[jckosnow]

just got my TW about a month ago, my first bike, just got over 1k miles, taken it off road on atv trails and followed telephone poll trails. now keep in mind I'm in Maine, this ain't a bustling metropolis, the RR tracks are usually clear (it seems). what do you all think, anyone ever explore RR tracks in a rural area?

 

[old white truck]

Since you are asking for opinions, if the tracks are active, I think it is very stupid.



People often get killed just walking on tracks. With the noise of your engine and with your head in a helmet your hearing will be significantly reduced. You just have too high a chance of getting killed or arrested. The engineer who runs you over will also feel like crap for the rest of his life even though it was not his fault.



Just my opinion. I don’t want to see you or your bike get mangled.

 

[jckosnow]

thanks OWT! I am looking for opinions. thanks again, maybe I'll just stick to trails & roads.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

I agree with OWT. Also it is very hard to get the bike out of the tracks. Dont ask me how I know this...

 

[FnMag]

I agree with OWT. Also it is very hard to get the bike out of the tracks. Dont ask me how I know this...

I don't know what your tracks are up there, but I have a set 1/4 mile from the house, and the rocks are GINORMOUS! The ATV'rs in the neighbor hood cross them on a regular basis to get to a few trails in the woods behind them, but they ride the side of them not the tracks themselves. I'd venture to say that if you know the distance between one road and the next AND there are cars parked on the tracks that there is a very good chance that you won't face a train. However, after me trying to get over the tracks back here, I Google mapped the area and found a longer but safer route to the trails.



I used to be a rail junkie and loved taking photos of them, have never been "run off" by CSX crew here, usually they just waved but I was a safe distance too.







Jasonp2 by TheBiPolarMotorcyclist, on Flickr







jasonpeditedcopy by TheBiPolarMotorcyclist, on Flickr

 

[jflynn]

"the RR tracks are usually clear"



Italics mine.



When playing Russian Roulette, the chamber is usually empty.



I wouldn't even try it on tracks that aren't used, as hitting rails at anything but 90 degrees (i.e. perfectly perpendicular) is one of the better ways to crash anything with 2 wheels. I think trying to get out of the tracks, or simply wandering into them, would virtually guarantee a crash.

 

[TWisty]

I've played on railroad tracks my entire life.



Built a few railbikes.

Google if interested.



Been working on a TW version.

 

[Bullspit]

From what I've been told, the railroad doesn't like people playing on their turf and can get irritated if they catch you.



Mind you that's just what I've been told. I haven't been accosted, threatened, beaten or sued by the railroad.

 

[esw28]

I just got threatened by railroad employees 2 days ago for riding on tracks, the guy told me it's a felony. So I left.

 

[T Dubble D's]

A pair of legs full of rock salt will answer all your railroad property related questions. That's what I had always heard growing up.

 

[BigSwede]

My friends and I used to ride along some tracks by our house all the time when we were young lads, on the way to a sand pit...we didn't ride between the rails, just alongside the ends of the ties. And it wasn't a high-speed line, just a connector between rail yards. But it was definitely illegal even then (30+ years ago), and we got chased by cops a couple of times.

 

[frog13]

Yep,it's a felony.

 

[small's]

Yeah its definitely illegal if you get caught. Ive ridden them from one small town to the next and crossed some small bridges. I think its easy to get a tw out of or off of the tracks. Plus the trains arent high speed around hear. Your going at your own risk.

 

[TWisty]

Your going at your own risk.

Everything we do in life is at our own risk.



When geezers reminisce, it's not about all the fun things we never did.

Or how safely we lived.



It's better to have a scar on your arm, than a Most Obedient Citizen award on your wall.



I realize times have changed, but with the current attitudes, there'd be 300 million people still sitting on Plymouth Rock, encased in bubble wrap, waiting for the "Don't Walk" sign to turn green.

 

[mrbracket]

The tracks in my area are used often, it would scare the crap out of me to ride them... Plus, here in Oregon we have a lot of trees, you can't see down the tracks very far before they turn behind some trees. Wouldn't get much time to get off the tracks!



I do like jumping the Tdub over the raised track crossings we have on the backroads around here!!!

 

[jflynn]

Everything we do in life is at our own risk.



When geezers reminisce, it's not about all the fun things we never did.

Or how safely we lived.



It's better to have a scar on your arm, than a Most Obedient Citizen award on your wall.



I realize times have changed, but with the current attitudes, there'd be 300 million people still sitting on Plymouth Rock, encased in bubble wrap, waiting for the "Don't Walk" sign to turn green.

Okay, let's take a few calming breaths. Now before you jump to the conclusion that you can urinate farther than the rest of us, allow me to introduce myself. We haven't met. Lest you think this is creampuffs giving creampuff advice, I'll give you a short list of my qualifications on the matter: I have fractured my skull (and can feel the bump right now). My tongue is resting on an artificial tooth. Cracked ribs, a pneumothorax, several dislocated shoulders, the list goes on and on (I could probably do a twelve days of Christmas if I was feeling creative enough). I was once involved in an altercation and looked down afterward to find a dart sticking straight out of my kneecap. I've been hit on the head with canning jars (on more than one occasion, believe it or not), had more concussions than I can recall, and would wager I've been in more fistfights than Daniel Larusso (the original, and best Karate Kid (way better than Hillary Swank, and lightyears ahead of Will Smith's son)), despite no training in any of the so-called "martial arts." I once pointed out to the inebriated driver of the van I was in that we were about to hit a fire hydrant. Then we hit a fire hydrant. None of this was smart, and I think I know better now.



So I stick to my advice. Here's why: the original poster asked in his original post if he should ride down railroad tracks. He admits to being inexperienced. This is his "first bike." He even titled the thread "Riding on railroad tracks: How stupid is it?" The answer to that question, when asked by that person, is "very."

 

[Stromper]

Depending on the age and decrepitude of the tracks they are rated for speed.



My local tracks were only rated for 10 MPH freight service.

If you were along side I think it as NO problem to ditch it as the the train came either way.



MOST freight tracks are 40 or higher and you REALLY would be in jeopardy.



Freight trains can NOT stop in time of anything. They HIT anything they can see.



Lastly were bridges were you could NOT escape by diving sideways.

Helmet off, motor off listen for a FEW seconds then quick like a bunny



Where do you want your effects sent?

 

[TdubOhio]

Having been chased off railroad land before (by cops), I'd say it's hit or miss, if you're gonna ride right on the tracks (pun intended).



Instead, find something like this instead...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdQCBPHR5kE&feature=plcp

 

[nfpgasmask]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWPz0-iYTTw&feature=related

Bart

 

[Xracer]

Back when I was a young teen my friends and I rode tracks all over the place. This included a few bridges. One day my buddies front wheel got caught between two ties on a bridge.We ended up letting all the air out to free it and He had to ride home with a flat tire.Another time my other buddy center punched a deer and bounced rail to rail until He was able to stop. Yes it was stupid but we did have lots of adventures.