Moment kids play chicken on railway line as giant steam train approaches

This is the heart-stopping moment when a young boy played a deadly game of chicken with an enormous steam train heading toward him. Shocked witnesses looked on as the reckless youngster stood defiantly on the railway lines in a perilous stunt.

Onlookers said the train blasted its horn as a warning while approaching Port Erin on the Isle of Man, but the children refused to budge. Two of the group, including a very young girl, dashed to safety at the final moment, while an older boy, incredibly, held his position for longer.

Images reveal one child with his hands on his hips obstinately confronting the oncoming engine, while another captured the same lad sprinting across the crossing.

The incident occurred just after 8 p.m. on Friday (August 22), prompting railway officials to issue a safety alert and encourage the public to report dangerous behaviour.

Railways chief engineer Andrew Cowie said: "Despite our campaign to warn members of the public of the inherent [danger] of railway crossings, it is very worrying that these children appear to be present in the vicinity of a moving train without supervision.

"Whilst the station master monitors the Athol Park crossing during the day, this was a much later evening dining train, and one would expect there to be few young children in the park.

"The train would be slowing down for the approach to the station, and our vigilant and experienced loco drivers are always alert for issues on the track. Nonetheless, this appears to be a concerning situation.

"We would ask that any members of the public observing such behaviour should notify the train guard or driver as soon it is safe to do so."