2014 Favorite Railroad Christmas Themed Stories

[samfp1943]

December 23,2014:    MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL

For the last several years Forum Members have shared their favorite Christmas Stories.

One that was presented several years back is "The Story of Shep"   A sort of qunticential bond between man and a dog.

See @ http://www.fortbenton.com/shep.html

"...
         During the summer of 1936 a sheepherder fell ill while tending his flock and was brought to the St. Clare Hospital in Fort Benton, Montana. A nondescript sheep dog had followed the herder into town and soon set up a vigil at the hospital's door. A kind hearted nun who ran the hospital kitchen fed the dog during those few days before the man died. The herder's family in the East requested that his body be sent back home..."[snip]

I was unable to find the original posting by the Forum member, the linked story tells the story,( not nearly as well as the original post)

Ed Blysard has a version of the' Night before Christmas' that is a fun read for a railfan.. I sure there must be some other Posters out there with their favorite railroad related Christmas stories. 

 

[edblysard]

Here ya go Sam,

 

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the yard,

 

All the switchmen were switching, some working quite hard.

 

The grips were all hung by the shanty with care,

 

In the hopes that a time slip would soon show up there.

 

The trainmasters were nestled, all snug in their beds,

 

While visions of test failures danced in their heads.

 

The hogger in his kerchief, and I in my cap,

 

Had just settled down for a sneakey quick nap.

 

When out in the yard there arose such a clatter,

 

I sprang from our motor to see "what's the matter?"

 

Away from the cab, I flew in a flash,

 

To line all the switches, and stop a bad crash.

 

The moon on the field of new-fallen snow

 

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

 

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

 

But a worn out SD40, dragging eight old reindeer.

 

Run by an old hogger, who looked like St. Nick,

 

I knew in a moment, I had to act quick.

 

At yard speed the 40 down my lead he now came,

 

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

 

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

 

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

 

"To the top of the yard, we'll cross over them all,

 

Now drag away drag away, drag away all!"

 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

 

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

 

So up to the top end the old 40 flew,

 

With a gon full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too!

 

And then in a twinkling, I heard an old horn,

 

Blowing for the brakes, soft and forlorn.

 

As I threw down my lantern and was turning around,

 

Down the old 40s steps the old hogger bound.

 

He was twitchy and wormy, from his head to his feet,

 

His yard list all folded and sorted, quite neat.

 

A bundle of time slips he had flung on his back,

 

He looked like a peddler opening his pack.

 

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

 

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

 

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

 

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

 

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

 

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

 

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

 

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

 

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

 

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

 

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

 

He filled all those grips, then turned with a jerk,

 

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

 

And giving a nod, to the seat box he rose,

 

He notched out his 40, to his team gave a whistle,

 

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

 

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

 

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

 

 

 

With sincere apologies to the Reverend Moore...

 

[zardoz]

It just didn't feel quite like Christmas around here until we got Ed's story.

Definitely a classic!

[tree68]

zardoz

It just didn't feel quite like Christmas around here until we got Ed's story.

Definitely a classic! 

Amen to that.

[jeffhergert]

I received this in an e-mail a few years ago.  It's made the rounds of bulletin boards, along with a few other railroad versions of classic stories.  (I wish I still had, or could find if I do, the story of "How the Railroad Grinch stole Christmas.")

It's not quite as touching a story as Ed's, but here it is. 

You've been warned.

 

A RAILROADER'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS-author unknown by me.

T'was the night before Christmas back in "03

and no one was working 'cept losers like me.

 

Departing the depot my conductor and I,

fighting fatigue on another red-eye.

 

My conductor and I both dreading the hell

of yet one more holiday at the hotel.

 

Not ten miles out as we went through the night,

a feeling upon us that something's not right.

 

We should have a clear... this signal was flashin'...

an approach came next as is usually the fashion.

 

Then what to my sleep deprived eyes should appear,

a dark signal and fusee with officers near.

 

We started to slow when I said with a sigh,

"I really am tempted to just blow on by."

 

But rather than take thirty days of vacation,

we settled ourselves for this sad situation.

 

Three "wise men" climbed on as we looked to see

a Tranmaster, a Supt-Ops and an RFE.

 

They said 'tis the season for family and resting,

we thought it was a really nice night for some testing.

 

We wish a safe holiday for both of you

but we found an exception, so here's a level two.

 

We looked at your work sheet and it's as we like,

but you misspelled a word here, so here's one more strike.

 

You set nineteen pounds here instead of twenty,

so here is one more... don't worry, there's plenty.

 

We know it's the eve of the birth of your Savior,

but feel that we simply must change your behavior.

 

Christ died on the cross as a way to atone us,

but we are concerned for the size of our bonus.

 

We'd like to say thanks guys for taking this run,

oh, here's one more strike just in case we missed one.

 

They made us sign papers and said nothing more,

and one cut a fart as they went out the door.

 

We sat there a moment, my conductor still sighing,

I started to laugh, it was that or start crying.

 

I said to myself, "This time of the season,

we forgive all men for whatever the reason.

 

It's just their job what these officers do,

for deep down insided they are like me and you.

 

This feeling of love is what Christmas is about."

I opened my window and stuck my head out.

 

I heard one exclaim as they left in the night,

"Here's one more level for a burned out ditch light!" 

 

Apologies to everyone.

Jeff 

 

 

[samfp1943]

tree68

 

zardoz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It just didn't feel quite like Christmas around here until we got Ed's story.

Definitely a classic! 

 

 

 

Amen to that.

 

To what Larry, Tree68, and Zardoz said ,

I'd add a hearty HUZZAH ! and

Thanks to Jeff Hergert for sharing his "Railroad Grinch(s?) Story", and of course to Houston Ed !     I wish I could find the original version of what was posted here by (Canadian Pacific____(?)  I could never tell it like he did...

 This is a special season and traitional tales are a part of that,IMHO.               I hope eveyone had the Christamas Ceebratin that they wanted to have, and returned home from where ever they were safely. 

NOW to have the Safest of New Years, for you all !