Have any other Forumites ever been aboard a passenger train which separated into two parts?
In the 1960's, I was aboard SP's San Joaquin Daylight south of Modesto when it uncoupled at speed. The separation was between one of Espee's no-frills baggage cars that they bought in the early 60's, and the first chair car. (I was riding further back in the train.) Thankfully, that limited passengers being exposed to danger between the cars. And the Engineer immediately bailed off the engine brakes and thus averted a collision between the two portions of the train. It caused considerable delay because the steam piping was ripped from under the chair car and had to have Mechanical Department attention before we could proceed. After carmen had removed the loose piping, we coupled up and proceeded, but without any hot water in the cars. Fortunately it was not in cold weather, or the cars would have had to be set out in order to have steam heat.
Anyone else ever have a similar experience?