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 464
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This has always been an embarrassment, not only for the Roundhouse and the mechanical department management, but on the terminal and the Division. There will always be finger pointing, second gu...
I was called off the Corridor to fill in for vacation . BNSF 4871 has a starter circuit problem, and we needed to pick up the unit BNSF 9412. Had to switch the units around... it's easy . ...
E-DONBTM Evans Avenue, DP problems August 2011 in Tales of the Jointed Track
A hot August, they are still rerouting trains, loaded and empty, certain freights, through Denver. If the freight power, needs fuel, the power may come to the house, or be fueled, by a contract...
It's been a busy day. I started at Littleton and worked my way in to the Terminal. I have inspected and carded out about 25 locomotives at the moment. There will be more. There is a lull,...
Corridor mentor Job Stuff, and more stuff Part 1 in Tales of the Jointed Track
It is the spring and summer of 2011, and for those that lived with the Midwest flooding of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and it's tributaries, you know a big part of the story. The BNSF i...
A few "BUM" or railroad transient tales Part 2 in Tales of the Jointed Track
It was a late summer, early fall day in 1979. It is hot, and we get a 200 pm call for an "extra north", out of Pueblo. This is a drag period, and when we got on duty, it is a stop and / or p...
A few "BUM" or railroad transient tales Part 1 in Tales of the Jointed Track
Up until, the 2001 tragedy of 911, there was always a migration of people, who took to the rails, during the Spring to head northward where it was cooler. They made the reverse route back south ...
It's a dull early May 1998 morning, in Southlake, TX. It's mid week, I am off, on my three days. The clouds are trying to break, but there is rain later on in the afternoon, and a possibility ...
BTD ... "Bear the Dog" Part 2 in Misc. Thoughts opinions, the whole trash can.
Bear was a unique dog. he also was an opportunist. Case in point: Saturday evening Mr. Jim's Pizza I was off for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday or Saturday, Sunday, Monday days off. The wife ...
This dog was a great dog. This was an English Labrador Retriever. Stocky, block headed, bald patches on his elbows around the forelegs. A rich dark brown color. Loved people, other dogs, well ?? ...
BTD ... "Bear the Dog" and the Skunk in Tales of the Jointed Track
I am about to get home, from a night rotation at the NOC. It's my "Friday", so to speak, I am my three days off. It's a Tuesday to Thursday this time. My cell rings, its the wife, panicked, ...
Night rotation, Big Lift two weeks later I was back on my four day penance, on the night rotation. The track work, was starting up. There was a major wood tie replacement, Starting at Pal...
Big Lift, CO ... Racoons ... Part 1 in Tales of the Jointed Track
It is early May, 2012. The last few months of my railroading career is coming to an end. This is my last May, June and July. I am sad to see it winding down, but it can't get here fast enoug...
EMD's SD-7's SD-9's a small video in Tales of the Jointed Track
I have run these in my career, switched with them and in drag freight. They are only 1500 to 1750 hp depending on model. But the are low speed drag power and will do what you want. 1950's te...
This was always, an engineers nightmare. A crossing accident, or anything else struck, involving a human being. It has waned, thankfully due to education and physical crossing separations. I t...
The games, were played only when the right layover crews were in town. Most of the time it was during late fall, winter and early spring. During this time, business was slowing, and the railro...
General musings tales from everywhere in Tales of the Jointed Track
These are small vignettes from management and craft Winslow, AZ Southwest Power Desk 1998 I had made a Winslow cut wire. There was an ex Santa Fe SD-45-2 to be cut off of a H-BARTUL (Barsto...
FT Worth NOC-the AGST-Power cuts at Winslow, AZ in Tales of the Jointed Track
Another day at the NOC. The railroad is now going through a measurement phase. They are measuring everything, Velocity, Locomotive Utilization, and the hours / miles traveled each 12 hour perio...
A Helper run, troubleshooting a U-30-C in Tales of the Jointed Track
This was a typical helper run. Boost a coal train and/or grain train, or two, bring the power back to the roundhouse and tie up. We could have a 5 hour run or stretch to the full 12 hours. Wh...
Train 152 Denver,CO 15 below zero weather. Part 2 in Tales of the Jointed Track
BN Denver 31st Street Yard .. Track Pocket of One and One track I place my coat on and get ready to walk the consist as requested. I tell the carman, "I guess you heard that?" "Yeah" "Ill...
Train 152 Denver,CO 15 below zero weather. Part 1 in Tales of the Jointed Track
I missed a call. In forty years of railroading, I have missed four calls, three were stupidity on the railroads part and / or a cascade due to the first three people, not protecting the positio...
I am still working the Southwestern region of the power desk for Locomotive Utilization. This is also the night rotation, I have contacted the "hot spots", LA, Richmond, San Bernardino, Bakersf...
The tie work train. in Tales of the Jointed Track
This was in the year of 2003, I am back from being a Company officer. I marked up where I could hold. I had a number two seniority spot, I could hold almost anything I wanted. The job I want...
NOC "Bubba Teeth" the night rotation. in Tales of the Jointed Track
Well how do I start off this entry into here? I am filling in off my rotation, on nights. As a Company Officer, you are obligated and required to work, as needed and when needed, and your days...
Yep, beside the railroad, railroad management, and all of our short comings, the Circus is in town. The Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus was in Anaheim, and the BNSF was to move it ...
