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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I have a few tales about John . Overall, he was a good person and liked to railroad. John was old school, he loved steam power, and the new guys had no clue on what to think. I liked John, bu...
Palmer Lake Helpers ...Now in the Modern era in Tales of the Jointed Track
This is beyond my era,as a Locomotive engineer, but also when I troubleshooted. The weather is that. The tunnel type bridge, is at MP 49 near where, I laid my late Labs to rest Bear in 2011 a...
This might have been an open diary story, so my apologies. I followed this crew into town. George Arnold was the Conductor. We were both called on Coal empties out of Pueblo, CO. Was a typi...
We got into Pueblo about 1030 pm and it looked like out on our rest. Nothing is really open this late. I had eaten before I reported at Denver. Leuthey’s Kitchen, Swiss food, great portions,...
Virginia and the lost car on the Extra North: We were called for a extra drag north out of Pueblo. Was a bunch of BN power, and a rag tag bunch of cars as trailing tonnage. This is still the e...
Virginia was your typical “Old School” Train order Operator. She was that way till she retired, in Pueblo, CO. When there were train order stations at Sedalia, Orsa, Castle Rock, Palmer Lake, ...
I got up at 530 am. Cup of coffee, and logged into the mainframe from home. I look in TRNBRO, for an inbound look coming into Denver from the south. What is called or going to be called South. Wh...
La Junta CO Q-HODV a mistaken identity in Tales of the Jointed Track
It is a warm December day in La junta about 530 pm. It is near 65-70 degrees. When we tie up art Big Lift, it will be in the low to mid 30’s. Southeastern Colorado vs Central front range Colorado...
I got called for a Comanche coal train at Denver. 130 cars 16, 800 tons..five motors on the head end. We will have a helper and on it goes. “Santa Fe’s he’s coming by 38th Street”. We’re out ther...
It is cold and the snow is coming down. I am inbound with a coal empty, and I have a chance to make this game. I am a season ticket holder, I have them with me. The Rockies in the late “70’s...
The Old Rails Luncheon in Tales of the Jointed Track
We are all Santa Fe here..I worked with most of these guys,either entirely during my career, or at least 25 years of it. Well here we are one is 73 a couple in the late 60’s and us “new” kid...
A reader and I have talked about Minor league baseball. I grew up with the Denver Bears. This was way before the Colorado Rockies got MLB into town. The Iowa Oaks and the Omaha Royals were a ...
The Fox Hole Bar and a Helper set in Tales of the Jointed Track
Okay a disclaimer !! Before reading this, this bar was near the Roundhouse. It was at one time a workingman’s drinking establishment. It fell on hard times, and as the LODO ( Lower Downtown ) ...
Although class lights are not used in modern railroading, they once served a purpose. In the days of train orders and first and second class trains, these were essential. The identification of ...
There are major inspections, that are not only a railroad maintained requirement, but a Federal Requirement. One of these is the 3 year air. You basically remove and change out all the air brak...
I am in Ft Worth now. July 1997 thru November 1st 2001. They (BNSF) did an reorientation of the Santa Fe and the BN, as they tried to streamline and make the power desks more efficient. Yes som...
CB&Q/NP/BN U-25 and U-28-C's in Tales of the Jointed Track
Working on the Joint-Line, we got whatever the BN or C&S would make up for power. The U-25 and U-28-C’s, were a one of a kind locomotive. There were a standard U-25 or U-28 with a six axl...
Frank and the Rules Exam Mid 1975. in Tales of the Jointed Track
I got called again with Frank for a Coal Load for the Comanche Power Plant in Pueblo, CO. It was a late evening run, and I think our call time was for 1000 or 1030 pm. Like the grain extra’s, a B...
The Railroad would perform efficiency tests from time to time. They were unannounced. This was per the Companies policy and also the FRA (Federal railroad Administration). These were made to e...
I was running as a promoted engineer. I caught a grain extra, due to no rested engineers. I am in the seat, lol, was that good for me!! :) Yeah!! Young n dumb, but I have always liked runnin...
This is an introduction, so the blog/journal is not so long.. The Rock Island was always a railroad that sparked my interest. Denver was the terminus. Colorado Springs as well, as a southern o...
Firing and Training.. Long time past in Tales of the Jointed Track
In my 40 years of railroading, I have been called all hours of the day and night. Working the road, you were subject for call anytime after you were legally rested for call. You could update with...
Goddamn This Yard Stinks !!! in Tales of the Jointed Track
That was a story from Van Hargrove, a Cajun I worked with. This occurred in Temple, TX. Sometimes yer Co-workers whether trainman, switchman or engineers, could be horses-asses. The grit in the...
Sugar Beet extras and Rice yard in Tales of the Jointed Track
You never knew when the Beet extras would start coming in. There was a sugar factory in Johnstown, Co and in Loveland / Longmont area. The Rock Island would bring them in with a rag tag consists...
John Harmes .. C&S yard engineer in Tales of the Jointed Track
John worked the day shift. I believe the 630 am or 700 am goat, and I don’t remember if it was the west end or east end, or an outside yard job. We had the goats all lined up and ready for depa...
