Railroad Safety

 Railroad safety is one of the most important lessons the Railroad Museum of Minot teaches. Every year, preventable injuries and fatalities occur around railroad tracks and grade crossings. Through Operation Lifesaver and other educational programs, the museum helps visitors understand how to stay safe around trains, railroad crossings, and railroad property. 

  While railroads are safer today than ever before, railroad tracks and crossings remain dangerous. Trains cannot stop quickly and cannot swerve to avoid obstacles. Understanding these limitations is one of the most important ways to stay safe around railroad property. 

 Because of the very principles that make railroads the most efficient form of land transportation (a lack of friction due to steel-on-steel contact between rails and wheels), trains cannot stop quickly in the event of a sudden emergency. And because trains do not have the ability to swerve (their wheels are “flanged”, meaning a raised edge keeps them on the tracks), they also cannot avoid collisions in unexpected situations. 

Railroad Safety Tips

• Always stop, look, and listen before crossing railroad tracks.

• Never walk, ride, or play on railroad tracks.

• Never drive around lowered crossing gates.

• Trains cannot stop quickly and cannot swerve to avoid obstacles.

• Railroad tracks, bridges, and yards are private property.

• If a crossing signal is activated, always wait for the train to pass completely before crossing.

 Railroad tracks are for trains, not people! Always stop, look, and listen before crossing railroad tracks. Never drive, ride your bike, or walk around crossing gates that are down. Don’t try to race a train to the crossing: a modern-day train is headed up by locomotives weighing anywhere from 100 to 200+ tons, and railroad freight cars today carry upwards of 100 tons each! 

The Railroad Museum of Minot supports railroad safety education through its participation in the Dakota Operation Life Saver program.