I had a camera store and repair shop for years. I had a website and would also go to camera shows all over. In the early 90's we were in Nashville TN for a show.
An elderly gentleman came to our tables and looked at several cameras. We got to talking and he told me that he was a retired engineer for the Norfolk & Western RR. Being a model RRer I asked him if he had any interesting stories from his days operating the steamers.
He said one night they were rolling along and all of a sudden there was a huge explosion right beside him that lit up the night and literally scared the crap out of him. He said the weird part was that it didn't make any noise and there wasn't any concussion. After reaching his destination and being grateful that he brought along some extra under britches, he got cleaned up and went to the office to report what had happened.
As he told his story the dispatcher started laughing and said that O. Winston Link had been there that morning getting permission to set up a photo shoot along the ROW, and what he saw was a string of flashbulbs going off. He said it was several years before he saw the photo that Mr. Link took, and he was impressed enough to buy a copy from him. I asked him if he wanted to sell it, and he just laughed and shook his head.
Joe
Seems to me a good dispatcher would have told all involved about Link's "photo bomb" BEFORE it happened. Maybe this one thought it would be "funny" to surprise a guy running a train.
I've got copies of railroad communications describing all sorts of things that might be of interest to operating personnel. Trackside fires come to mind.
Ed
That's a good one!
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!