Good news: It was a normal day in  Sharon  Springs, Kansas when a Union Pacific
crew boarded a loaded coal train for the 234 miles 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!
RULES IS RULES!
(Don’t let common sense get in the way of a good disaster!)
