Map of NJ Transit Train Fatalities
Discuss with your teacher what you think railroad safety is. We will be examining this topic in greater detail. The goal at this point is to see what you know. Do not worry if you do not know the material at this point. This is to be done before you start the writing assignment below.
Discussion Questions:
What railroads run through town and what do you notice about the trains?
Are there areas where people go where trains are?
What is railroad safety? Describe what you think it is to your teacher.
What do you think of the excuses people make for doing something wrong?
What questions do you have on being safe around railroads?
Are there areas in town where people gather near the tracks?
What do you notice about the map of NJ Transit railroad branches?
Writing Activity:
Read all the materials before answering the questions!! In a Google Document, write about a railroad in your town. You will share this with the class.
Why are we learning railroad safety and why is it important?
What do you think you can do to reduce the risk of injury from trains?
Do rules have a purpose? Explain.
What are the excuses people may use to not follow the rules?
Identify the consequences of not following the rules.
What may be some other impacts of not following the rules?
How important is it to set an example by following the rules?
How often does a train strike a person in the US?
Look at both maps posted on WHAT RAILROAD SAFETY IS. Pick one story from each map and describe the event and what happened.
Read all the materials and watch the videos before answering the questions!! In a Google Document do the following:
Explain the differences between passenger and freight trains.
What do you notice in the videos about the length of the trains?
Why would it be necessary to have such long trains?
Explain precision scheduled freight and the main intent of it. How does it affect customers?
Why would there be a locomotive in the middle of the freight train?
What can trains haul?
What types of trains run through your town?
What are the differences you notice in size between railroad train cars and locomotives, Light rail and subway?
What are work trains and what do they do?
What are "Extras?"
New Zealand Railroad Near Misses
Railroad Trespassing- Find a Different Way
Police Determine Teenager Was Murdered
Chaotic 911 Calls from Train Collision
Train hopping is a dangerous game
Illegal Dumping Issues on the Union Pacific
Father Who Dumped Child's Remains Along Railroad
Passenger Train Street Running
Switching Train Street Running
Maintenance Equipment in Operation
Interfering with Railroad Safety
A Penny will not Derail a Train
Drugs, Alcohol and the Homeless in St. Petersburg, FL
A Crossing With A Flashing Strobe
Operation Lifesaver: Off Limits
A Train Approaches Trespassers in a Tunnel
Lucky Trespassers on Moodna Viaduct
Read all the materials, pages in this section, and watch the videos before answering the questions!! In a Google Document answer the following:
Identify hazards on a railroad and why you shouldn't be there.
What things did the teens in the movie "18" do wrong on a British electrified railroad line?
What is Train Hopping? Who does it?
What are some of the ages of people doing it?
What can happen to you boarding a moving train?
What dangers do train hoppers face?
What is the FTRA?
What can happen if you are caught train hopping?
What happened to the people who got injured? How were their lives impacted?
Why is it important to stay off the tracks?
What could happen if you are injured by a train in a remote area of the railroad? Give two issues that could affect your rescue.
Where is the only place you are allowed to cross?
What does a railroad crossing have?
What is your reaction to the trespassers who got killed by the train? How did it compare with the NJT engineer's description?
Why should you never cross in front of a locomotive or commuter cab car?
Why is tampering with track switches bad?
Explain the purpose of fencing.
Why is it dangerous putting items on a track for a train to run over?
What would the consequences be?
From the video of the abandoned rail yard, what was your impression? Did you notice someone sleeping there?
Should they have been there at the abandoned railroad yard?
What important things were said in the video's disclaimer about exploring?
What are hazards of illegally dumping along a railroad?
Can illegally dumping cause environmental issues?
What are some safety hazards at a train station you need to be aware of?
Why should you stay away from maintenance equipment in operation?
Why is oversized equipment dangerous in a train?
What are the dangers of placing coins or other objects on railroad tracks?
Why are drugs and alcohol bad along railroads?
What types of people can be along railroads and what effect do they have on the community?
Why is it important you do not fool around at a station platform?
Read all the materials and watch the videos before answering the questions!! In a Google Document answer the following:
What are the two outcomes of getting hit by a train?
What are some injuries that can happen to you train hopping.
While this page continues videos from the previous page, describe the injuries that could occur.
If you are hit or injured by a train in an isolated area, what might the problems be in getting help?
What resources for suicide prevention are available to you if you are planning to commit suicide?
What do you notice about the time to stop a moving train after a strike?
How can a fatality impact a first responder, engineer, family and passengers? Explain.
Another Example of Trespassing Laws
Amtrak Police Recruitment Video
Canadian Pacific Police Services
Crossing These Tracks Could Get You Arrested
Railroad Trespassing Enforcement
Protecting America's Railroads
Two charged in NJT Assault Incidents
Assault on an NJT Worker Will Land You in Jail
NJ Transit Employee Protection Act of 2019
35 Year Sentence For Drug Dealer on Amtrak Trains
Read all the materials and watch the videos before answering the questions!! In a Google Document, do the following:
Look at the laws. What do you notice about them?
What happens if you break the laws?
Look at who railroad police are. What do they do and how is it like a police officer in a town?
How does having a criminal record impact your future?
What do you think of the people who are serial offenders? What might happen to them?
Who has the ultimate power to not break the law?
What are some crimes that take place on railroads?
What happens if you post illegal activity like freight train rides on social media or websites?
What can happen if you trespass and your friends get hurt or killed?
What will life be like for someone after getting caught? This is not to be confused with a future. How may they feel?
What is the one thing an apology won't do?
What happens if you are caught with drugs while illegally riding on a train?
What happens if you assault a NJT train conductor or any other employee?
What happens if you are caught vandalizing NJT property?
What may happen if you are caught illegally dumping along a railroad?
How can crimes be prevented?
You will be writing a 5 page research paper on railroad hazards you hear about on a railroad. These can be PASSENGER, FREIGHT or mixed use railroads.
You will look into hazards and what action is being taken to prevent these hazards.
You will lookup laws that are passed.
You will show laws that are being proposed.
What statistics are there and are these problems confined to the US alone?
You will demonstrate how is Operation Lifesaver important.
How big a job is it to police an entire railroad?
What help is there for someone contemplating suicide on a railroad?
How have your habits changed after seeing the videos and reading the content?
Do not use narrow margins.
You will also cite your sources in MLA format and double space.
Works Cited and cover page does not count as content of your papers!!
Railroads for research are to be submitted to your teacher for approval.
You will have a week to complete this assignment. Feel free to use the internet to find information.
You will include the following in your papers:
Title/ cover page.
Works Cited Page.
Data and statistics- at least one chart
Answers to the questions.
The region you are reporting on.
How this webquest impacted you.
As an alternate assignment, you can do a collaborative project based on the same criteria and present it to the class.
This means EACH person in the group will contribute to the project equally in order to receive a passing grade.
You will include credits at the end of this project.
You may interview people or have them visit the class as a part of your project.
You can either do a Powerpoint presentation, Google Slides or a YouTube video.