Brakeshoe Bob ⋅ 72 ⋅
I am a retired Railroad Locomotive Engineer. I hired out with the BN in September of 72 as a machinist and went with the Santa Fe in engine service in 1973 as a Locomotive Fireman. I was promoted to Locomotive Engineer in July 1974. I retired in September 2012 after 40 years. During the period I ran the Joint-Line (Denver to Pueblo,CO) and the Interdivisional between Denver and La Junta, CO. I had almost 8 years in management with the Santa Fe and BNSF.
Entries 465
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Food Bank in Tales of the Jointed Track
Wow been here two years. I got appointed to a team lead. When I started, no one did meat sorting, guess what no one sorted prepared (PREP) foods, no one did dairy. I accepted it! Now it’s ...
Hiding power (Locomotives) in Tales of the Jointed Track
I am working Food Bank. Now someone says “You use this? If not I’m tossing em! Pattie my partner in crime we do Meat, Prepared (Prep), and Dairy. We also help or organize out of our boundari...
I thought of this while in Portugal. Funny how things will trigger your thoughts. We were boarding a gondola, like those you find at a ski area. No, no skiing but a tram to the upper part of G...
The west end and the train order operator on the C&S is the only bastion left out of Rice Yard. The East end is closed, and there are few operable tracks left. The City and County of Denver, ...
LISS and LMS Locomotive planning tools in Tales of the Jointed Track
Wow … During my early career in Locomotive Utilization, (The Power Desk) many things occurred. My early on was the Eastern Power desk, was hard, but my nemesis the Western power desk, became my ...
The Moose Odyssey ..CO-NM-AZ-UT in Misc. Thoughts opinions, the whole trash can.
Moose the Labrador, is going on the big Road trip. We left July 25th and headed for Albuquerque. Maria has a step sister there, as well as a niece. Her sister’s ex-Husband lives there as well....
Basically how I started in Tales of the Jointed Track
Railroading my career from September 15th,1972 thru September 5th. 2012 This is my first attempt of writing down my thoughts. I have been asked or have been suggested that I do by my Co-workers o...
Trains ... blowing whistles a comment a memory in Tales of the Jointed Track
| desertoasis ⋅ January 06, 2015 I always smile when the train comes thru town, past the back of our church which houses our child care. As soon as the children hear the whistle blasts at the cro...
Storms.... in Tales of the Jointed Track
My best and prayers to all that are suffering from Hurricane Ian. During my time on the rails, I’ve seen a lot of weather. No Hurricanes, although when I did power for the Santa Fe, I managed p...
Rest In Peace Mage Bailey in Misc. Thoughts opinions, the whole trash can.
I learned today that Mage, passed away on 08/03/2022, battling with Cancer. Mage was a reader, on the Tales of the Jointed track, railroad blog. My condolences to her husband George. God bless...
The Santa Fe Park branch circa 1975 Now A Walking Trail in Tales of the Jointed Track
I wrote in April of 2017 about the “branch”. I walked it, finally about a week ago. We’ll start out at where the switch came into the Santa Fe Park Siding, and up to where it crossed the Highl...
IDP and DPU how this works in Tales of the Jointed Track
This is how this works . Some stuff is redacted, but you will get the overall gist on haw this all operates. Linking takes time, and unlinking as well. The terminal would get frustrated, beca...
Fresno Neal Bedstead in Tales of the Jointed Track
I worked with Neal, when I did a “stint” in crew planning. Neal ran the Fresno to Bakersfield pool. This is a primo pool . Get called to Bakersfield, tie up and jump on a train back. HORROR ...
Orsa in Mid-1970's and Now in 2021 in Tales of the Jointed Track
I posted about the Larkspur bridge. There was a BN Taconite pellet train, going over. While I was looking for that picture, I stumbled on an Taconite train at Orsa. This was on a sunny Friday ...
Radio Can Lock a Small tale in Tales of the Jointed Track
What is a Can lock? You see them on Pop and vending machines, or on other applications. You see the lock face with a circular, entry way for the “Key” That is a can lock and key application. Y...
Screw Drivering...LOL yea it worked in Tales of the Jointed Track
What is “Screwdriving” the Independent brake valve? Well, if ya goof it up, or if they find out..You’ll get run off. Like Bridge braking, you’ll get fired for it. Okay if a rules violation, w...
Sedalia MP 24.2 "The Dog" in Tales of the Jointed Track
Your on a Coal load. The symbol, could be a myriad of what I ran. Four on the head end and 2 on the helper. Between MP 23 and MP 24.7, before the cut-over to Santa Fe MP’s near the Sedalia Cro...
Derailment, Tonnage coming in Train forces and Dynamics in Tales of the Jointed Track
I was asked, when walking out of Bible Study.. You work for the Railroad. Yes I did 40 years Retired. Asked about derailments etc. Yes it happens..Unfortunate, and hopefully, no HAZMAT involved. ...
Palmer Lake Snows in Tales of the Jointed Track
A weather warning, for tomorrow 10/23/2019.. Snow is coming, Wednesday…a weather warning. My wife will be in Tucson, for a conference. LOL!! Palmer Lake late 1970’s If you are on the extra...
Pisser Bill .. A related Railroad expirence, ex BN in Tales of the Jointed Track
I worked power with these guys in Ft Worth. Gary Schimdt, was a former Dispatcher, Assistant Chief with the old BN out of Laurel, Montana. I worked with Gary off an on in odd power rotation. He w...
The Rotten Cottonwood Across the Street. in Misc. Thoughts opinions, the whole trash can.
The “Moose” and I took a walk late today. About 1015 am. School is in session. We walked totally off leash for about 90% of the walk. When we left the Cottonwood was there, and nothing happen...
The "Pink House" Claymar Motel Pueblo,CO in Tales of the Jointed Track
This is the Downtown Motel, then the Claymar. The railroad put us up there. This was and odd layout The left of the lobby was two floors then the building took a left hand turn. On the rig...
Who knows how these things occur. There was ore involved, maybe a bad order set out at Colorado Springs. Brought over to the Santa Fe, repaired and awaiting transfer back. There were two car...
Rain.... On the Rails in Tales of the Jointed Track
A cool and rainy night here in Colorado. Lightning , Thunder the whole deal. Late July - early August 2004: I got called south, off the extra board, to head for Pueblo. They are short crews,...
I was working the South Central power desk, after the merger in Ft Worth, TX. Let’s just call this person Dee. A male, a young management candidate. His first name was Demetrius, and Dee was the ...
