Gene Barnes Pueblo Yard Switchman- Conductor Pueblo Sub in Tales of the Jointed Track

It would be an understatement, if you said that Gene was a unique character. Gene was opinionated, a good rail to work with, and a practical joker as well.

A preface, to the story below, I worked with Ron Shaver for more that 30 years plus. He was a switchman, Brakeman, Engineer, and a Company officer. Ron was the “picked on one” this shift. Ron was a groomsman at my wedding. Ron hired out with the Union Pacific, Kansas City to Marysville, Ks. His brother was a Hog-head (Engineer) with the Santa Fe, between KC and Emporia. Now Inter-divisional KC to Wellington,Ks. Ron would get cut off, months at a time. Now the kicker Ron’s Dad, RE “Dick” Shaver, was the General Manager Safety System for the Santa Fe. I met him several times and a gentleman throughout. Ron told me, his dad said, “I know you don’t want to work for the Santa Fe, because of my position. But they are hiring in Denver and Pueblo, this might work for you. I’ll ask that this stays low key as possible”. So onto the tale.

Ron has established himself as a trusty rail. It hasn’t caught on yet, the “Dad” is the GM of Safety for the System. Ya know, probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

The Afternoon 201 South Lead Job:

I am working the Joint-Line on and off as Engineer, so I am not involved.
It is that time of year, where the lanterns come out after 600 pm, and finish off the job. The lights are the Engineers “brain”, after dark. Coming on at 300 pm, the lunch buckets are stored and the Brakeman’s lanterns next to them. An upturned spike keg, was the usual “third” seat, for the pin puller or field man. Usually, it was the lower seniority man on the switch crew that occupied that.

The Santa Fe went away from the traditional Metal Lanterns, in favor the newer plastic and acrylic ones.

An older style modern metal Trainman’s lantern

A New BNSF Trainman’s lantern. The Santa Fe’s were orange in color

They come off the scales, Gene has the lists for the afternoons yard chores. Ron is riding the steps, and directing the movement to one of the class tracks. In the cab, Gene hands a copy of the list to the Field man, and pulls out a tube of Krazy Glue.

Gene, being Gene smears a glob around the bottom rim of the lanterns base. He then places it back on the cab floor, and rotates the base. It sets, as the shift goes on. Now it was supposed to be hard to pull then break free, but that’s not what happened.

A call to take an early “Beans”, and finish off about two more hours of switching. An hour, hour and a half early quit what is not to like about that?.. The lunch buckets are stowed either in the lockers or in the vehicles that got them to work.

It is getting dark, and the need for lanterns are needed for reading lists, and hand signals. Also for vision and footing, during the dark areas of the yard. The switch foreman has a pack set radio, if needed, to relay signals. Ron gets up in the cab and grabs his lantern. Well the Krazy Glue has really set. Anticipation for the reward Gene wanted. It didn’t break free, but Ron tore the top half off. The bottom half remained, still affixed to the cab floor. The battery came out of the top half and thudded to the floor. Ron is angry, as laughter filled the cab. “Well you fuckers figure out how we pass signals now”.

This wasn’t supposed to happen like that, but it did. Gene says, “Don’t get all worked up. Take my Lantern, and I’ll get the spare out of my locker” Gene bails to the switchmans locker room and retrieves an old lantern. “I’ll fess up, and make sure you get a new one, on your next shift”. The shift continued, and finished to completion. Gene says, “Keep that one, it is a week old. I’ll replace it on my side”.

Gene gets a new Lantern, and a stern warning to cool it on the jokes. He did ease up, well sort of

A night come ahead signal

A back up signal, the photo didn’t get the full circle

Last updated December 12, 2015