Ed Sewell Extra Yardmaster. Part 1 in Tales of the Jointed Track

What can I say about Ed. We found out Ed, worked as a trainman out of Newton, KS and did Yardmaster work there. He wasn’t well received, because he was, well basically did stupid things. Ed probably used system seniority, and through job postings found his way to Denver. Ed was established, well before I came back from management.

DENPUE Early 2006

Ed is working the night shift at 31st Street. Pam is on days off. We arrive, look at the power, the train. The Conductor is getting paperwork. The speaker sounds off, “DENPUE crew, get a ride to the “House” grab the power call me, when ready”. Okay what have the hostlers been doing all night? Well they are on the LINDEN (Lincoln/Denver) power for the last 2 hours because Ed, can’t figure a way to get them to the house.

Kenny and me go to the roundhouse and grab our motors, and call the yardmaster. We get the permission to come out of the house, and saw over to 34 track and tie on. We double about 15 cars over to 35 track, and make the air test. We are on the middle lead, just short of the crossing. The 3rd Beer Run is coming in.

Okay this was a stupid call, and why the Trainmaster didn’t intervene, well I don’t know. There was a rule and a Bulletin out, that coming around the “WYE Bridge”, if movement was stopped, the train had to be walked before proceeding. The reason is because the grade out of Prospect JCT, the switches, and the curvature. They derailed many times, so a non-stop fluid move was to be accomplished.

“DENPUE go and line the Beer Run into 46 track”. Okay where is the Utility man, or the Salt Mine crew? Ed let them go to beans ( lunch ) at the same time. Serious, how stupid is that, when you know the Beer Run is coming into yard. Kenny balks and says “Fuck him, they can line themselves into 46”. “Kenny I’ll help ya, this is a good as GOLD time slip. We are lining up a train to yard track, and not connection with our train or its movement”. We line the beer run in, and although they denied the claim, it was paid 30 days later CA-Ching Thanks Ed.