The Caboose.. The PIG..the Coal Empty in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was holding a regular run as engineer, in the mid to late 70’s. I worked with older train crews and the younger ones as well. The Powder River Basin is breaking forth, lots of lignite coal going south, with the empties returning. You were guaranteed out on rest, and maybe a 10 hour respite. That pace now would be my death knell, but when you are in your 20’s, what is the problem? There were young crews, and make ups, as long as they could get a promoted Conductor off turn. I got one this turn, and all were people I worked with, so no surprises..or … is there one?

Pueblo, Colorado Coal empty..late 1978:

I worked down with this crew, and all were good rails. Gary Maulin was the Conductor. We were called on 10 hours off, which was a good thing, I caught a good 7 hours plus of “dark” rest before the phone rousted me once more.

We were called for a coal empty. We reported and signed the register, got our train orders, and instructions from the Yardmaster. The edict, train is at Pueblo Junction, change out Yard 11 to the Highline, leave town, call the Operator for the board at 29th Street. We are going through the yard and on our way back to Denver.

Gary pulled me aside and said…“I need a favor”. “Sure no problem, what ya need?” “You know the pig roast, this weekend, I have the pig.” “Right on, and the favor?” “Well it’s here, at the yard, my cousin has it in a pick up truck. We need to take it to Denver on the caboose”. Laughing, really laughing, “Really Gary how we gonna pull this off?” ” He is up around 19th Street, waiting…I’ll tell you to stop due to a sticking brake, and we’ll load the pig on. Then we’ll take off, my brother Bill, will meet us at the “mill” in Denver and with the sticking brake, we’ll unload the pig”. “Okay…works for me, hope no one is snooping around”. How would you explain a pig in the caboose?

The radio crackles, “BN 6943, we’re aboard” “Okay, all on”. We are doing about 8-10 mph through the yard, and the head end is on the “Highline”. Nearing 29th St we have a Clear, ( green ) signal. “6943, Shoe, we have a sticker about 20 up from the rear end, stop and we’ll let you know”. “Stopping”.

During this time the pig is being loaded up. Old newspapers are spread on the floor, and our live stock is heading toward Denver. “6943, we bled off and cut ot the car, pick us up in 20 cars”. “Okay 20 cars”. They were in the caboose, and counted down, like they were boarding on the fly. “We’re on”… LOL yeah you are.

Denver, CO 20th Street the old Mill

We call on the approach to Littleton, CO, with the Operator at Rice Yard. We are told take the signal at South Denver, call 31st Street on the approach to 8th Avenue. We call at 8th Avenue, and are told go through the crossover at the Gas Works, watch out for a helper set, waiting for a load ready to depart Denver. Come through the 19th Street lead, contact 19th Street, and call at C&S Crossing.

Simple and here we come. The helpers call us and say “We are clear of the crossover and you are lined through, and we’ll line back”. “Thanks appreciate that”. 19th Street says come on through, and we call 31st on the approach to C&S Crossing. ” Come across, Coal 1 change out at the 38th St end”.

Okay we spot the pick up, at the old Mill. Its “PIG TIME”, and the stop when ya can we have a sticking brake about 10 cars up. Our passenger is unloaded, all newspapers, placed into a couple of garbage bags. Those bags went into a dumpster at 31st ST, in the coal tracks.. We change out with the head end, and head for the yard office.

At 31st St, we tie up, and I see Gary. “How did it go?” ” Great, all delivered and thanks. That Caboose stunk really bad, I told the outbound crew the shitter stinks badly”. Laughing, I think…if they only knew there was a pig riding the last 120 miles.

I was able to sample the “passenger”, at the Pig Roast. It did us proud. :)

Last updated December 12, 2014