I have to say, hopefully without offending anyone, that this entire article is way over the top. Plastic drove vs Train, hmmm.... The whole thing is so over bloated it's completely ridiculous. Look at how many trains have crushed their way right through a car that's stalled out on the train tracks. How many people really think the operator of the train would really be distracted by a little drone flying around above, let alone even see the drone in the first place.?? I would think the operator of the train would be more worried about something on the tracks ie: a car, or bus, some kind of automobile and or animal, rather than something such as a drone. Anyone out there hear of the really big crash that happened out in the suburbs of Chicago a year or two ago on North Ave (rt.64) where train tracks basically cross a 6 lane road in an X shape on a diagonal... anyone.... probably not... Well, this entire story, to me, has more to do with a revamped train that is supposedly an 'icon' that I've never heard of (no offense given, so please don't take it that way, I love trains, especially my old model train) that something may have caused such a miniscule amount of damage to, that it's not even worth noting. My point is this, had this train hit a car, or an animal on the tracks, I'm sure I would have never heard anything about this, and would know nothing about this 'icon' of a train all the way out here in the suburbs of Chicago. It's so sad that the media has chosen such a fun hobby to take advantage of, when there are 'Real-er' stories to be had that would probably do the public more good in the first place.
side note: If we really wanted to give the 'media' something to write about.. How about all of us hobbyist start a boycott on any and all media out there that try to make such a huge deal about this hobby, especially when it's something that happens so infrequently, and no harm/damage is done. You and I the consumer know, if the story isn't paid for, the 'media' will move on to something else that will pay. The media today, unfortunately, only really take note when the cash flow coming in slows down. =)
Second Side Note: Dang, that train should have made a left turn....