Once went into emergency going up the hill into San Gabriel about 1 in the morning, after going over some debris. We came to a stop just blocking San Gabriel Blvd. blocking the crossing,(where the new overpass open over then new trench, today). The head man got out to start to walk back, and the SG PD rolls up.

Some midnight shift rookie climbs up on the engine and demand that I move the train. I told him we'd gone into emergency and could move the train until we determined the cause and recovered the air. He told me that, if I didn't move the train that he'd arrest me. I just laughed and said, good, because then this train ain't going to go nowhere.

He stormed off and went out to talk to his way more experienced partner. Then I looked down out of the window to my head man and the other cop, and said, you know, if you drive him back we'll find the problem much faster, and be able to move this train. The other cop understood and told my head man to jump in.

I've worked with a lot of cops over the years on traffic safety, freeway operations, and on transit security issues. Most of those cops were "old heads", who like rails, tend to know more, and have learned to evaluate, rather than just react. And so, like in almost all other professions, experience matters.