Ed Hamilton Santa Fe Engineer in Tales of the Jointed Track

I hired out in 1973, in engine service for the Santa Fe Railroad. I rounded out a forty year career till I retired in 2012. Yeah math doesn’t add up, but I had a year and a half with the BN, in the shops , previous.

Ed was an average runner, he roughed up the rear end at times. Ed didn’t have the train handling skills, that the rear end crews appreciated. I learned from the top handlers and tried to emulate. I did and passed that onto the people I trained as well.

Ed was portly, or over weight to be politically correct. The Ed Hamilton regalia, was Overalls, a Denim Jacket (not insulated), shoes that hadn’t seen polish since new. A hat, was the crown, and we may or may not have had gloves in our possession. The pay time slip was rolled up and in the top bib pocket. The current Rio Grande and ATSF Joint line time table was in the back pocket. If he brought a lunch, well two sandwiches, were in the inside pockets of the jacket. That was the Ed Hamilton grip or suitcase. He did have a locker in Pueblo, where a change of clothes were kept. Every week the locker clothes were rolled up and taken to Denver, and another change out was made.

I saw a picture of Ed, when he was a steam fireman. Very slim and muscular. He was firing on a passenger train between Denver and Pueblo and return. Ed liked to eat, and liked a good meal. Plus Ed like the elixir as well. He was never drunk on duty, but he liked his beer. If he was in town Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you’d find him at the Mozart Lounge, for Prime Rib.

When I held a regular turn I either followed or lead him a turn or two. Or we passed on line during our respective runs. He always called out “Kid, there is something better, get out while ya can”. I did forty years later when I retired. Was a good career, good memories as well.