Tell me bout the good ol' days!!

[Anonymous]

Hi people! We seem to get kinda tied up in all the serious stuff near and around our daily lives. Well lets change the pace. I and hopefully all of you heard, read or experenced a story that NEEDS to be told. If you have an upbeat story or a funny story please pass it along for all of our friends here at trains.com to enjoy.
Thanks and have fun!!
Icemanmike-Milwaukee

[wabash1]

i would but having fun railraoding is against the rules now-a-days...

[Mookie]

you mean like the old-time engineer that bought himself a rather large diamond ring and then cut a hole in the finger of his glove, so all could see it!

[Anonymous]

Hey anything that gets a chuckle is good for me!
Icemanmike-Milwaukee

[BRAKIE]

When I worked on the PRR we had this rear brakeman that was quite the joker.There was this one Irish conductor that always wore a Derby hat.
So John((not his real name) the joker went out and bought a old Derby hat and put it in his grip waiting for the conductor to remove his derby like he always did before he ate his lunch.John got the attention of the conductor by pointing to something outside,he quickly change derbys while the conductor was looking out the window,after the conductor went back to eating his lunch,John picks up the derby walks to the rear door of the caboose and toss the derby out the door! Turn and looked at the coductor smile and said I hate derby hats! The conductor jumps up and applies the emergency brakes to stop the train so he could ran back and get his derby,John says in a clam voice what did you do that for? The conductor replied you threw me derby out the door and I'll be wanting it back my laddie,John looks at him and said why you crazy Irish man there is your derby on the table where you put it!(John replaced the derby while the conductor was standing and looking out the door) That was my derby I threw out the door.The conductor looked and saw his derby and said Laddie,I be seeing you pick up me derby and toss it out.John says how can that be when yours is still on the table? With that the conductor walk over,put on his derby and resummed eating his lunch mumbling something about rear brakeman.

[Anonymous]

Well Im glad he dident throw the brakeman overboard!!

[Mookie]

ok - my last one: small town, daytime to boot, train blocking a crossing - switching an elevator.
Automobiles lined up on both sides. Deputy sheriff pulls up at end of line, in a big hurry, so pulls around the line of cars and runs right into the side of the train. No word on injury of officer, but sure stunned the train crew! Bet they are still telling their grandkids about that one!

[Anonymous]

We once had a brakeman who was a pretty good ventriloquist, in fact, he could sound just like the radio speaker in a GP9. I'll not use real names because some of the people are still employed. When he was up to something, usually with an engineer or conductor who didn't know him, you hear, "First District Dispatcher calling Johnsonville Turn, Over," sssshhhrrrk (radio static sound). The conductor or engineer would answer, Johnsonville Turn answering, Over," sssshhhrrrk. Then there was dead silence. "First District Dispatcher calling Johnsonville Turn, Over," sssshhhrrrk. Again the conductor or engineer would answer, but no response. He would repeat this until the conductor was frustrated and follwing rules, he had to stop at a line side phone. The conductor would come back mumbling, "That @@#$&&$~~~dispatcher didn't want us, but I know I heard him." Ten minutes later, "First District Dispatcher calling Johnsonville Turn, Over", sssshhhrrrk!
This guy could also chirp like a cricket and you'd swear there was one in the cab with you.
In keeping with the adage that payback is Hell, on a later trip, the conductor brought four windup alarm clocks, set to alarm in 30-minute intervals, beginning 3 hours into rest. He sneaked into the brakeman's room and hid them under the bed, behind a chair, etc.
Regards and have a safe day! gdc

[Anonymous]

Ten or so years ago we still ran with full crews. Engineer, conductor, and two brakeman. I was the young man (least seniority) on a job that would take a train south one night, tie up, and take another north the next night. On the return trip we would pass through the town where the other brakeman and I lived, about 20 miles from our final trminal. If we didn't have any work when we arrived at our final terminal the conductor would let one of us get off here. Well the other brakeman got to do this last trip a figured (I guess) since he was senior to me, he could do it again this trip. He packed his stuff and went up to the lead unit to make his request to the conductor. He came back, picked up his stuff and headed out for his half mile walk home.
"I figured it would be your turn tonight." the conductor asked as we left town. "How come your smiling?"
"I'd like to see his face when he gets home and finds the tie plate and knuckle pin I hid in his backpack." I said. Slofr8.

[Anonymous]

Once it gets entered into a railroad ledger it becomes law! An Irishmen by the name of Danny Corigan came across the pond and got a job as a Gandy Dancer on the Chicago Milaukee St. Paul and Pacific railroad in Oglesby Ill. After the first week of work Danny and his fellow Irish crew decided to go to a tavern and celibrate Danny's arrivale to the new world. Trouble started when the pay master at the local train station noticed that Danny did not sign his full name into the ledger when he got his first week of pay. He signed it "Danny" with no last name. The railroad pay Clerk decided that this will not due. He sent a small boy to find Danny and get his last name. By this time Danny was so drunk he had passed out in the corner of the bar. The small boy entered the Bar (Balconi's Tap) and asked the bartender were Danny was for he needed to get his last name. The bartender responded "Danny full of whiskey". The small boy ran back to the train station and repeated what was told to him, Danny full of whiskey. The rail clerk wanting to make things right filled out the ledger "Danny Phulawhiskey". There are several Phulawhiskey's still residing in Illinios today.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

About 20 years ago, as a teenage railfan in Battle creek, Michigan, I would spend untold hours downtown with my favorite pastime. The Grand Trunk Western R.R. Many a summers day was spent down at the shops, or the yard. I had made friends with the third-trick yard crew at the east end one summer, and pretty much had the run of the place. The regular engineer on that job was an oldtimer named Ackerman. I would arrive at the east tower about 1:00 am, and the crew would be at the table playing euchre until the yardmaster had their chores figured out. Not Ackerman though, he would be asleep on an old desk every time I was there. Once activity would commence, I was usually offered a cab ride. On one such night, we had an old Alco S-4. I believe it was the 8034. Anyway, we had completed a few moves, and then had to go down "long" to get a cut of cars in the middle of the yard. We had no more than made the joint, and started pulling, when our progress was gradually halted, and we started moving BACKWARDS! It seems that the "west-end" job had coupled up to the same string we had at the same time. My guess is that the west end had a GP-9, because we couldn't out-pull them. After cruising halfway down the yard, I asked Ackerman if he wanted me to go out and pull the pin. He said no, we'll just take the ride. I then reminded him that the yardmasters office was at the west end, and it might be best for both of us if we cut off. He agreed, and after going out on the deck, signaling for slack, I pulled the pin. We made our way back to the east end without our cut of cars, but like Ackerman said, "It all pays the same". Words of wisdom indeed.
Todd C.

[Anonymous]

These are great stories!! Keep em' coming!!
Icemanmike-Milwaukee

[Anonymous]

Mike, I don't suppose you are on the staff of Kalmbach, are you? I have had a short story published recently, (in Trains), and am just wondering if you are "fishing" for more material. I usually go through Bob McGonigal for this stuff.
W.Todd Cline

[Anonymous]

Well at least you got the right state. Naw..Although that would be a dream job!!!
Icemanmike-Milwaukee

[Anonymous]

It seems as though the incompetence of law-enforcement officials ( i.e. The Gestapo) in this country, (i.e New Deutchland) is rampant north to south and east to west. I guess I can laugh at that one though, it wasn't part of my 35,ooo tax money he crashed. So HA HA HA HA