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When I Was Younger
By: Craig Walker
May 12, 2008
 | | Craig Walker |
When I was younger, friends and relatives, when they discover my passion for railroading, often asked why I didn’t hire out with the railroad. (These days, unfortunately, the question is always in the past tense.) After all, isn’t railroading an exciting job?
Well, sure. Sometimes.
Don't get me wrong ... I respect the work that railroaders perform, but it just wasn't for me. I’d known too many railroaders over the years who told stories about their exploits. The old-head who worked on the Frisco in Arkansas, and got thrown against the caboose’s bulkheads while running over the rolling hills on their district when the train’s slack bunched up, then got thrown against the rear bulkhead when the slack went out as the train crested a hill. Ending the day black and blue didn’t sound overly exciting to me.
Or the brakeman I knew who worked for the Santa Fe in the sixties. Stopped in the Mojave desert one night, he headed back to protect the rear of the train, setting his lantern in the middle of the track the proscribed distance from the trains rear. Upon hearing the whistle blow, indicating a clear signal, he reached for his lantern and stopped short when he heard a suspicious buzzing. Odd, he thought, and reached for the lantern again. Again, a loud buzzing. He looked into the area lit by the lantern, and noticed a diamondback rattlesnake snuggled up against the rail, absorbing the heat the rail had stored up all day. The brakeman was running out of time — he knew the train was about to depart, but he couldn’t leave the lantern there, as it would stop any trains following them. So, he picked up the largest piece of ballast he could find and knocked the lantern over, smashing the lantern’s globe in the process. Tipped to its side, the wick wouldn’t stay lighted long, he thought, and he ran back to his train, hopping on as it began to move once again.
Working in the searing desert heat, the bitter winter cold, the long 12-hour plus days, spending every other night laying over in garden spots such as Barstow, Yermo or Yuma, memorizing that thick book of rules, the hours of boredom waiting to leave a yard, or get cleared out of a siding ... Aarrgh! It was all too much for this wimpy kid.
Besides, perhaps working for the railroad might take the fun out of it for me. (In retrospect, I doubt that it would have.)
So, I elected to stay a railfan — a hobby most of which most have never heard, and of those who had, they often didn’t understand. I’m not sure even I understand.
For me, the allure of the rails has many levels, but more than the sounds and smells, perhaps the most compelling for me is the visual aesthetic. Almost without exception, I like the way they look — the lines of an EMD diesel, the function-dictates-form of a steam locomotive (or marker light, switchstand, signal or coupler), the way a train snakes through its surroundings, the repetition of all those crossties under the rails, the look of a gyrating Mars light on an SP freight working up the San Joaquin Valley while driving up Highway 99 at 2:00 a.m. -- it is my quest to capture the look of railroading that is the essence of the hobby for me.
Which is why I like this shot. A Southern Pacific SD40T-2, with its array of stuff on the cab roof, the utilitarian Bloody Nose paint, the distinctive L-windshield, the colorful (if not quite workable) ACI plate on the hood — and the engineer catching up on the news while he waits for the dispatcher to give him a clear signal. Yeah, he’s getting paid to just sit there, but chasing trains across the Mojave Desert -- I’m having the fun!
Copyright © Craig Walker. All Rights Reserved.
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User Comments on this Article:
Posted by Arne Brown on May 13, 2008:
Great read Craig and some very good insights! What a shame that oscillating headlights are also gone from the mainline and that the SP era is over. At least we have so many great photos to remember it by!
Posted by Andrew Blaszczyk (2) on May 14, 2008:
Great read, Craig! This is a very timely article since I was given the opportunity to talk and listen to a few railroaders on vacation this past week. The first question my dad, brother and I were asked by one engineer was "Do you work for the railroad?" Each of our responses echoed the previous, "no." I'm in the position you were a few years ago of whether or not to make a hobby into a profession but I am also the "wimpy kid", but luckily I have a year+ to decide which path to take. Back to my point, it was interesting to hear stories of railfans actually making the job fun for this particular engineer in the mountains of Minnesota and how he'd mess with them by turning off/on the headlights. Who knows for that engineer seeing you chase them across the desert may have made that one day a little less "painful". Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Charles J Freericks on May 16, 2008:
Really enjoyable essay, Craig. I too was a passionate railfan at a young age, but never had a real interest in becoming a rail. For me it was due to my father's stories of his time working for the Pennsyvlania.
Posted by Jack B. on May 19, 2008:
Your story captures the essense of a railfan such as myself. Thanks for putting it in words.
Posted by Cameron Chapman on May 25, 2008:
Nice work Craig and I know what your saying since when I tell people about it they ask the same question "Aren't you going to work for the railroad?" and I would rather stay on the sideline and watch the trains go by and see them in the great and not so great surroundings.
Posted by canpac08 on May 28, 2008:
That was a interesting article about railroading and for the most part it was accurate. I would like to add though, that as a conductor I love the daily challanges of railroading and, don't mind the daily rituals of sitting and waiting. The rewards of helping Railfans, or waving to someone trackside makes my day. Especially young kids, there is not a hobby as fun or family friendly as railfanning. That is why I'm both a railroader and a Railfan
Posted by SteveD on June 6, 2008:
Good commentary. I'm one who actually went the working route for two summers(UP in Wyoming, NWP in NorCal), partly to avail myself to the opportunity even as an enthusiast. Ultimately came to your same conclusion, went back to school, took different career path, altho still beginning in transportation field. Your pix always appreciated, Craig(glad you got out on 6/1, etc.
Posted by Luke McIntyre on June 7, 2008:
Great read Craig. I also sometimes don't understand our hobby.
Posted by Andy Brouse on June 14, 2008:
Nice Article. Your absolutely right that the railroad is a hard place to work in. Trust me, I know, and I'm only 14. I work with a 45ton centercab locomotive and 6-axle heavyweight ex-prr M&W Passenger Cars.
Posted by Aaron Florin on June 23, 2008:
Craig, you hit the nail on the head! While I often ponder working for the railroad, I never take the urge seriously. Despite working as a paramedic, 60-hour work weeks on a "flexible schedule" or the occasional 48-hour shift never seem quite so bad when compared to the schedule of a conductor or engineer.
A good day of railfanning quells any voice of regret that I never hired on.
Posted by Scott Haugland on July 8, 2008:
Great article, Craig. Amazing picture!! One of my top 10 all time favorite train pictures! Superb detail amazing clarity. Human element mixed with massively powerful machine. I love it! Just for the record, my dream since I was 7 years old was to be in that engineers seat on that tunnel motor, but unfortunately I can't distinguish the red from the yellow on the signals. Color-blind.
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