After watching trains all my life, and with my 14 year old son since he was about 2, I've seen more close calls than I can count. But today is the first time I've ever been train watching and been there when someone was killed.

21 year old guy, wearing a hoodie and headphones, walking across the tracks. Apparently never even knew the train was close. No doubt had the music cranking. Sad. Very sad. And shook me up, I'll tell you for sure.

i hope you are alright, people dont understand the dangers on rr land, the "dead dog tunnel" here in montreal, taggers paradise, well 3 kids were killed in there last year, families are blaming the RR, you have to cross an expressway and 2 fences to get there....

I'm alright. Thanks for asking. I am shook up, I have to admit. And as the day goes on, it is getting to me worse than before. Especially now that I am reading the news articles about it, the age, the family, the sadness. It really doesn't hit you sometimes how fleeting life is.

This stuff happens in this area a couple times a year. But this is just the first time I've been that close to it. And yeah, people always want to blame the railroad and it is rarely, if ever, their fault.

Trains are kinda locked on a certain path. They don't veer off and hit you. People don't realize how vital the "Stop, Look & Listen" slogan really is.

my post above looks a little off, was posting in a hurry, yeah most people hit by trains are where they werent supposed to be. and sadly this is always bad publicity for the big bad railway.

A couple weeks ago a buddy of mine was on a train that some one decided to kill themselves with. Also when I was growing up a friend of mines mother did the same thing.
They definitely aren't toys but as with everything in life death will be associated with it at some point or other. Look at cars.

Hopefully this recent event wont affect your enjoyment of trains.

I don't think it will. At least not for me. My 14 yr old I think will not have any long term lasting affects from it, but I can't be sure yet.

I'm going to go to the young man's funeral Thursday. I just need to for my own closure.

I've seen someone get by a commuter train and survive...now that was crazy.

Posted by Agent Skelly I've seen someone get by a commuter train and survive...now that was crazy.

I bet it was. I've seen people come very close, on foot and in vehicles, but this is the first time I'm been around when someone actually got hit.

Headphones and trains....a stupid and deadly combination. When the metal meets the meat....metal ALWAYS wins.