The Railroaders luncheon... April 09 2015 in Tales of the Jointed Track

Were still alive. That’s a good thing … Two weeks ago, I attended a memorial service, for a Switchman / Conductor / Brakeman I worked with. Some of the Pueblo people, were there and are here today.

Some have been retired for 10 to 12 years. Me, I am on two and one half years.
We met at the Chili’s in Monument, Colorado, it was half way for the Pueblo’s and us Denver rails. They all look good.

Bob Morley:
I worked with Bob, when he was a Conductor and a Brakeman. Bob told me he was 73 years of age. Really!!

Bob hired out in 1962.. LOL I was 10 years of age..He was probably 22-23 years of age. Working with them old Steam Hogger’s and Trainman. We related several incidents and trips. He had on his cell a picture of Charlie Westfall. I always liked working with Charlie. He would always say to me..” You watch that tongue..and spit that shit tobacco out of your mouth”. He was a great rail Charlie. Bob is too, and always was a great rail. I have a Bob Morley writing one or two maybe.

I gave Bob the site. maybe he will write too… I can not guarantee.

Broken Rail Acequia on the northbound mainline, 1979 That’s a Bob Morley tale.. He still remembers that to this day. At five to ten mph we chunked that piece of rail out.

Steve Pfaff:
I saw Steve too… he has aged. Balding, but still doing well. I related our turbo explosion. He stated..”God damned Shoe..I remember that trip. You just said “I think the Turbo went”. Yeah it did.!!
September 26, 2014
A blown Turbocharger at Castle Rock

Richard “Rich” Salamena:
Rich retired about 2 years before I did. I worked with Rich in the yard at Pueblo, and on the road, when he was a brakeman and a Conductor. Rich, too, was a great rail. Rich looks good and was great to see him :)

Rich was on that coal empty, when that electrical locker door, cold cocked me 3 days before I was to be married.
GE electrical locker doors and the BIG headache in Tales of the Jointed Track
May 24, 2014, 11:41 a.m.

Kent Bridgeman:
He was there..I traded off with his dad Jess. Jess has been dead about 28 years now. I worked with Kent on many trains, when he was a brakeman and a conductor. Kent used the system seniority, as well as Bob Morley, after the BNSF merger. That was offered to trainman only. Both went to Clovis, NM and worked the Transcon to Belen.

Billy Hugh:
Billy was there, in all grand Billy glory. Bill hired out as a Brakeman, and like Kent originally from La Junta, CO. Bill fired for me at times till he got promoted to an engineer. I did troubleshooting with Bill, during my last 3 or 4 years before I retired. Billy was a good rail and engineer.

Mike O’Leary:
Mike looks good and has been retired a good 5 or 6 years. Mike was a brakeman and conductor as well. He hired on about 6 months after I did. He was older than I was, and left after 31 years on the rails, when he turned 60.

Ron Johnson:
Ron is a South Carolina transplant. Was a school teacher in la Junta. Found out the railroad was hiring, and left the teaching profession. He worked with us on the Joint-Line, and finished up on the Interdivisional Run. Ron could be good or be so-so. Overall I liked working with Ron.

Norm Redd:
Norm was an engineer for the Santa Fe out of Raton,NM. Like Dave Morrow, they couldn’t hold year around, or were cut off when business slowed. The Joint Line was in need of engineers and both transferred up to Denver. Norm is sorta the co-ordinator for the monthly luncheons for the Denver end. Norm has been retired about 8 years.

Bob Kirby:
Bob hired out as a switchman in Pueblo for the Santa Fe. When they decided to close the Hump yard part of Pueblo yard, he came up at a brakeman to work the Joint-Line. He also was a promoted conductor as well. After I went into management with the Santa Fe, he went into engine service and became an engineer. He retired as an engineer off the Interdivisional run, about 3 years before I did in 2012.

John Stapleford:
John was a trainman, and hired out after leaving the Army in 1972. He worked up here on the Joint-Line as a brakeman and a conductor. I worked many trains with John. We worked the old long local, Denver-Pueblo and Pueblo-Denver for a couple of years. It had Saturday and Sunday off, but the only thing bad about the job, was it was a 0300 am on duty at both terminals. John retired about 6 years ago off the interdivisional run.

Jerry Worcester:
Jerry came off the Santa Fe transcon at Emporia, KS. His brothers railroaded out of Emporia as well. I think they both stayed, and finished off their careers as engineers. Jerry came up to the Joint-Line as a transfer as well. He was cut-off about 3 to 4 months out of the year and wanted steady work. He went into engine service in about 1978 and finished up as a troubleshooter like I was. He was a Company Officer with Santa Fe and BNSF, and came back to the craft in 2003. He retired about 10 months after I did in 2013. He resides in Granby, CO now.

Well that was the boring low down on us old rails. I should have taken a picture, but left the cell phone at home.. Maybe on the next go round.

Last updated April 13, 2015