I have been photographing railways for the last couple of years. I work as an advisor for the rail sector and I volunteer on a museum railway. I have been appaled to see the recent trend of portraiting people on railway tracks. Why and how this became a thing I do not know. I guess the pictures should cononte longing, travel etcetera, but in some cases they end up killing the subject and the photographer both. Conclusions: Train tracks are not safe because there are trains on them. Duh. Cue Darwin-awards.

A lot of the pictures from tracks might be taken under controlled circumstances, for instance all of mine. But some are not and all might encourage others to do the same. Last week the photo on the right by Diana Markosian posted to National Geographics Instagram sparked another debate. This might be perfectly legal or safe, but may inspire people to photograph on the tracks without regards to safety.

People are used to being around cars and that might be why they underestimate trains. We are told they use several hundreds of meters to come to a stop. That is due to both weigth (up to several thousand tonnes), speed (easily up to 160 km/h, even more if high speed line) and friction. Trains run on steel wheels on steel rails, reducing friction to a minimu, as opposed to cars using rubber og asphalt. The reduced friction is why trains can hauls large loads over distances, but it makes stopping hard. It also makes them far more silent than people expect. All in all, trains are fast, silent and they can not stop. On double tracks lines train can come at both tracks, in both directions, at close intervals.

Every year a lot of people are hit by trains under various circumstances. In addition to loss of lives the train drivers are put under immense stress from these incidents. There has been known cases of drivers never being able to go back to work after hitting people. That is why this is a serious issue.

When I photograph close to tracks I ensure both that I am safe and train drivers does not see me as a risk. I stand well clear of the tracks and always behind fences if they are present. I raise an arm when the train approaches to let the driver know I see the train. This is standard procedure for crew working along railways in Norway. I cross the track only at designated level crossings, under or over bridges and over tunnels.

But if you want to photograph on the tracks, how can you do so safely?

Heres are a few guidelines:

1. Don’t do it. Unless you are absolutely sure, this is the rule to go by.
2. Contact your local museum railway. There are a lot of museum railways and heritage centers operating trains. They usually have closed lines only used for their operations. Parts of the lines may see no use at all, and some only run trains on holidays. Check if you can use parts of the line for your purpose. If you are allowed, check with the closest station at the time of shooting to make double sure the line is clear. Remember, they use lines for maintenance or charter services as well as public services, so don’t just check the timetable. When in doubt, see rule 1.
3. Find disused branch lines. Some lines are disconnected from the network, and have physical barriers preventing trains from using them. This might be old branch lines connecting stations to ports or industry, tracks around factories or disused lines. Contact local railway clubs or enthusiasts to get tips for your area, or call the infrastructure manager. Remember, some lines are used very infrequently and can seem safe even though it is not. When in doubt, see rule 1.
4. On some stations, some older tracks has been cut of entirely. Walk along in both directions, but never cross any fences. If the track is physically disconnected from the rest of the station and in open public areas, it can be safe to use. Check with station master/guard as well. When in doubt, see rule 1.

 

 

Here are some examples of safe instances for photographing on the track: