Those were called "Torpedos".When a train would stop in dark territory,the rear brakeman would go back 2 miles and strap them to the track to warn approaching trains of a "train ahead".They contain gunpowder and would explode under the compression from the wheel of the locomotive.They have been done away with, as today's cabs are so insulated they wouldn't be heard.
Your lucky someone didn't get hurt.A four foot piece of rail is at least 110 pounds.
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