Big Lift, circa 1980's "The Shepard's" in Tales of the Jointed Track

I am working the Big Lift Local, by choice. Long hours, but I am off the freight pool. My crew, TL Tim Bryant, Conductor, Steve Barto, brakeman, Billy Ray Bryant , brakeman. On duty at 800 AM, we’ll switch out and adjust the mornings “Q” train, wait and line back, as they leave. Can we hitch a ride? Maybe, if we don’t have to pull and spot Castle Rock.

Big Lift, CO MP 19.3 south Rio Grande .. MP 718.4 north Santa Fe
Jim McDonald is the Station agent. Jim was a Trainmasters clerk in Pueblo. Enter Big Lift, and Jim was basically told, accept this job, or place with the unwashed in Pueblo Yard.

Jim, is now the “new” Station Agent. Jim is Jim, he sucks the exempts ass, their stooge, but he is responsible for Big Lift. I got along with Jim, but he can be a turncoat, I don’t trust him.

Enter The Shepard’s:
Jim has gone on vacation. WOW, the bill clerks who worked the “Springs” Elmer (“Shep”) and June Sheppard (his wife), work the way bill side of the Operation. Like Frick and Frack, it is Elmer and June.

Now Shep, wasn’t like Jim that “lived” at Big Lift. We are now in a realm of importance, Station Agent for a couple of weeks. June is the Queen and don’t you forget that either. The little fiefdom, but the “Q” Train crews and we, on the local, brushed them off. All we need is the lists, questions we’ll bring that up. Backseat railroading, go away, we don’t need that. Especially from a Bill Clerk, who is non-existent, otherwise, before the two week coronation, when Lord Jim is away.

Elmer dressed casual as a Bill Clerk. Trousers and Hawaiian shirts. June as well, women’s slacks or a dress. Nothing out of tune. But now Station Agent, and the “Lady agent”.. things changed.

Elmer wore this Red suit . Yes RED!!! with a vest and a hat. Was like a walking flag or fusee. June, always in a dress, hose and necklace. Are these two the same people? Elmer finally got the hint, hey we did our jobs, when you are a bill clerk, so don’t push your shit off on us. He was around when the daylight “Q” doubled over and air test was made. We did our last minute changes and set out bad orders, etc.

Overall, it wasn’t bad, but a two week Charade. The trainmaster would say, “I will be so glad when Jim gets back”. It broke up the routine, yep those two were one of a kind.