For many years I lived close to the BN tracks in Minneapolis, using the locals and between yards shuttles as a personal free transportation system. These were smaller engines, probably around 1K horsepower. I had the occasion to cross through a stopped coal train late one autumn evening, climbing up the steps on the 6th of 6 3K horsepower units intending to just go down the steps on the opposite side. These trains were mile-long coal shipments from the Montana fields heading towards Chicago. Before I could get down the other side the engineer put the hammer down, loosing 18K horsepower all at once. I had to grab onto a railing to keep from being thrown off. There were just two blocks between the street where I was crossing and the next street where I could hop off and have a level concrete surface for landing rather than the rough, sloped embankment of the roadbed.
By the time I'd been on the train for those two blocks it was going fast enough that I had to hit the ground running in order to keep from going face first onto the street. The application of and feel of that much horsepower under my feet has left me with a lasting impression and kept kindled the desire to turn that handle and drive those engines down the track. Thunder in your hands........