Re: C&TSRR = Today = Engineer/Fireman School.

Volvoguy87 Wrote:
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> I was firing on a school train a few years ago
> when we came around a blind left-hand curve and
> there was a tree across the tracks. I was on the
> scoop, but the student fireman in the seat shouted
> to the student engineer that the track was blocked
> by a tree. The instructors and the engineer had
> the same reaction time and the brakes were applied
> with enthusiasm but it was too late. We hit the
> tree with the plow at something close to glacial
> speed and splinters went flying! We never felt a
> thing, but the tree was completely destroyed. The
> engineer instructor radioed to the conductor to
> let them know what happened and we got off the
> locomotive and pulled what was left of the tree
> off to the side before continuing on our journey.
> The fact that we did so much damage to a tree at
> such a low speed and we didn't even feel the
> impact really drove home to me the realities of
> the laws of physics in railroading, even narrow
> gauge.
>
> The softest and squishiest thing on the railroad
> is YOU! You are the cushion (and a pretty weak
> one at that). Best not to tempt fate. Follow the
> rules and stay out of the path of the moving (or
> potentially moving) stuff.
>
> Dave

Thank you Dave.