[mommya]

Nice - thanks for posting.

Why in the world were those two guys standing on the roof of the train while it was on that trestle?

I don’t know anything about trains really - does anyone know what purpose those barrels all along the sides of that trestle served?

[Rodamala]

1) Back before airbrakes, and even after, "brakemen" rode the tops of the freight cars and when brakes were needed going downhill, they would go from car to car (yes, while the train was moving) and apply the handbrakes.

When I was in Guatemala in the early 1990's, they still had brakemen, and they also still used the telegraph... It was like stepping back in time... I'm glad I saw it.

2) Wooden trestles, made of timbers covered in creosote, were prone to catching on fire, with devastating results. Those barrels are for fire suppression.

I bet someone else answered you already, but there ya are.