(The Associated Press circulated the following on August 19, 2010.)
AUSTELL, Ga. — Representatives of Norfolk Southern Railway and Georgia Operation Lifesaver took a train ride together to promote safety.
About 100 local, state and federal officials made a roundtrip ride in two Norfolk Southern passenger cars from Austell to Rome on Wednesday to get a look at motorists’ and pedestrians’ responses to passing trains from an engineer’s perspective.
A video camera was mounted on the front of the train that enabled passengers to view the tracks ahead.
Bill Barringer Jr., Norfolk Southern’s director of grade crossing safety, estimates the railroad has 300 to 400 accidents in its 22-state system each year.
Operation Lifesaver is a national, nonprofit program dedicated to preventing injuries and fatalities on railways.