The greatest train conductor to ever live is Vince Coleman, who sacrificed his life to send a telegram to an approaching train to prevent it from entering the blast zone in the 1917 Halifax explosion: the largest manmade (albeit accidental) explosion up to that point in history.

His last message: “Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbour making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Good-bye boys”