The Joint-Line Big Lift and the Directors Special in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was called for a 600 am Helper at the 23rd Street Roundhouse. Surprise the train was actually there, and we chased it to 8th Avenue and tied in. The typical five units on the head-end and three units shoving behind. We’ll run-around the caboose at Palmer Lake.

Little did we know, that there was a Directors Special, enroute and we were going to be held for 4 hours, for it. 945 am, and the “yellow in the Sag was issued. “Okay, stopping in the sag”. The call tones to the DS go out, and we are told that we are being held for the Directors Special, just leaving La Junta. Serious, That’s 3 to 4 hours away, we could be around the Hack, and they could be on Double track, and meet this Dog and Pony Show, between Crews and Bragdon. I am sure the DS knows, as well as the Chief, but the “EDICT” is the “EDICT”, and we’re doing the sit in the sag. We were told over the radio, They are afraid of meeting a Coal Load on single track. Really, ya haven’t left La Junta yet..

Big Lift Yard has just come on line. Santa Fe Trail Trucking is handling intermodal traffic into and out of Big Lift. Independent truckers too, are bringing in trailers and taking them out as well. Big Lift is basically 19 miles out of Denver, and by-passing the congestion. The inauguration, and the POMP and Circumstance, from Chicago.

John Reed and the Executive Presidents and VP’s are all in attendance. Three FP-45’s and about 25 cars are gracing the “Joint-Line”. Mechanical, will ride to insure, minor problems, plus the steam generators are taken care of. Every RFE and Trainmaster will be on the roll, off territory, and the great unwashed kept at bay.

Idle hands are the Devils Playground. Okay sitting here, because it is a Directors Special, really? Yes really. The head end is pissed, the rear crew is pissed, and us Helper Crews are really pissed… LOL

The plot thickens… A plan develops…

Okay, I am not a saint, never have been. I do my job, and well, OKAY I did this.

I said, “Ya know, let’s place a couple of Torpedoes on the northbound. We’ll have to leap a few ranchers fences, but who knows who placed them there.” We even walked a mile downward, to place ‘em. Hey we are stuck, and for several hours, It was a track rider. Yep , that’s it a track rider.

The Directors Special MP 48.5

We are told, there is another train, short time to come over behind the Directors Special. The Dog and Pony Show, comes by us. A mile later, they hit the two torpedoes, and the world has ended. Everyone is at full attention, radio chatter, LOL PBX is sounding off.
( I have a scanner ). They are at wit’s end. Follow the rule.. proceed from there.

Calm returns to the Joint-Line. The Directors Special arrives. The Ribbon Ceremony, and dedication, is made. They all flew out, that evening, back to Chicago. The poor old Director’s Special, went back empty, to Topeka.

Was a good laugh … Until I got into Management, these were always a major pain in the ass. Since retired I can relate this.