OT: unexpected kindness

On my way to work this morning, the engineer of a fully loaded coal train backed up close to two blocks to let the gate up so I could pass.
I had stopped at the crossing, got out of my little car, and pantomimed a request; which he granted!
I thought it would be nice to share stories of unexpected kindnesses today.

My neighbor took my empty garbage cans and newspaper in so that I wouldn't get wet -- it's pouring.

I hold the door for mothers with small children. This is paying it forward from the time when mine were little.

Not to shoot down your act of kindness, but in most states it is illegal for a train to block a crossing for more than somewhere between 5-15 minutes (depending on the state of course). He probably was afraid the company would get fined.

chunkyfrog wrote:On my way to work this morning, the engineer of a fully loaded coal train backed up close to two blocks to let the gate up so I could pass.
I had stopped at the crossing, got out of my little car, and pantomimed a request; which he granted!
I thought it would be nice to share stories of unexpected kindnesses today.

That was nice of him. Tell us what you were wearing

chunkyfrog wrote:On my way to work this morning, the engineer of a fully loaded coal train backed up close to two blocks to let the gate up so I could pass.
I had stopped at the crossing, got out of my little car, and pantomimed a request; which he granted!
I thought it would be nice to share stories of unexpected kindnesses today.

Ohhhhhh! Chunky! What city in Nebraska???

I witnessed a coal train backing over an elderly lady's car this morning! Drug her car nearly two blocks!

I hope the EMTs got her out safely!




What a coincidence!

Yeah, I know. She followed me to work and beat in the door of my Prius with her cane.

OFF-OT

Most readers here are unaware that much of the coal that generates electricity for the Eastern US crosses Nebraska. Hundreds of mile-long coal trains transit the state daily, loaded ones going East and empty ones headed West to the open pit mines in Wyoming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBTuYnWtTUE

People wondered why Buffett wanted BNSF.

M.D.Hosehead wrote:Most readers here are unaware that much of the coal that generates electricity for the Eastern US crosses Nebraska.

What do the people from PA have to say about that?

Alshain wrote:Not to shoot down your act of kindness, but in most states it is illegal for a train to block a crossing for more than somewhere between 5-15 minutes (depending on the state of course). He probably was afraid the company would get fined.

We have a simular law here in Indiana, it's one that's never been used as well. Backing up a train, without someone on the other end with a radio, would make the Engineer a fool, and should get him fired. The real plan should be to find engineers smart enough to stop the train back from the crossing switch. Jim

GumbyCT wrote:

M.D.Hosehead wrote:Most readers here are unaware that much of the coal that generates electricity for the Eastern US crosses Nebraska.

What do the people from PA have to say about that?

Thanks for asking. I looked at http://www.nma.org/pdf/c_production_state_rank.pdf

I did not know that 40% of U.S. coal production (2009) comes from Wyoming.

Yesterday I went to Whole Foods. They had a sample bucket of tortilla chips out for customers. I walked up to the bucket, used the tongs to grab a couple of chips and looked down to see a little boy staring at the chip bucket. I gave him my chips first and then got some for myself. Must be the "new dad" in me.

What many people don't know is that even more could come out of Montana; it is cleaner (practically sulphur-free)--
BUT certain factions have a death-grip on regulation there.

Well, this is not unexpected as it happens every week, but I still find it fresh and delightful. My new grocery store has WONDERFUL employees. This morning I had this really nice guy as cashier, and a really nice bagger. Both of them always treat my food as if it were their own. I think it is very hard to find grocery store employees that are genuinely pleasant and careful because the pay is quite low. But my new store has managed to hire just the right kind of people.

There is a raideo station in my state that does this thing called The Drive-Thru Difference every Friday. What it is if you are in a drive-thru or in line at a gas station or fast food place you pay for the person's order behind you. there have been times wher 6 or more cars in a row have had there meals paid for then paid for the person behind them. Although I personally haven't done this I hope to someday. There is no prize form the station or rewards for doing this act of kindness it is just that an act of kindness.