Jack Olsen and the Yard Job(s) Part 2 in Tales of the Jointed Track

It is about 1986, maybe 1987, a nice summer day. Bill Jackson, my Conductor, and I are called on a J-15003 symbolled helper. We were going to shove a coal train up the grade to Palmer Lake, on duty about 0830 am. The BN and the Santa Fe trains symbols did not interchange, due to railroads and operating software. so for the helper, it was J (Joint-line) 1500 ( Santa Fe symbol for Helper Sets) 3 ( that was the number called within 24 hours, we were the third set called out since midnight), this would be followed by the day date. Ie: J-15003-27.

We had a good shove up the hill, nothing extra, and got the line up at South Denver, and head for the house. The yardmaster said, “At Walnut, take the 19th Street lead, watch out for a yard crew bringing in train 261, just ahead of you. “Call 19th St. and 31st St for instructions to the house”. The instructions were repeated. As we approach 13th Avenue we see the 261’s caboose, just clearing 13th Avenue. We are only two SD-40-2 locomotives, we’ll fit anywhere, within reason. We blow for 13th, and old Colfax, the signal at Walnut is RED. As we slow for a stop, the signal changes to RED over LUNAR, a restricting signal. That’s the last signal we’ll see, till we get the power into the inside or outside sand tracks at the roundhouse, where the helper sets are kept, unless of course they need fuel.

We take the signal at Walnut, and see the rear end of 261, about 10 cars north of Walnut. We blow for Walnut, and hear 261 calling 19th St. “19th st ST..Jack, up the lead, call 31st at C&S Crossing”..”Okay, 261 yardmaster 31st ST”. “261 hold at C&S, till the Salt Mine finishes these moves and we’ll bring ya into 46 track”. We call 19th St., stating we’re right behind them. “Helpers same instructions for you, follow 261 in, watch out for his rear end”. Okay, instructions repeated, and we follow 261 in. Jack calls the rear end and says RED at C&S”. “Okay Jack”. The caboose, door opens, the switch foreman and the field man, are on the steps each side, and they get off. Soon after, a thundering crash, as the slack runs in. The caboose, shakes from side to side, as it and the other cars run into the head end.

There were 5 M.O.W. ( Maintenance of Way) cars ahead of the caboose. One was a water car. This was a converted tank car, used to hold potable water, for the section housing cars, for washing and drinking. As the slack came in the water sloshed out the domes, and cascaded like a small waterfall, down the sides.

A typical water car …this is an old Santa Fe ..

The rear end switch crew gets back on, “all stopped Jack”. “Okay”. That’s why they got off, before the stop.

I am laughing, Bill says “Did you see that!!”? “Yeah, how could I miss it, or not hear it”. We sit, for about 20 minutes. I hear the yardmaster at 31st, tell Jack to bring 261 into track 46, and talk to 38th St for the double over track. “Okay” was the reply, “We have a light at C&S, pulling on ya”. “Okay Jack”. The caboose door opens again, and they hastily get off. I tell Bill watch this, unless he yanks, ‘em in two. You can hear the harsh stretch of slack, with a distant roar, till it ends with a thunderous finale at the Caboose. The water car geysers once again, a good gush out the domes this time. The switch men board the caboose, once again. “Rolling Jack”, in a casual tone. “Rolling”. Bill still is disbelief. There are two big pools of water, where the water car expelled its load. We follow 261 in, get permission at C&S crossing. The roundhouse says “Place ‘em on the outside sand track if no problems”. We stick them in there and pull up, for the next set to fit in.

Last updated November 13, 2014