JUST A QUICK HELLO THIRD GENERATION ROCK ISLAND. RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE CSX. LOT'S OF STORIES. WHERE IS EVERY BODY AT? L.J. BLANCHARD [This message has been edited by ljblanch (edited 24 March 2000).]
I gotta tell ya, why don't you tell some of those great stories, that's what boards like this are for. Share the wealth for kids like bc railking and us kids that are a mite older. You have a heritage that is irreplaceable, our children and grand children should have a look of what it was like moving America's commerce. Guys like you and others on this board should step up to the plate and talk about a steel wheel on a steel rail. I salute you. ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine. [This message has been edited by ChrisDante (edited 09 April 2000).]
WELL ALRIGHT THERE PILGRIM, WAHA. HOW ABOUT THE DAY WE DERAILED WHEN THE STONE ARCH WE WERE CROSSING WAS WASHED OUT BY HEAVY RAINS. IT WAS SEPT. 13,ENGINE 113 WITH 113 CARS, WITH 13 CARS DERAILED PLUS THE TWO UNITS. I WAS ON THE CABOOSE WHEN WE WENT INTO EMERGENCY. THE CONDUCTOR WALKED THE TRAIN, AND I WENT FLAGGING. WE HAD NO RADIOS IN THOSE DAYS. ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER I HAD NOT HEARD FROM THE COND.I COULD NOT LEAVE MY FLAG JOB AND WALK TO THE HEAD END, SO I WALKED BACK ABOUT TWO MILES TO THE LINN JCT. PHONE BOX. I CALLED THE DISPATCHER AND HE RELEASED ME FROM MY FLAGGING DUTIES. THEY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET TO ME BY ROAD SO I WALKED BACK TO THE TRIAN AND WENT TO THE HEAD END, MET A WORK TRAIN THAT HAD BEEN CALLED, AND RODE BACK TO TOWN WITH THEM. THIS WAS NEAR CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA. NOT SURE ABOUT THE YEAR. PROBABLY ABOUT 1968. THE ROCK ISLAND WAS A MIGHTY FINE LINE. L.J.BLANCHARD ------------------
Thanks, that was a great start, how 'bout some more, maybe from the first or second generation. You could be a one man band. I also posted my message on to the "on the rails" forum as well. Lets see if we can shake a few guys loose. ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine.
Back in late 50's, My dad had taken my oldest brother as part of his crew to clean up a train wreck. It had a Coors Beer car that lost it's power and the beer got warm. The whole car full of beer had to be buiried. My brother noted the spot and was the most populor party guest in high school.
Hey LJBlanch, glad to "meet" you, welcome to the Board. We have a thread of these storys on the "On The Rails" form under the Topic "Tales From The Cab", if you would like to read some more tales of the rails. In fact I have one I'll post there. Tell us some more!
