Freight Train! Oh, God, Help Me!

One split-second warning—and a moment I believe saved my life.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Life, Lessons & Reflections

One morning, I was on my way to Lowe’s to buy some lumber for a deck I was building at the back of our house. That happened to be the same day a crew was installing crossing gates and warning lights at an already dangerous railroad crossing. There had been several tragic accidents involving freight trains and vehicles at this same crossing.

Until then, the familiar railroad crossing signs had been about the only warning. What made the crossing especially dangerous was the heavy growth of trees and tall brush on both sides of the road. A driver approaching the tracks could hardly see a train coming from either direction. I never liked that crossing. Coming to it had always made me a little nervous.

That morning, traffic was moderate. Farther ahead, a school bus made its required stop before crossing the tracks, and traffic began backing up behind it. The cars ahead of me made their own cautious stops and hesitations before crossing. Orange traffic cones lined the road. Workmen wearing bright yellow safety vests were directing cars and trucks through the construction area.

As I approached the tracks, I became next in line. The workman in front of me first signaled for me to stop. I stopped. Then one of the men signaled for me to come ahead.

I started forward.

And then, in my mind, I heard something as clearly as if someone had shouted directly at me:

“NO! STOP!”

I slammed my foot down on the brake. At almost that exact instant, a tremendous blast from a train horn exploded beside me! A freight train came roaring through the crossing.

For a split second, I thought I was going to be hit. The front bumper of my truck was only inches from that locomotive as it thundered past at what seemed to me to be fifty miles an hour or more. I froze and held my breath. For those few seconds, time seemed to stop. I realized I had come within inches—perhaps only a second or two—of being killed.

Freight car after freight car thundered past the front of my truck. Drivers stopped on both sides of the crossing stared at me in disbelief. They must have thought they were about to witness a terrible collision between my truck and that train.

Eventually, the last freight car passed and the tracks were clear. I slowly drove across, but I didn’t continue on to Lowe’s. I pulled off to the side of the road, stopped, turned off the engine, and sat there.

My whole body was shaking. Then I cried. I cried because I suddenly understood just how close I had come to dying.

I was alive—not dead!

Some might say I was fortunate. Some might call it instinct, coincidence, or a split-second reaction.

I believe something different.

I believe God protected me that morning.

I cannot prove to anyone where that unmistakable warning in my mind came from. I can only tell you what happened: I had been signaled to proceed. I began moving toward those tracks. Then something within me shouted:

“NO! STOP!”

And I stopped—just in time.

I believe God and His angels were watching over me that morning. I believe that warning caused me to slam on my brakes at the very moment necessary to save my life.

Do you believe we have guardian angels looking out for us?

I am totally convinced we do.

— Melton Carr