What’s A RAT To Do?
First off, KUDOS to the Reno Area Dirt Bike Group (RADs) for their excellent cleanup of the offroad area along Peavine Mountain on September 7, 2024. Their herculean efforts brought out at least 7 vehicles, trailers filled with discarded tires and tons of other trash f…
The Situation
On Sunday evening, around 6:30 PM, a couple of RATs were monitoring the scanner and highway cameras along I80 when a fire near Verdi, NV was spotted. After communicating with one another, it was determined that a call needed to be made to Union Pacific's RMCC (The Emergency …
Last month the Rail Auxiliary Team received a two-hour briefing on the homeless from two experts in the homeless population. Our mission during that day was to “first seek to understand, then seek to be understood.” We learned about the homeless and the “revolving door” where a sweep goes through …
The world's largest steam engine, the UP Big Boy 4014, began its trek from Roseville, CA to Sparks, NV. The Rail Auxiliary Team positioned itself at various locations between Verdi and Sparks, NV, with the sole purpose of keeping people safe as the Big Boy steamed on by. Unfortunately, the Big…
Washoe County Sheriff's Office Rail Auxiliary Team supports the Reno Tahoe Odyssey. The “RAT Pack” recently supported the Reno Tahoe Odyssey. The team ensured that 230 runners and their support vehicles safely crossed two railroad crossings in Nevada and California. Having trained personnel at …
The old saying, A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words, communicates the truth in this instance.
Coffee Tracks and AMTRAK Support
On Saturday, March 23, 2024 the Rail Auxiliary Team held its field training, affectionately known as Coffee Tracks at two locations in the Reno area. Our first stop was Crossing#833583P at Socrates Drive. While observing the crossing, we matched the current cr…
PRESS RELEASE
HELPING DURING THE WORST OF TIMES
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of volunteers who dedicate themselves to help the community during the worst of times such as wildfires, earthquakes, or floods. The CERT program offers a consistent, nationwide …
Union Pacific Senior Special Agent Danny Castaneda in Eagle Pass, Texas.
At the start of every workday – typically around 5 a.m. – Union Pacific Senior Special Agent Danny Castaneda packs up his gear and head…
Nevada's Retired First Responders and Military Veterans Pioneering Railroad Public Safety and the See Something Say Something Campaign with the RAT PACK:
[Reno, NV, October 18, 2023] — A remarkable and innovative initiative is transforming Nevada's rail landscape as retired first responders…
Do you know what to do if you see someone walking on railroad tracks with a train barreling down in the distance? Or if your car gets stuck on the …
On Friday afternoon June 23, 2023 our RAT pack initially met in Verdi at the local fishing hotspot. Upon arriving, a RAT member noticed a fisherman walking along the tracks to get to his favorite fishing hole. A call to RMCC notified the railroad of a trespasser. …
What does a NO TRESPASSING Sign Mean?
Railroad tracks and crossings are very dangerous places if warnings are not heeded. Railroad companies spend time and money to make a person’s time at a crossing or around trains as safe as possible. Warning signs, flashing lights, crossing gates, bells, pave…
On Saturday morning March 18, 2023 our RAT pack met at crossing 833573J .
In preparation for our RAT field exercise, RATs always set up an orange traffic warning sign to warn drivers that people are present in the area and to also educate the public. This sign…
RAT Pack Railway Auxiliary Team
Railway Auxiliary Team in Nevada
Help Keep Rail Roads Safe in Nevada
Our “Pack of Rats” gathered Saturday morning by the Chevron station at the Mustang exit off of Interstate 80. This area was chosen so that we could take a look at how things have changed in this area since the railroad was put in circa 1868. In a wonderful book, The Central Pacific Railroad Acro…
If you arrived early to Coffee Tracks, you got a great view of an East bound Union Pacific manifest train! One of our early RATS even caught a man down the hill beside track 2 changing his clothes. Sorry, no picture of this trespasser! You truly never know what you will come across by the tracks.
…On Monday, May 2, 2022 a 27 year old male lost his life due to a rash decision at a rail crossing in Pompano Beach, Florida. This young father on his way to work drove around the gates and lights that signaled a train was coming. The conductor of the train said that he believes the driver was trying…
Little did we know of the excitement that would occur during our Coffee Tracks time at the Union Pacific Sparks Yard! As the "pack" of RATS began to gather, the scanner alerted us to an event taking place in the yard by one of the tracks. A railroad worker discovered a residential propane tank with…
