignore him.
We know those guys.* But if there’s a dude in street clothes working
a crowbar through a signal box, hit us up and tell us what the deal
is. Railroad crossings usually have signs with emergency numbers, or
you can call the non-emergency number for your local fuzz. If an
accident has already occurred or a life is at risk, call 911 instead.
Pretty sure they have our number.
5) Last but not least, when you’re inconvenienced by a train, remember
that we’re pulling for you! Trains are a great way to conserve fuel,
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and keep American jobs alive and
green. Rail technology is the best solution to our energy crisis, and
as the rail network grows in the years to come, it’s important for
everyone to stay safe. Look, listen, LIVE.

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