[Arkoquisa]

worked with a guy last summer who worked with trains at his previous job, I brought this post up in a conversation and he just grinned and nodded with a "yup, all the time" then went on to talk about how the body gets junked up under the trains and how they have to get it out

[johnleeknoefler]

I only ever saw one suicide or attempted suicide. I was working the night shift at Bender shipyard in Mobile. My part of the ship was located near the front gate and I was on top welding. Close to 6:am I heard the train sounding it's horn just like every morning. Then it started doing something strange. Over and over it blasted it's horn. Curiosity got me to look up and I noticed a pickup parked on the tracks with it's lights out. For a moment I didn't notice the truck since it was just sitting there and then I realized it was actually parked on the tracks and had it's lights off like the driver intended on staying there.
The train hit it hard and it went up and back across the tracks to the other side and I lost sight of it.
After it hit I went back to work since my shift did not end for a few more minutes. Then as I was picking up my tools the second shift foreman went walking around looking for witnesses. Seems they wanted to collect statements to try to help the man's wife sue the railroad.
The story they wanted was that the truck was stalled on the tracks with it's driving lights on and the train did not try to stop. I told the guy exactly what I saw and he got pissed because as far as I could see the train operator did all he could to warn that he could not stop by sounding his horn. I was too surprised while watching to notice if the train's wheels were squealing. When I insisted that the trucks lights had been off and the driver had sat there with no intention to exit his vehicle and plenty of time to do so the foreman just stormed off with an angry look.
Sure, I could of lied and helped the man's wife out. But from my way of thinking, if the man wants to kill himself then why should the railroad pay for his actions? Too bad about his wife and kids. NOw that I think about it I believe he lived with crushed or broken ribs and some internal injuries. It would be funny if he healed up and tried again. Oh wait, he would have to work awhile to buy a new truck.

[gimlet]

Originally Posted by johnleeknoefler ↗

I only ever saw one suicide or attempted suicide. I was working the night shift at Bender shipyard in Mobile. My part of the ship was located near the front gate and I was on top welding. Close to 6:am I heard the train sounding it's horn just like every morning. Then it started doing something strange. Over and over it blasted it's horn. Curiosity got me to look up and I noticed a pickup parked on the tracks with it's lights out. For a moment I didn't notice the truck since it was just sitting there and then I realized it was actually parked on the tracks and had it's lights off like the driver intended on staying there.
The train hit it hard and it went up and back across the tracks to the other side and I lost sight of it.
After it hit I went back to work since my shift did not end for a few more minutes. Then as I was picking up my tools the second shift foreman went walking around looking for witnesses. Seems they wanted to collect statements to try to help the man's wife sue the railroad.
The story they wanted was that the truck was stalled on the tracks with it's driving lights on and the train did not try to stop. I told the guy exactly what I saw and he got pissed because as far as I could see the train operator did all he could to warn that he could not stop by sounding his horn. I was too surprised while watching to notice if the train's wheels were squealing. When I insisted that the trucks lights had been off and the driver had sat there with no intention to exit his vehicle and plenty of time to do so the foreman just stormed off with an angry look.
Sure, I could of lied and helped the man's wife out. But from my way of thinking, if the man wants to kill himself then why should the railroad pay for his actions? Too bad about his wife and kids. NOw that I think about it I believe he lived with crushed or broken ribs and some internal injuries. It would be funny if he healed up and tried again. Oh wait, he would have to work awhile to buy a new truck.

Your life sounds like a Credence Clearwater Revival song:
"Down on the bayou, welding for the man every all night and day, but I never took a minute to watch, the suicidal drivers after they got hit by a train...white man keeps on working (workin'!), Obama keeps complain'n (complain'n!),
weldin',
weldin',
weldin' on the Bayou"

[Gh007]

Ive known a family friend that is a conductor... his rig hit a kid, he took early retirement, It must be extremely mentally painful to watch it happening knowing you cant stop in time

[Impotent Rage]

I work on the railways and attend regular safety courses including videos where train drivers talk about the psychological impact of suicides, accidents and near misses. In the UK there has been a compensation scheme where a train driver can retire with 10 year's salary as compensation after 3 suicides, the rule has now been revoked so early retirement is still offered but no compensation.

My rail safety instructor told us that he was conducting his course one day and he headed out to the track with his delegates and they spotted a woman standing beside the track poised to jump. He called the signaller and had got the trains stopped whilst his assistant called the emergency services. They approached the woman and asked her what she's doing, she replied "I'm going to jump in front of the next train" so he said "you'll be waiting a while, because there aren't any trains coming!". She stumbled a bit, stuffed her hands in her pockets and proudly revealed "I've got razor blades!". At that point the police arrived and the course team were sent away, they heard she was apprehended without further incident.

[thissiteisfuckedup]

interesting reading your story , i can imagine how traumatic it would be having front row seats to peoples suicides.

[LrlynJy]

Originally Posted by Impotent Rage ↗

They approached the woman and asked her what she's doing, she replied "I'm going to jump in front of the next train" so he said "you'll be waiting a while, because there aren't any trains coming!". She stumbled a bit, stuffed her hands in her pockets and proudly revealed "I've got razor blades!". At that point the police arrived and the course team were sent away, they heard she was apprehended without further incident.

sounds like she already made up her mind rock steady...

[johnleeknoefler]

Originally Posted by gimlet ↗

Your life sounds like a Credence Clearwater Revival song:
"Down on the bayou, welding for the man every all night and day, but I never took a minute to watch, the suicidal drivers after they got hit by a train...white man keeps on working (workin'!), Obama keeps complain'n (complain'n!),
weldin',
weldin',
weldin' on the Bayou"

Sorry about that, but really, I was just a welder. It's not my job to come running when someone gets hurt. There was nothing I could do. In my mind he was dead. And I had work to do. If it happened again I would most likely just keep working.
I usually pass out at the sight of gore. That's one reason why I came to DR in the first place. To get over that and come to terms with people dying violently in my family. Also the morbid curiosity factor which is largely gone now. And yes, now that you bring it up I feel guilty in retrospect. I don't understand why I wasn't curious enough to come running or even care. I only saw the outline of the guy since he was lit up by the street light. I didn't know him and only saw as his truck was smashed and thrown back across the tracks and then my view was blocked by the train. Thanks for making me feel guilty now. BTW, cool use of lyrics. That pretty much was the way it was there. 12 hours on and 12 off every day.

[gimlet]

Originally Posted by johnleeknoefler ↗

Thanks for making me feel guilty now. BTW, cool use of lyrics. That pretty much was the way it was there. 12 hours on and 12 off every day.

The last thing you should feel is guilty. My point was you were so busy working "for the man" to pay for welfare and other "Great Society" programs that you couldn't take time to wipe your ass. Obama and his ilk have no idea what hard work like welding in the bayou heat / humidity is like. I know, I have worked in many jobs including a year in the Chicago Public School System as a teacher. The Chicago Democrat machine voters and their "community organizers" like Obama are worse than diseased shit.

[johnleeknoefler]

Originally Posted by gimlet ↗

The last thing you should feel is guilty. My point was you were so busy working "for the man" to pay for welfare and other "Great Society" programs that you couldn't take time to wipe your ass. Obama and his ilk have no idea what hard work like welding in the bayou heat / humidity is like. I know, I have worked in many jobs including a year in the Chicago Public School System as a teacher. The Chicago Democrat machine voters and their "community organizers" like Obama are worse than diseased shit.

Okay. Still, looking back, I wonder why I wasn't more curious. I guess at the time I knew there was not a thing I could do and people were already on it.