True story from the railways

This is a true story from the West Highland Line in Scotland. Its 150 miles wind through the most spectacular scenery in the whole of the UK. Its highest point is reached at Corrour Station, a lonely outpost that I blogged about before. The stretch from Rannoch Station, 9 miles to the south, even sports the UK's only snowshed.

One day, a train had just made the long haul up to the 1350 feet above sealevel at Corrour and jolted to a stop in the station. This jolt unhitched the couplings for the guard's van which broke loose, and proceeded to roll down the incline. In the guard's van was, precisely, the guard. Asleep. Gathering speed, the lone wagon rattled down the hill to Rannoch. The station master there had the option of shunting the runaway carriage into a siding, but this would cause it to crash, putting the guard's life in jeopardy. It was decided to allow it to run through, on the downward slant to Gorton Siding. The signalman there also decided to allow it straight through. The guard's van did not come to a stop until 2 miles south of Bridge of Orchy, some 40 miles south of Corrour. The guard, still asleep, didn't have a clue that he had retraced his steps...