Posted by J. Randall Banks on February 11, 2014 
Darwin award nominee.
Posted by Andy Fariss on February 11, 2014 
Very close to being ; Train 1, idiot 0.
Posted by jdayrail on February 11, 2014 
I assume this person has a lifetime full of bad decisions.
Posted by on February 11, 2014 
And the shadow of the man?
Posted by Ringo Clark on February 11, 2014 
Youth ! Young , Dumb and Stupid !!!
Posted by David Doty Sr. on February 11, 2014 
It appears as though this is a photo shopped picture because there is no shadoww anywhere around the man and you can see that his right foot is not touching the ballast in the right manner. Sorry, but that is my opinion, this is not a close call just a photo shopped facimily.
Posted by Jeff Swanson on February 11, 2014 
Good observation: where is his shadow?
Posted by on February 11, 2014 
So is he really tall, or really short? I can't tell. Very light on his feet, he appears to be floating.
Posted by Erick Anderson on February 11, 2014 
If he jumped to clear the rail, his shadow would still be visible on the ballast. The sun is casting shadows to the left and slightly back, so the shadow should be visible. Part of the right foot also appears to be missing.
Posted by guido73 on February 11, 2014 
The mile marker on the right has no shadow either. This stupidity is the real deal people.
Posted by paul catapano on February 11, 2014 
His shadow is in the same place as the shadow of the mile post marker, not visible
Posted by on February 11, 2014 
No shadow on the mile post either??
Posted by Roy S. on February 11, 2014 
Thumbs down for this photog. No cheap tricks should be allowed on this site. Booo.
Posted by Tony King on February 11, 2014 
Then again.....the milepost and the sign on the left aren't casting shadows either....hmmmm. Is there really a railroad in Opelika, Alabama? Did we really go to the moon?
Posted by Joe Green on February 11, 2014 
Oh lordy the engine appears by the shadow as if it's only 2 feet long in the photo guys! Seriously pay attention, his shadow is there. If the engine's shadow is that short, the man's shadow is a toothpick in comparison. You can even see his tiny shadow across the left rail.
Posted by Randy Murphy-NorthAmericanRails.com on February 11, 2014 
Hummm...Also look at the sign to the left of the tracks. The sign itself has a shadow on the pole, but not the pole itself on the hillside. Interesting points by all of you.
Posted by Frank Orona on February 11, 2014 
Thank you to all those who think this is Photoshopped, while I don't actually own Photoshop, it's sort of flattering and nice to hear that you think I'm that talented at faking an image. Unfortunately for all the conspiracy theorist here, I'm sorry to debug your Photoshop idea because this actually happened. You can check out the Flickr link I've provided that shows the entire event as I shot it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/65514125@N05/ Now this was taken on the date 1/26/14 at 10:49am Central Time, so if you look at any sun position software you can get an idea of where he shadow should be. In the linked photos you'll see his reflection on the rail as he crosses as well as the movement of his shadow. Also, the moon is not made of cheese, Auto racks are not FEMA death trains, Elvis is actually dead and the US did land on the moon.
Posted by on February 11, 2014 
I'm not even sure Frank Orona is real! LOL
Posted by Phil on February 12, 2014 
Check some of the other pictures posted by this contributor. There is no fakery here. The idiot's right foot is foreshortened because he is crossing the gauge at an angle. There are other pictures that show the same shadows as seen here.
Posted by frinyd on February 12, 2014 
Very good Joe. I can see the shadow of the guy and the mile marker. Way too many people are way too quick to be negative!!!! Sad!!
Posted by Sean Mathews on February 12, 2014 
Back in college I used to do graphic design for the college paper as the photo editor and I became adept at sniffing out doctored photos. Without seeing the full res image, I can not tell on this one, so I will give the shooter the benefit of the doubt. The area around the man seems very clean. In an image that is doctored, and then has its resolution degraded for upload, there are generally artifacts around the doctored image. The light on the guy seems right, and you can see ballast in front of his shoe, which though easily could have been clone stamped, also means it might not have been. Still though, there is some weird shading on the outside of his right arm, and the rails do have a shadow. Albeit a very short one. He would indeed have cast a shadow due to his height. I cant explain the mile marker, though the shrub behind it is casting a shadow. Also, the guy walking across the tracks is very sharp. I mean as tack sharp as the train. The gravel and tracks do not appear to be as sharp, of course due to focal ratio. That is usually a giveaway, and for me the biggest qualm I have here. Just the thoughts of a former photojournalist.
Posted by Sean Mathews on February 12, 2014 
Well, I retract my previous comments having seen full size images... in a sequence. Thanks for the link Frank, and sequence of photos. The sun playing tricks. I think for me personally I was hoping it wasn't real, and that people aren't really that dumb.
Posted by ZR1fan on February 12, 2014 
"Local moron." That is classic.
Posted by Andy Fariss on February 12, 2014 
I wonder if this knucklehead realizes how close he came to being a grease spot on the nose of an EMD.
Posted by Erick Anderson on February 12, 2014 
Apologies about my comment above. Also, Elvis didn't die. He just went home.
Posted by David Doty Sr. on February 12, 2014 
Frank, Please allow me to apologise for my error in judging your photo. I was wrong and I ask you for your forgiveness. ~ Dave Doty.
Posted by Jim Thias on February 13, 2014 
Cool, Frank. By the way, do you have any pics of people walking in front of oncoming traffic? ;-)
Posted by Randy Murphy-NorthAmericanRails.com on February 13, 2014 
In defence of myself...I never said it was shopped, I just made an additional comment about the other pole. I was undecided and thought I'd join in on the fun. You guys are great. I have a photo from Cajon of a young man (aka "Local Moron") crossing the tracks while carrying a bike directly (less than 100 ft) in front of an oncoming freight doing track speed of 45 mph. I'll see if I can find it and if the screeners will accept it.
Posted by Jeff Swanson on February 13, 2014 
I have tried a few times to post (unsuccessfully) on RP, not measuring up to its' strict standards - and that is fine; I don't have the talent. However, Mr. Orona has an established record of submitting high quality photographs and my previous comment (above) had nothing to do with his veracity as a photographer. I was merely asking a question because I do not have the expertise to explain why something that I believe should be obvious - is not. I was a cop for 30 years and well know that morons as in this picture are among us. Thanks for your submissions Frank, I appreciate every one - including this one.
Posted by Herb Brown Jr on February 14, 2014 
Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence. As railfans we know it's safety first. With that being said, nice shot. Mainly the heat distortion above the diesel.
Posted by Southernpacific1972 on February 14, 2014 
What you have here is a full body apparition, thats why there is no shadow !!!
Posted by Rod Uhll on February 14, 2014 
Frank. Did they put the train into emergency or just ride it out since it really would not have mattered?
Posted by Kyle Steinke on February 14, 2014 
I thought that when the horn is blown on CSX, NS, AMTK, and on some few ex SP units, the ditch lights flash....Did the engineer not blow at him?
Posted by Frank Orona on February 14, 2014 
The crew was calm and cool as they rode through it. No sense in putting it into emergency just as the tracks go into a curve and risk a derailment over a person who should have known better to begin with.
Posted by Joshua H. on February 17, 2014 
Complete IDIOT!
Posted by Zach Pumphery on February 17, 2014 
Some of you people must be as stupid as the guy in the photo! No shadow? Ever heard of a telephoto image? The shadow hidden in the unlevel surface of the ballast. I figure half of you yelling fake have never even used photoshop! Why would you waste time doing this anyway? Morons set this shot up for you ever day? Give me a break! Wow. Great shot Frank, thanks for documenting the moronic actions of the average member of the public that we have to deal with out there. I'm surprised he's not dragging a stroller or something while he's at it.
Posted by Carl on February 22, 2014 
When a 200 pound man meets a 100 ton train,the train wins,any questions?
Posted by Micah Dale on July 27, 2014 
Is it just me or is that K5LA missing a bell?
Posted by FSWood on March 27, 2016 
Situation brings to mind an article from Oct 31, 2013, in a website, a local newspaper I guess, called the New Times, from San Louis Obispo. Article titled "Much ado about fencing: SLO city and Union Pacific Railroad officials ramp up the fight against illegal track crossing" says "Pedestrians eager to get from Point A to Point B regardless of any barriers have taken to cutting holes and removing panels. Workers then repair the fences, and the cycle starts again." Apparently it is near Cal Poly and most of those vandalizing geniuses are students.
Posted by Conchateeta on June 22, 2016 
So where's the derailment?
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