SPAD Part 2- Back In The Hot Seat.
Two years after the accident Matt was working for NFP again, though condemned for the move, Mr. Ted knew Matt had learned his lesson. Matt had; Becky lost her left arm in the crash, though still in work and doing fine, and forgiving Matt, Matt was seldom seen in the same room with her. Matt lost his license for a year and had to retake all the tests for his licenses, except they were harder. He spent a year in Jive. His motivation to get out was his girlfriend Alice, who stayed in touch with him via letters.
Matt since then can't stand red light runners and has on five occlusions, when he had the right of way hit them, he also speaks to new NFP drivers about the hazards, penalties, and loss of violating traffic laws.
One snowy day he was driving a NFP GP-49 in Alaska Railroad's black and gold scheme. He was accompanied by Thumper and Tom. He was approaching a rail crossing with a short, 5 cars and a caboose, train. Ahead was a school bus loaded with kids was sitting on the tracks.
Matt brought the unit to a stop while Thumper stepped off to see what the problem was. Thumper walked up to the driver's window.
"What's the problem?" He asked. It's stuck and the door broke and I can't get it open. It was an older bus and it had no rear emergency door. Ding, ding, ding! Went a crossing bell, Thumper turned to the crossing sign and saw the lights flash and then could see the train. The train crew jumped clear. Thumper ran up to the end of the bus and patted his head several times.
The signal meant 'Vehicle disabled, incapable of movement.' Tom had started up to the front. Matt grabbed his radio. "Tom unhook the engine;" He yelled. "Why? Asked Tom. "I'm going to shove it off;" Said Matt, Tom quickly did, shutting the valve for the brake line. Matt nudged the unit up to the back of the bus. A phrase a kid in Jive told him (who he was still friends with him) came to mind as he shoved the throttle forward. "Act with integrity. No regrets" The bus started moving forward. Then the wheels crossed the last rail and really started moving. Matt looked toward the left window, the cab had cleared the crossing. BAM! The train hit the locomotive dead center, splitting it in half and dragging it about 100 feet, the unit still upright. The train roared on, the brakes throwing sparks as it slowed down. Thumper and Tom thought they just saw their best friend die. Then Matt leaned out the window "Yeah!" He yelled throwing his fist into the air. He had just repaid his debt by saving what turned out to be 57 lives.