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A Harrisburg, PA TV station reported that around 10:45 Thursday morning (10-25-2012), nearly two dozen responders helped rescue a man who fell down Blue Mountain, just north of Harrisburg, PA.  No name(s) were reported on the local TV news broadcast as of 6 pm. today.

"Two gentlemen on top of the mountain trying to get pictures of the trains coming across the Rockville Bridge, and one must have lost his footing and slipped about 300-400 feet," explained Rod Calhoun, Fire Chief of Susquehanna Township Fire and Rescue.

When crews arrived, they first had to find where he landed, and then had to set up ropes to get him.

Once they established a path, they had to figure out how to get him up the mountain to the ambulance, which also took some time.

The total rescue effort took about 90 minutes, and Calhoun says the man is lucky to be alive. "He is lucky he was with someone, if he wasn't with someone he could have been up on the mountain for who knows how long."

 

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I'm guessing this was the shot (obviously without the 765)...

 

Overlook 2

 

I remember thinking that was a very slippery slope coming down to the overlook, as it's just dirt and a bunch of loose rock (and this was on a dry day).  The trail/path that you stand on for the shot is also steep--and narrow.  Of course, carrying 20lbs of video equipment does tend to shift your balance much easier, and that tripod has often doubled as a walking stick.

 

Proof positive that no shot is worth risking your life for, regardless of how good it was.  I've turned around, or found alternate ways to get the shot before.  You've gotta be prepared (good shoes, water, snacks, etc), know your limitations, and--if possible--make sure someone knows where you are.

Kevin

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  • Overlook 2
Originally Posted by Dave Zucal:

What an awesome place to build a railfan overlook. Would that be possible with donations and volunteers? Who owns the property. Is it posted?

 

Pretty unlikely.  It's basically in the middle of nowhere as far as access goes, and was a 20 minute hike in for me after a drive up a road that needs a bit of clearance to properly get over.  Didn't see any signs, but the "trail" is barely even that.  More like a game trail, and it was faint enough that I decided to stay with somebody hiking out before I got lost. Even so, it took the both of us and a couple of u-turns to figure out how to get out of there.  There were some people that drove in to the top from another direction, but that way does go through private property.

 

Even if you get permission to get to the top, it's very limited parking, and you have that hill that was mentioned in the previous post.  Knowing the mobile problems of a lot of railfans, it just isn't a good idea.  Beautiful shot, but it's one of those "combat railfan" locations.

 

As far as when the picture was taken, it was in August 2012 when the 765 was there for the Norfolk Southern Employee Appreciation Specials.

Here is another image taken from the spot in question. Enola yard is in the top right corner and in the bottom left corner is a reminder of what kind of photo location this is. Photo taken when the 765 did its runs in the Harrisburg area. A beautiful vantage point for pictures, but one that dictates that 110% of caution needs to be taken.

 

lrDSC_0102

 

 

This is from the Bridgeview Inn. That slope is practically a shear cliff. Notice that even plant life is having a hard tme getting a hold there.

 

lrDSC_0133

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