Rules are rules!

[John Ashworth]

This is one of those humorous e-mails which does the rounds and has been received by FOTR. We will attribute or remove the photos if contacted by the copyright holder.

Rules Are Rules

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 that the 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!