Personal Safety
          On and Around Railroads

A Word About Railroad Safety Regulation

In the USA, regulation of railroads with respect to safety issues is shared by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  OSHA focuses more on individual worker safety, especially workers whose work brings them into contact with railroad equipment such as people who load and unload cars at an industrial site.  The FRA is more involved with safety of equipment, tracks, highway crossings, signaling and operations.  However, the FRA does mandate that each railroad have a set of general operating rules, which in turn deal with individual safety and workgroup safety. 

In the UK, Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate plays a role similar to that of the FRA in the United States.  Preserved railways are considered to be "light rail" for regulatory purposes and are inspected with rigor similar to that of regular passenger service. 

In Poland, the PKP is a government-owned monopoly, and sets its own safety regulations.  While the railroad enforces safety practices, there is no watchdog agency looking over its shoulder.

BUT, the key fact about all of these agencies is that no matter how vigilant they may be, they can only do so much to protect an individual who puts himself or herself in harm's way.   Self-reliance is not very "PC" in regulatory circles these days, but it is the best way to ensure your own safety while indulging your interest in railroads.   After all, there is no interest like self interest!

Your Safety in Rail Yards and Station Areas
Or, "How to Stay in One Piece Among Lots of Trains and Tracks"

1. Assume a train could come along at any time on any track, no matter how unused the track may look.  Look both ways before crossing any track, even if you looked a few minutes earlier and nothing was coming.  

2. Walk alongside a rail line, well away from the rails.  Do not walk between, on or even close to the rails.  Diesel engines can be amazingly silent. When it is necessary to cross a track, look both ways and then cross quickly.

3. Do not step on the rails, especially near switches.  Some automatic switches can "grab" a foot and hold you securely on the track.  The potential for disaster is obvious.

4. Trains are very hard to stop quickly.  Never expect a train crew to see you and stop the train in time.  Just keep in mind that trains almost always have the right of way and even if they don't, they generally can't stop in time to avoid something or someone on the tracks. 

5. Recognize that various things come loose from trains and stick out from the side, the better to spear you with as they go by.  Stay back farther from a moving train than the apparent width of the train would seem to require.

6. Always cross well in front of or behind a stationary train.  Do not attempt to cross between cars, or (Heaven forbid) climb over a car.  Also, don't cross too closely in front of the engine or too close behind the last car.  Trains can start moving with no warning, whether they are supposed to or not.

7. Standing near a steam locomotive beside or just forward of the cab invites a scalded leg, especially if the driver (engineer) doesn't see you.  He (or she) just might decide to "blow down" the boiler or open the cylinder cocks, releasing live steam in the vicinity of your legs.

8. Overhead loads can be a peril in the steam locomotive depot.  If the loco is taking on water,  you may get wet.  But, coal being loaded by overhead crane is a different story.  For some reason, coal-loading seems to be somewhat makeshift in a lot of places.  Keep a sharp eye out for overhead perils.

9. Some rail depots, yards and sections of track, even those where steam engines are operating, may also serve electric trains.  This is true at some locations in Poland.  Watch for electrified "third rails" and other sources of high voltage electricity.

10. On some railroads, including some British historical railroads, orange high-visibility clothing or safety vests are required for individuals walking or working on or along the track and in rail yards.  This is really the safest practice.   But, orange clothing clashes with tradition and historical authenticity.  More about that elsewhere.  Suffice it to say, if you are not wearing orange (or lime-yellow) hi-viz clothing, be doubly careful, because in traditional blue clothing you cannot be seen as well by the crew of an approaching train.

Safety On the Footplate
Or, "In the Cab" to us Yanks

1. Primary responsibility for safety on the footplate rests with the official driver/instructor designated by the host railroad.  However, our theme here is that each individual should look out for his or her own personal safety as a matter of good practice.  This theme carries over to the footplate, whether you are the student driver, student fireman (no, they do not say "fire-person") or just an observer trying to stay out of the way.

2. One of the REALLY BIG GO-WRONGS on a steam locomotive is for the boiler to blow up.  The most likely way that can happen is for the water to get too low in the boiler.  The top plates in the firebox melt and steam explodes out into the cab.  Verrrry bad news!  For that reason, your author checks the water gauge glass(es) immediately upon climbing onto a locomotive and frequently thereafter.  In general, the water should be about half way up the glass, and should always be visible.   If you do not see water in the glass, immediately ask the driver or fireman why.   Make sure someone shows you how to check to gauge glass, if you are not sure how to read it.  It's not rocket science, but it is important.

3. Typically, the tender is connected to the locomotive by a more-or-less permanent coupling.  There is usually a hinged steel plate that covers the gap between the tender and the locomotive cab floor.  This allows the fireman to easily step onto the tender to get coal.  However, as the train goes around curves and changes grade, the plate moves back and forth across the cab floor as much as several inches.  It is not safe to stand on the plate, especially on the moving edge.   Can be hard on toes.

4. Read about flames and burn dangers below.  All of that applies to the footplate.  Lots of hot things protruding from the back of the boiler.   Flames occasionally come out of the firebox door. 

5. Learn how to climb onto and especially off of the locomotive.   Do not go down the ladder facing out.  Face the ladder/locomotive as you climb down. 

6. Do NOT be outside the locomotive for any reason while it is moving.  You may see professional train crews do this, but you should not.  Do not hang on the ladder or out of the locomotive door when the train is moving.

Working Between Locomotives and Cars
Or, "Safety Among Large Moveable Objects"

1. In America, there is a whole set of regulations called the "Blue Flag Rules" that are designed to protect people working under, on or between cars.  The main idea is to make sure that no part of the train moves while anyone is in a position to get hurt.  You should conclude from this that you should never be on, under or between cars and/or the locomotive and cars except when doing something you are instructed to do AND when the required safety measures are in place.  

2. About the only reason for anyone to be between cars is for coupling.  Most European vintage trains do not have automatic couplers of the kind we are used to seeing in America.  Cars are hooked together with a sort of three-link chain with a turnbuckle in the middle.  It is often necessary for someone to go between cars, or between the locomotive and a car to couple or uncouple.  You are unlikely to be involved in coupling in Poland.  In the UK you will spend class time going through the procedures for coupling.  The main things to make sure of are the following:

   • Make sure the locomotive crew knows you are "going under" to do coupling, so they will not move the train while you are under it.   Go up to the locomotive to let them know or use hand signals, but make sure they know what you are doing.

   • As an additional precaution, make sure that the crew have set the hand-brake firmly.

   • And, as a further precaution, the first thing you should do after stepping between the cars is to uncouple the brake vacuum line, which sets the brakes all along the train, theoretically preventing any part of the train from moving.

Working On and Under a Locomotive
Or, "Avoiding Slips, Falls and Worse"

1. Routine, daily maintenance of a steam locomotive inherently involves climbing up on, climbing under and to some extent crawling "into" the locomotive.  People generally do not get hurt doing these things, but the potential exists for falls, burns and even losing some part of your anatomy. 

2. The first thing to do is to make sure that the locomotive crew knows what you are going to be doing, so that they will not move the locomotive or otherwise put you in jeopardy.  Make sure that they have the hand brake firmly set.  

3. Then, stop and think about what you are going to do and how to avoid problems, before climbing out onto the boiler or scrunching down under the loco to lubricate.

4. Generally, you will be lucky enough to be able to get under the locomotive by walking down into a pit rather than having to crawl around on the ground.   But, even with the "luxury" of a pit there are hot pipes, a hot ash pit and plenty of places to bump your head under there.  Watch your head and watch what you touch.

5. When climbing up on the locomotive, to clean or oil, the danger is falling or getting burned.  Stay on the provided walkways as much as possible.   Look for the provided hand rails and use them.  You will be tempted to step on or hold onto other handy pipes running along the boiler, but it is hard to tell which are hot and which are not.  Having a good lug sole on your boots is really important in avoiding falls.

6. Keep an eye out for other trains maneuvering in the vicinity.   The potential problem is that if another train were to bump yours, your train could   move unexpectedly.  Therefore, the best rule is never to get in a position where a wheel or moving part could injure you if your train were suddenly to  move a few feet in either direction.  Second best is to minimize time spent in such vulnerable positions, and don't be there at all if you see any possibility of your train moving.

About "Personal Protective Equipment"
Or, "Fashions OSHA Might Have Recommended"

1. Hand Protection

Steam is HOT, so steam locomotives have lots of pipes and other "hot spots" where you can burn a hand. If your hands are not pretty well broken in (callused, that is), the opportunities to get blisters, cuts and scrapes are numerous. So, the obvious answer is to wear gloves, right? Well, not so fast! There is some controversy about that.

Some folks who worked steam in the British Rail system of old (Clive Groome being one of them) believe that gloves are dangerous, because if one catches fire, you cannot get it off fast enough. Clive also says that gloves just serve to spread grease around on everything you touch in the cab. Therefore, he recommends (insists on) not wearing gloves at all. Rather, you carry several small towels instead. The idea is that if a towel catches fire, you can drop it quickly. And, you can wipe the grease off of your hands with a towel before putting your hands on things that shouldn’t have grease on them. By the way, if you look in most commercial kitchens, you will see the cooks using towels rather than hot-pads or gloves to handle hot pans.  For a second "no-gloves" opinion, Click Here to see Ian Larcher's comments by email.

As it happens, almost every railroad person I have ever seen in action has been wearing gloves. But, Clive’s arguments are well thought out and the choice is ultimately yours. Just be sure to take care of your hands. If you are going to wear gloves, be sure to get welder’s gloves, which are fire-retardant. Some even have thermal insulation.

2. Foot Protection

There are two hazards to consider that involve your feet . First, steam locomotives are often greasy, relatively high above the ground and were not designed to OSHA standards. And, the train crew has to crawl around on the locomotive to perform routine maintenance. If you are thinking "slip and fall" accident potential, give yourself an A+! The answer is to wear boots that have a good anti-slip lugged sole, such as Vibram. Also, your climbing will be more sure footed if you wear boots that give some ankle support, say 6", or better, 8" high.

The second concern is overall protection from whatever might directly injure a foot, such as some falling object. The answer here is to make sure your boots have ANSI-approved steel toes. This is railroad standard practice!

Not exactly hazards except in extreme cases, but big comfort factors in the winter, are thermal insulation and water resistance. Fortunately, insulated, water resistant, steel-toed safety boots with lugged soles are readily available from a number of sources. Get a pair and wear them around some before you start spending whole days wearing them!

3. Head Protection

This is a tough one! I have NEVER seen a locomotive crew anywhere wearing hard hats. Sometimes in Europe you see the people who couple and uncouple cars wearing hard hats, and track maintenance crews frequently wear them. But, train crews typically wear some sort of traditional soft cap.

On the other hand, there are things that could fall on your head if someone is working above you on the loco. And, there are lots of opportunities to bump your head when working under a locomotive or coupling between cars. We do not have a good answer.

4. Eye Protection

When driving most steam locomotives, you will want to stick your head outside the cab to get a better view forward (or to the rear, if you are running tender first).  This raises the possibility that some unidentified (or maybe identified) flying object could hit you in the eye.  It is also possible that escaping steam (invisible sometimes) or hot water could get in your eyes.  Therefore, it is important to wear some sort of glasses with shatterproof (safety) lenses.  If you regularly wear glasses, ask your optometrist whether they are suitable for an environment where safety glasses are required.  If not, get some that are! 

Another solution is to get a pair of safety goggles that fit over your regular glasses.   These are better in the cold and give better protection overall.  Regularly available in safety catalogues.  By the way, if you do not go the goggles route, you should have a safety strap on your regular glasses so they will not get lost if they blow off.  At 50 to 60 mph, there is a good chance you could lose your glasses when you stick your head out of the window for a better look. 

5. Cold Protection

This is more of a comfort issue than a safety issue, though in Poland it is sometimes cold enough to be a safety issue. But, no matter how you classify it, staying warm is a high priority in winter. 

In England,  daytime temperatures are generally above freezing, but snow happens!  The problem in England is the frequent drizzle and the open-to-the-elements cabs of the British locomotives.  Most places on the footplate of a British loco seem about equally cold or wet, except right in front of the fire door when coal is being added.  And, unfortunately, if you are right in front of the firebox door when coal is being added, it must be you that is doing the adding, so it is hard to think about how lucky you are! 

In Poland, as in the American Midwest, temperatures can go to -20ºF,  but the locomotive cabs are very well closed in, very cozy and dry.  Also, since the Polish locos are working a regular passenger service, the firebox is a raging inferno.  If you are not near the driver's window in a Polish locomotive, you can become very warm just sitting.  But, when you are driving, you will often want to put your head out of the window  to get a better view of the track ahead.  So, you have the problem that your upper body, and your head in particular, is getting cold, while your lower body is toasty warm.  

The main secret to staying warm, but not too warm, is layering.   For example, we do not recommend wearing insulated coveralls, because coveralls do not give you many options except to have the whole suit on or off.  Some ideas we have found that work include the following:

Outerwear - The European concept of overalls is a suit consisting of bib overalls and a matching jacket.  We have found that this is ideal for outerwear, especially, if you match up an insulated jacket (FR!) with un-insulated bibs in cold weather.  Authentic British loco driver gear includes an inner cotton jacket and an outer wool one, but most people do not invest in the complete period outfit.

Inner Layers - Cotton or wool shirts and pants under the outerwear.  Add a wool  sweater or all cotton sweat shirt for another layer.

Underwear - Cotton (or wool) "long johns or "union suit" a must, especially for Polish winter driving.  Rachel knit cotton is heavy, but warm.

Footwear - Insulated (6 or 8 0z of Thinsulate) and waterproof boots will be much appreciated.  Under that, wear a pair of heavy all-wool (or as close to all wool as you can find) socks.  Finally, an inner sock liner of the type used in skiing adds a lot to the warmth.

Gloves - Leather is best and welding gloves provide flame retardance.  A layer of insulation is great.

Hat - The issue of hardhats aside, a warm cap, preferably flame-resistant, with earflaps is a MUST in really cold weather.  Remember, you drive a locomotive with your head about half out of the window a good bit of the time.  Ski caps, ear bands and the like are good for warmth, but are not safe around flames, unless they are made of flame-retardant material (see below), or at least a natural fiber such as cotton or wool.

Eyewear - See eye protection above.   Just add freezing air to the eye hazards.  Wear goggles!

Rainwear - Both England and Poland can be rainy.  Generally, this is not a problem on the footplate (in the cab) of the locomotive, but is a problem getting to and from the loco, maintaining the loco, going to lunch, etc. etc.  Wet clothes are no fun with the wind whipping around you when the train is moving.  Have some sort of rain jacket with you.  You can take it off, when it is your turn to fire or drive.  Another trick is to spray your driving clothes with a waterproofing agent such as ScotchGuard®.  Spray about a can on each garment or two.   Make sure the brand you use is not flammable.

If you are taking one of our steam locomotive driving courses in Europe, we will send you our more detailed  list of what to take.  First, READ THE COMMENTS ON FLAME PROTECTION BELOW, and then come  back to read our suggestions.

6. Flame Protection

Generally, the combustion chamber (firebox) of a steam locomotive boiler operates under a slight vacuum, which means that when you open the firebox door to shovel in more coal, air flows in through the opening and no flames come out. However, under certain circumstances, the reverse is true and flames DO come out of the firebox door. The firebox door is located in the front center of the cab, usually about leg or hip high. This suggests that you should wear flame-retardant ("FR") safety clothing when on the footplate (cab) of a steam locomotive to minimize the danger from your clothes catching on fire.

In fact, we have never come across any regulation or published list of rules requiring FR clothing in connection with steam locomotives. Surely flame-related accidents must have happened at one time or another, but flames do not seem to have been historically a great source of concern. Of course, OSHA was not around in the heyday of steam to make note of such problems, but more importantly, the natural materials used in work clothing of the steam age, cotton and wool, don't burst into flames too readily and do not melt!  So, what should we do in today's world of preservation steam?

First, a little background on flame resistance of clothing. Simplistically, there are three levels of hazard and/or safety:

Bottom line, if you are willing to pay the price, go with the FR gear. We have identified a number of sources here in the US and at least one in Germany. FR is not totally historical in appearance, but it’s close enough. If you want insulated FR clothing, you will have to go with the American FR gear, because all of the other insulated clothing we have seen uses flammable insulation and lining materials. As a matter of personal judgement, we do not feel unsafe wearing cotton and wool, but in the winter you will need to do a good bit of layering of these natural materials to make up for the lack of padded insulation you can get in a Nomex suit or jacket.  FYI, the Polish train crews wear sweaters, presumably wool, under their un-insulated jackets in the winter.  Finally, remember that avoiding flammable materials should include everything you wear, not just the outer layer. You need to avoid nylon, polypropylene, polyester and the like in your shirt, sweater, trousers, socks, underwear, or whatever. Our recommendation is FR outside, with natural fiber layers underneath.

Looking Out for the Safety of Others
(Do unto others, etc.)

1. Whenever you see someone putting themselves or someone else in danger, tell them about it!  Report it to the people in charge, if necessary.   Do not let it go on.

2. If you see someone working under a locomotive, working between cars, e.g. coupling, be pro-active and make sure the engine crew knows about it and has set the  brakes. 

3. If you see someone or something in the path of a moving train, take whatever steps necessary to alert the engineer/driver short of putting your own life in danger.  Do not assume that he/she sees it when you do.  If there is something on the tracks or about to be on the tracks, and the whistle is not blowing and/or the brakes are not going on, the crew is most likely not aware of the problem.