What inspired Stay Alive Stand Back 25?

Alot of people ask me, what inspired you to start the Stay Alive Stand Back 25 campaign? This all began because volunteering with the tourist railroads and attending them as a passenger I have sadly seen a lot of people do not so smart things when taking pictures of them in action.

I have seen people stand too close to the tracks, climb on equipment just to get a picture, fly drones so close they have been hit by locomotives, drive over the tracks just as the train was entering the crossing and some people even standing in the middle of the tracks taking pictures of the engines as they approach. 

The straw that broke the camels back for me was when the Canadian Pacific Empress locomotive #2816 was on tour in Mexico. A young mother and her child were standing by the tracks with their backs to the locomotive posing for a photo not realizing how close they were standing. The locomotives large piston cylinder struck the mother killing her instantly and knocking her child to the ground. This happened within 5 years of the Union Pacific locomotive #844 also struck a woman when she too was standing too close to the tracks trying to get the perfect photo. It was an accident but nonetheless I knew deep down the crews were broken hearted it happened though it was not their fault.

However I did not want these women's life stories to end there and in vain. I consulted with my friend Ed Dickens, lead engineer of the famous Union Pacific steam fleet which includes the mighty Big Boy locomotive. He offered encouragement and wisdom on what he'd like to see more in the future as far as safety for the public and his crew. God put the idea in my heart of the Stay Alive Stand Back 25 campaign to help teach people about this. It surprised me that many had not heard of how wide a train can extend over the track width. A proper distance to watch a train from is 25 feet which is where the slogan got its name. What also surprised me was how many people have not heard of Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit group that travels to different events and organizations promoting railroad safety and I wanted to change that. The campaign was formed so it could generate interest and aid to the organization to help educate the public on how we should treat railroads and their presence in our everyday lives.  

I know in my heart deep down we can never stop these incidents from happening completely but to slow it down is just as great a victory. 

What is the goal of the campaign?  

 - To slow down the death rate of people vs trains

 - To teach todays generation on how we can enjoy trains while still being safe. 

 - To show the dangers of what happens when we go around railroad crossing gates 

 - To teach the importance of the Stop, Look and Listen rule

 - To teach what to do if we encounter a car vs train accident. etc. 

That's why I let my followers know that they can go to Operation Lifesavers websites to learn more on railroad safety or if they make any purchases through my shop I will make a donation to the organization itself.

 Because I too am a firm believer in their slogan: Together we can save lives. So remember the rule on safety, to stay alive stand back 25. 

~Sara "Ironhorse" Kammeraad