The mission of the Rail Auxiliary Team of Washoe County, NV is to help ensure trains move safely and securely through communities; we provide trained volunteers that efficiently and effectively act on all situations that affect this mission. One of the services that we provide is Railway Monitoring and Reporting. Rail Team members monitor and report any railway hazard issues, trespassers, potential suicides or any other issue that may hinder trains moving safely and securely through the area.

On Saturday, March 1, 2025 a Rail Auxiliary Team member was on his lunchbreak near the Fernley, NV railyard when he noticed a homeless individual crossing the tracks in an unauthorized area AND a train barreling towards him. Normally when a trespasser is spotted, the Rail Team member will call the appropriate railroad first. In this instance, there was no time to call the railroad and thus the team member shouted towards the trespasser, hoping to get his attention and to get him to hurry across the tracks with a train coming right at him. (Video Link)

Saturday's incident turned out okay - this time! The trespasser was off the tracks for about 15 seconds before the train reached his area. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Educating the public is also an important mission of the Rail Auxiliary Team, but it takes more than just education campaigns. Rail safety needs "boots on the ground" for situations like what occurred on Saturday in Fernley. This is a core strength that the Rail Auxiliary provides, unlike other organizations that just provide education. Members of the Rail Auxiliary make monitoring and reporting a daily part of their lives by being situationally aware of what is happening on the tracks around them as they go about their daily routine: going to and from work, running errands and some days even watching identified trespasser hotspots.

See Something, Say Something!

Don't go down the wrong track. Be Rail Aware!