I can remember part of that day, a Saturday. My parents and I (sixteen at the time) were camping at a county park about half way between Marengo and Blairstown, IA. In the early evening we drove into Marengo and went to the local ice cream shop, got some treats. Marengo was on the Rock Island's Chicago - Denver main line, Iowa Interstate runs here now.
When we were leaving, a westbound RI train pulled into the siding to let the hot autoparts train, 57's extra go by. Once it was by, the train backed out of the siding, pulled down the main to the crossing we were at and stopped. All four crew members were on the head end, got off and started walking down the street to the ice cream shop to get sandwiches. My father suggested that I ask if they would like a ride, it being about a quarter mile walk and we had a Chevy Suburban. They readily accepted the ride. We took them down, waited for them to finish eating inside, then took them back. They were surprised that we had waited for them.
Once back to the train, one of the crewmembers came back and asked if I would like to ride the engine with them to Grinnell, IA. Of course I would! My father was a bit worried about the gas tank since it was getting around 9PM and 24 hour convience stores weren't around back then in our area. So it was decided that I could ride with them to Victor, IA. As I was getting on the engine, my mom came over and asked if she could ride along also. They gladly let her ride too.
The engineer got us going and once the rear end crew was on, up to track speed, about 40mph. He had me sit at the controls while he stood next to me. I never had to touch them, but did get to blow the whistle for the crossings. He told me not to worry, that the ride might be a bit rough in spots. I remember thinking he should tell that to my mom. I still remember the slight rocking motion, how it would smooth out going over crossings.
It being dark by now, the green block signals would come into sight and then go past. US highway 6 paralleled the tracks. The highway deck on the overpass between Ladora and Victor was being repaired and remember seeing my dad go over as we went under. It was about that time the engineer said, "I'd better take over and slow this puppy down." As I watched him work the controls, the head brakeman offered me a few souveniors. One was a copy of the recently out dated employee time table and a diesel trouble shooters guide. I already had a copy of the time table, I even had a copy of the current time table. I thanked him and accepted the trouble shooting guide, which I still have.
We stopped at Victor at the west crossing and got off. We said our goodbyes and our many thanks. We watched the train by and waved a big thank you to the rear end crew, then returned to the campground.
It was less than a year that the Rock Island shut down. Within a few years both of my parents were gone too. Every June 30th my mind goes back to that night. In 1989, the 10th anniversary of the ride I drove US 6 at about the same time of night, remembering the ride. I work for the UP now and riding trains is part of my job. But if you ask me which ride I remember the most, it was on a RI U-boat, with my mom along for the ride back on summer's night in 1979.
Jeff
Great story, Jeff. I wish I had a similar one (sigh).
About that same time period, I was still single, 25, and enjoying walks along the old MILW ROW through NE Cedar Rapids, from where I-380 now goes through all the way west to where it crossed the Cedar River.
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
That is a great story. Isnt it interesting how certain events on dates are forever forged in our minds?
I cannot tell you where I was 30 years ago on June 30, 1979. Ask me next year and I will be able to tell you. In 1980 I began keeping a diary and am now on Volume 30. Nearly every day of the past 30 years are recorded. Those 30 books are my most prized possession. I am writing in it now (write a little, type a little on this).
ed
Many of my July 4ths were spent on the west coast, traveling both ways from the New York, Boston, or Chicago area to one or more professional conventions. If I could swing it, I would travel by train, one way or even both ways. And when I could, I would route myself via Denver to visit my sister Lilian, other relatives, and friends. And use the Rio Grande Zepher as part of the expense account trip. Often this was combined with specific professional services in Salt Lake City or Provo, making use of the RGZ even more practical. Altogether, counting Amtrak and the last RGZ trips aborted to Grand Junction because of the Thistle event, and previous trips on the "real" CZ, I traveled the route 33 times. I could easily have been on the RGZ on this date if it was a Thursday, Saturday, or Monday, or on a connecting train.
I know I was in Princeton , Indiana and more than likely catching an afternoon caboose ride on a Southern RWY from Hall St to Hart street just out side the Princeton yard . I did this as often as I could for a couple of years in the late 70's .
Great story Jeff, On that date in Germany on my 2nd tour, I spent alot of tim,e at the local bahnhof ( train station) and I met a group of german railfans and we were spending the day train watching waiting for the noon ICE train to come thru. I remember that we got to know the tower operator and I got a lot of photos from there. Again thanks Jeff for sharing your story I just relized I just went over 400 posts. Time flies when you have this much fun Larry
In the Weber Canyon stalking double diesels, last time I saw the DD35 model in service now that I reflect back on it, the safari consumed the months of July and August with visits to Soldier Summit, Helper, Moffit Tunnel and Sherman Hill.
I do miss those carefree pre-wife and miltary service days, I too miss the variety that existed at that time. Now where did I put my leisure suit.
Dave
Interesting story !! I know where I was June 30th, 1967, as that was the big "June thirtieth storm" here in Minnesota. I was with my sister and her boyfriend, we ended up getting stuck in his car in our driveway - we couldn't get to the house due to the hail and high winds. IIRC my parents were at a funeral chapel in Minneapolis getting things prepared for my grandfather's funeral the next day when the power went out.
Anyway, I do have journals going back to 1977 so I probably could work out what I was doing around that time...in general I had just finished my second year at Normandale Community College, the next fall I would be going to the University of Minnesota.
Back then the Prairie Home Companion used to come out the Normandale campus every June for a live show, it might have been that Saturday (June 30 1979). I know I went to both the 1978 and 1979 shows. Back then that was a big "road trip" for PHC that usually broadcast from downtown St.Paul, about 15 mi. away.
It was a very different show back then, primarily bluegrass and old-time folk music, with the Powdermilk Bisquit Band (Adam Granger, Fiddlin' Mary DuChesne, Peter Ostrushko and Gordy Abel) as the house band. No electric instruments or horns. Garrison Keillor had a black "ZZ Top" style beard and wore a white suit and white Panama hat. The opening song was always Hank Snow's "Hello Love" and the closing was often "When the War Starts Down in Mexico (I'm Going to Canada)".
I liked what you wrote. As for me I had taken a walk around Lake of the Isles in South Minneapolis and was hoping to see Milwaukee Road train 201 which would pass the James Avenue crossing around 11:30 AM give or take a couple of hours as was Milwaukee's time keeping in 1979. Milwaukee was a transcon then still hauling containers and piggybacks and autoracks in addition to boxcars ete. It would look as classy as any train the BN ran out of Northtown. Four SD-40-2's would be the power. I would schedule my walk so I would see this train hopefully. I was in luck that day.
Sadly 1979 was a very sad year for the Milwaukee. Later that year I would start to see the Milwaukee come home from the Coast. October and November of that year saw extra trains doing that. Milwaukee would no longer be a transcon in 1980. Milwaukee trains no longer carried containers or pigs west of the Twin Cities. I also had to watch the C&NW downgrade the M&StL mainline and the end of the Rock Island. Today I watch BNSF out of Northtown, however I never will forget the memories. My walks around Lake of the Isles no longer include the Milwaukee Road.
Unfortunately I was in John Muir hospital (Walnut Creek, CA) after being T-boned on my Harley by some red-lighter just before lunch.....guess he was late.
My friends and I had, however, recently been up and down Niles Canyon through tunnel 1 on the WP to catch glimpes of the "Final Four". We could usually be found anywhere from Jack London Square to Stockton on the first sub chasing something...even if it turned out to be the dreaded Espee. (Read: SP was everywhere, how could we have known the mighty Espee would be gobbled up, WP was on the verge and everybody knew it)
WP Lives
Working for the SP in West Oakland, CA. on midnights, since I had virtually no seniority at the time.
I was in Flagstaff, Arizona watching hot and cold Santa Fe trains roll through. My son Justin would be born in a month so the wife and I were staying close to home.
Ed
Walking the tracks from Auburn University out to the mall.
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