Our Club has been approached several times recently about snowmobilers using the active rail lines in West Carleton, particularly in the Carp and Kinburn areas.
Specifically, people are using the railway to access services in Carp. Rail Term, the company that maintains the line, is concerned for the safety of snowmobilers, trains and their maintenance crew and equipment.
Snow can be packed on the rail bed hard enough to cause their equipment or a train to leave the track. The 50,000 pound maintenance vehicle below came off the track outside Carp on March 11, 2019 due to snow pack. This is a safety issue for Rail Term as well as the financial impact to the railway.
Trespassing on railway property is dangerous and illegal; cross only at designated locations.
Locomotives and rail cars are wider than the rails and railway bridges, tunnels and rock cuts; this allows little or no room for you and your snowmobile. Riding next to the tracks puts you in extreme danger.
Railway tips for sledders
Operation Lifesaver and its safety partners want you to be alert when riding your snowmobile near railway property and when crossing railway tracks. A snowmobile operator’s first responsibility must be safety.
Stay Safe: Keep these Lifesaving Tips in Mind
Trespassing on railway property is dangerous and illegal; cross only at designated locations.
Locomotives and rail cars are wider than the rails and railway bridges, tunnels and rock cuts; this allows little or no room for you and your snowmobile. Riding next to the tracks could put you in danger.
Stay Off! Stay Away—Stay Alive! More Safety Tips
Always expect a train on any track, in either direction, at any time!
Ride on approved trails only. Look for posted signs warning that you are approaching a railway crossing. These signs, sometimes posted by the local snowmobile club, may be in any shape, size or colour.
Always cross railway tracks at a designated and marked crossing and at an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible. Attempting to cross the tracks at a place other than a designated crossing could be deadly.
Model and teach young riders the correct way to cross railway tracks:
- STOP no closer than 5 metres from the nearest rail.
- LOOK both ways and LISTEN for approaching trains. Remember that where there is more than one track, trains can travel on any track, in either direction at any time! Even if a train is already passing through the crossing, another train can approach unexpectedly from either direction on other tracks.
- If you see a train approaching, or if the warning signals at the railway crossing are activated, STOP and wait in a safe place, away from all tracks. Once the train has passed and the warning lights have stopped flashing, ensure you have a clear view down the tracks and look both ways again for other approaching trains.
- Cross the tracks only when you are certain it is safe.
Be cautious, especially when riding in snowy or night time conditions. These conditions reduce visibility making it difficult to see obstacles, passing trains or railway crossings.
A passing train can create so much snow-dust that visibility is nil; always stop at a railway crossing to ensure you don’t ride into the side of a passing train.
Your helmet, the engine, wind and weather conditions may muffle the sound of an approaching train.
A mechanical breakdown of your snowmobile can occur at any time; don’t risk getting stopped dead on the railway tracks—Any time is train time! If your snowmobile should get stuck on a track or railway line, immediately contact the railway using the emergency number prominently posted at crossings, or call 911.
Set the Example for Safety
People die each year because they are not aware of the hazards associated with trespassing on railway property or they disregard railway crossing warning signs and signals.
Inexperienced riders, especially children, learn by example. What you DO when you are on your snowmobile may be more significant than what you SAY. Set the example for safe snowmobile riding!
Please remember: ANY TIME IS TRAIN TIME!
For additional railway safety information, please visit:
Website: www.operationlifesaver.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oplifesaver
Twitter: www.twitter.com/oplifesaver
LOOK, LISTEN, LIVE!
OPERATION LIFESAVER
901 – 99 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6B9 Tel.: 613-564-8100 Fax: 613-567-6726 E-mail: admin@operationlifesaver.ca