It seemed a god idea at the time.

[BML]

Many many years ago I read a book and within it was a reference to a railwayman who had a foot missing. When asked how it had happened he replied. "I was working as a shunter directing waggons to different railway holding lines and one of the waggons was going just that little it further than it should past the pont where it should have stoped and I put my foot on the railway line to stop it." "Why did you do that?" someone asked. "Well, he replied, "It seemed a good idea at the time."
I can't remember who wrote the book.

[literary lew]

Hmmm. I wonder if that was Flannery O'Connor??? Rings a faint Flannery bell.

[BML]

It does indeed sound like Flannery O'Connor and the tip encouraged me to look through the few stories I have of her but I could not find what I'm looking for there.