The Good news:
It was a normal day in Sharon Springs Kansas, when a Union Pacific crew boarded a loaded coal train for the long trek to Salina.
The Bad news:
Just a few miles into the trip a wheel bearing became overheated and melted, letting a metal support drop down and grind on the rail, creating white hot molten metal droppings spewing down to the rail.
The Good news:
A very alert crew noticed smoke about halfway back in the train and immediately stopped the train in compliance with the rules.
The Bad news:
The train stopped with the hot wheel over a wooden bridge with creosote ties and trusses.
The crew tried to explain to higher-ups but were instructed not to move the train!
They were instructed Rules prohibit moving the train when a part is defective!
REMEMBER, RULES are RULES!
(Don’t ever let common sense get in the way
of a good disaster!)
