Railroaders' Nostalgia > Unregulated Gambling On Amtrak's "Desert Wind"

I heard this story from a couple of other employees. If you knew the "main character" (let's call him "C.S."), there would be no doubt in your mind that this story was very plausible.

"C.S." was working Amtrak's DESERT WIND and decided to make things a little more interesting for passengers headed from Southern California to Vegas by initiating a cute little gambling game. A variation of this game is frequently performed on chartered buses that run to and from Vegas.

For those who wanted to play the little impromptu gambling game, "C.S." would get on the P.A. and ask everyone to hand over a dollar to him as he went through the train. In addition to handing over a dollar, the passengers were also asked to give "C.S." a slip of paper with their name and their best estimate of the exact time that the train would cross the border between California and Nevada. After the "pool" of money was collected, and right after the train entered Nevada, the passenger who had the most accurate guess of the border crossing time was paged on the P.A. and the "pool" of money was given to that person.

That's how the "game" was supposed to be played. If it were an honest game. But, remember, we're talking about "C.S." here. In reality, the "winner" who was paged on the P.A. was actually a fictitious person and the money ended up in the pocket of "C.S." All of this came unravelled because, one day, after the P.A. announcement was made that, "Joe Schmoe of Hawaiian Gardens is our lucky winner of $250.00 in the 'Desert Wind mileage guess-timate raffle'!", a losing passenger demanded to be introduced to Joe Schmoe, the "winner."

You can't be introduced to someone who doesn't exist.

After this scandal, word had it that "C.S." decided to give up all the headaches associated with dealing with the general public as a passenger conductor and returned to his home freight road. He's retired now. Maybe he's hanging out in Vegas and fixing boxing matches or seeing how strong magnets confuse and manipulate slot machines.

Among many other reasons, maybe this is one more as to why the DESERT WIND is just a memory.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/13 14:03 by CA_Sou_MA_Agent.

I am shocked, shocked I tell you, to find gambling here!

I will bet you ten dollars no such gambling existed!!

Norm

aronco Wrote:
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> I will bet you ten dollars no such gambling
> existed!!
>
> Norm


Dang, I'll call your $10, and raise you $50.............

I won this deal flying to Hawaii once - the 1/2 way point. Within 2 minutes. Bottle of champagne

John Gezelius
Tustin, CA

I've heard of "on-track betting," but this was ridiculous!

RuleG Wrote:
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> I've heard of "on-track betting," but this was
> ridiculous!


LOL!!!!!

I was in a pool once to guess how long it would take for No. 5 to pass through Moffat Tunnel. I didn't win and now I am suspicious.

OliveHeights Wrote:
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> I was in a pool once to guess how long it would
> take for No. 5 to pass through Moffat Tunnel. I
> didn't win and now I am suspicious.

10 minutes, 30 seconds

OliveHeights Wrote:
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> I was in a pool once to guess how long it would
> take for No. 5 to pass through Moffat Tunnel. I
> didn't win and now I am suspicious.

The conductor of your train belatedly thanks you for your monetary contribution! LOL!

I will bet you ten dollars no such gambling existed!!

Norm

Oh yes Norm your have been there as I know. Betting on the time the train would arrive at LA Union station or how many freight trains we would pass. I think I have won once or twice. How many time did you win and kept all the money?

Dennis