Special Relativity question (from non-physicist)

I took a course in special relativity as an undergrad, but am now almost 6 years removed from it and have not retained much of the info.

Let me pose a scenario I came up with that is a modification of a problem discussed in that class:

Suppose there is a train moving at some fraction of the speed of light relative to an observer outside the train. There is a light source at either end of the train set to emit a single photon on separate timers. They are set to emit photons at the same clock time as perceived by an observer in the train.

The observer waits in the middle of the train. He's a sad guy, so he's decided to potentially give his life to science in a grandiose experiment in collusion with the savvy non-exploding stationary observer. (He's constructed a device that will detonate a bomb if it detects the photons arriving at the same time.)

I have two questions:
1) Do the photons arrive at the same time as perceived by the observer in the middle of the moving train? How about the stationary observer? (in other words, does the bomb detonate?)
2) Related to question #1: would the stationary observer who sees the train explode/not explode scratch his head at the outcome of their little experiment? [ie - would he observe a seemingly contradictory event prior to the train exploding/not exploding]

If the answer to #2 is yes ... then I am deeply troubled.

 

what i think happens:

the observer in the train sees that the timers on the lights are synchronized. they are equidistant from the center of the train. the photons are emitted at the same time and arrive at the center of the train at the same time. train goes boom.

the stationary observer sees that the timers on the lights are not synchronized. he sees the timer on the front of the ship is slower than the one on the rear of the ship. the lights are equidistant from the center of the train, although the distance is different to him than to the observer in the train due to length contraction. the photons are emitted at different times, travel an equal distance, and do not arrive at the center of the train at the same time. but, he still sees the train explode.

simultaneity is relative. ok, that's great and all. but the stationary observer still saw the train explode. metaphorically, his models of the universe are based on observed events which are not the true event. since the train exploded, i consider that to be a true event and that the photons truly must have arrived at the same time. if the stationary observer knows this ahead of time, he can deduce relativity and correct for its effects in his observations. if he does not, as would be the case when observing most astronomical events, then he cannot hope to come up with a model consistent with the true events.

i explained the last paragraph poorly. i'm in a rush right now, and i will return later this evening hopefully after gathering more thoughts on the problem.