87-year-old woman finding new route home after being unable to cross railroad tracks

Norfolk Southern says the woman cannot cross the tracks for safety reasons.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – *WSLS has received more information from Norfolk Southern about the situation.

"One of our police officers has been trying to help Ms. Neice over the past few months. He has gone to her house twice, clarified to her neighbors that she does indeed have easement rights to cross over their adjacent property, contacted Social Services to come to her home, which they did, to see her living conditions (they offered to relocate her.)

One of our employees saw her walking across the railroad tracks with a cane, and was concerned that she could fall or not hear the train. This is a quiet zone, which means that the Federal Railroad Association has approved a rule that trains not blow their horns at this location. In addition, there a two sets of tracks where she is crossing, and trains traveling at 40 mph can come from both directions at any time. This also a popular site for photographers to set up their cameras along the tracks to take photos – so you should note that these signs were posted at multiple locations along our tracks where we have repeatedly seen trespassers."

 

This is 87-year-old Christiansburg resident Mollie Neice. For the last 50 years, she has crossed Norfolk Southern railroad tracks to get back and forth from her car parked right on the other side.

"I walk with my cane and I look before I go both ways. I stop when I get on the other end and see if I hear anything coming then I go on across," said Mollie.  

But now Mollie's path has changed. A no trespassing sign blocks her gate and she can no longer park her car across the tracks. Norfolk Southern says it's a matter of safety, and that a railroad crossing is the only legal way for someone to cross the tracks. But Mollie says it's the only path she's ever known.

"I've raised all my kids here. They went across the track and wasn't a word said. Not a word," said Mollie. 

Since she can't cross the tracks, Mollie will now have to park in a field, walk across a footbridge, and then walk across another field to end up at the house. She says it's a tough trip for anyone, especially an 87-year-old, to take.

"I think it's a long ways for myself; when you've got arthritis in both legs, it hurts pretty bad," said Mollie. 

Mollie says the crossing was always a matter of necessity. The trip through her backyard is no easy feat; she once had a footbridge on the creek closer to her house, but floods have washed it away.

Norfolk Southern did speak with Mollie about the signs and the safety, but she says, at the end of the day, she's just an 87-year-old trying to find a way to get home.


 

"He said, 'You know we told you,' and I said, 'Yes I do,' but I said, 'That's the only way I got to get out,'" said Mollie. 

So for now, Mollie will drive one street over, cross the fields and the footbridge, and make multiple grocery bag trips. It may not be the best option, but it's her only option for now. 

"I don't know how long I'll do it but I'm going to do it as long as I live. I said I'm not going to leave my home," said Mollie. 

 

 

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