I was always told by trainmen that I could derail the train by sticking a coin on the rails. I didn't want to wreck the trains I was watching, so I have never done it.
I know the coin is going to get squashed. From a practical point of view, I see the coin- or any other object- getting squashed, picked up, and thrown in a random direction. I would feel really rotten if some mechanic ended up spending time yanking the squashed remains of a penny out of a traction motor. I would feel a lot of pain (no brain damage, though) if the coin was squashed and thrown into my head.
Geez, Mookie, you sure know how to tempt a guy into grabbing up some pocket change and facing a trespassing charge... and the NS Yard is only a couple of miles away...
Nope. Not going there. Bad, bad, railfan!
