Having Fun on the Rails

We know what some of you are thinking.  You see those railroad tracks before you.  You first thought is, “Can I balance myself on those rails.”

You think, and you think, and you think.  You put your best foot forward… on top of the rail.  Then you lift your other in the air.  You walk the rail like you walk a balance beam.  You make progress, but you fall off.  You just get back up and continue.  You go a little way.  You turn around and walk back.  You step off feeling good about yourself.

So, you are not a balancer.  You just want to stretch yourself to see if you can tough both rails.  Some stretch their legs.  Some put their feet on one rail and their hands on the other.  Some of you try to lay your head on the rail and lift your feet in the air.

Then there are those who just want to have fun.  You just do a pose in the middle of the tracks.  You do a ballet pose, or you just stand there.

Whatever you do, you just like having fun on the rails.

As you are enjoying your time on the rails, be mindful of a few things.  First, most rail lines to include major rail route have laws against trespassing on the rails or on the land on the sides of the rails.  If you see a sign that says no trespassing, stay off the rails.  Punishment can include imprisonment.  Second, some rail lines that are privately owned may allow you to have fun on their rails.  (Please note that some may have the restrictions as the major lines.)  That does not mean that you can let your guard down.  If the line is active (meaning trains still use the line), you must always be on the lookout for trains.  Any active line is dangerous regardless of how much usage it has.  (There is an old saying, ‘Always Expect a Train’, and that saying remains true to this day.)

You best spot is an abandoned line.  You do not have to worry about any trains.  How do you know if it is an abandoned line?  You can look for tracks that are out of place.  If you see a section of the stones or dirt washed out from underneath, it is abandoned.  If you see the railroad crossing paved over with blacktop or dirt, it is abandoned.  If you see the trestle is in disrepair, it is abandoned, but be mindful of the trestle as it could collapse.  If you are not sure, the best thing is to avoid the tracks for your safety.

Although it is great to have fun on the rails, it is far more important to be safe.  Oh, you do not want to be hanging from a moving train over a huge drop.

PLEASE NOTE that the photos in this article are from Pinterest who own the copyrights to all of them.