This is for Soo Blue

[Mookie]

Hi Soo: Since you asked, I got some stories for you this weekend. I will post them one at a time, since it takes so long and I don't want to irritate the rest of the forum. But he has some good ones.

He didn't know about the engine in Iowa, since he did all his work west of Omaha. But he did tell me, and forgive me if I didn't write it down correctly, but he said he hand-fired the old CB&Q K-10's on 80 pound steel. They were I think a 2-6-4 (like a lot of engineers, he didn't go by the number of drive wheels and trucks - so I taught him something.) This was around the Burwell, Sargent and Red Cloud areas in Nebraska. And I believe the old CB&Q ran Baldwins.

The engine they had a few years ago at Pioneer Village in Minden NE - was one he used to work on.
He showed the owner, Harold Warp, how he used to hand-fire it and how you would brace yourself and use the rhythm of the engine to help you scoop and shovel.

He said they had the 6300's on the Ravenna NE line only - they were considered Mountain Grades.

The 5600's were Hastings NE area. They had aluminum side rods and bearings and ran fast, but didn't pull well. Very light engines.

He also was a fireman and then engineer on the 9908 and 9909 Budd Zephyrs - I do remember they went thru Lincoln.

And I confirmed the one that pigs fly and they are purple and green - he said the old steam engines would hit a hog and since they are so low to the ground, they COULD and WOULD derail an engine. Cows, deer, all the rest would just splatter, but Hogs were very dangerous.

So there!

More to come as I have time....

Jen

[sooblue]

That's great Jen,Thanks
I love those stories. there so full of information some of which contains the old head secret stuff. Like:
>how you would brace yourself and use the rhythm >of the engine to help you scoop and shovel.

And WHO would have thought that a pig could down a locomotive? *lol*
Your dad's way cool.
Sooblue

[Anonymous]

Hey Jen, I love these stories. (You should write a book.) I was just wondering, you mentioned he fired these engines by hand. When he was not shoveling was he responcible for other chores?
TIM A

[JoeKoh]

thanks for sharing jen.
stay safe
joe

[wabash1]

Jen great story. and out of the things i have hit out here a pig was the worst on a dash 9 you feel it. its a hard impact. keep the stories comming

[Mookie]

I think so!

Jen

[Mookie]

Tim - when he was not shoveling, he did everything else that the fireman did. I am not sure what all that entailed, but those were the only two jobs he ever held on the railroad.

His Dad was a fireman and then an engineer, so he grew up with it too. He actually didn't go into it because of any great love, he just did it because it was something he knew a little about and the pay was better than most jobs. What he really wanted to be was a bootlegger! He was a golden gloves boxer for awhile, too - nothing spectacular, but he could hold his own in a fight.

But above all, he was a very gentle person and would really go out of his way to train the newbies and explain it until they got it down.

And everyone on the railroad respected him - and I didn't get it from him - he would never say that - but they did.

Jen

[Mookie]

ppsst Wabash - clue in Ed from Houston - he thinks my pigs have wings...

Jen

[edblysard]

Joe, your address keeps coming back as undeliverable. Write me, if inclined.
go to
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/renaissance-man
Dont know if its the server I use or what, but keep gettin the message error in delivery.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[JoeKoh]

we'll try
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

You should write these stories in a book, Jenny. Keep 'em coming. I like them!
Ken

[wabash1]

Jenny

I can tell you never worked with a switch man forman conductor trainman. ( they give them all these names to make then seem more important) why do i say this you ask. have you ever tried telling them something. Ok Ill try.

Ed the pigs that jenny have dont fly. if they did i would wear a hard hat. the kind she has goes besides your eggs in the morning. ( at least parts of them)..

[wabash1]

Ed so most people wont think we are fighting and for what they would wonder. You and i know that this is railroad play. this is a everyday thing engineers do with ground people and like wise back. I sure hope it will be several years before you go to engine service. then we will haft to find someone else to pick on.

[edblysard]

j,
Ask jenny is she knows if your locomotive has a pilot, and where to find it.
And they gave us all those names because they cant say "hey, ***hole" on the radio.
And yo mean jennys never seen a pig fly?
Shame, its fun to watch, they just cant land for crud.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

With the ways its going down here, I dont think I will ever make it to the seatbox, but yeah, its just playing. Of course, if your not paying attention, cutting out one of the traction motors can pester a hogger too!
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

Jen,
You promised us more stories.

TIM A

[Mookie]

OK Tim - but just remember you asked! I only spent a few hours with the "old engineer" but still have a couple.

Will try to keep them accurate and short.

Engineer - diesel - down tracks about 60mph. Guy sitting in car on tracks right in middle of crossing - has girlfriend in car with him and SHE is on the train side. They get so close they can see details and sure they would cream them - the guy starts the car, waves and drives off the tracks.

Switching an elevator in small town Nebraska. Have several crossings blocked. Daytime. Line of cars waiting. State trooper pulls up behind line of cars, gets impatient, turns on lights and drives around the line of cars into the side of the train. Wrecked car, didn't damage trooper - no explanation as to why. Have told this one before, but it puts me on the floor every time!

Saw a pickup truck traveling parallel with train. Told fireman "you watch, he is going to try to beat us to xing." Sure enough - hit front of pickup with first motor, and back of pickup with 2nd motor. Thought he was dead. Found him walking around holding his elbow. He injured his elbow only.

Another favorite - had an adult bull on tracks. As most animals - they run down the tracks instead of getting off. Hit him right square in the backside and flipped him off tracks (unlike pigs with or without eggs). Went into emergency. Told conductor about it and to look for dead bull in weeds so they could make a report.

Conductor found bull and last seen was running like mad to get away from bull. See how you can be an engineer and innocently still get back at a conductor!

One I told earlier - small town NE again - switching another elevator. Crossing blocked. Had flagman at crossing with lantern. Old car, old couple. Won't stop - flagman jumped on running board to get them to stop - and then evidently threw his lantern at windshield to get them to stop. Jumped at last minute and they ran right into the side of the train. Suicide by train I guess.

600 hp diesel - small engine - switching south Nebraska area - hilly. Cars not tied down as they should have been - so they start pushing the engine down the hill. Sez he burnt the brake shoes off trying to get it stopped. Figured it was time to meet the maker, since he was going to go out onto the mainline and there was a fast freight due. So just kept hanging on and wondering where this would end up. Finally, the downgrade stopped and started up another grade and he was able to get everything stopped. I don't think he reported it, but also don't think he forgave the people involved.

And of course, the one I told not so long ago but if you missed it - the conductor in the caboose - cooking in his favorite stew pot. Derail and cars mangled the caboose. Engineer thought he had lost a good conductor and friend. Dug thru all the debris and found conductor injured, but yelling about his favorite stew pot! Had to find that stew pot! So they all survived, found the stew pot and had more delicious stews and soups!

Will go try to get some more in a few weeks! It would be far more interesting if he could tell them - he is a great storyteller, as were so many of those old heads!

Jen

[JoeKoh]

thanks for the stories jen
stay safe
joe and matt