WNBC - Taking Selfies on Train Tracks

NBC correspondent Jeff Rossen reports on taking selfies on train tracks.

[@aestheticcruise8807]

I'm a railfan and I never thought a huge juggernaut on rails could be that silent..... A grim reminder of extreme dangers when on the tracks, especially that haunting photo of the three girls and the train was RIGHT BEHIND them...

[@F40M07]

People are stupid as hell dude

[@garywatson]

The only reason he heard the train was he was listening quietly. When there's two or more people odds are they are talking, which means the train will be on top of them before they hear it.

[@legogamingboss991]

Gary Watson another thing is if your all alone the driver will sound the horn if they see you witch on corners will be 1 second before it hits you but is you are on a straight track it could be a minute till the train hits you

[@veronicadaugherty3760]

@Lego Gaming Boss Then why do people die on straights. Oh maybe they don’t hear the train

[@dstevenson583]

This needs to be shared, shared, and shared again!

[@kevinrichards3288]

I agree. There are lots of places you can go to & have pictures taken at, but why the hell at the railroad tracks? Smh

[@bmwphoto921]

I just want to say good on the reporter for using his own experience as a teachable moment and admitting he was in the wrong. Its rare to see these days.

[@eggman8053]

I work for a short line in Texas, not an engineer but more of a security person! And I usually have to pull over and yell at some teens or kids just wondering the tracks and one case when I saw a 16 year old girl just walking the tracks and as I approach her the bells start ringing! We made it off the tracks safely and nobody got hurt!

[@albertgaspar627]

I live by the coast and I can hear the tracks "sing" from the vibration of an oncoming commuter train before I even hear or see it. Must be a different set of rails.

[@southeasternnewmexicorailf9851]

The thing the operation lifesaver employee said is right and wrong at the same time . There are times where you actually can hear it coming. It could usually depend on things such as atmospheric conditions and whether or not you are wearing things that can drown out the sound of the train such as headphones or AirPods. Plus the reason why it took a bit of time for him to hear the train was coming was because it sounded like the locomotives were at idle mode since it was most likely coasting down the line. Also a reason why trains can usually be quiet is because most of the sound they make it emitted out of the side of the engine with the exception of the horn which directs noise straight at you.

[@cabinfourus]

I play golf three times a week near a train track. On the course, I can hear a train coming from about a 1/4 of a mile. My question is this. Why wouldn't the engineer blow the whistle if someone was seen on the tracks? It is his job to control the train and watch for any track obstructions.

[@theautistictransitfan]

They do, but trains are so heavy and take so long to stop, once they see you on the tracks it’s already too late

[@alekseymagno6743]

Do the train crews a favor please stay of stay away and stay alive.there jobs are hard enough don't make it harder for them

[@amarendranath2954]

Aleksey Magno Absolutely... imagine the heartache it causes to the locomotive crew

[@Hunter_Dawso]

GE locomotives are relatively more quiet than say EMD locomotives.

[@ThatCarGuy2]

Still, stay off tracks.

[@floridianrailauto9032]

I agree, the loudest locomotive i've ever seen was a f***ing GP40-2!

[@mattyboy3576]

still they're loud but their horns are definitely louder than their engines

[@StryderK]

MississippiRailfan 2004 again, you need the operator to see the people first! And in the train, people are like specks to the engineers and they might be able to see them in time, especially if they’re busy. But most of all, the people needs to care! If they don’t, then nothing gonna save them. The recent accident with Union Pacific’s 844is a prime. The stupid lady taking the selfies just didn’t care. She even turned her back to the train after taking her selfies to take a look at the pics despite the brakes grinding and the horn blaring. I mean....when that happens, you just surrender to the inevitable.

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

so ge trains will hit u but emd wont? wtf does that have to do with anything

[@southeasternnewmexicorailf9851]

The only way you definitely would hear it coming is if the locomotives were at full power or the main way you could hear it coming would be if it started blowing the horn.

[@Trainmaster1907]

Really the only safe way to do this is to get a "track warrant"for where you are taking the picture. Basically the railroad that owns the tracks says you can take pictures there and no trains will come.

[@Nareimooncatt]

Since that is unlikely to happen (they won't shut down a line for photographs), go find a train museum or abandoned sidings and get permission to shoot there.

[@RandomVideosAndMore153]

when i found out it was a rarely used sideing i was stunned

[@legogamingboss991]

one reason trains might be under estimated because ​of toy trains seriously these things weigh four or five grams while a freaght train can weigh 12 million tons and they go like five miles per hour while trains go at like 55 miles per hour also real train tracks are welded together while toy train tracks are put in segments so the segments make sound when the train goes over it but welded tracks make very little sound.

[@THR33STEP]

If only people listen to stories like this. Why do people think railroad tracks are walking trails??

[@jrkgnz]

The only thing didn't hear mentioned was, it's also illegal on inactive/dead tracks also. It's all private property so your trespassing, can be fined also. Reports like this need re-aired every so often. Including how it's illegal what fines could be.

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

but it was mentioned

[@hammerdragon4321]

It doesn’t matter how quite the engine it self is the wheels would make a lot of noise or when they blow the horn

[@Tails12DoesMinecraft]

why does this happen ONLY with diesels? no one would think to do it on strasburg's tracks

[@mattyboy3576]

because diesels and electrics are the only locomotives in mainline service nowadays

[@kevinrichards3288]

Railroad tracks aren't a place to be at & trains cannot stop at short distances like cars & trucks can. For example a 60 car freight train traveling at 55mph would take at least a mile to stop.

[@kevinrichards3288]

@iamnobody noone lol the track is the train's steering wheel.

[@74stinkyfoot]

I wonder if something could be fixed to the bottom of a train to automatically strike the rail at fixed intervals to send an audible ping ahead. That way there is always an intentional sound regardless of whether or not a conductor can see people or animals on the track

[@NewBuildmini]

I hate when people trespass on railway property. Whoever is hit by a train during a selfie, had deserved it. It's illegal because you are trespassing on railway tracks, unless it's abandoned. In the USA, railroads have their own police forces and can arrest or fine you a huge money amount for doing that.

[@NewBuildmini]

@me mememe Though it probably wouldn't be enforced in that case.

[@southeasternnewmexicorailf9851]

Guess what? Trains are actually not as quiet as a mouse, even the ones I’ve seen before I could literally hear the prime mover making its distinct chugging or whining sound even from a mile away.

[@hailwindham]

damn, i used to walk on the train tracks with headphones on and the music cranked way up.

[@mattyboy3576]

here is some info on the one with the three girls they weren't on the tracks but between to sets taking a selfie while another passed off screen it is believed that the wind force knocked them into the trains

[@mattyboy3576]

also if the experiment used say and SD40-2 likely he would have heard it from around a mile away

[@SgtChip]

@bryson heath It's the slipstream. A fast train will make one, and if you're caught off balance, it's game over. Just like those girls.

[@specialstone9153]

Being close to trains can cause deadly suction. That happened to a man whose car broke down on highway, he was outside of his car, by highway side when a truck that passed by created suction and killed him.

[@collegeman1988]

There’s good reason those railroad tracks are private property.

[@F40M07]

Not as legendary as the girl who died to 844

[@Indianarailproductions]

Dang

[@MIKE1236936]

Don't be caught on the tracks,but if you do,and can't get out of the train's way,lay down.Otherwise the train will suck you into the machinery and you are dead,guaranteed.

[@MIKE1236936]

For someone who didn't get it clearly,lay down as far away from the tracks as you can.

[@usnva5638]

That's a myth! A train will not suck somebody towards it, since the air around it is being "pushed" outward and away.

[@michaelhenwood4046]

The hell it is,I was caught on a slippery(ice) freight apron as a fast freight went by some time ago.I was never so scared or happy to see the last car go by.I learned my lesson.

[@RandomVideosAndMore153]

once when i was little my mom did this

[@Alexandria1983]

So what if you’re dumb enough to not be cautious then you probably weren’t gonna make it through life anyways

[@jmmcches]

Why does this appear to have been filmed with a potato?

[@WesternSouthDakotaRailfan2006]

Taking selfie on railroad tracks is dangerous

[@Tomanystixx]

It takes 20 minutes for a train to stop

[@rl1401]

Be real. Maybe a couple of minutes. Because of the trains size, the speed seems slower than it is.

[@Alexandria1983]

False you can hear trains from quite far away used to live next to tracks and you could clearly hear them coming and I’m not talking about them blowing the horn or the engines

[@southeasternnewmexicorailf9851]

From my perspective. It depends on atmospheric conditions. But if you listen closely and carefully, then you can hear the them coming. Plus you would really hear the horn which is the main way you know they are coming. The locomotives seen in the experiment were mostly likely at idle since it was most likely coasting, you could really hear them if the throttle was at notch 8 (full power)

[@southeasternnewmexicorailf9851]

Plus noice cancelling headphones and AirPods can drown out the sound of the locomotive.

[@sentrysiren01]

Bruhh those 3 girls should have heard the train engine coming. All that vibration the train was making they should have sensed that

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

ya in 3 seconds.................................... r u an alien?

[@kenvandevoort7820]

There was double track and a train was along side them while another was coming up behind them. The engineer used the horn constantly and they ignored it.

[@bz3248]

Stay off the tracks. It is posted & they are private property.

[@tyrabrown4018]

youll got knocked the heck out but dont do that

[@christianladymichelleclm5809]

2:30

[@RandomVideosAndMore153]

i always stay off the tracks! comment if u do too

that idiot camera girl making the movie was killed because she went back to save the bed

[@francispetaluma]

Sonoma SMART train tax measure measure was approved in 2008. Here it is almost 10 years later, still have not pickup one passenger. Farhad Mansourian's salary is $313K but still no train yet. I live five blocks from the crossing/stop. Everyday the train operators ride up and down blasting their horn insensately, destroying the peacefulness of the neighborhood. During the scoping sessions, they promised us "quiet zones" through the neighborhoods. Yet for years now, we've had to listen to the horn blasting. Inconsiderate!

[@Trainmaster1907]

I love the sound of train horns

[@akoll6138]

Owen Landauer me too

[@yankeesforlife24]

You literally came to a the fra KZbin page to bitch about horns when it is talking about people killed by trains? Seriously

[@Iowarail]

At the railroad we call it culling the gene pool.

[@marcgarza7252]

stop reporting let Darwinism take over..

[@walterm5298]

Blow the damn horn!

[@trainfan4449]

WalterM529 that dosnt always work. I was at a railway station where there is around 7-10 crossings in both detections from where i was and still didnt notice the train was coming till it was a crossing away. Sometimes the horn isnt loud due to low air pressure or type of horn the locomotive has or the detection its facing. Most horns face front on todays locomotives so if its going in reverse its alot quieter. Also if you are not paying attention your brain will not alert you to the noise(personal experience)

[@markcinque167]

(1) 12/3/22 12:52p.m. Hi,Operation Lifesaver My name is Mark Cinque 3years ago 2/6/20 7:00a.m. my Grandmom Faith Reckley Munson Died at 83years old because of old age and she was born 5/21/1936 and she lived a great life, she taught me how to love God and GO to Church and read the Bible and how to go to School and to ride the School Bus and honor my Mother and Father and she also took me on my first Train ride on Board The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad at 2 years old for my 2nd Birthday July of 1990 and at first i was Frightened by the sound of the Loud Diesel Train Horn of The Western Maryland Alco RS-3 Diesel Locomotive #199 But my Grandmom taught me that the Train Engineer has to sound the Horn for The Railroad Crossing, Tunnel, Bridge, approaching or departing a station or if there are Trespassers Disodeying the law and are fooling around on the Tracks and now my Grandmom did not get hit by a Train but she did die of old age at 83years old and she was very sick and 3 years have passed and it is now going on 4years scene she has passed and she was more than a 2nd mother to me she is in a better place now called Heaven up their with Jesus and yes i am 34years old now and i am still crying and Greaveing taking it Day by Day to get over it and every Christmas and Birthday i have to handle it with out her being around and the rest of my Family has to do the samething but life is to Short and precious it doesn't have to end so short with a Train collusion on the Railroad Tracks, Please don't get killed or in Trouble with the Law so STAY OFF THE RAILROAD TRACKS!,OUT OF RAILROAD TUNNELS!, RAILROAD YARDS!, OFF RAILROAD BRIDGES!,WHEN YOU COME TO A RAILROAD CROSSING ALWAYS STOP!,LOOK!,LISTEN!,LIVE!,for any on coming Train Day or night every hour every minute every day of the week it is only just 2minutes to save your life!,1:20