class="reversehighlighted">ussion if that’s ok.

class="reversehighlighted">for all RFs:<br />RAILFANNING IS NOT THE BE ALL & END ALL OF AN RFs MISSION<br />Nothing can illustrate the truth of the above statement more than the following incident involving an IRI admin on a railfanning mission yesterday afternoon. And nothing can be a greater testimony to the need for a GOOD RAILFAN to be a better HUMAN BEING to begin with. I would prefer to describe the incident in his own words rather than mine as they speak volumes for his modesty.<br />" I was at the car wash and decided to click the DD. As it approached, the loco was honking madly and I was not sure why. I just turned back to see and saw this old man on the track. I shouted to the gang men who were close by and they made the old man move away from the track. Well the gang men need to be appreciated. They acted in seconds. Missed the capture due to that ".<br />Thus was a death on the railway tracks averted and a precious human life saved in the process, even if it came at the cost of a failed click by an RF. But then well worth it because the DD can always be clicked ANOTHER DAY , whereas there may not have been ANOTHER DAY for the OLD MAN . The city of Bengaluru has witnessed quite a few road accidents where passers-by have been more busy in clicking pics of the accident spot and the victim instead of arranging for relief or hospitalisation etc. WHAT A STARK CONTRAST TO OUR VERY OWN IRI ADMIN.<br />PS. Much as I would have loved to, I am unable to reveal the identity of the ADMIN in question, as I did not receive his go-ahead to divulge his name. And that because he shuns publicity and does not want even others to blow his trumpet, leave alone blowing it himself. As a matter of fact he did not want me to share this incident with you all but I could not restrain myself. For after all, the sense of PRIDE in being associated with a person like him was too OVERWHELMING for me.

class="reversehighlighted">rtake maintenance functions on tracks, which would have otherwise taken 2 years to do. If this be true, the results should ideally be reflected in a lower accident rate in the coming years after restoration of normalcy. After all, the proof of the pudding lies in the eating.