Your most interesting story or radio conversation?

[Anonymous]

Hi All,
I know many railfans like myself use radio scanners. Some of us are even lucky enough to have chatted with railroaders, or have friends that are railroaders. Some forum members are bona fide railroaders.[:D]

Here is the topic of the thread:
What is the most interesting story you have been told by a railroader, the most interesting radio conversation you have heard on the scanner, or the most interesting story you have ever told as a railroader?

My entry is detailed below. I heard this on my scanner a couple of summers ago, around 11:00pm.

Admiral

Crew: beeeeeeep-boop(call tones)

Dispatcher: {TD3-Troy, go ahead}

Crew: Ah, TD3-Troy, um, this is 700, ah, we're ah, we're in emergency at Andersonville......we ah, we hit something, ah I think it was a propane bottle, and ah, it blew up.

Dispatcher: {700, are you guys all right?}

Crew: Ah, yeah TD3-Troy, we're OK, just a little shook up, um, we need the fire department, there's a grass fire goin'.

Dispatcher: {OK 700, I'l call the firemen right now, are you sure you guys are OK, no injuries?}

Crew: Um, no injuries, like I said, we're just shook up a little. Tommy is checkin' on the damage.

Dispatcher: {OK 700, you said it was a propane tank?}

Crew: Ah, yeah TD3-Troy, it looked like one of those hundred-pounders they use for the switch heaters....we had just come around the curve after Andersonville Road, and there it was....somebody put it right in between the tracks....Tommy saw it first and hollered for me to shoot' em. I was dumpin' air before I even knew what was going on.....then this big flash and a boom. Ah, hang on TD3-Troy, Tommy's callin' me.
Ah TD3-Troy, Tommy says it doesn't look to bad. He says the track looks OK. Some damage to the lead unit. We lost a ditch light, and the plows bent up, and the paint's singed a little bit, but that's about it. The other unit looks OK. All in all, not too bad.

Dispatcher: {OK 700, the firemen are on the way. I'm putting in a call to the boss. You guys sit tight and try to relax.}

Crew: Ah, OK, TD3-Troy, we'll try.

[Anonymous]

I think I would have to clean up after that one!!!!!!!!!!

[kwboehm]

It was just after midnight after Christmas, 2002 (0008 hrs, 12-26-2002) and I'm working for the Sheriff's Office. The night is pretty dead up until then. Then my radio pipes up....

Disp: Plattsmouth 92017
Me: Go ahead
Disp: Check the area of 4th St. and the railroad tracks in Greenwood. received a report of a car on the tracks at that location. We're attempting to contact Burlington Northern at this time.
I tell them 10-4 and start that way. As I get going, I look down at my clock in the patrol car...0010hrs. I think to myself, "Amtrak usually goes blowing through there at 79 (I've clocked them faster) about now. I grab the radio...
Me: 92017 Plattsmouth...you better get a hold of BNSF really quick...I think Amtrak should be going through there any time, also check with State Patrol to see if they have anyone closer. (I was about 15-20 miles out)
While en route I hear State Patrol pipe up, "I'm alongside Amtrak right now and we're going through Ashland" (about 7 miles from my call) About then dispatch calls me on the radio...
Disp: Plattsmouth 92017...just had contact with the railroad...they advised that Amtrak is going through Ashland area and are unsure if they can get stopped in time.
At this point I was wishing I knew their frequency so I could at least hear what was going on on the RR side thru my scanner (I since found out that info). About 8 minutes after the initial dispatch I slide up to the scene, realized I'm parked a little closer than I want to, so I back up and park on the train side of the car (for obvious reasons) and set my in-car camera to record. I look down and the train is about a mile away, which gave me enough time to run up to the car to make sure no one is still inside drunk & passed out, which there was not. About then the trooper that was only half the distance away finally shows up and starts yelling at everyone to get away from the tracks. So I'm thinking, "Oh boy, this is gonna be cool to watch". He too has positioned his patrol car to get a good angle with his camera. The gates go as I head for cover and i take one quick look and the train looks like it's a ways form the crossing, so i thought he was still coming at a pretty good. I see it as it crosses the road before our, and he's at a crawl. He dims his lights and stops about a block short of the car...disaster averted.
Turns out the driver was not drunk, but had missed a curve just before the grade crossing, causing him to attempt to cross the tracks at a less-than-desirable location. He made it across the grain elevator spur and the 1st main, but was caught between the two mains. It's not the first accident of that sort that I've been to at that location...just the only one with a train barreling down on it, and so far the only one not aided by alcohol or other substances. (I know kind of a blah ending, but was one hell of an adrenaline rush at the time.)

[bnsfkline]

My most intresting story wasChasing BNSF 9666 and 9667 and my transmission going out....

[JoeKoh]

kwboehm
no one was hurt. thank you.
stay safe
Joe

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm

It was just after midnight after Christmas, 2002 (0008 hrs, 12-26-2002) and I'm working for the Sheriff's Office. The night is pretty dead up until then. Then my radio pipes up....

Disp: Plattsmouth 92017
Me: Go ahead
Disp: Check the area of 4th St. and the railroad tracks in Greenwood. received a report of a car on the tracks at that location. We're attempting to contact Burlington Northern at this time.
I tell them 10-4 and start that way. As I get going, I look down at my clock in the patrol car...0010hrs. I think to myself, "Amtrak usually goes blowing through there at 79 (I've clocked them faster) about now. I grab the radio...
Me: 92017 Plattsmouth...you better get a hold of BNSF really quick...I think Amtrak should be going through there any time, also check with State Patrol to see if they have anyone closer. (I was about 15-20 miles out)
While en route I hear State Patrol pipe up, "I'm alongside Amtrak right now and we're going through Ashland" (about 7 miles from my call) About then dispatch calls me on the radio...
Disp: Plattsmouth 92017...just had contact with the railroad...they advised that Amtrak is going through Ashland area and are unsure if they can get stopped in time.
At this point I was wishing I knew their frequency so I could at least hear what was going on on the RR side thru my scanner (I since found out that info). About 8 minutes after the initial dispatch I slide up to the scene, realized I'm parked a little closer than I want to, so I back up and park on the train side of the car (for obvious reasons) and set my in-car camera to record. I look down and the train is about a mile away, which gave me enough time to run up to the car to make sure no one is still inside drunk & passed out, which there was not. About then the trooper that was only half the distance away finally shows up and starts yelling at everyone to get away from the tracks. So I'm thinking, "Oh boy, this is gonna be cool to watch". He too has positioned his patrol car to get a good angle with his camera. The gates go as I head for cover and i take one quick look and the train looks like it's a ways form the crossing, so i thought he was still coming at a pretty good. I see it as it crosses the road before our, and he's at a crawl. He dims his lights and stops about a block short of the car...disaster averted.
Turns out the driver was not drunk, but had missed a curve just before the grade crossing, causing him to attempt to cross the tracks at a less-than-desirable location. He made it across the grain elevator spur and the 1st main, but was caught between the two mains. It's not the first accident of that sort that I've been to at that location...just the only one with a train barreling down on it, and so far the only one not aided by alcohol or other substances. (I know kind of a blah ending, but was one hell of an adrenaline rush at the time.)

[;)] Mookie knows exactly where you are talking about! Are you dispatched thru Star City?

[kwboehm]

No, dispatched thru Plattsmouth. I only go as far west as Eagle & Greenwood & the new scales on I-80

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm

No, dispatched thru Plattsmouth. I only go as far west as Eagle & Greenwood & the new scales on I-80

[:o)] Mookie is SO excited, she can hardly stand it. We are practically neighbors! We are getting more Nebraska people on here all the time!

Come to Lincoln sometime and go to 1st and J. One of the nicer train watching spots! Look for only female in area, looking very subversive with binoculars and pen and paper...(but only on weekends)

Mookie! [:D]

[kwboehm]

How far is that from the Burlington Station downtown? I have a tendency to get a little turned around in downtown Lincoln. I know how the streets run as far as numbers and such, I'm just not too familiar with Lincoln. I think I have an idea of where you're talking about. Is it where all the lines from all directions come together to feed into the yards & Burlington Station? I think my buddy may have pointed that spot out to me as a good watching spot.

[bnsfkline]

Its not often we get a Die-hard Female Railfan...you are the only one I know Mookie...there should be an orginization called "National Womens Railfan Association" YOU should be president :) Just kidding

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsfkline

Its not often we get a Die-hard Female Railfan...you are the only one I know Mookie...there should be an orginization called "National Womens Railfan Association" YOU should be president :) Just kidding

Don't have to be president - currently Queen - and that is taller! [}:)]

Mook

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm

How far is that from the Burlington Station downtown? I have a tendency to get a little turned around in downtown Lincoln. I know how the streets run as far as numbers and such, I'm just not too familiar with Lincoln. I think I have an idea of where you're talking about. Is it where all the lines from all directions come together to feed into the yards & Burlington Station? I think my buddy may have pointed that spot out to me as a good watching spot.

Lincoln central is very simple - all names and alphabet run east/west, all #'s run north/south. Depot is on 7th and P. I can be found just south and west of there - over O street viaduct (main drag) down to 1st or even 2nd and south to J.

You are right - that is where a lot of tracks from both the yard and behind the depot all merge into just 6 sets and then branch out again according to what and where.

Sat and Sun mornings are great times to watch and according to my ears - all during the night - about 11 pm to 5 am. Someday will show up in jammies and fuzzies and cause a train wreck! Someday....

Jen

[kwboehm]

As of the 17th I'll have great viewing 24/7...from my front porch. SO I can already watch in my jammies and bunny slippers. As long as they don't screw up like they did there a few years ago...apparently someone missed a signal and they had a cornfielder right on the Main St. crossing (about 250 ft. from the soon-to-be-my porch). The local FD has a few pics of it. I remember one of the Sgts telling me of how she was doing reports at the FD when her typewriter started dancing across the table. She steps outside to check on the god-awful noise she was hearing and sees coal cars piling up on top of each other. I think the only injury was to the faulty engineer when he jumped from his train...broken leg I think. I heard the other crew rode it out & walked away.

[FJ and G]

Couple weeks ago talking w/female VRE conductor. She said most horrible trip was from DC to Florida on Amtrak. In southern Virginia, her train ran over a 12-year-old boy who had trespassed. She heard his screams as the wheels ran over him.

Also, she said her train hits a lot of deer and she recalls picking antlers out of coupler.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm

As of the 17th I'll have great viewing 24/7...from my front porch. SO I can already watch in my jammies and bunny slippers. As long as they don't screw up like they did there a few years ago...apparently someone missed a signal and they had a cornfielder right on the Main St. crossing (about 250 ft. from the soon-to-be-my porch). The local FD has a few pics of it. I remember one of the Sgts telling me of how she was doing reports at the FD when her typewriter started dancing across the table. She steps outside to check on the god-awful noise she was hearing and sees coal cars piling up on top of each other. I think the only injury was to the faulty engineer when he jumped from his train...broken leg I think. I heard the other crew rode it out & walked away.

[}:)] Ever had a Mookie on your front porch?

[kwboehm]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

[}:)] Ever had a Mookie on your front porch?

[tree68]

One of the CSX locals (trains, that is) was stopped in a small town for a snack break. It's a common practice, although coming across that crossing and catching the front of a loco out of the corner of your eye can give you a start... I pass the place daily to and from work.

I have been listening to the dispatcher on the scanner trying to raise the local, to no avail. There are a couple of through freights that will soon need to pass through the area, and the local is tying them up.

I turn around, stop at the convenience store. The crew was easy to pick out - the conductor was just sitting down, the engineer was still in line. I walk up to the conductor, ask him "Are you guys the (insert train designation - left out to protect the guilty)?" He admitted as much. "The dispatcher is looking for you. " The conductor checks his handheld, but I knew it wouldn't pick up the DS from there, hollers at the engineer. They hustled back to their train and called in as they pulled away. Small town back to normal...

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

[}:)] Ever had a Mookie on your front porch?

Can't say as I have.

The location from my last story is also where I arrested my 1st drunk driver. I was aimlessly wandering around town and I come up to the crossing with these 2 guys frantically waving me down. I also see this old Ford LTD / Crown Vic land yacht stuck in the ditch...right next to the mainline. I take a quick look and just as quickly make the observation that a train will not clear the vehicle. So I call dispatch to call the RR to close down the tracks until we get the obstruction cleared. Dispatch returns with some not-so-good news..."Railroad has been advised...however they have a train in the area and are unsure if they'll be able to get it stopped." Well, I continue dealing with the person that placed the vehicle where he did. Smelled nicely of Bud Light. Anyways, I just about get done making him do all the little doggie tricks, when I look to the west and see these headlights coming around the corner 1/2 mile away. About that time the lights & gates start going right behind me. You hear a nice loud, heart dropping into your stomach "OH S#!*" on my video camera. I start yelling at everyone to get awy from the tracks...after all that the train stops in the siding. The conductor of the train offered to move the vehicle for me...with the SD on the point. I kindly told him that was what I was trying to avoid. Tow truck showed up a short time later, moved the car, I got a DUI arrest and BNSF was quickly on the way w/in 15 minutes of pulling up..everyone was content.