A question for my fellow engineers?

[Andy]

I know this isn't something some engineers like to talk about due to bad experiences but i'm curious.An earlier question about train noise had a video link of a close call at a crossing.The crew almost hit a truck and they plugged it before they got there.My question is...how do you handle close calls or actual hits?Do you bighole it prior to the incident or after?Myself,i won't pop it til i know it's gonna be a hit.I'm not going to risk a derailment due to poor train make up when plugging it before hand is not going to change the outcome.We all know by the time we see them it's too late to stop.My worst close call was a gasoline tanker truck.I missed him by a foot.My conductor was going to pull the air and i yelled at him don't do it while i was diving for the floor.He thought i was crazy til i explained to him that if we had hit it our only chance at survival was not stopping in the fireball.So what's your thoughts on it?Wait for the clang or plug it first?