My3kidsfather
Enlightened
I was sitting in the Siding waiting for another train to get by us. It was about 5:00 AM dark with blowing snow, a bit of a blizzard. Suddenly I heard a voice on our radio say "Clear at Lindbrook." That meant the eastbound we were waiting for was just around the corner, and coming down the hill hard. I grabbed my Streamlight ProPolymer 3C LUXEON Div 1 test flashlight, coat and gloves and exited out the front door. My conductor had just answered a call from the dispatcher, and stayed behind in the cab. I saw the crossing bucks start to come down and a big snow plow truck come to a stop at the crossing.
Just as I hit the ground the opposing train, an eastbound reached us and I was blasted with 50/60 mph wind/snow from ten feet away. I could not see a thing as I struggled to get my coat on. The train continued to pass us then I felt a hand on my shoulder an turned to see the snow plow driver pointing to the train and say "The third car on the train, the front wheel was on fire! I looked at his eyes, saw truth in them and said "Thanks!" and ran up the stairs and into the front door of the engine. I grabbed the radio and called the eastbound.. "304, stop your train, you have a fire three or four deep."
Thanks to God 304's crew got the train stopped before he derailed. The third car's brake system appeared to be jammed on with all brake shoes burnt off with steel on steel. The wheels were badly shelled and flattened from skidding. I walked back to the truck and spoke with the driver. I thanked him on behalf of the crew of 304 and told him he had saved a possible high speed derailment and sideswipe (of our train just feet away.)
He smiled, said "No problem." He looked at me and said "I sure like that high tech LED flashlight you got there. I sure would like one of those." I got his name and phone number and he mentioned his uncle was a retired yardmaster. I told him I knew his uncle and asked how he was doing.
This happened this Sunday morning. I intend to call the Trainmaster on Monday and ask him to buy the driver a new flashlight just like we are testing. If he won't, I will ask the union, I am sure they would be happy to buy him a flashlight. And I am thinking of getting him a edc, something like an RC-G2 or something easy to buy batteries for.
There are Good Men around us yet.
Just as I hit the ground the opposing train, an eastbound reached us and I was blasted with 50/60 mph wind/snow from ten feet away. I could not see a thing as I struggled to get my coat on. The train continued to pass us then I felt a hand on my shoulder an turned to see the snow plow driver pointing to the train and say "The third car on the train, the front wheel was on fire! I looked at his eyes, saw truth in them and said "Thanks!" and ran up the stairs and into the front door of the engine. I grabbed the radio and called the eastbound.. "304, stop your train, you have a fire three or four deep."
Thanks to God 304's crew got the train stopped before he derailed. The third car's brake system appeared to be jammed on with all brake shoes burnt off with steel on steel. The wheels were badly shelled and flattened from skidding. I walked back to the truck and spoke with the driver. I thanked him on behalf of the crew of 304 and told him he had saved a possible high speed derailment and sideswipe (of our train just feet away.)
He smiled, said "No problem." He looked at me and said "I sure like that high tech LED flashlight you got there. I sure would like one of those." I got his name and phone number and he mentioned his uncle was a retired yardmaster. I told him I knew his uncle and asked how he was doing.
This happened this Sunday morning. I intend to call the Trainmaster on Monday and ask him to buy the driver a new flashlight just like we are testing. If he won't, I will ask the union, I am sure they would be happy to buy him a flashlight. And I am thinking of getting him a edc, something like an RC-G2 or something easy to buy batteries for.
There are Good Men around us yet.
:goodjob:
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