Ray Redman "The Chief" another great Santa Fe Engineer. in Tales of the Jointed Track

Ray Redman, was a small man. I’d say maybe 5 foot 5 or, 5 foot 6 inches tall. Slim and balding, and always wore jeans and an engineers cap. Quiet and polite. Ray would run up the hill with his arms crossed, and sometimes his feet dangles over the seat. He was a great train handler as well, and the crews liked getting him as well. His nickname was “The Chief”, due to his last name Redman. No, he wasn’t native American, by any means. Ray chewed tobacco, Copenhagen in the round can. I could tell how the train was handling downgrade, by how much chew he went through. Ray had one little quirk, he always repeated what you said, then answered the question.

Ray Redman and the RCE Commanche Coal train.

As in previous writings RCE ( Radio Controlled Equipment ) was the primitive early version of Distributive Power (DP). The BN used them up here and the Santa Fe as well. BN had problems with theirs and due to many break in two’s and plugging the Joint-Line, the edict was, there will be a fireman on it period if rested. The only stipulation for that, was you had to be a promoted locomotive engineer and rested. I was rested and stepped up four turns, to this Comanche and Ray was the engineer. Ray was glad to see that he had a fireman for this trip, in case the remote swing helpers started showing problems. We waited at the 7th Street Roundhouse for the ride to the West-end office. A BN switch crew will run them over from 31st to Rice yard.

The train arrives, and the crew change was made. Off we go, and ready to assault the grade. The trip up the hill is routine. I make my walks through the power at my usual spots. They are all performing like they are supposed to. The tonnage for these at this time were 130 cars and 15,750 to 16,100 tons. The standard five units on the head end and 3 units, buried 85 to 90 back as the swing helpers. I ask Ray, how is the radio contact? Is it steady. His response was yes. The control of the RCE’s , was placed on top of the control stand of the lead locomotive. There was a “box light” that said and winked XMIT. That told the engineer that the radios were in communication with each other. If the NO COMM came illuminated, you lost the signal between the lead and remote consist. You had 15 minutes to correct, or hope communication was restored. If not, the fireman got off and took control of the swings. This was done on the “fly”, or on hand signals.

I asked Ray, “Did ya ever think, you’d be operating like this?” “No, I never ever thought this was even possible. I hired out as a steam fireman, got promoted to engineer. Steam was on the way out, and my seniority allowed me to get a turn as engineer. The diesels came in and here I am”. Humble, quiet and a good engineer. That was Ray. Funny DP and what goes on now, I was in that same position. In forty years, technology has changed.

Ray’s last run.

I can’t really remember the month or the date. I think it was late 75, early 1976, I am promoted, but get the occasional engineer trips.

I get called, for an extra south, for 700 pm. I report at the 7th Street Roundhouse, and look over the call slip. Ray Redman is the engineer…GREAT!!!

Shortly the door opens and in comes Ray. There is also an attractive woman, his age that follows in. “Hey Kid, you with me tonight, or called on another train”. “I am with you Ray”. “Good, this is my wife. She’ll be with us this turn. This is my last run, I will retire when I tie up on the trip back”. Wow!! Rays last run an honor. “Congrats Ray, and a pleasure to meet your wife.”

The trip was non descriptive. The head brakeman and I went to the second unit. I made my inspections up and down the hill. If signals changed, I went up and reported how the power was doing. We put the power to the fuel rack, and Mrs Redman went to the engineers locker room to wait. I told Ray, stay here, I’ll tie us up, give me the time slip, and I’ll put it in. I gave Ray how many times we were out. I rode to the motel with them.

I got called out on 9 hours, but with another engineer. Ray was called 10 minutes ahead. I found out that, someone was used for a 1100 pm yard job vacancy off the pool. We have all fallen into that. Ray caught the 151 back, me… I was on a coal empty.

It was a pleasure to be a part of Ray’s last run.

Last updated May 01, 2015