My railroad career was long and varied. About 80% of the time I was the locomotive engineer on passenger or freight train, but I occasionally worked as a passenger train conductor, fancy uniform and personalized ticket punch and all that. My personalized punch had double diamonds. During my passenger train time I had several celebrities ride my train, including astronaut Neil Armstrong and his wife. I didn’t visit with them on the trip, but when Mrs. Armstrong was stepping down from the train, I held her hand to stabilize her and as she stepped down, I said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for a woman.” They both got a good laugh out of that.
Bob Currie, Conductor- Waiting on Passengers
Passenger Train Dangers
While passenger trains are considered the safest method of transportation, there are some inherent dangers that we railroaders deal with by making the occurrences safer. The danger points are boarding, deboarding, and moving about the train while underway. We make boarding safer by assisting each passenger up the boarding steps. The boarding steps are covered with non-slip material. Finally, there are handrails on both sides of the boarding steps. These safety devices and procedures are also used for deboarding. As for moving about the train, we first encourage passengers to remain in their seats unless using the restroom or going to a special car such as the diner or bar car, and we remind them to be prepared for sudden changes in movement (it’s called turbulence on a plane and slack action on a train).
Passenger Boat Dangers
I am sure you have where I am heading figured out. The same three dangers found on a passenger train also apply to recreational boats. Just as we mitigate the danger on passenger trains, we can also do the same thing on recreational boats. Let’s look at how passenger train dangers apply to boats and how we can mitigate them.
Stepping Up and Stepping Down
Although commuter trains have floor heights that match the station platform height exactly, some standard passenger train platforms require a set of steps with two steps. While all doors of commuter trains open and close at once, usually only one door per passenger car is opened and manned by a car attendant. A passenger must climb a set of steps to board a standard passenger train. Likewise, a recreational boat passenger is required to step up to board the boat or step down to board it, as the tide determines whether the boat is riding high in the water or low in the water.
Boarding and Deboarding
As the boat captain, you are in charge of the safe operation of the boat, and it is up to you to see that your passengers board and deboard safely, and that they move about the boat safely. Your first consideration is that the boat be secured to the dock with mooring lines or have a member of your crew hold the boat securely to the dock. A combination of the two is even better.
Second, all passengers must have their life jacket on and properly secured. I know of two people who slipped between the dock and the boat while trying to board. Both drowned. Have your passengers on the dock ready to board but tell them everyone will board one at a time and only when directed to board. As captain you should handle each boarding. Have each passenger go to their assigned seat as they board. Passengers who have boarded can make it hazardous for other passengers to board if they move about the boat after boarding and in doing so rock the boat.
Third, if your boat is equipped with rails on the gunwales, have your passengers hold onto them with one hand while holding yours when boarding and deboarding. Those rails have saved many lives. Your boat should be equipped with a nonslip deck. Be aware that even a nonslip deck may become slippery when wet. That also applies to the dock.
When deboarding, instruct your passengers to remain in their seat until the boat is secured to the dock and there is someone on the dock to assist each passenger in deboarding. Often passengers want to assist at the dock. If you have someone on the dock who can safely assist, then as captain you can remain aboard and direct the unloading of passengers and equipment.
Moving About the Boat
The only safe time to move about the boat is when the boat is not moving. You should instruct your passengers to stay seated unless they have your permission to move. Recommend that your passengers wear boat shoes for the trip. Flipflops can be very slippery and may cause serious falls on the boat.
Summary
Remember to take special care when boarding and deboarding passengers. Lots of things can go wrong at the dock. As captain you should take charge of these dangerous incidents. If you don’t, you may find that you have a serious injury to a passenger before you even get underway.
