I came across this a few minutes ago. Frankly, I had never given the subject of the video any thought, while shooting pictures at railside.
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Those trains are in India. Things are done a little differently. When my parents were there, maybe ten years ago, they were driving down the equivalent of an interstate highway, when all of the sudden traffic was headed directly at them. Apparently an accident had shut down that side, and people simply turned around and drove back down into oncoming traffic.
Can you even open windows on an Amtrak?
I imagine railfanning was a tad tricky back in the pre-holding tank days when toilets simply emptied out onto the right of way...
Dan:
Your point is both a good one and especially valid to rail fans in North America.
Shifted loads; broken securement chains or banding are just some of the hazards people need to watch for when trackside. Any of these could kill you instantly if you aren’t paying attention. And if you’ve got a camera viewfinder in front of your face; odds are you aren’t going to see the danger till it’s too late.
I personally always maintain at least 15 to 20 yards between my vantage point and the nearest track just to be safe.
Curt
Reminds me of the days when I rode the NYC subway system. Even when the platforms were uncrowded, there were always folks who liked to wait right by the white line, which is very close to the edge of the platform. I always preferred to stay back. Never know when a crazy is going to shove someone. Rare, but it does happen.
CWB:
Amen brother. It is rare, but someone getting shoved off a subway platform did happen once or twice while I lived in Manhattan, so I always keep a lookout.
Whenever I'm on a NYC subway platform (a few times a year these days), I always locate one of vertical girders and plant my back directly against it. That way 1) I'm by definition five or so feet from the edge of the platform and 2) no one can approach me directly from behind either to push me on the tracks or pick my pocket.
For those who aren't familiar with NYC, please don't take these comments the wrong way. The above are just precautions I personally take -- and I take them anywhere (London, Paris, Madrid, San Francisco, etc.). The subway is actually quite safe and clearly the best way to get around in NYC.
Steven J. Serenska
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:I imagine railfanning was a tad tricky back in the pre-holding tank days when toilets simply emptied out onto the right of way...
Oh, yeah.....now THERE's a recollection!!
Dad and I participated in a railfan trip in the mid '50's...from Washington, D.C. to Norfolk, VA....celebrating the 'last run' (
) of N&W #611 before its retirement. There was a significant station stop in Roanoke, VA in both directions as the steamer was swapped for an RF&P diesel (steam couldn't run into Union Station, D. C..)
In the evening on the return trip Dad and I were standing on the station platform 'stretching our legs', watching the railroad action as the headend equipment was exchanged. We happened to be standing adjacent to the lavatory end of our car. Of course in those days, holding tanks had not yet been required/installed. On the wall above each toilet was a simple sign asking patrons to NOT FLUSH the toilet when the train was station stopped. Yeah,.....right.
Well, you've probably guessed by now.....some illiterate and/or inconsiderate railfan decided to flush the toilet as we stood there. Heck of a 'dump', too!!
It was one of those 'blue commentary' moments for Dad.....I'm not sure whether he was swearing or simply identifying the deposit. Earlier in the day he had had another 'blue' moment.....as we stood in a field, cameras poised for the gorgeous oncoming #611...when he realized while pushing the trigger on his Kodak Retina camera.....he had reached the end of his roll of film!!
That 3/4 slide had only a hint of the grandeur missed. The ol' B&W print from my Brownie Hawkeye had to suffice.....as well as the cinders in the eyes, the memory of that wonderful time with Dad and the #611...and the 'Roanoke Dump'!!!
Stay Thirsty my friends.
Larry
dkdkrd posted:Well, you've probably guessed by now.....some illiterate and/or inconsiderate railfan decided to flush the toilet as we stood there. Heck of a 'dump', too!!
It was one of those 'blue commentary' moments for Dad.....I'm not sure whether he was swearing or simply identifying the deposit.
https://lyricstranslate.com/en...s.html#ixzz5Fme3J7M3
Passengers will please refrain
From flushing toilets while the train
Is in the station. Darling, I love you!
We encourage constipation
While the train is in the station
Moonlight always makes me think of you.
If you wish to pass some water,
kindly call the pullman porter,
He'll place a vessel in the vestibule.
If the porter isn't here,
Try the platform in the rear-
The one in front is likely to be full.
If the woman's room be taken,
Never feel the least forsaken,
Never show a sign of sad defeat.
Try the men's room in the hall,
And if some man has had the call,
He'll courteously relinquish you his seat.
If these efforts all are vain,
Then simply break a window pane-
This novel method used by very few.
We go strolling through the park
Goosing statues in the dark,
If Sherman's horse can take it, why can't you?
Mitch
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:I imagine railfanning was a tad tricky back in the pre-holding tank days when toilets simply emptied out onto the right of way...
Since I am from that day, I'm not exactly sure what you were getting at. Everybody was expected to use common sense, which prevented train toilets from being much of a problem. I think that any great concern about it stems from our modern day attitudes that we should be insulated from any possible unpleasantness.
- Riding in a vestibule with the Dutch door open, yes, you did have to look ahead and pay attention. There could be a mist -- not much got that high, save a few tiny droplets. But it was easy to avoid it if you paid attention.
- At trackside, unless you were really close, there was no problem. Any solid waste or paper was scattered alongside the rail and broken up when a train was moving at high speed. It quickly dried up and barely lasted a day, due to exposure to the climate and to insects.
- At station stops, you simply did not stand next to a chute. Most travelers knew better than to flush a toilet while the train was standing in a station, but I did witness a very small number of incidents.
- One did not stand underneath open-deck bridges while passenger trains passed overhead. Just in case. Toilets are not flushing constantly, but, occasionally . . .
And you may not be aware of this, but holding tanks on Hi-Level and Superliner cars automatically empty when they fill up and the train is moving above a certain speed. Other cars might do this too. Not sure if the cars separate "grey water" or not.
If you were -- or are -- close enough to a moving train to get sprayed by a toilet flushing, you are close enough to be cut by a dragging band, or struck by a flying or bouncing piece of anything that breaks off or falls off of the train.
I did hear of a story of some people fishing under a railroad bridge when Amtrak came across......
MAZOCH, What you are talking about happened in Palatka, Florida on the Silver Meteor back in the 80's. I was riding the meteor when they would announce that you were not allowed to flush the toilet going thru Palatka.
Dominic Mazoch posted:I did hear of a story of some people fishing under a railroad bridge when Amtrak came across......
I believe it was some politician who was unfortunate enough to be fishing under a bridge. After that, as the story goes, Amtrak's passenger equipment was fitted with holding tanks.
I heard it was along the east coast. Exact place and route.....?
There was an episode of DUE SOUTH where a Mountie on the outside of the train had to talk to one on the inside. The car was a blue VIA ex CN. I said the two would talk via the toilets. They did. People, having that Wile E jaw drop look asked me how I figured it out. Odd, they knew I had passenger train experiance.
I remember no pass. cars, but many freights passing over the trestle my brother and l used to sit and play under. Wonder if holding tanks were installed from day one in air travel.. say a Ford Trimotor, or before?
colorado hirailer posted:I remember no pass. cars, but many freights passing over the trestle my brother and l used to sit and play under. Wonder if holding tanks were installed from day one in air travel.. say a Ford Trimotor, or before?
If I recall correctly, early aircraft chemical toilets had a tank, which could be emptied in midair at the pilot's discretion.
Of course, at frigid higher altitudes, the falling wastes could freeze, and there are reports of "blue ice" causing damage to roofs and such.
Which means that, even if you DIDN'T live in a strategically important location...
You could still be threatened by an icy B.M. 
Mitch
colorado hirailer posted:I remember no pass. cars, but many freights passing over the trestle my brother and l used to sit and play under. Wonder if holding tanks were installed from day one in air travel.. say a Ford Trimotor, or before?
The Ford Tri-Motor didn't have a lavatory aboard.
Travelers had more "fortitude" back then...
Rusty
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M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Which means that, even if you DIDN'T live in a strategically important location...
You could still be threatened by an icy B.M.
That one takes the prize, Mitch. OUCH! GROAN!
The first plane l flew on was a Ford Trimotor ..tourist flight out to Lake Erie Islands..(killed off by insurance, l think). Short flight, so l don't remember "facilities"....was in the 1970's
With all those freights that once rattled over our heads, and as a caboose lover, did cabooses also use that means, in which case we were lucky.
dkdkrd posted:M. Mitchell Marmel posted:I imagine railfanning was a tad tricky back in the pre-holding tank days when toilets simply emptied out onto the right of way...
Oh, yeah.....now THERE's a recollection!!
Dad and I participated in a railfan trip in the mid '50's...from Washington, D.C. to Norfolk, VA....celebrating the 'last run' (
In the evening on the return trip Dad and I were standing on the station platform 'stretching our legs', watching the railroad action as the headend equipment was exchanged. We happened to be standing adjacent to the lavatory end of our car. Of course in those days, holding tanks had not yet been required/installed. On the wall above each toilet was a simple sign asking patrons to NOT FLUSH the toilet when the train was station stopped. Yeah,.....right.
Well, you've probably guessed by now.....some illiterate and/or inconsiderate railfan decided to flush the toilet as we stood there. Heck of a 'dump', too!!
It was one of those 'blue commentary' moments for Dad.....I'm not sure whether he was swearing or simply identifying the deposit. Earlier in the day he had had another 'blue' moment.....as we stood in a field, cameras poised for the gorgeous oncoming #611...when he realized while pushing the trigger on his Kodak Retina camera.....he had reached the end of his roll of film!!
I inadvertently left a mess in the middle of Jack London Square, on my way to the 1992 San Jose Convention . I was unaware that I was in the restroom of an El Capitan coach, and not a Superliner. Having left 16th Street Oakland just moments before, I realized where the train was when I saw pavement after I flushed.
I got a parking ticket near JLS a few days later.
Karma?
