NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. – A Mid-Continent Railway Museum volunteer was killed Saturday when she was struck by a moving train.
The incident occurred at about 4:17 p.m. when the 66-year-old woman was struck by a locomotive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Linda L. Rowe, 66, of North Freedom.
The accident is under investigation by the sheriff’s office.
Trains News Wire will provide more information as it becomes available.
NORTH FREEDOM — The Sauk County Sheriff’s Department has identified the 66-year-old woman killed in a train accident Saturday as Linda L. Rowe of North Freedom.
The sheriff’s department reported that Rowe was working as a volunteer at Mid-Continent Railway Museum when she slipped beneath a moving train engine Saturday.
Two brakemen, an engineer and a conductor were on board the engine, which was on its way to switch to another track, an operation that takes several minutes to complete, said Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister. He said it appeared that Rowe slipped or lost her balance, fell and was run over.
“On the way back is when they noticed the victim laying on the railroad tracks,” Meister said.
Her name was Linda Lou Rowe and she leaves behind adult daughters and three grandchildren. Her obituary said she spent a great deal of time volunteering at Mid Continent after her retirement.
Not only keep the poor volunteer that was killed in mind, but also the train operator, motorman, engineer, and the crew of the the train that hit the volunteer. They now have to live with the memory that "thier" train killed someone
A very sad day for all those involved! I am a volunteer locomotive engineer at another museum. Railroading is a very fun hobby for lots of us. Safety must always be practiced by each and every one of us. Prayers and thoughts go out to the family of the victim as well as the crews involved.
Always expect a train, at anytime, on any track, in either direction.
As a volunteer operator at a railroad museum, this accident really hits home. This has got to be a museum's worst nightmare. Please stay alert and attentive. This is not a Lionel set we are running; this is the real deal.
Prayers for her and her family. Also the engine crew.
So sad hope she rest in peace.
Comments about the tragedy and posted comments:
Being hit by a locomotive, a museum volunteer should have been tuned to perfect pitch about safety….maybe she tripped or stumbled into the engine's path?….maybe their operation should stand down 'til all personnel review safety rules?…..most railroads have "safety rules" books with which to model the review. Excluding any of the above, crossing the bridge to sickening bad taste: on a bar room wall was a sign written in pidgin' German…..we grow too soon old and too late smart.
Next…..think about that classic railroad rule book, commonly, back then, Rule 108 "When in doubt the safe course must be taken."
You have a doubt, something goes wrong, and you admit that you had a question about what transpired, or
You know what your going to do, something goes wrong, and you tell 'em I knew what i was doing was correct and safe….
The former bore guilt for violating Rule 108….but the latter did not abuse rule 108….
"When in doubt, the safe……"
I visited the museum last week and rode the train. I believe that it is operated 100% by volunteers. Thoughts and prayers to the volunteers and families.
I agree with the sadness and sobering thoughts on this. I hope it doesn’t lead to not allowing volunteers to help or only helping in limited areas. I volunteered at a zoo and went to another zoo to learn their procedures for working safely with big cats. After I left, that zoo had an accident during a patron photo shoot. The person was not a zoo volunteer or knowledgeable about the inherent dangers when working around big cats. Being careless, she tripped and fell onto the unsuspecting cat. This tiger was used because of his tolerant personality, but any cat when startled tends to bite as a defense mechanism. The zoo responded by stopping the photo shoots and their volunteer program.
Working around railroad equipment is more dangerous than many believe. Situational awareness along with remembering to expect a train at anytime, on any track, and from any direction is paramount. It is so easy for a volunteer to get fixated on something new and exciting and stop looking around to insure they are safe.
Again, very sad for everyone involved and I hope positive changes are made to help prevent another tragedy other than stopping the volunteer program.
As a former volunteer at another operating museum this is the personification of my worst nightmare. Just because we are not getting paid does not make the industrial hazard any less real. Please be careful out there!
I'm in my first year of volunteering at another museum. This is a sobering reminder that I'm not playing with models anymore. One of our primary rules is, when in doubt, take the safe action.