A trip down memory lane.....
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-02-24/news/8601140463_1_soo-line-railroad-freight-train-passenger-business
I rode what must have been No. 912 from Shawano to White Lake, Wisconsin in 1968. When I showed up at the Shawano station, the surprised agent found that he was unable to get the ticket drawer open, and advised me to pay on board. He then radioed the approaching train to advise that he had a passenger for them.
Brief radio silence. Then..."A deadhead?"
"No a revenue passenger. He'll pay on board."
"But...what do I charge him?"
"I dunno. The tariff's in the ticket drawer, and I can't get it open."
Rather than try to position the caboose at the station platform, they stopped the engines in front of the station, and directed me to the trailing unit, where I gave two bucks to (I think) the head brakeman. I've often wondered whether that ever actually ended up in Soo's coffers.
An hour and a half or so later, after an uneventful ride through the woods, I was picked up by a local relative at White Lake, no doubt leaving the train crew with something to talk about.
I always wanted to ride this train thru the Upper Peninsular of Michigan, but it ended before I could. At least I got to ride between Gladstone and Trout Lake on a Soo #1003 steam excursion on the late 90s. The same weekend #1003 also made a trip to Hermansville over the ex-C&NW, with a hoped-for return over the ex-Soo, but WC began ripping up the track only hours before.
that had to be an interesting ride, never heard of that being done except way back in old days.
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