All brakemen once had a "gunn case",a metal tube which included fusees and torpedos.. When the train made an unscheduled stop he would place a torpedo on the rail as a caution signal warning the following train that his train had made that unexpected stop..and to slow down or be on the watch..== An interesting experience occurred July 12, 1940 when the last scheduled Sac Nor. south end train No 27, car 1014 arrived in the bridge train terminal S.F. Fans had gathered up as many torpedos as could be found in passenger cars, caboose, locomotives at 40th and Shafter.in Oakland. So when car 1014 started out of the terminal it is possible that somewhere over 50 or more torpedos were exploded...unfortunately terrifying the Key and IER passengers on other platforms... As the car left the building...it was if it had emerged from a tunnel with blue sulpher smoke pouring out after it.. A similar sendoff for the last IER train failed ..largely due to RR Police not wishing to see a repeat.. but there were a few torpedos that were successfully trigured..