The number of deaths (per capita) in the first 30 years of commercial railroading in North America, is significantly more than any similar period of American motor vehicle traffic. The immature technology and the hazzards of moving tonnes of weight at high speed made taking a train dangerous.
Coming down from a higher elevation is still a risk. Dynamic braking, air brakes, trackside equipment inspectors and computer track control have brought safety to every day operations, but the underlying peril is always there.
My photo shows a Union Pacific train that looks like it is going up, but actually it's following the canyon path down the Feather River in Northern California. Travelling the 114 miles from Portola to Oroville, this train will average a speed of 25mph if it is not delayed by other traffic. You can travel the same route in under 2 hours, but you have a higher probablility of not arriving unscathed.
Photos: UP Feather River Canyon (2001)
