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All during my high school years in the 60s, I wanted to be a brakeman and conductor. So after storming out of art school in the spring of '69, I hired out on the CNW's Wisconsin Division as a brakeman. Of course the goal was to get on the "scoots" because you could meet girls. Well...that was back in the old days. When you would stand in the rain waiting for to board the way car on the fly. Old heads could board at 20mph, but I was short and fat. After the conductor got the train stopped, and I picked up the remnants of my grip, I started to wonder about my railroad career. It took me 2 tries but I lasted through 3 railroads over the span of 30 years. Freight is brutal. Trainmasters can seem unreasonable. I never saw the image of David Morgan winking at me in the clouds. I found a great deal of satisfaction in commuter service, as the hours were predictable. I enjoyed through-passenger service as you can get good stories from your adventures. In the '60s and '70s the railroad world was still in the steam age only it was operated with diesels. I feel that railroading has become more demanding on one's time, and that things are a whole lot more complicated. It's not a fun place at all. You can't be worried about what the motive power consist is. Don't bring your camera to take a picture of a passing fan trip train. To sum it up...If you can play a perfect game of Simon Sez, for 12 hours straight, after starting at 2.30am, in a far off land, for 38 days in a row, you're in! <br /> <br />Mitch
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