Ernest F Zumbrumn Engineer in Tales of the Jointed Track

I liked working with Ernie, when I was able. This was probably the top Hogger (engineer) on the Roster. I’d follow him up with Gordon Euell, then Frank Kasulas, Elvin Bethurm, Domonic Valenti and Ray Redmond.

When I hired out in 73, and into 1974 I caught Ernie just a few scant times. Ernie had a reputation as a fast runner. He also was a train handler, and rode the caboose smooth both ends of the run. When I caught Ernie it was out of luck, due to cancer and failing health. He was a quick wit, and had a great sense of humor. Plus he knew who was interested in learning and who coasted.

Train 78 Greenland Colorado January 1974.

We’re grinding up the grade. 78 was a good one to catch. We were on duty at 200 am. A double over and an air test and we were out of town. I checked the power out of Rice Yard and South Denver. Strong runners, and when the “Highball South Denver” came from the caboose, well lets say Ernie “widened on em”. We were blasting through South Denver proper, Englewood, Sheridan and Littleton. I got up to get a look at Littleton, and was told to stay put. “Laddie, there doing fine. Sedalia maybe, look at ‘em at Orsa, unless I see something different”. “Yes Sir”, was the response. I did look ‘em over at Orsa, all loading 1100 amps, at 29 mph. Yeah we are doing that good. I made another check on the hard pull and reverse curves between Larkspur and Greenland. The snow is still high and slight drifts, was a heavy snow season on the Joint-Line. We’re walk’in the Dog through here, at 27 mph.

The sun is starting to rise, at Greenland. A clear signal, beckoning the approach to Spruce, then over the top at Palmer Lake. A blow for the crossing at Noe Road and an Ernie wisdom comes forth. Pikes Peak has snow and the sun is making it Blood Red in color. Its 650 am and here it is.. “Ya know Kid, people come from worldwide, to see the sun rise and set on Pikes Peak, ya get PAID to see it!!” Yeah that was Ernie. How can ya top that one.

Elvin Bethurum on Ernie:

Elvin was a runner as well. A good train handler, fast and when he was close to making Church on Sunday, hold on. “Elvin, got 6 good ones, how many ya want on line?” “All of ‘em”

Elvin told me in the late 50’s and 60’s, when the F units were king of the hill, on the C&S and Santa Fe, Ernie made ‘em go. He was on a dead head, and Ernie was the operating crew. He said that was the fastest, he ever got over the road. Three hours 15 minutes, yard to yard and tied up. My best was 4 hours 10 minutes.

CB&Q / C&S Greybacks. This was not on the Joint-Line

EM Christmas and Sons Restaurant March 1979:

EM Christmas and Sons Restaurant, commonly known as the Christmas, was a terrible dive. But, when hungry and called at the late hours, well feed at the trough. They fed the terminal “bar” crowd, and us dumb old rails.

I caught the 594, and as I have said in the past, we have all paid penance on the 594. It’s 100 am, and the drunks are filtering in. My call is for 200 am, bad coffee, and well how can ya screw up steak n eggs? They could, and I got out on rest, and out on rest at Denver, so the tank was empty. I prostituted myself at the Christmas.

A seat is empty at the counter next to me. A voice says..”Laddie are ya so hard up, ya eat’in here?’ Was Ernie. “Yes sir I am 594” He laughs and says, “Well, happens to all of us”. “Ya just get in?’ “Yeah, had to eat, these drugs are killing me Kid”. “Yes, understood, but this place is the shits”. “At 100 am Laddie, it’s the top of the town”. We talked for a bit. That was the last time I saw him. He retired 4 weeks later, and the cancer overcame him.

Ernie wit:

Ernie always wore a zip up coverall. A fedora, and gardening gloves, as the regal garments. At the away terminal was always well dressed, versus us fucking kids in jeans etc.

Ernie said, “well ya probably make fun of us old fools”. Then laughed like Burgess Meredith, playing the “Penguin” on Batman. Yeah I am that past fool now.. yehyeh yeh yeh yeh. Someone to pattern running. He was a great rail.