Big Lift, CO ... Racoons ... Part 1 in Tales of the Jointed Track

It is early May, 2012. The last few months of my railroading career is coming to an end. This is my last May, June and July. I am sad to see it winding down, but it can't get here fast enough.

Night Rotation, Big Lift, 1930 to 0730

It has been quiet, the night has been slow. Damon Robinson, the mechanical man, drove to the roundhouse in Denver, to deliver some bad order ETD's to get sent off, to the ETD repair facility in Kansas City,KC. An ETD is the End of Train Device, the little blinking red light, on the rear draw bar on the end of a train. These get roughed up over time, and go in yearly to be accessed, repaired and reconditioned. We keep at least 3 on hand for over the road failures, especially on the grade, because the trains cannot continue, due to the inability, to allow the triggering of an emergency application from the rear end. This is sent via a spring guarded, covered toggle switch, on the engineers control stand. A boosted signal is sent, and once started, it cannot be delayed or stopped.

We had a few coal loads, that we performed the daily 203 inspections on. Made sure the computers were up to speed. Double checked diagnostics, and reset as allowed. Water and oil levels, were checked. If a Locomotive was low enough, that it required water for the cooling system, we could fill to the proper operating level.

Damon was talking to me in the office, and said "Okay, man, I'm heading in. I'll be back about 600. "No problem, I'll get the stand by locomotives taken care of.
He walks out of the office, I hear a startled AGGGHHHHHH!!!!! and then a bunch of profanity. I walk out to see what the ruckus was. "The Oracle", our Antelope Skull was there on the Big decorative boulder, protecting us. "What wrong?" "That S.O.B. scared me!!". "What the Oracle?" "NO LOOK UP!!!". There are two large Pines, by our entryway, to the building. Damon shines a light up in the tree. Just about 10 feet up a raccoon in the tree. The beady eyes glow a pale yellow, the hackles are standing up, it is hissing, and it is angry. Damon says he'll bring a humane catch and release trap from home, and will take care of that tomorrow. There are a lot of them around here, but Damon says, "I'm gonna get this one, he's pretty nasty". Damon starts off for Denver, and I took off for Castle Rock and Palmer Lake. There wasn't another load due until after 800 am arrival at Denver. Its roughly around 400 am.

The locomotives, are 203'd at Castle Rock and Palmer Lake. I write the fuel readings down, walk the tops and bottoms, sign the 203 log and sign it. I head back in, it's a good leisurely drive back into Big Lift. I take I-25 back to Castle Rock, and gas up the truck for my replacement. I reach Big Lift around 0600 am, the mechanical people have already made their turnover. I make mine out, talk to the General Road Foreman of Engines, about a few questions, and look over the LISS. Billy arrives and I'll see him in 12 hours.

Damon sets the trap by the dumpster, next evening. We get called on a problem at Colorado Springs, a unit on the head end had shut down. It's a coal empty, with a DP. There 3 on the lead, one isolated, and one on the rear. There was a ground relay issue, we got the data, from the computer, no wheel slip, and wheels rotating properly. We called mechanical, relayed the information, the unit was tagged and isolated, and the other placed on line. The crew was released, and the Chief Dispatcher notified. We headed back to Big Lift.

On arrival, at Big Lift, Damon checks the trap. Yep there he is, and angrier than last night. In the humane trap, hissing, ready kill us both. "What are ya going to do with him?" "I'll drive to the Chatfield State Park, up to the park entrance road. I'll release him in the field, it's 4 miles away, he'll find a good home".

Our friend is released, unharmed, and lives another day. This one has many relatives, and to be continued on the next entry.