> Also reminds me of the time I watched the crew of the NB Starlight at King City throwing switches back after a meet.

Lining behind has been standard at meets since the mid-1800s. What changed is the elimination of cabooses (1990s) because it did away with a place for the person who lines behind (usually the rear brakeman) to ride. Prohibiting getting on and off moving equipment didn't help. Since passenger trains, like the Starlight, are much shorter that 70-120 car freight trains and have doors in the rear car, they are frequently required to line behind because the time necessary for walking up to get back on is more or less insignificant.