Walking on this Breathtaking Maine Trestle Can Land You in Hot Water

It's always been against the law to walk on railroad tracks, but in an attempt to determine if indeed that law will be enforced on the Onawa Trestle this summer, CP Rail was contacted and here's their response to the inquiry.

Trespass on railroad property is dangerous and illegal. Trespassers are subject to citation, and also to tragic consequences. For more information on the importance of public safety around rail lines, talk with Maine Operation Lifesaver.

The above from Andy Cummings, Manager, Media Relations of CP Rail. Info about Maine Operation Lifesaver coming up.

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Here is how all this started. The following was shared on Facebook by a friend of a friend last summer. The post came from Moosehead Lake News & Information’s Facebook page.

“ Walking on Rail Road tracks is trespassing and always has been illegal, but now it’ s going to be enforced. If you were thinking of walking on the Onawa Trestle, I had a short discussion with an officer. Walking the Onawa Trestle is a thing of the past. Warnings at first, then ticket will be issued."

The Onawa Trestle is the longest in the state of Maine at 1,230 feet long. And also the tallest in the state at 130 feet, above Ship Pond Stream near Lake Onawa in Piscataquis County. To say it’s a tourist attraction is an understatement. To say it’s absolutely beautiful may be an understatement as well.

Take a look:

As suggested by CP Rail here is information about Maine Operation Lifesaver.

They are a non profit dedicated to reducing collisions, injuries and fatalities at railroad crossings along Maine's 1,200 miles of active rail lines. They also work to make the public aware of the dangers of trespassing of private railroad property.

Maine has had 15 fatalities and 8 injuries since 2010. Volunteers at M.O.L. meet monthly and continually review and present information about the dangers involved on rail lines and on railroad property.

Here's some background info and some dramatic photos of this gorgeous Maine treasure.

But here’s the law about walking on or beside railroad tracks.

If indeed, like someone posted on Facebook that someone was bungee jumping is true, well, shame on you. This is why we can't have nice things.  And I know there is a law, but couldn't there be some sort of schedule set up. The trains would get their time frames, and the public would get a few hours of a window to walk this spectacle when there would be no chance of a train using the trestle. Just asking, for a friend.