Years ago while in engine service on the Milw we would experience lightning in various forms. It would hit circutry boxes for the ABS signals and drop themred in front of you. At the sametime I have seen withno train present lightning hits on circuts that would startup crossing equipment. At times it would hit wayside poles and travel down the wire as blue flame and would hit the rail and do the same. I believe that with all the hi-tech digital circutry today alot more protection has been built in. Signal maintainers years ago would need to replace alot of equipment in those boxes after astrke as it would fry just about everything.