common sense Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The tie-plate theory makes ZERO sense and is just
> one railfan hearing something on the scanner and
> it getting passed along without any thought being
> given to it.


Remember when BNSF was claiming that vandals tampered with the air brakes on a westbound freight near Summit, causing it to run away down Cajon Pass? Remember when they ignored environmental impact reports and the input of the Forestry Service when they erected those trackside floodlights at Summit and Martinez? The lights are supposed to illuminate any future "vandals."

If you can make everyone think that sabotage causes train wrecks, it reduces liability and cash settlements to the victims.