Any Railroaders out there?

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Nov 2006 12:14 pm

Wish I could pack my steel and take it,They are not exactly portable.

Larry Hamilton · Post by **Larry Hamilton** » 30 Nov 2006 12:36 pm

L.L. Hamilton. Engineer for BNSF. 30 years, Hired out with the former ATSF.

Yeah, they would be kinda hard to tote around. Wish I could, make the layovers in Wellington,Ks. more tolerable.

I play a Desert Rose D-10, 9x8 or an Emmons D-10,8x7 Through a Black Box>Hilton pedal>Lexicon MX200. I have a Session 400, Evans LE-200, an a pair of Nashville 112's. Any amp sounds great, just depends on what I want to use a the time.

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Keep pickin', Larry

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Nov 2006 12:47 pm

Larry I'm a CSX conductor I will be going to engineering school very soon. I'm on the former B&O western consolidated roster, I go up to crestline oh. My family all worked on the railroad. Make sure you have your fire insurance up to date if you want off for christmas! I just spent 34 hours in the hotel they call me to work then a half hour behind me they deadhead a crew home! Oh well Lot's of pride out there though. I play a carter D10 and a sho-bud s10.

Mike Wilson · Post by **Mike Wilson** » 30 Nov 2006 1:47 pm

Engineer for CSX Railroad. Work out of Willard, Ohio. Live in Willard also. Makes it hard to keep a music gig. Still manage sometimes though. Have a lot of steel jams with area steel players I(and good players too I might add. Another who also works for CSX in another dept who is very good. We always have a good time when we get together. Gonna have another jam real soon. Let me know when you get back in town.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 30 Nov 2006 2:06 pm

As a labour lawyer, I routinely represent railway unions...does that count?

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 30 Nov 2006 3:30 pm

My good friend John Inmon ,used to play lead guitar for Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band wrote,and recorded a beautiful song a long time ago it's called "Railroad Man" http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,245170,00.html
Enjoy

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 30 Nov 2006 3:57 pm

One of the best songs Dylan ever performed was 'Railroad Boy' on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour and shown on TV 30 years ago(!), of course they left it off the LP release...

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Nov 2006 4:38 pm

Mike, I use to go to willard, Q368 and Q375 if my memory serves me right, since then they cut those pools off,I remember up at willard they sent a trainmaster to anger managment classes I can believe it. I had a bad run in with a RFE up there oh well. Do you go up to chicago? LC 1917

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Nov 2006 4:40 pm

Bob it sure does count just come to the union meeting and pick up the beer tab! Trust me we can do all the talking for you!LC 1917

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 30 Nov 2006 7:02 pm

I'm ex-CN (Canadian National Railways) Brakeman/Conductor/Yard Foreman and Legislative Rep for UTU Local 1122.

After they cut off the caboose in '92 I saw the writing on the wall and took the buyout; now I'm a "techno-peasant" for the big regional telco.

Do I miss it, you bet, 'cus there's nothing better than sitting in the hole on a 17,000 ton grain drag, waiting for the hotshots, pulling pins on the hump in a torrential downpour or hangin' off the side of a boxcar when it's 20 below at 3:30 the morning...right guys

Oh yeah, or you're first out all night, then getting called at 5 am for 7, 20 mins. after you finally got to sleep...but hey, SAFETY FIRST and ANY TIME IS TRAIN TIME

But seriously, the cameraderie was second to none, and I was a delegate at the Founding Convention for UTU Canada, so that was pretty cool.

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“Back then, everything was different, and you only saw it once; now everything’s the same and you see it over and over again"
-Peter Case
[This message was edited by Greg Simmons on 30 November 2006 at 07:12 PM.]

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Nov 2006 7:36 pm

Greg I hear ya brother! it is with out a doubt the eayiest job but dealling with fatigue well thats a hard one. Heck the writing one the wall now is ONE MAN CREW!!! so far they stopped it but for how long?I am currently the secratary to the local chairman of 1917,and president to my Carter D10!

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 30 Nov 2006 7:49 pm

Dad was an engineer for the Rock Island RR for 30 years before they went bankrupt in 1980 from pres cutting federal funds. Spent many a time away from home & holidays much like I've had to do with this law enforcemnt thing. I had many a hours by the phone waiting for that call from the yardmaster to say Dad's needed for the extraboard tonight, all so they could go out a bit as a couple. Sure wish they had pagers back then!
Grandpa was a fireman from Oklahoma when they still called em' that! That's how Mom & Dad met, my story & I'm stickin to it!

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 30 Nov 2006 8:19 pm

I'm not a railroader; but I can understand the romance of the RR. When I drive from Claremont, CA to Las Vegas going through Cajon Pass I'm always amazed at the freights going up the steep grade.

Through Cajon the trains have multi locomotives to make the climb, pulling so many cars.

There is a monster railroad yard in Barstow, CA.

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 30 Nov 2006 10:43 pm

[This message was edited by Duane Reese on 30 November 2006 at 11:03 PM.]

Peter Johannisse · Post by **Peter Johannisse** » 1 Dec 2006 5:09 am

Working long days, long nights and weekends in far places with a few man to get the job done in time. Mostly have a good feeling because like in Canada the cameraderie is second to none.
Makes it hard to practice and gig, so when I play the steel, I apreciate en enjoy it very much.
I am a surveyer/builder/designer/engineer working for a railroad-contractor in The Netherlands.
I can imagine it must be great to work on the USA railroads in that beautiful country.

Peter

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 1 Dec 2006 5:24 am

Not a rairoader, but a railfan.

This August a friend and I took Amtrak all around the US: DC-Chicago-SF-LA-SantaFe-Chicago, then me back to Providence.

In general, good service. Lots of time to think, write, and count the telephone poles. My friend is French and had never been west of DC. She saw how big our country is!

But I wish I could have set up the Carter in the vestibule to practice.

Chris

Klaus Caprani · Post by **Klaus Caprani** » 1 Dec 2006 6:56 am

I worked at the railway here for a couple of years back in my twenties (shunting). Couldn't combine it with gig'in though, because of the duty hours.

I loved the job though. Always crappy when you're not able to combine the second best job in the world with the best

I continue to be a great railfan anyway, just as I've been since I was a kid (My granddad was electrician at the diesel-shed in Aarhus). You guys have a lot of great railway in the US

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 1 Dec 2006 6:33 pm

While I've never worked for the railroads, I've been a life long railfan until amalgamation and downsizing began. I don't know how many times I was escorted to the gates of the Halifax roundhouse when I was a kid, until the staff and security realized I was seriously interest and prudent kid. Then, they took me up in the loco cabs any day I was there. I've also been a long time model railroader, and just recently selling my huge collection of items on eBay. I'm 69 and have to downsize myself, focusing mostly on music. George

Mike Hoover · Post by **Mike Hoover** » 1 Dec 2006 9:06 pm

AJ,

Telcom construction supv for the Union Pacific about to retire so i will have time to do more picking, bass player, learning steel. My job requires a lot of travel, motel 16 days a month by the time i learn something, i forget it by the time i get back home. 7 month and counting.

Mike[This message was edited by Mike Hoover on 01 December 2006 at 09:09 PM.]

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 1 Dec 2006 9:28 pm

Not a railroader, but I collect pocket watches---Among them are a Hamilton 992B and a 23J Illinois Bunn Special---and they're on time!!

Red Kilby · Post by **Red Kilby** » 1 Dec 2006 10:20 pm

I am a Locomotive Engineer for the Union Pacific out here in Colorado and have been for the past 16 years. I hired out in 1990, as a Brakeman/Conductor and 2 and a half years later I became a Hoghead, which is nickname for an engineer.

I know there are lots of railfans that are also steel players, but this is neet to see how many steel players out there, are Railroaders?????????
www.redkilby.com

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 1 Dec 2006 10:33 pm

I'm just a fan. Would love to be Locomotive Engineer.

Larry W. Jones · Post by **Larry W. Jones** » 2 Dec 2006 2:29 am

Here's a railroad song for you railroad guys. There's no music for it. Have fun making some. I'd love to hear it as an MP3.

Old Red Caboose (Larry W. Jones 11/30/2006) (song#4194)

He was feeble of leg and of limb
Glasses told his sight was dim
He put his pocket watch away
After forty years of railroad use
And he thought about the days
Spent in the old red caboose

Yes, he was feeble of leg and of limb
And glasses told his sight was dim
He could barely see the signal's glow
Though he could hear the whistle's blow
He knew there was no more excuse
For ridin' in the old red caboose

Every day younger men would show
And he knew it was time for him to go
He knew they'd be tested by the rain
And when the train plowed the snow
But it was time for him to turn it loose
And say goodbye to the old red caboose

He put his pocket watch away
After forty years of railroad use
And he thought about the days
Spent in the old red caboose
And he thought about the days
Spent in the old red caboose

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Kingwood Kowboy

Manfred Schall · Post by **Manfred Schall** » 2 Dec 2006 5:49 am

No railroader myself but a big fan of US RR.
My favorite is NS in the "South" but CSX is not bad, too

Keep an eye open to the rails all the time when in the US. Have visited some western hot spots as well like Cajon or Tehachapi loop.
Lot of fun.

Cheers,
Manfred

Klaus Caprani · Post by **Klaus Caprani** » 2 Dec 2006 6:54 am

Would love to see the Horseshoe Curve

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com