Firefighters and Trains

[kkasten]

Im a professional firefighter from Wisconsin. Just wondering how many other professional full time firefighters we have out there. Love to hear from ya.

[chad thomas]

Many years ago I was a Sawyer on a 20 man hand crew for the USFS. Faught wildland fires for 3 summers. Tough work but lots of fun.

[Anonymous]

How does it feel to be a fire fighter is it as exciting as you thought it would be while you were a kid?

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kkasten

Im a professional firefighter from Wisconsin. Just wondering how many other professional full time firefighters we have out there. Love to hear from ya.

Put in 18 years on four departments. Four years full-time. The other 14 were as a paid-on-call, and during most of that time pulled frequent 24-hour shifts working vacation/sick days for full-timers (I was single at the time). Was a driver and engineer, FF3 rating. Paramedic 14 years.

Collect and operate S gauge.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'm curious to find out what it is about our hobby that attracts firefighters. Greg McDonnell is the best-known example, and one day at Blue Island I ran across three firefighters from two different departments enjoying their day off. Two of them were longtime railfans and they were introducing the third to the hobby.

[kkasten]

Mostly for a lot of us guys its the time off we have. A lot of times I will have a couple days off during the week and will take my son and daughter down to the train yard in Neenah to watch trains. What is really awesome for me is the chance to work out of our main station which located along the tracks of CNs Neenah to Green Bay line. So while training or other activities are going on get to watch the trains go by as well. Nothing better than being up in that platform and watching a train go by. Its like they are paying you to watch trains. Its awesome.

[Poppa_Zit]

I once was on a department where 100 feet across from the front doors of the engine floor was the three-track main of the CB&Q Chicago Racetrack. Great place to sit outside in the evening. Counting commuter dinkys, maybe 120 trains every 24 hour shift. All of the various Zephyrs used to fly past at top speed, a thing of beauty to behold. You could see them coming for miles at night, with their 888 Mars lights sweeping the skyline.

In the early 1970s, it seemed the CB&Q was running railfan steam excursions past the station every other Saturday and Sunday. Smoke always attracts a fireman's attention.

We also once had a wreck, where several passenger cars derailed on a flyover with the IHB.

We had a 90-foot American LaFrance snorkel in those days, and the view from the bucket looking straight down the RR line into Downtown Chicago was spectacular.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

QUOTE: Originally posted by puttlagger

I once was on a department where 100 feet across from the front doors of the engine floor was the three-track main of the CB&Q Chicago Racetrack. Great place to sit outside in the evening. Counting commuter dinkys, maybe 120 trains every 24 hour shift. All of the various Zephyrs used to fly past at top speed, a thing of beauty to behold. You could see them coming for miles at night, with their 888 Mars lights sweeping the skyline.

In the early 1970s, it seemed the CB&Q was running railfan steam excursions past the station every other Saturday and Sunday. Smoke always attracts a fireman's attention.

We also once had a wreck, where several passenger cars derailed on a flyover with the IHB.

We had a 90-foot American LaFrance snorkel in those days, and the view from the bucket looking straight down the RR line into Downtown Chicago was spectacular.

Did you work out of the Berwyn Fire Department just across the street from the BN mainline near Ridgeland Ave?

[PigFarmer1]

I work in MoW for UP and am a volunteer firefiighter/EMT.

[route_rock]

FF EMT on two departments,Work for BNSF.I dont know why a lot of firefighters want to come ride with me when they find out what I do ( dont know why all I do is shop moves now at 1 mph wooo hoo like a roller coaster) its like railroading is coming back as a popular job again. Kinda neat to see.