I once rode an NS steam excursion pulled by NKP 765 out of Chattanooga, TN. About thirty minutes into the trip, our train collided with a loaded tri-axle dump truck at a crossbuck-only crossing on a private road. Our train was negotiating an "S" curve prior to going into an emergency application, and it was fortuitous that we did not derail. I was working the four first class cars on the rear of the train. When I heard the air go down, I was in the second car from the rear, and we stopped right beside the wrecked truck. Somehow, the driver had been thrown clear, and was lying in a mess of crankcase oil and shattered truck front end pieces. Myself, a nurse onboard, and a few others detrained to offer assistance. Fortunately, the EMT's arrived quickly, but had to crawl under the train with their equipment since we had stopped on the crossing, and the train could not be moved until the railroad and police investigators did their job. Miraculously, the victim was conscious and breathing, not bleeding, but clearly was in a lot of pain. Once loaded on a back board, we had to pass him underneath the car that was blocking the narrow road crossing. The engineer, we were later told, thought the driver had probably been killed, and his blood pressure understandably went through the roof, and he was relieved on the spot. The 765 only received minor damage, including a couple of broken steps and lubricator lines. It must have been extremely traumatic for the front end crew, which included a road foreman of engines. After what seemed like two hours, repairs were made in place and with the crew changeout completed, our trip continued without further incident. The driver recovered but predictably did sue NS and received a cash settlement. Fortunately, this was my first and only train wreck!
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