Operation Lifesaver

Fullerton Amtrak Station, Fullerton, CA, February 16, 2005

Photos and Story during the 'Ride-along' portion from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. by Carl Morrison, Carl@TrainWeb.com

How many railroad safety violations would you guess took place today between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. by motorists and pedestrians along the railroad right-of-way between Fullerton and east to Atwood, California?

(answer later in this article)

Michael Litschi of OCTA had issued a News Advisory about this day, "OCTA, Metrolink Team Up With Police To Promote Railroad Safety. "Officer on the Train [sic]" event gives media firsthand look at dangers train engineers see on tracks every day."

In an effort to heighten awareness about the importance of rail safety, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Metrolink, BNSF Railway, Operation Lifesaver and local police will join forces to hold an "Officer on Train" event in the cities of Fullerton, Anaheim, and Placentia.

Police officers from all three cities will be posted at local railroad crossings to cite motorists and pedestrians who trespass on the tracks or fail to obey warning devices at railroad crossings. Violators are subject to a $300 fine and a point against their driving record.

During a portion of the event, members of the news media will be invited to ride in the locomotive of a special "Operation Livesaver" train to see things from the engineer's point of view."

Upon arrival at the Fullerton Metrolink/Amtrak Station, at 10:05 a.m. there was definitely something brewing on the platform as I observed 25 or so uniformed police officers, some motor officers with their motor cycles parked on the platform. The Officers were from Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, and some Union Pacific Officers as well.

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Any corrections, or additional names of those pictured, are welcomed.
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High resolution copies of all photos are available privately from Carl@TrainWeb.com.

View from TrainWeb.com's office on 2nd floor of the Fullerton Station.
Many local television reporters and camermen were present.

Soon the Operation Lifesaver train arrived with two leading engines, BNSF 5360 and Amtrak, and two trailing engines, Metrolink and Union Pacific and one car, Silver Lariat, for the press to ride along on the short excursions from Fullerton to the Atwood junction.

With the Operation Lifesaver coach, the four engines and motor officers as the backdrop, welcoming speeches began.

Denise Tyrell, Media Relations Advisor, Metrolink, www.metrolinktrains.com, introduced the speakers.	Susan Ritschel, Director of OCTA and Metrolink Board Member.

Director Ritchel said, "...you cannot shortcut safety....shortcuts could easily cost you your life. Today's mission: "To provide education about what the laws are regarding the railroad tracks and right-of-way....it is not only dangerous to be on the railroad tracks--it is illigal and it is all too often fatal. OCTA owns much of the railroad right-of-way in Orange County and is a partner with Metrolink. There are 64 street-level crossings in Orange County, and all are protected by signs, flaishing lights, bells, crossing gates and other safety features. There will be $20 million for four-quadrant gates and raised medians, new signage, and traffic signals available to cities with railroad grade crossings." At this point in the operation, since 7 a.m., there had already been 48 violations of railroad law

Fullerton Police Dept. Information Officer Sgt. Mattson	Jim MacInernery, CA PUC "California is #1 in trespassing violations, and #4 in grade crossing violations and collisions"
Larry Lloyd, California Operation Livesaver President - State Coordinator "Any time is train time, Look, Listen, and Live."	Fullerton, Placentia, and Anaheim Police were thanked.

At 10:38 a.m., Steve directed some of the press to the front engine, some to the rear engine, and the rest to the Silver Lariat.	I selected the dome in the Silver Lariat.
Ronnie Garcia, Manager, Field Safety Support, BNSF Railway, helped coordinate today's activities. Ronnie.Garcia@bnsf.com	Obeying the law at the Placentia Ave. crossing.

At the Kraemer crossing, two patrol cars awaited violators in the shade.	This crossing in Placentia already has the quad-gate system.
Rose crossing in Placentia.	La Mirada HAMWATCH had real-time GPS linked to a map on a laptop as we traveled.

HAMWATCH also had realtime video from cameras in both east and west leading engines, on a large monitor downstairs in the Silver Lariat.	When I was in the BNSF engine for the second run to Atwood, I observed the HAMWATCH camera.
Channel two and others interviewed officials in the Silver Lariat as we traveled.	Some information about the Silver Lariat is at: http://calzephyr.railfan.net/ghosts/slariat.html

I heard Lena Kent say that BNSF Railway had just become their official name, dropping "Burlington Northern Santa Fe" and their current colors are orange and black.	Some reporters set up their cameras at crossings along the way, east of Fullerton.
Motor officers constantly patrolled the right-of-way.	Back in Fullerton, after the first run to Atwood, Richard Elgenson and I moved from the Silver Lariat to the lead eastbound engine.

Richard, left, is an Operation Lifesaver volunteer and TrainWeb.com reporter.	DASH 9-44CW controls
Awaiting the green in Fullerton Station.	Engineer on the BNSF engine.

Cab view heading east from Fullerton.	We tried to reach the maximum for this section, 50 mph.
Approaching downtown Placentia at State College then under the 57 Fwy.	First violation that I saw. Bicyclist had come from the street onto railroad property, a misdemeanor.

Orangethorpe crosses the railroad at an angle. There has been a fatality here in the past.	The Atwood Junction.
Another crossing with new median and quad-arms.	Richard and I left the BNSF and walked to the UP engine on the west end for the trip back to Fullerton.

Controls of the BNSF 5109.	Engineer Ricky.
HAMWATCH had a camera in 5109 also.	Two truck on right were violators as well.

Busses are to stop at all crossings, red lights or not. One OCTA bus was cited today as well as a dump truck.	Placentia's new Melrose underpass.
Fullerton officer in the cab with us radioed to moto officers when he saw a violation occur.	Coming back into Fullerton and its pedestrian walkway. Lemon Street underpass abutment can be seen at the left.

A few parting shots in Fullerton Station.	I liked the American flag on 5109.
	And a few shots of this unusual consist from the pedestrian bridge.

To answer the question posed at the opening of this report, I called the Fullerton Police Dept. and Lt. Doug Cave in the Traffic Department gave me these statistics:

Between 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. there were 84 violations! 46 citations were issued for running the red flashing lights at crossings. 17 pedestrians received misdemeanor trespassing tickets.

It was a very informative day. Just yesterday, on the TV news, there were dramatic shots of a Surfliner train crashing through a semi-truck's trailer loaded with strawberries. That Surfliner was in the pull mode, engine first, or this might have been another crash like the recent Metrolink crash which killed 11 riders. The TV reporter said that Surfliner had just begun putting all its trains in pull mode since the Metrolink, cab car-first accident.

Look, Listen & Live!

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