07/10/2026
A “1 in a million” shot.
The bright flash on the rail as the boogie wheel set off 1 of 2 torpedos that the prior train’s conductor set up when that engine stopped due to a mechanical problem.
A torpedo (or detonator) is ‘a small, coin-sized explosive device strapped to a rail to warn train crews of danger ahead. When a train's wheel rolls over it, the explosion creates a deafening bang—audible over steam engines—alerting the engineer’ to danger ahead and to stop the train.
