[Zetman]

Think the next time they try it the engineer will stop?

Yes, the engineer will stop. Most people are decent, and can't just run someone down in cold blood (unless immediate self-defense is required). However, I would guess that from now on, the engineer will NOT get out of the train, but will sit tight safe inside the cab and summon the police (or maybe throw the train into reverse, and try to get out of there). I hope the local authorities have some sort of "rapid response" security-types who can get there quickly, when needed.

I wonder what type of area this was, and what type of people attacked the engineer?? Strangely enough, the article does not say. In addition, the article alludes to a lot of known problems with the particular area where the attack occurred, but then never explains the nature of those problems. I am shocked and surprised by this!!

My first thought was that the attackers were "youths" similar to the "youths" who terrorized those trains in France last year.

[TASMANIANRED]

They will just break out the windows and go in after him/her.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Naw, I’ve become old and nasty, like a wounded buffalo, I’d blow the horn and pull the throttle. I’ll bet they’d jump!

[engrpat]

or maybe throw the train into reverse, and try to get out of there

Ain't gonna happen. The engineer would have to get permission to make a reverse movement from the dispatcher and will need someone on the back, usually on the ground, to protect the movement. The engineer did the right thing by stopping but getting off the train wasn't the best action. The area that this occurred is in a rough part of town. Usually the worse that happens there are rocks and stuff put on the tracks. They do need better police protection in that area and in areas in the SF Bay Area.