Have you ever wondered how emergency responders such as police, fire and paramedics find there way to an emergency located on railroad right of way? It can be a significant problem as railroads and 911 emergency centers often do not share a common map and address base and frequently the 911 dispatcher cannot recognize a railroad right-of-way address.
Recognizing the problem and feeling compelled to address it, the Buckingham Branch Railroad in Dillwyn, VA facilitated a public/private partnership in September 2005 involving the railroad, the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors and Clear Tracks Ahead, LLC, a company located in Wilmington, NC that specializes in a process to integrate detailed maps of the railroad with the addressing technology of emergency 911 centers.
Utilizing a joint funding arrangement between Buckingham Branch and Buckingham County, Virginia, Clear Tracks Ahead provided Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to plot railroad mileposts, place names and local roadways into unique maps that are localized for both the railroad and emergency responders.
In December 2005 the project was completed and the railroad as well as the 911 dispatchers are utilizing the integrated maps and mileposts listings. Through its forward thinking and commitment as a good corporate citizen, Buckingham Branch Railroad is achieving the goal of substantially reducing the time it takes for emergency responders to reach any reported railroad right of way event.