Trains.com

KUDOS TO OUR OWN ED BLYSARD

2906 views
50 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 8:41 PM
Ed, more words of appreciation and admiration come from Pat, who just read it for herself yesterday.  She knows a little whereof you speak!

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,019 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, January 29, 2007 11:22 AM
Finally got to the post office for my copy (and the rest of the week's mail).  I can see myself making the same mistake in interpretation in my younger days.  Fortunately, as one gets older, one learns to find the easier way out.....

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Aurora, IL
  • 4,515 posts
Posted by eolafan on Monday, January 29, 2007 11:09 AM
 cherokee woman wrote:

Just finished reading Ed's story, Read the Rule" in the March 2007 TRAINS! 

Ed, that is one FANTASTIC story!!  I was riveted, and couldn't stop until I finished.  (That doesn't always happen with me.)  Sure do hope you contribute more stories like that one!!!

 

Sign - Ditto [#ditto]

Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, January 29, 2007 10:20 AM
Very well written, Ed.  It reminds me of summer jobs during my college days when the old-timers watched all of us kids doing everything the hard way.
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Northern Florida
  • 1,429 posts
Posted by SALfan on Saturday, January 27, 2007 6:56 PM
Nice work, Ed.  Please do more stories in the future.  And, if you do put together a book I want a copy.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Rock Springs Wy.
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by miniwyo on Saturday, January 27, 2007 11:20 AM
Excelent story ED!  Way to go!!

RJ

"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling

http://sweetwater-photography.com/

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: The Beautiful North Georgia Mountians
  • 2,362 posts
Posted by Railfan1 on Saturday, January 27, 2007 4:51 AM

Another moral to the story:Read between the lines.

"It's a great day to be alive" "Of all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, It might have been......"
  • Member since
    May 2015
  • 5,134 posts
Posted by ericsp on Saturday, January 27, 2007 2:46 AM

Nice story. So I guess the moral is, if you think you are about to die and want to continue working for the railroad after you are dead, make sure you cross the property line before dying.

By the way what is your favorite flavor?


"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • 1,432 posts
Posted by Limitedclear on Friday, January 26, 2007 8:42 PM

Ed ("Skinny") -

I very much enjoyed your story.

LC ("Junior") 

LOL!! 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Friday, January 26, 2007 8:23 PM
Check page 34 also...some surprising insights and a pretty detailed conclusion.

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: The Beautiful North Georgia Mountians
  • 2,362 posts
Posted by Railfan1 on Friday, January 26, 2007 4:45 PM
I got my issue today, read the story and loved it.
"It's a great day to be alive" "Of all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, It might have been......"
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, January 26, 2007 4:02 PM
In the past two days, I've gotten six magazines.  Only one's been opened; and all I've had a chance to do was look at Ed's story and the NYC map.  I'll be taking all six with me on our trip next week when we go visit the in-laws--something to do during those mother-and-daughter gabfests.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, January 26, 2007 3:59 PM
 edblysard wrote:

Carl,

How long before you got "the big picture" speech?

Wink [;)]

Never got that one in my training--however, in my never-ending quest to do things right in spite of others' ideas, I got it often.  Fortunately, about eighty percent of the time, I later got to give them my short-and-sweet "Told ya!" speech.  I haven't heard "big picture" more than twice since the UP takeover.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Friday, January 26, 2007 3:40 PM

 

.....Received my March TRAINS today and of course right away hunted down Ed's article.  I wasn't dissapointed.  It was written to put us right on the spot of being present as it happened.

Next time Ed, send Kathy some photos and encourage her to bring us another of your good reports with some photos to go with it.....

Your article was a good interesting one.

Quentin

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Rock Springs Wy.
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by miniwyo on Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:52 PM
*Puts down MRR, Picks up TRAINS*

RJ

"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling

http://sweetwater-photography.com/

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:48 PM

Carl,

How long before you got "the big picture" speech?

Wink [;)]

 CShaveRR wrote:

My issue arrived today, too--finally! 

Ed, nicely done!  And the lesson was obviously well taught, and well received.

Speaking of deadpan trainmasters, I had one tell me when I was training for this job that under no circumstances was I supposed to think.  I didn't find out that this was his wry humor until a few days later.

Never did stop thinking, though.

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:42 PM
     I *finally* got my copy today.  Way to go Ed!  I always enjoy reading about life in the railyard.  The info you share with us here about yard operations is always an enjoyable learning experience.  Glad to see that you're expanding your audience.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, January 25, 2007 7:27 PM

My issue arrived today, too--finally! 

Ed, nicely done!  And the lesson was obviously well taught, and well received.

Speaking of deadpan trainmasters, I had one tell me when I was training for this job that under no circumstances was I supposed to think.  I didn't find out that this was his wry humor until a few days later.

Never did stop thinking, though.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Cedar Rapids, IA
  • 4,213 posts
Posted by blhanel on Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:05 PM

Hey Ed, my copy of the March issue was waiting for me when I got home from work an hour ago, and I stood in the kitchen with my coat still on and tracked down your story, ignoring all the other pictures and articles.  It didn't take much reading to get me ROFL!

Great story, I hope we'll get to see more of them in future issues. 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,316 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:04 PM

got the magazine today!!! matt was busy asking where is Seattle! told him i wanted to see Eds article. Nice job Ed!

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Hewitt,TX.
  • 1,088 posts
Posted by videomaker on Thursday, January 25, 2007 5:13 PM

Ed,

I have been working on a book from where Im retiring ,sorta..Im calling it a chronology though rather than a book..It has all the stuff that s happened at the department in it since Ive been here..21 yrs..Recon Trains would want a copy? It dont have any bad words or lies in it...Big Smile [:D] 

Danny
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Rockton, IL
  • 4,821 posts
Posted by jeaton on Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:59 AM

Ed

Excellent piece.  As Matt noted both a story and a lesson.  Congratulations are definately in order.

Jay

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Thursday, January 25, 2007 5:59 AM

uhhh, yeah I did...Approve [^]

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Thursday, January 25, 2007 5:29 AM
 Forty-two wrote:

 edblysard wrote:
The cook at the Diner has a lot more pull than we knew?Smile [:)]

I wonder why the cook at the diner doesn't share her copy?!

 

Actually, it's Mutt's copy, and we did offer it to her.  She wants to wait for her own copy.

Ed, I don't know that I've got any more pull than anyone else around here.  Since it's your article, didn't YOU get an "advance" copy?!?!Big Smile [:D]Wink [;)]Bow [bow]

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Crozet, VA
  • 1,049 posts
Posted by bobwilcox on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:47 PM
Ed I enjoyed your article about life in beautiful Pasadena.  I see you aren't dead yet.
Bob
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 10 posts
Posted by Forty-two on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 8:34 PM

 edblysard wrote:
The cook at the Diner has a lot more pull than we knew?Smile [:)]

I wonder why the cook at the diner doesn't share her copy?!

Forty-two
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:57 PM
The cook at the Diner has a lot more pull than we knew?Smile [:)]
 CSXrules4eva wrote:

Well Way TO GO ED!!!

I do have one question though. Why didn't I get my issue of Trains yet?????? Big Smile [:D] I want to read the article!!!!

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 1,345 posts
Posted by CSXrules4eva on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:52 PM

Well Way TO GO ED!!!

I do have one question though. Why didn't I get my issue of Trains yet?????? Big Smile [:D] I want to read the article!!!!

LORD HELP US ALL TO BE ORIGINAL AND NOT CRISPY!!! please? Sarah J.M. Warner conductor CSX
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Waukesha
  • 123 posts
Posted by Matt Van Hattem on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 6:09 PM

I'll add my two cents in here and say "well done" also. not only did Ed give us a fantastic, atmospheric story about working in a railroad yard with larger than life characters, but it was wrapped inside a universal truth that anyone could relate to. Nicely done.

Matt Van Hattem

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy