And lo on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:16:20 -0000, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom>  
did spake, saying:

> Darren New wrote:
>> But the conductor of the eastbound train will see the westbound train  
>> get onto the tracks later than he does, and vice versa.
>
> Actually, I meant to say "may see" there. And it looks like based on  
> that wikipedia article that the conductor will actually see the other  
> train get to its junction *before* he gets to his own. Very strange.

Though won't the double track also seem foreshortened?

To quote from somewhere - a conductor stands on the platform of the train  
station and sees that the railline has collapsed leaving a large hole. The  
train coming towards him is travelling at near-light speed and the  
shortening effect means that from the conductor's POV the train is short  
enough to fit neatly into the hole, except he can see that it's travelling  
so fast it'll just sail straight over the gap without falling far enough  
to get stuck. From the train's POV the hole is shortened to a tiny gap so  
the driver expects to experience just a small jolt as he goes over it. So  
both points of view match the expectations of both.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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