How to make railroaders happy

With all of the high security and paranoia following the attacks of 9/11, railroads have been mandated to implement security measures to prevent disasters. That has caused bumps in the road for those who like to take pictures as well as those who visit yards and repair facilities. While this has added to the “request for permission to enter” process, it has not deterred students of the industry – railfans -- from dropping in on facilities. Security concerns have not been a deterrent to the railroad restoration groups who kindly request a donation of materials to aid in their efforts. These donation requests can range from a brake shoe key all the way up to a locomotive.

To aid in your efforts in your endeavors in both situations, here are some hints and tips.

Situation No. 1

Railroad people enjoy what they do. Well, about 99 percent of us do anyway. We like it when someone waves to us as we ride past a grade crossing (something I found out that they do NOT do in Europe!). We are also proud of our shop facilities.

I was working at one facility when on a mid morning on a Saturday, a few fans showed up and asked for a tour. The gruffest of our mechanics was on duty, but he took them on an end-to-end tour. Curious to hear his presentation, I sort of strolled in to the end of this group and stayed in the background to hear what was being said. The mechanic was articulate, polite, and knowledgeable and answered all the questions posed, allowed photography, and even let the visitors into a locomotive cab. This may not happen at every facility, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for a look-see.

Suggestion No. 1

The group asked for permission and did not barge into the shop as if they owned the place. Manners count, even with the toughest of tour guides.

If you want to be welcomed back, and even if you don’t, offer to take a photo of your tour guide next to a locomotive, car, or some shop machinery. Get their name and address or email address and drop them a note of thanks along with the photo of them and the best photos you shot that day. We railroaders enjoy these and on numerous occasions, I have seen these photos on display on many a workbench or office wall.

Situation No. 2

As for requests for materials, we were rebuilding F40PH components for use on our Rail Polska affiliate in Poland. A locomotive restoration group asked for the donation of used batteries, which my boss, Ed Burkhardt, granted (Please, we are all out of materials for donation so don’t ask!). Two members of the restoration group arrived at the shop on a busy Saturday morning to pick up the donation. The shop staff was aware of the donation, and interrupted their locomotive repair work, hopped on to a forklift, and even selected the best batteries to load. They loaded the batteries onto a small trailer pulled by a pickup truck driven by one of the restorers, and Ed received a thank you note and a photograph of the units under restoration.

Suggestion No. 2

The restorers were happy, Ed Burkhardt was happy, but what of the fellows who took time out of a busy work day to load the batteries? They never were sent a small thank you note or a photo of the locomotives being restored. And those fellows who loaded the batteries voiced their opinions about not getting a photo. Had the restorers taken a few minutes to send a thank you note and a photo to the shop staff as well as the key executive, they would have been welcomed back time and again. Without a thank you note, the staff at the shop may not be so accommodating.

Situation No. 3

At Labor Day 2013, when the San Luis Central Railroad celebrated 100 years of continuous service, the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad lettered its Consolidation No. 18 as San Luis Central No. 1, our first and only steam locomotive, and operated a fan trip on the San Luis Central. The Saturday night before the trip, they staged the 2-8-0 in front of the San Luis Central’s combination office and executive bunkhouse.

Upon returning to the office at nightfall, the headlights on No. 18 were illuminated and there was a small flurry of activity around the engine consisting of fans taking night photos.

Now I need to say that when I am working in the field, I usually wear jeans and work boots, so I look like an average Joe. So when I asked one of the photographers “who turned on the turbo generator to light the head light?” I was given a terse answer and more or less told that this was a private event. So much for rank having its privileges!

Then another photographer approached me. He was a friendly fellow and was actually retired from BNSF. He introduced himself and asked if he could drive his car into the area to shine some back light on the locomotive, a request I immediately honored.

The next day we ran the trip and had a photo run by where I again met up with the retired railroader. I had offered him a ride on the trip the night before, but he had declined in favor of chasing the train. But at the photo stop, he asked if the offer was good for a cab ride. I paused, thought about my own experiences in my life, and immediately designated him as the official photographer of the San Luis Central which allowed him to ride in the cab with the steam crew and the San Luis Central pilot (yours truly!).

A week or so later, I received a thank you note from the gentleman and a CD of dozens of photographs he took that weekend.

Suggestion No. 3

Our faces may be dirty, we may look like jamokes, but “doing to others as you would have done to you” pays dividends. You never know who is who, so be respectful and polite.

Conclusion

We may not know how many C30-7 units were ever built or are still in service, but we like what we do, and we are a proud bunch. So always ask for permission to tour a shop or yard and not for forgiveness when you are found trespassing. Never enter railroad property acting like you own the place. If you ask for a donation and receive it, make sure you send a note of thanks to the executive as well as the fellows who assisted you in getting the donated items into your truck or trailer.

 And keep sending us those pictures!

Tom Tancula is vice president-mechanical for Rail World Inc., and general manager of the San Luis Central Railroad in Colorado.