Railroaders' Nostalgia > BAD MOVE

Back in my younger days,yeah.I thought I was a real
hot shot.I was car foreman at Sanford,Fl. and I thought
I could do anything on the railroad.Not
The Freedom Train,in 1977 overnighted in Sanford.

One of my explots.A friend of ours had a nice teenage dauther.
In the dark of night I managed to convince this  young lady
to pose for me on the front of the 4449.She did and somewhere
I have the photo.this was in January and it was cold,all she
wore was a bekini.

The next day,the 19th ( I remember because it was my birthday)
I got into the cab with Doyle,SCL pilot,fireman,FT crew and any
one else.who could squese in.In order to make an air test.
That said and done,no one told me to leave.WOW,I got a cab
ride in the 4449!

One of the crew got on top of the tender and was riding like a
live stearm locomotive.What the heck,if he can,so can I.
What a view we had,stearm blowing in our hair.We were being
chased and the chasers were cussing us for all their worth.
Two idiots riiding on the tender and runing our pictures.

Nearing Jacksonville,Doyle told every one to get down because
he did not want us up there passing SCL headquarters,Most
got down except my friend and my self.If he can stay,so can I.

Just south of town,at a location known as McGirts Creek the
railroad parrels US 92.At that time Doyle noticed "we" still
on the tender got OUT OF HIS SEAT and gave us HELL!.
I wanted to hide.Me a railraod offical doing such a dangerous
thing.I got down and tried to be invisable among the crew.
I stayed meek.I was EMBARRASED to say the least.
When we got to the Amtrak Station,I got off as soon as I could.
Did I say I wanted to hide?
I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.Horrors.My hair
was blown straight back and my face was black with soot..

Please pardon my grammer and spelling.This young punk is
now 84 and looking back at some stupid things I have done.
Haven't we all?
Uncle Joe
 

That's a scene I'd like to have been privy to.....

Did SR 92 share US 17 back then? I don't see SR 92 on current maps of the area.

Heck of a story. I'd have loved to see 4449 along that stretch of track. Or just rounding the curve in Orange Park just south of Kingsley and the PV storage yard.

Dome car ride minus the dome. Love it!

Arved Grass
Fleming Island, FL

Arved Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Did SR 92 share US 17 back then? I don't see SR 92
> on current maps of the area.
>
> Heck of a story. I'd have loved to see 4449 along
> that stretch of track. Or just rounding the curve
> in Orange Park just south of Kingsley and the PV
> storage yard.
>
> Dome car ride minus the dome. Love it!

My bad.Actually 17-92 split at Deland.17 all the way to Jax.

UJ

uncle joe, i'll bet you were a blast to work with............

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