The Signalman's Test
Tom is applying for a job as a signalman for the local railroad, and is told to meet the inspector at the signal box.
The inspector decides to give Tom a pop quiz, asking:
- What would you do if you realized that two trains were heading towards each other on the same track?
Tom says:
- I would switch one train to another track.
- What if the lever broke? - asks the inspector.
- I'd run down to the tracks and use the manual lever - answers Tom.
- What if that had been struck by lightning? - challenges the inspector.
- Then - Tom continues - I'd run back up here and use the phone to call the next signal box.
- What if the phone was busy?
- In that case - Tom argues - I'd run to the street level and use the public phone near the station.
- What if that had been vandalized?
- Oh, well - says Tom - in that case I'd run into town and get my Uncle Leo.
This puzzles the inspector, so he asks:
- Why would you do that?
- Because he's never seen a train crash!