Tearing up the North Track Kelker Yard to Palmer Lake, CO Part 2 in Tales of the Jointed Track

How can I contain my emotions on this, because the “era” I hired out with is gone. I am 62 and I am the last survivor of this whole crew. I have been retired now for almost 2 years. Like I have said, something triggers and I write.

It is mid to late September 1977, the single track is in full swing. The Joint-Line is now operational, with CTC ( Centralized Traffic Control ), from Palmer Lake to Crews, 33 miles and sidings at Monument, Academy, Colorado Springs, and Kelker.

We are called to go and tear up the last 2.5 miles between Monument and Palmer Lake on the northbound. The track is officially out of service, but we have a joint authority, working with the Section Crews, to co-ordinate movement.

We will start taking up the tracks from MP 55 to Palmer Lake at MP 52. The ties will be removed by a contractor who successfully bid their removal.

We arrived about 800 am, due to having to be transported by van, to the work site. The train and locomotives were at Palmer Lake on the old Santa Fe Northbound main. County Line Road to be exact. I went through the power, while the train crew took off brakes. Our consist were two old worn out U-23-C’s, off the old Raton coal power pool. U-36-C’s took their place on the York Canyon trains.

A U-23-C in the Santa Fe Freight blue

We were instructed by the foreman in charge to back up to MP 54.3 and stop short, till told to back further. Beyond there is no more track, and the section is preparing to suck up the next quarter mile of track. Ties are now spiked at every three tie spacings. We have to proceed at 5 mph, to where they want us.

Cletus Wiess, is my engineer, I too, am promoted, but due to seniority, I can’t hold a regular run. Cletus doesn’t want anything to do with this. This too, is before multichannel radios. I am given a headset to wear, on this frequency to facilitate communication and getting the job done. We still are on channel 36 for the Santa Fe or 160.650.

Stopping short, we are told back one train length and stop. The Conductor and the brakemen are back there as well. We are stopped and the section is removing the rail joint angle bars off the rails, also removing the spikes off the remaining ties . The rail train threader has extended some rail down, an we’ll lay about 100 feet back out. That rail will be brought into place and the welders will blow a few holes and they will angle bar them together. When that is done, it will be drawn into the awaiting rail train flats. Once brought in, we will go another 1320 feet, and the process is repeated.

Cletus is reading the newspaper, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes for them to take the spikes out of the section we’re about to pull up. I ask Cletus, “You mind if I go back, and see how this is done”. “No, just don’t stay too long”. “I won’t, remember, don’t let ‘em drift back, the U-boats are slow loaders so make sure they are making the amps before you release the air and pull up”. “Okay”.

I hop off and make my way back to the threader car, and where everyone is stationed. I just get back, when I hear “Work train pull up another 1320 feet”. Cletus acknowledges and does what I told him not too. The train drifts back, and just before running off the end of the track, it snaps ahead. “What the F is that goddamned Kid doing up there”!!!! “Nothing Mr. Schwarz, I right here” There is a wide eyed amazement from the Conductor Bill Schwarz. “Whose up there running that engine “Whitey”? (Whitey was Cletus’ nickname, he has white hair). “Yes, Cletus is running”. The edict was issued, and the words “Whitey stop this train and wait for this kid to get back up there”. “Kid head back up there NOW!!, and call when yer in the seat”. “Okay, I just came back to see how this worked” “YOU’VE SEEN ENOUGH!! I head back up to the head end. Ray Hill the head brakeman is laughing and walks up there with me, to get his lunch.

We enter the cab and Cletus is back on the fireman’s seat reading the Rocky Mtn News. “What happened back there”? Ray says, “Ya almost ran ‘em off the end of the track. Old Shoe here, got is ass chewed out”. “I didn’t want to run this anyway”. It is coming to and end in Dog Racing season and Cletus is making his bets.

I get back in the seat and call the Conductor on the radio. “That you Kid!!!?” “Yes sir”. “Don’t leave that seat and call me even if you have to go to the bathroom!!”. Bill is still fuming, but he’ll get over it. All is well in work train land. We finish up, the next day, and run the train back into Pueblo. I never saw home for a week. Life on the rails in the mid to late 70’s.

Cast of Characters:
Bill Schwarz … Conductor Bill has passed. He was between late 60’s early 70’s when he retired

Jimmy Kurtz … Rear brakeman. Jimmy was around my age, he died about 5 years ago from liver cancer. I worked with Jim on the Big Lift Local as well. I was always the Shoe or “Shoes”, my entire career. He never called me by my name. lol

Ray Hill … Head brakeman. Ray was a good hand and he was about 5 years older than Jimmy and myself. Ray liked to drink and Ray likes the women. Was from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. The town was Houghton, MI. He left the railroad, shortly after I went into management with the Santa Fe. Ray got tired of the railroad and went back to Houghton and bought a bar, and did that for about 4 years. He cut himself with an axe cutting firewood. Got gangrene, in his leg. They were going to amputate it, he died on the operating table. A sad commentary

Cletus Weiss … Engineer He passed about 6 years after he retired at 67 years of age. Cletus was tall about 6‘4” slim and shock white hair. He’s been running about 10 years, as the old head in his era retired and can hold a turn. Quick witted and a good sense of humor. He’s a fair runner and a character as well. Cletus and his neighbors like the Dog Track. When the Mile High Kennel club rand down in Pueblo. Cletus was there, placing bets for himself and the neighbors. He did quite well. I shudder to think how many hundreds or thousands of dollars he was carrying on that engine .

Robert M Terry Fireman. I too have retired in September of 2012 after 40 years. I am the only surviving member of this crew. I will be 62 in August. Was a good career and the years flew by.

Last updated September 09, 2014