By Kris Hoellen
Did you know every 3 hours in the United States, someone is hit by a train? You might ask how that could be, as trains are on tracks and obviously can鈥檛 swerve. The answer almost invariably is human error 鈥� people not waiting for a train to pass when they come to a crossing, trespassing on railroad easements, or walking or ride bicycles along a track 鈥� all of which can lead to death or severe injury. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there have been over 100,000 rail incidents from 2013 to 2022 in the U.S., resulting in nearly 8,000 fatalities and 78,000 injuries.
What is the answer to this problem, a problem almost completely under our control? Railroad education and safety. On Sept. 7, 2024, our museum, the B&O Railroad Museum, hosted our annual First Responders Showcase, for that exact purpose. We brought together hundreds of first responders from across Maryland for a public event aimed at informing and educating the public and honoring our first responders who protect us.
| More: Rapid Response: First-person account of train derailment response complications
The highlight of the day 鈥� and most eye-catching experience during the event 鈥� were two controlled collisions of a locomotive and a car placed on the track. Our locomotive was only traveling 10 mph and was carrying no freight, and it still smashed the car, leaving one to believe that if someone had been inside, they most likely would not have survived. It should be noted that actual freight trains are typically traveling substantially faster at 60-70 mph and have freight behind them, making the collision that much greater. The visual impact of our demonstration is a stark reminder of the impact of a locomotive crash.
Following the collision, a local fire department demonstrated extraction techniques which often can take anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes to complete, depending upon the car type and impact. Viewers learned about the 鈥済olden hour鈥� from staff from Operation Lifesaver, the time within which a critical injury must be medically addressed to increase the chances of survival. As you count down the minutes, it鈥檚 a reminder that after the collision, the emergency call and travel time to the scene, responders then must extract the individuals and take them to a trauma unit. It is not hard for attendees to grasp the impact of the ticking clock.
Train accidents affect not only the injured parties, but also their families, the train engineer and the first responders who must witness and respond to the trauma. If even one person remembers the visual impact of the controlled collision when approaching a rail crossing, the First Responders showcase will be worth it.
The First Responders Showcase has been held five times; this year was particularly poignant as we were joined by the Middle River Dive team, the first responders to enter the water following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. In addition to the special ceremony to honor the dive team, the event featured other interactive demonstrations, including bomb disposals, drones, K9 units, fire engines and mounted units. There were games, obstacle courses and a museum tour offered to guests 鈥� and 300 first responder families received free tickets to that afternoon鈥檚 Baltimore Orioles game.
As we prepare for the 200th anniversary of American railroading in 2027, of which the B&O Railroad Museum is the birthplace of this industry, it鈥檚 critical we remember to practice railroad safety. This is an industry that moves over 28 million passengers a year and facilitates over $2B dollars a day of economic commerce in the United States. Safety advancements are continuing each year in the industry, it is up to us as individuals to do our part and stay off the tracks.
Across all transportation, our first responders are vital to ensuring our safety. Because of the risks they face, we value each and every first responder who serves to keep us safe. The best tribute to our first responders is to practice safety.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kris Hoellen is executive director of the in Baltimore.