Eddie Howard .. Part 4 last entry in Tales of the Jointed Track

Unless, I can remember some other events, about Eddie, this will be last entry on the subject.

I have noticed over time, Eddie is more agitated, nervous, than usual. I am sure that over time, the scars and problems associated with the burns. I don’t know his level of pain or tolerance. I think, alcohol, helps, but it also hinders.

La Junta, CO 1981 Eddie was called on a extra drag west. It’s what we call slough tonnage, that accumulates. It is a garbage train, mix of loaded and empty cars, some that missed other trains. This was 4 to 6 days worth. A plea went out on the conference call, that “X” number of cars needed to move to Pueblo, be switched, and relieve La Junta from being congested. Hence, a westbound extra was authorized. It was a rag tag consist of locomotives. Three GP-20’s, a GP-35, and a U-23-C, 10, 800 hp and about 120 cars of crap. Ballast empties, general freight from the locals, shorts that missed connection, and scrap and empty cars for the CF&I mill at Minnequa. I’m sure there is Denver traffic as well.

Baxter siding , CO

Like a train from hell, and a locomotive consist to match it. The further they got, the more units started failing. The GP-20’s were the major bell ringers, and they were running hot. The cooling fans, couldn’t keep up, to cool the diesels, under load. Could be a combination of factors. Plugged and fouling of the radiator grids, not allowing for air flow, a bad shutter relay, not allowing the shutters to properly open, poor or bad order cooling fans, maybe a water pump starting to fail, who knows. They also could be water users, due to leaks, and low and the bell is ringing.

At Baxter you start upgrade, not drastic, but enough to cause problems. Just about 5 miles before Pueblo Junction, before you start down and level off into Pueblo Yard. We used to joke around and call it “Baxter Pass”. It wasn’t a pass in anyway shape or form, but allow tonnage to overcome horse power, well you could stall.

The drag is lined through Baxter, and they are down to 2 units, and 6 mph. A storm is gathering, and the wind is blowing. It’s around 800 PM, and the clouds are making it darker than it is. The bells are ringing in the cab, one or more have shut down. Eddies says, “I’m going back to try to get at least another one online. He tells the brakeman, you know how to throttle off, and set the air, don’t you”. “Yes”, was the reply. Larry had worked the yard for 5 years, and was able to hold the extra board, for this territory.

Eddie grabs a jacket, and heads back to dead units. Third back, the GP-20 is out of cooling water, it is isolated for the rest of the 9 miles in. The fourth unit back, has shut down to low water pressure. It is isolated, and Eddie heads back to start it. Water level is at a point, it will get them into the yard, after restarting. The “Paxton Mitchell”, protection unit is reset. The crankcase overpressure, has not tripped, so its safe to restart. The engine cranks over, stabilizes and Eddie puts it on line. The 5th unit was running hot and at reduced HP. Eddie calls the head end and says the bell will continue to ring, till till cools, maybe this storm will help, get cooler air to the radiators. “Okay, we’re lined through Pueblo Jct”. “Okay, on my way up”. The speed is 8 mph wide open, they will make it. On the way up, a car body hood door, wasn’t latched properly, or had a bad one. The wind gust caught it, just as Eddie is coming up the catwalk. It pops Eddie just hard enough, and knocks him off the power. Luckily where he landed, it was soft dirt, and past the US Highway 50 overpass. He’s dazed, but knows, he’s not on the drag anymore. Eddie walks 200 feet to Highway 50, flags down a taxicab, and heads for the yard office. He’s muddy, dirty, and shows the driver a wad of cash and his drivers license, and his Santa Fe railway ID.

Meanwhile, one of the units has shut down again. The train is slowing, and now at 4 mph. The South Pueblo signal, show Flashing RED, and they are lined into the yard. The train stalls on the inbound lead 10 cars past the signal. The brakeman sets the air and shuts the power off, and waits for Eddie to get back to the head end. The Yardmaster asks whats the hold up down there? The brakeman says we’re have problems, and the engineer will be up shortly. After a half hour the Yardmaster says we need to get moving, yer blocking the Yard and the mainline.

A taxi shows up, with Eddie. Eddie gets on and starts another unit, and yards the train. Unfortunately, the Yardmaster and the Assistant Trainmaster see what has transpired. The head end crew is asked to report to the Trainmaster’s office, before tying up. The facts were gathered, plus Eddie is still dazed, not only from the fall, but he took a few pain pills, during the trip, which probably aided in getting knocked off the train. He’s lucky he isn’t dead or still laying next to the right of way.

There was a formal investigation held, for the incident. After the hearing, the head brakeman was given, discipline for not stopping the train, after not being in contact with the engineer for a specified period of time. Eddie was taken out of service for a Rule G violation, due to the pain pills in his possession and usage while on duty. Failing to properly control the train ( hard to do when ya fall off.) He was given 30 days, and allowed to mark back up, after that time.

I don’t condone, what Eddie did, with the usage of the pain pills. Eddie was severely disfigured, and has scar tissue and associated problems with the severe burns he suffered 25 years before. The pain ebbed and flowed, but he was a warrior, I’ll give him that.

I went to the engineer’s extra board by choice, back up in Denver, after I got married. I saw Eddie from time to time, when I caught a trip south. I was told one day at the Roundhouse, by a Conductor I worked with, “Did ya hear about Eddie Howard”? “No, what happened?” ” They found him dead at his boarding house room”. “No Really”. “Yeah he took a call and didn’t show up, finally, someone on the crew says he lives, 2 blocks from here. I know where the spare key is kept, lemme check on him”. They found him dead on the floor, Eddie had a fatal heart attack. God Bless ya Eddie, it was a privilege knowing and working with ya.

Last updated February 04, 2015