Cats may have nine lives, but a lucky dog who got loose on the tracks of a busy railroad has a quick-thinking NJ Transit conductor to thank for making a life-saving collar.

Conductor Howard Kempton stopped train traffic, got on the tracks and used his tie as a makeshift leash to rescue Shelby from Morris & Essex line tracks near South Orange station on Saturday. A passenger posted a photo of Kempton and the pooch on board the train and posted it to Instagram.

One commuter commenting on Facebook called it, "The one time (you) can't be mad at NJ Transit for being late."

The adventure unfurled after the crew of the westbound train from Penn Station was alerted that a dog was on the tracks around 1 p.m., near South Orange station, said Jim Smith, an NJ Transit spokesman.

The crew spotted the dog, called to have rail traffic stopped and Kempton got off the train. He sprinted after Shelby, and brought her on board to safety, Smith said.

A passenger on board the train called the phone number on an ID tag on the Shelby's collar and reached the owner, who said she'd meet the train at Summit, Smith said.

The train crew turned the dog over to Summit police at the station and the train -- as well as its hero conductor -- rode off into the sunset.

Shelby the dog got away from Judy Karamessinis Gunn after Shelby's leash broke while out on a walk in South Mountain Reservation.

"I looked for her for two hours before I got the call," she said, after NJ Transit posted a photo on Facebook. "You are heroes and I'm forever grateful."

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

