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 pick up, at least at five stations. We'll get an extra 50 cents per mile for performing work at three or more stations. Local pay in freight, has to be documented on the back of the time slip, to be researched, and is all per agreement.

We report, get our instructions, and head to the fuel track. It is a bunch of mismatched power, some Santa Fe, some BN/C&S locomotives. The Santa Fe is repositioning four units, and the BN is sending and extra ore drag power back. The second set of ore power is on hand and will run tomorrow, on the combined ore empty back. We have the four axle power, a U-23-B ( the lead unit) two GP-20's and a U-23-C ( the Santa Fe power) and an old BN SD-45 and two SD-9's. We head up to the first track, then double over to the other ( can't remember the tracks). Permission is given for the double over. It was made and the carmen and the yardmaster notified. We have 125 cars of garbage, and have work at Pinon, Crews, Colorado Springs and Santa Fe park. The first 25 cars, are "shorts", meaning they will be set out from the train. This doesn't include any pick ups.

Pueblo, Co the air test and the "passengers"

We're on the set, the carmen are making sure all cars will apply the brakes and then release. Five people come up to the lead unit. "Hey, this going to Denver?" "Yeah, they are". "Can we get a ride?" "Well, not on the power, but walk back thirty cars, because we are setting out the head twenty five cars, en route. We don't know you're back there if you get on" "Do you have extra water?" "Yes, here is two cold six packs".. "Thanks, Bud". They walk back.

Pinon, CO Northbound track Rio Grande side:

We get permission to leave the yard, after the air test. The rear end is on the caboose, and says Hi Ball we're on. Yardmaster gives his blessing, and calls the dispatcher. We have a clear (green) signal off the Hi-line, and here we go.

At Pinon, we have to pick up an empty bulkhead flat, that was repaired and ready to move north. It has a "slip joint", meaning the air hose extension, that moved with the sliding draft gear, developed a leak in the flexi-line. The car was picked up behind our "shorts", the air test made and next stop Crews.

Crews, CO

We are coming into Fountain. The dispatcher is toned up, we have a Yellow at MP 652.0 ( old Santa Fe MP). "Santa Fe DS Denver" "DS ATSF 6343 North, we have work at Crews, may have to hold south of Mesa Road, if you can't take us. We have 20 minutes work at Crews siding and the Gas works" "I have nothing out of Colorado Springs for 2 hours, how many times you need the signal at Crews for your work".. "Three and we'll call you when we're ready". This will work..we can squeeze this in, off the siding, the rear brakeman, is riding the head end, to help with Crews and Colorado Springs. We cut off, the "Waycar", is clear of Mesa Road. We shove two empty gons for the section, down the siding. Our "passengers" are in there. Hey can't babysit, we have work to do. Go back, to the Gas Spur, grab three empty, LNG tanks, shove back to the siding, the loaded LNG cars are buried, behind our "Springs" set out, due to hazmat placement. There is a lumber yard behind, the Gas Plant. So rear to head end is 4 bulkhead flats lumber, 3 loaded LNG cars. There is no pick up at the lumber yard. The gates are unlocked, we spot the lumber inside the facility and lock up. Pull up and spot the LNG cars. Pull north grab our pick ups, and pull the Gons to spot for the section. Cut away, and back to the train. Our passengers, are finding another car to ride. They find one, I think, I can't watch them, unless they pose a safety problem. The pick up of the LNG, and we're ready to make the set and release. If we have to bury, we can adjust at the Springs. We make the air test, call the DS, and head for the "Springs".

Our passengers, find a car to ride in. Well sorry, it's an empty interchange boxcar for the Rio Grande at the "Springs".

Colorado Springs, CO

We have a set out and a pick up, we set out our passengers out again, here. There are four tie cars, for the section at Santa Fe Park. These are our filler cars, the pick up will buffer, the requirement, even after the set out at Santa Fe Park. They figure out, we're set out again...what part of 30 back, don't ya get?.

Castle Rock, CO:

No we don't have a set out here. What we have is gathering storm clouds, rain and I mean we're getting a downpour. Our passengers, figured the bulkhead flat, we picked up at Pinon, is the "ride" in. These poor bastards are getting soaked. I don't know, what the drag co-efficient vs the rain vs speed, is keeping them dry.

Santa Fe Park:

We make the set out, no other issues. The Operator at Rice yard is called, the Yardmaster, at the West End notified, instructions issued.

Denver, CO 16th Street

The favorite holding place for the BN, not ready. Our "passengers" dismount here. The ragged clan comes to the head end. The "mission?" "yes go here and you'll be there". "Thanks, look we still have water". "want some more" "Sure thanks". We toss off two more six packs.

We wait to yard the train. Another day.