Um, yeah, it was meant as an illustration of something that many people would say they didn't know (in spite of having passed a licensing exam), or that people just tend to ignore. All those who wish to disregard that part of my post may do so.
I've already posted the link to this in this thread, but here's a synopsis:
1. Walking or standing on track or bridge. A person may not, without right, stand or walk on a railroad track or railroad bridge or pass over a railroad bridge except by railroad conveyance. (MRSA Title 23, §7007. "
Penalty for being on track or bridge or entering track with team or vehicle") If I was a masochist, I'd go searching the Revisor of Statutes site to see what the law says about where one may or may not cross a track, but I think I've elevated my blood pressure enough for one day.
So in spite of that, in spite of the "NO TRESPASSING" signs stenciled on the masts of the crossing signals that they just walked past, I wish I had a dollar for everyone who said to me, "Oh, I didn't know it was against the law for me to walk on the tracks." And some of those people had to peel off their headphones so they could hear what I was telling them. I had to throw a chunk of ballast where they'd see it fall before they caught on that I was catching up to them.
I'm sure that's what the people involved in the fatality in Warren a few weeks ago thought, too. The fisherman in Belgrade who was killed a couple of years ago probably also had similar misconceptions about the danger and the legality of going onto railroad property at "other than a place designated for that purpose."
So my interpretation would be, regardless of what you can or can't hear (Five Man Electrical Band mode), "you ain't supposed to
beee heeeeere."