Dawdling Ducks

Train 10-52

Woody came trotting back from Jasper's front door to the patrol car. After Woody put on his seatbelts he, flicked the switch to make patrol car’s flashing lights blaze into action. After checking for traffic, Woody floored the police car to sling gravel and lay rubber on South Rome Road. Woody sped down the road driving 20 miles per hour over the posted 45 mile per hour speed limit.

With lights flashing and sirens, blaring Woody and his passengers made the 4-mile journey in 3 1/2 minutes. When Woody pulled up to the scene, he saw a freight train stopped on the tracks blocking the railroad crossing. Three cars had already lined up on the road waiting for the train to clear the intersection. Woody changed lanes to drive in the left lane passing the stop cars to come to a complete halt on the side of the road just before the railroad crossing. Looking under the train cars Woody saw that he was the first car on the scene. Woody said, "Bobby and Dan you two guys stay in the car. If I know, my train wrecks there is some poor soul up the tracks that's probably been ripped in two. You guys are too young to have to see that. Besides, this is going to take a while and it's freezing out there. Woody zipped up his coat and reached in the glove box for his stocking cap and gloves. Woody said, "I'm glad I wore long johns tonight."

Looking down the tracks towards the caboose Woody looked for some movement. From experience from other train related accidents, the conductor would wait during bad weather in the caboose for the police to arrive. Tonight was no exception as Woody saw a man exit the rear of the caboose while he swung a light back and forth to get Woody's attention.

Waiting for the conductor to arrive Woody stared down the tracks towards the locomotive in attempt to see through the darkness to find the car wreckage. When the conductor arrived Woody said, "What happened here?" The conductor said, "The engineer called me saying that he hit a big black car that was hung up on the tracks and knocked it into the river." Woody replied, "Ohoo Jheese! Were there any survivors?" The conductor answered, "The engineer, brakemen and I walked down to the edge of the river." Woody asked, "Did you see anything?" The conductor replied, "The car broke through the ice and completely sunk. The ice is so thick we could walk on it. We walked all around the hole in the ice but did not see anybody. The water was so dark we couldn't see a thing. We waited about five minutes and nobody surfaced. We assumed nobody was going to get out of the car. We thought about jumping in that water but the water is so cold we would have certainly froze to death instantly. We also check with our lights on both sides of the grade in case the poor soul or souls could have been thrown out of the car before it went over the side into the river." Woody said, "If you don't mind come with me. It sure would to be a lot easier for me to see with you guys shining your flashlights down on the hole in the ice.

The conductor said, "We don't mind. We have to stay here until our supervisor shows up to make a report before we can leave. It may be an hour before he gets here. Woody said, "What's the easiest way to get down there. The engineer said, "We rigged a rope about 10 yards down the track. You can use that if you like. It will take you directly to where the car went in the river. The slope is so steep down to the river you need to hold the rope the whole way down or you're liable to fall and break your ass." Woody said, “Let’s go use that rope, I already have one crack in my ass I don't need another.

As Woody climbed backwards down the slope holding onto the rope for dear life he could hear sirens getting closer from both directions on Route 29. Finally, at the bottom Woody gasped for breath while he placed his hand over his nose and mouth to keep the sharp cold air from burning his lungs. After he caught his breath, he walked gingerly on the ice to a giant hole created by the black car when it was flung into the river. Immediately he noticed the water in the hole had already frozen over again. Woody said aloud, "You poor sons of bitches, if you're still in there, you're playing harps with angels by now." Woody looked up to his right to see the Sheriff leading an ambulance crew down the tracks to the waiting group of trainmen who were pointing towards Woody.

After the Sheriff climbed down the steep slope he walked up to Woody on the ice to hear the ice crack blow their feet. The Sheriff said, "Woody let's get off this ice before we both fall in the drink." Both Woody and the Sheriff walked to the safety of the shoreline. The sheriff said, "Certainly if anyone was still in the car, they are goners now. I could call the fire department and send divers down to find out. However, what's the use, I'm sure that if there are any bodies in that car they can wait until daylight. It's not as if they are going anywhere now. Why risk killing couple of firemen over a couple of dead bodies.

The sheriff surveyed the scene before he looked up to see several of his deputies making their way down to the car’s final resting place. Woody, I’ll have the Lieutenant write up the accident report. The rookie can set out here to guard the scene until the frogman can get here to check the inside of the can and get it pulled out of the water. When I was getting out of the cruiser, I heard you had a call to the Randal’s Grocery Store. Apparently, someone paid their bill with some funny money. Damn, I hate Friday nights with a full moon.”