Yard cars.. The vehicles that were "transportation" in Tales of the Jointed Track

This was, when I hired out, like a car museum. There were old cars and trucks at the Pueblo, CO train yard. These were the transportation, privately owned, while getting rest and waiting for call, at the away terminal.

It was a mixture of old vs new. Studebaker's, old Mercury's, Fords, Chevy's, Dodges, De Soto's ( remember those ) , even a Rambler or two. Some were in great shape, even re storable. Some were old battle veterans, some you wondered why the ever started.

Four standouts: Two old Studebaker Champions, one was 1950, the other was a 1951. A 54 Mercury, and a 55 Chrysler Clipper.

Dick Pennington, had the black one...it was well kept, but the paint was fading and dull. I remember at night, the soft black-light glow, of the instrument panel. It was a six cylinder, and ran like a top. When he retired, there were several offers made to buy it. He had it trailer-ed home, and I never knew what became of it.

Marvin Simmons, he had the other Champion. It was a faded pale green. It, too was in great shape. Offers were made too, for this one, but Marvin was as tight as they get. Plus he was a status seeker. I own this, I own that, and we went here, gag. He was an engineer, we called him Starv'in Marvin.

Gordon Euell, a 1954, pale green and white, Mercury. It was a two door, with a Flathead V-8. And in immaculate shape. I knew, shortly before I left for engineer promotion, Gordon would retire, while I was gone. I asked him on a trip, if I could buy that from him. He said I would sell it to you, BUT I promised this to my grandson, who was turning 18. Missed out on that one ... Gordon was an engineer I fired for. This man could run an engine, knew air and train handling. I patterned a lot of my running, and passed it on, from Gordon.

Frank Kasulas, I have written about Frank, in the past. Frank had a light grey '55 Chrysler Clipper. It too, was a 6 cylinder and ran good. I was entrusted to the old Clipper, while Frank was taking 3 weeks vacation over the Christmas and New years holiday. He said to me," Hey Jack ( my name isn't Jack, but he called me that ), I'm on vacation and here's my locker combination. Take care of the old car, while I am gone". I thanked him, and the "Clipper" was mine, for at least two weeks. He said "I am due back after the 1st of January, just hang the keys in the locker after that". "Okay Frank, no problem and thanks again".

The Clipper adventures, I took the old ride out for a blow out, to Stem Beach, which,is 15 miles south of Pueblo on I-25. So 30 miles of hard 65-70 mile running, the ol gal needed it. I also took it out to Bragdon / Pinon as well, that too was close to a 25-30 mile round trip. It also was on I-25, so she got a good run. Other than that, there was to and from the yard office. Going to eat, and it was snooze-ville after that. I did get cold, and some knobs were, push in pull out. Some were rotators. Well I pulled the knob off the heater. Damn it.. I got some Krazyglue...placed it back all was well with the world.

The time had come, I hung the keys, in Frank's locker after the first of January. I was called out of Pueblo on the 31st of December. I was running as a fill in all this time. Who knows, I might get another round trip or two, in before the "old Heads were marking up and taking their positions on the board.

I got called again, ahead of Frank, by about 3 turns ahead. I was in the lobby, and Frank was signing into the sheet. I confessed about the knob. He said, "Thanks Kid that goddamned thing, kept falling off I was meaning to fix it...and forgot to tell you, But I am gonna chew yer ass out". I thought okay for what ?, then I realized, I committed the sin of "filling the gas tank". Okay I had this for what, almost three weeks, I blew the ol gal out 4 times. Other than pulling her hair, if it had any, I was down to an eighth of a tank. Was I gonna leave it that way for him, NO!! I said that was my rent money for his kindness. Ass chewing accepted..

The 48 Dodge:

I got called off the fireman's board, to operate an engineers turn, due to an engineer's shortage. That was alright with me, was extra pay, and I enjoyed running. The trip was uneventful. There was another crew, that followed down the main, for a change out with a C&S crew. The Conductor of that train, just came off of vacation. I asked if there was room, for me to bum a ride to the motel. "Sure Kid, meet us at the locker room".

This was and old ride, period...probably hadn't run for 3 or 4 weeks. We threw our grips into the massive trunk. Three in front, three in the back, and let's get a room.

The Dodge, after several pumps to the accelerator, and several cranks off the starter, she fired off. Off we went. The brakes, dunno, never questioned that, and as we slowed for the turn, clattering over the yard lead, no problems noted.
There was an intersection, off of the old roundhouse lead, the Midtown shopping Center, and 8th st. It's a four way stop. He starts to brake and the pedal goes to the floor...yeah to the floor. NO BRAKES... We start the left hand turn, the car leans over to the right...Okay it's 330 am, no big deal...LOL we clatter over the Santa Fe tracks, that switch the city leads in town. There is a slaughterhouse just a block up, usually there are trailers parked there.. tonight it was in our favor.. He says "I'll rub up against the curb...put yer feet out and we'll slow this to a stop". Yeah we did that, and yeah, like a cartoon show, we got it stopped.

"Hey Kid, reach under the seat and gimme that bag of brake fluid".. I did, I found a bag, with a flask of Whiskey under the seat. "No, not that bag, the other one". I find the "right" bag and hand it off. These old Dodge's at that time had a "trap door" for filling the brake reservoir, under the mat. He opens the trap door, unscrews the filler top. Pours in a good amount of the fluid. Pumps up the brakes and said, that should get us there, hands me the bag, and we're off. lol Like that was standard operating procedure. We went or got to the Motel.. He says, "I'll have to get that fixed". LOL yea good idea...