Support the Campaign to Ban One Person Locomotive Crews and Regulate Lcomotive Remote Control

An appeal from Heather Boehlke, widow of Jared Boehlke, locomotive remote control operator who was killed on Mother's Day in Selkirk, NY while working alone.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• railroad
• labor
• safety

[Landaux]

Im sorry for your loss, but youre putting yourself and your child in danger telling us this on along dangerous street with cars zooming by? 

[jradamo]

@jihanurs I am a remote control engine operator. I work as part of a two man crew. Railroading is very dangerous work. A lot of men are killed or horribly maimed. Remote control operations are particularly dangerous. One man working alone with remote control is inconceivable to me. It should never happen.

[jihanurs]

Its really sad to know your story. Sorry for your loss.

You reaction is natural, but I think we should better need to understand whether that incident was really the outcome of Remote Control Locomotive - Regulation or just an accident?

An accident can happen anywhere, at home while you are working in kitchen alone, or you are coming down stairs... Think rationally, not emotionally

[JetMechMA]

We didn't hear the circumstances of his death. Would have helped. Either way, it just goes against general principles for a worker to work alone around such heavy duty industrial equipment. It's against the law in California.

[livnfree930]

@madjack1956 My husband and I completely know what you're talking about. He is an engineer whose livelihood has been diminished by bringing in the remote control devices to run trains with. He has seen many engineers let go and switchmen too due to the RCO being brought in. The FRA also are at fault for backing the railroads and covering for them. It's big business and our government working day and night to screw us.

[madjack1956]

When one of these many remote control accidents happen in a densely populated metropolitan area and spills a load of chlorine or hydrocyanic acid you can bet your last dollar that every politician in DC will get aboard that regulation choo-choo then, My sympathies go out to this young lady and her son. Railroads are nothing but impersonal corporations who only care about squeezing that last dollar from their overwhelmed employees. Trust me....I know.

[Primalpsycho4574]

No explanation as to what happened though. Everyone who take's the job know's the danger's and they take the risk when excepting the job be it a 1 man or a 5 man crew. Your trying to fight a loosing battle. Without explanation then no need to argue. It's no different than working on an oil rig or driving a truck. It's all dangerous. Trying to get a RR to stop using RRC loco's is like trying to tell the motoring public to be more respectful to us big trucks on the road. Never gonna happen!