Ride of a Lifetime

[doanster]

Just a story I like to share...
On my way back from work in another city last friday, I saw a locomotive doing some switching jobs - it was the first time I'v seen a train in the area. This wuz at 10 at nite, and I was tired. Curious, however, I decided to stop and take a look. Whipping out my digicam, which I normally never carry with me, i took pictures and even some video clips (tho they didnt turn out too well cuz it was dark [:(] )...To be honest, it was the first time I'v witnessed switching in real life... Very exciting!!! That event by itself made my weekend. Wandaring around trying to get some good shots, I was caught off guard by the crew, who was uncoupling two cars at a local industry. (the blast of air from disconnecting the hose scared me lol) The next thing that happened surprised me... I got invited me onto the loco as they carried on with the switching for a good hour or so. We carried on a good convo, and I even received a crew pack and some document as a souvenir before they let me off... it was simply my best experience with trains... ever!

If anyone has similar experiences they would like to share, I wuld like to hear them!!!

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by doanster

Just a story I like to share...
On my way back from work in another city last friday, I saw a locomotive doing some switching jobs - it was the first time I'v seen a train in the area. This wuz at 10 at nite, and I was tired. Curious, however, I decided to stop and take a look. Whipping out my digicam, which I normally never carry with me, i took pictures and even some video clips (tho they didnt turn out too well cuz it was dark [:(] )...To be honest, it was the first time I'v witnessed switching in real life... Very exciting!!! That event by itself made my weekend. Wandaring around trying to get some good shots, I was caught off guard by the crew, who was uncoupling two cars at a local industry. (the blast of air from disconnecting the hose scared me lol) The next thing that happened surprised me... I got invited me onto the loco as they carried on with the switching for a good hour or so. We carried on a good convo, and I even received a crew pack and some document as a souvenir before they let me off... it was simply my best experience with trains... ever!

If anyone has similar experiences they would like to share, I wuld like to hear them!!!

My son and I have had some nice experiences like that as well. We,ve been on quite a few trains on different roads. Be very careful who you tell about it though, I'd hate to see a train crew in hot water over it. Obviously, it's best to avoid specifics like place, time, names, etc. The railroads prohibit non employees on their trains for good reason. They're the ones who get sued if someone gets hurt and there are plenty of ways to get hurt around railroad equipment.

Some of the train crews we've met have been the nicest, most down -to-earth folks around. I work in aviation and that's mostly not the case there, so it's refreshing to talk with them. I've always apprieciated them helping make good memories for my little boy even if it's just a blast on the horn as they pass by.

Glad to hear you had a good visit with the switching crew. Sounds like fun.

[Anonymous]

Those are awsome stories, guys. It's good to hear that there are still nice, decent people out there that are willing to take a bit of a risk to make someone else's life nicer...

[Seamonster]

I too had the ride of a lifetime once. Back in 1978, I was living in an isolated Northern community where the only way in or out of town was by rail or air. We had a train come through around midnight every night, one night going through in one direction, the next night going back the othe way. I had to spend a day in the nearest city, about 150 or so miles away, so I took the train. It's a 6-8-hour trip because the track is laid on permafrost and as a consequence is very uneven, necessating a 30 mph speed limit most of the way, and the train stops at numerous little communities along the track and trappers and anyone out in the bush can have the train stop anywhere they want and can flag it down at any point. Also, we broke a coupler leaving one of those little communities which delayed us further. Anyway, when I was waiting on the station platform to come home, I ran into an engineer friend who, it turned out was the engineer on that train, and he invited me to ride back in the cab. Of course, it took me only a microsecond to accept his offer. I wasn't too familiar with locomotive types then, but from my memories it was either an E or F-unit. He took me through the engine compartment (noisy!!!) and I rode back home in the fireman's seat. What a thrill! What I remember most is the sensation of raw, brute power as that locomotive pulled out of the station. I also found the ride to be rather rough and noisy. But, I'd never trade that memory for anything.

[JPowell]

About a year ago, I was on my way back from a LHS and decided to go cehck out the area near a paperboard company. Much to my surprise, the shortline that serves it, had a engine and 2 man crew on a siding waiting for a 'ok' from the paperboard co to come in and switch it out. I pulled up to a parking spot next to the tracks, got out, and started talking with 2 men. One, turns out, was the engineer. The other, a friend of the crews who was in the area and also stopped by for a visit. When the conductor came back from the paperboard co, word came across the cell phones the crew had saying to go ahead and switch out to paperboard co, and another industry on another section of track. As the 3 men were boarding the engine, the crew invited me along. I rode along with them for about a hour also while the did little switching moves in the area. The engine was a GP 9 (former high nose, now low nose).
JP

[espeefoamer]

Several times,at various places,during switching moves,I have gotten rides from friendly crews[:)].

[Anonymous]

I'm glad so many people have had experiences like this. When I was 9 or 10, I rode the Tri-Rail in Florida with my grandparents. The conductor was very nice to us and asked me if I wanted to go inside the locomotive. I shouted YES! before he even got done talking. That was one of the greatest days of my life. The locomotive was an F40 and I got to blow the K5LA andsit on the engineers lap for awhile. Wouldn't trade that experience for anything!

[JohnT14808]

The best ride I had was back in February of 1999 when I finished up a software contract in Chicago. My wife flew to Chicago and we decided to take the train home to Olympia, Wa. Boarded at Union Station in Chicago, and for two days enjoyed the great service, food and quiet of the Amtrak service. Made a LOT of stops through No. Dakota and Montana, hit snow in eastern WA and had to stop while a crew cleared the tracks. Got off in Centralia, WA and had to DRIVE the rest of the way home.

[Texas Zepher]

Back in the old days 1986 or so. When the UP 8444 would come to town they used to let us crawl all over it. Me and my son were about the last ones ever allowed in the cab to pull the whistle cord, turn the head light on and off, ring the bell etc. Great time and experience to feel the "life" of the locomotive.

About right after we left, someone opened the fire box doors and unfortunately it flashed back into the cab. Burnt everyone really bad. They have never let anyone on since then.