The Cactus is in Bloom. A tale related in Tales of the Jointed Track

My time in management, you work with other people, off other parts of the railroad. Tales and experiences are related. It’s all from a different perspective than your own, but it all relates to what you may have done.

Jim McHood Locomotive Engineer Seligman, AZ:

I worked with Jim, in San Bernardino, CA and Schaumberg, IL on the Santa Fe. We did crew management together. He was a Manager, as this strategic crew planning initiative was, being implemented. I was a planner for 2 years, learning the Northern and Southern California area, and bringing in the Denver to Pueblo region, along with the Pueblo Subdivision, and the Second, Third and Fourth Subs on the Colorado Division. This was the territory from La Junta, CO to Raton, NM. Raton to Las Vegas, NM, and Las Vegas, NM to Albuquerque,NM . He stayed with “Crew” and I transferred to locomotive utilization, or the power desk about 2 years afterward. Jim went to San Bernardino, CA as an Operations Superintendent, shortly after the merger in 1996 with the BN, instead of going to Ft Worth.

Jim was an engineer by craft, so we melded well. He was like me, in a sort of way, a free spirit, but the task at hand HAD to be done. He railroaded out of Seligman, AZ, as a fireman and and Engineer. He could run to Winslow,AZ or to Needles, CA. he also did the Grand Canyon branch and the Winslow to Ash Fork, AZ run. He was a tough old bird, but we had some good laughs.

Stock Trains:
Jim said they would bid these stock trains, because they were money makers. He said if he couldn’t hold one as the engineer, he could latch on as a fireman. They would grab the power and some stock cars and head to various stations to load up. Some trains were maybe 10 cars, and some were solid “blocks” of 50 to 60 cars heading for the markets.

you can see a block of stock cars in the old ATSF photo

For people that lived around the tracks, or are farmers and ranchers probably remember these. The stock pens were located near the tracks, usually off the siding, and accessed there as a separate track. That way other trains could be met or passed, while the cars were being loaded up.

Loading up of a Stock car, at Page, AZ on the Santa Fe. You can see one of the brakeman just to the right of the door and the loading ramp

another photo off the Union Pacific

They would spot the cars, and / or pick up livestock at was previously loaded upon their arrival. The train would be then taken to a crew terminal, say Seligman, Williams Jct or Winslow. The larger 50-60 car trains, were called and the locomotive consist relayed. A road crew would take to destination. The smaller portions were immediately switched and placed on a train for rapid departure. There also was a FEED-WATER-REST Rule, that the railroads complied with. Although livestock could be confined for a minimum of 22 hrs, then off loaded for 12 hours and reloaded again. I think there were 14 to 16 stalls, inside the car, so they weren’t crammed in there. Hogs had a different, layout, so they wouldn’t pile on and smother each other. Sheep were hauled as well.

A more “modern” UP stock car, a double decked carrier, with roller bearing trucks, and ABD-v1 air brake equipment

We have a Stock pen and holding yard at Greenland, CO on the former Rio Grande trackage, just off the northbound mainline. It is owned by the county as a historical site and not used.

Jim said, at one time, working with the Cowboys was tough at times and nerves reached to a high state of tension. The end of the work day the Cowboys headed for the ranch house and the engine crew ran to the next town and tied up for the night. “We’d meet in town the Cowboys and us, after a meal. In a saloon somewhere, something got said and the fights broke out”. Jim said they beat the living hell out of each other, cowhand and rail alike. “But we all were back the next day, loading up cattle and getting the job done”.

That was a tough bunch, but the old west. I hired out on the tail end of this.

This is a Laurie Lewis song The Cactus is in Bloom. This was originally written and sung by Jimmie Rogers the Singing Brakeman in the 1930’s. Laurie is 63 at this writing. about 6 months older than the dumb ol rail.

Last updated August 28, 2014