This story is written for Friday Fictioneers. The challenge is to write a complete story with a beginning, middle and end in 100 words or less using the picture prompt below. My story follows the picture prompt.
PHOTO PROMPT © Alicia Jamtaas
His mind wandered in and out of the real world. His twenty eight years working on Amtrak trains occupied his decaying mind at the moment. He had a nightmare that would not go away.
He had to throw a switch.
The switch that would allow his train to enter the siding and allow the Amtrak California Zephyr to pass on the main line on its way to its final destination in Emeryville. He didn’t realize how much the heavy snow would slow him down.
The headline in the San Francisco Examiner read: “Brakeman only survivor in Amtrak train disaster.”
Oh Danny Boy! 
Transport is my kind of thing, trains rumbling through the night, magical,
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I’m glad you went with the mostly unknown side of being a railroad man. Many people think it’s glamorous. Nicely told.
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Technology has overcome ,such in our lives, but the weather always catches us out.
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Always!
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My stepdad worked for the C&O (later renamed The Chessie System) for many years. He had his fair share of haunting from things that happened on the job. People often don’t understand or grasp the reality that trains can’t stop instantly 😦
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Yup and after C&O, Chessie System, they are now named CSX Corp.
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Wow. I remember him telling me that all of the switches are controlled from someplace in FL now? He led an interesting life as a railroad man.
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It seems his nightmare is based on reality, tucked away in his wandering mind. A very sad tale nicely written.
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So much responsibility, no wonder he has nightmares. Hard to think of, but a really good story.
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The stuff of nightmares.
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He’ll be wishing he hadn’t survived, poor man!
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True
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He may have survived, but I’m not sure he will be able to live with it for long.
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I’m sure it will be a continuing nightmare.
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This is too real to be completely fiction! Good writing, Danny.
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Thanks for the nice words.
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Unsettling. Great story. When I took a course in emergency management, we had a train derailment exercise. How this could so easily happen is very disturbing. You captured it well.
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I know. I also worked for the railroad for about 12 years until I got tired of working outside in the winter.
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Oh, the poor guy. Survivor’s guilt!
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Forever!
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Sad…
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Hey beautiful angel sorry that I text you you are very attracted to me that’s why I text you my name is Nick Harrison
I’m from California
nick.harrison8033@gmail.com this is my Gmail address that I am using on Google Hangout I am a surgery doctor please beautiful queen TextMe send me a petition I have something to tell you if you don’t mind ………🌹✅
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I guess the switch remained unpulled.
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Yup!
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Can relate to this completely. I used to have this nightmare of not finding a switch, and the walls closing down on me due to its absence.
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Scary.
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