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Railroad engineers had a scare last week when they thought they ran over a child playing on a train parked on the tracks near the Onalaska spillway. The engineer called for emergency help the evening of June 9, saying kids were riding on the train and he thought one had jumped off but had gotten caught under the train before it was stopped. No one was found in the area.

Sgt. Tim Berg of the Onalaska Police Department said kids playing on the trains and crawling over them and under them to get to the spillway is an ongoing problem.

“There will always be issues of safety along the tracks. I think people of all ages are violating the rules which prohibit walking on the tracks or crossing at unmarked areas,” Berg said. “But parents need to monitor the situation and use good judgment before allowing kids down there. The younger ones should always have an adult chaperone.”

There are only two crossings available for safely getting to the spillway. There is a marked crossing at the bottom of the hill at Irvin Street on the road going to the park. The other crossing at the trail north of Irvin is not marked. Berg said when a train is stopped, it is parked far enough from the crossings to not be a danger to pedestrians.

Police will issue a citation to anyone caught crossing in other areas or crossing by getting on or under the trains. The fine for this violation is $235. The tracks are private property and Berg said the railroad requested citations be issued because they are worried about severe — if not life-threatening — injuries from trains that can happen when people are not careful.

Berg said there have been stepped up patrols since last week, and they know individuals are playing on the trains or crossing the tracks inappropriately, but they can’t catch them in the act.

Berg also is concerned that unsupervised children and others are playing along the spillway while there is high water and the currents are strong. “It’s not a place for very young children to be without supervision,” he said. “We’re not trying to keep people from fishing or having a good time. We’re just trying to prevent a tragedy from happening.”