Railroaders' Nostalgia > The most interesting ride along in the cab

I was wondering who has stories to tell of an interesting or maybe famous person that took a train ride with you.   Over the years I have read about how Walt Disney or Jack Benny would ride in the cab of a passenger train for the experience.   Over 20 years ago,  the most interesting person that ever rode with me was Denny Matthews, radio announcer for the Kansas City royals.  He had done some PSA work regarding RR safety, and asked only for a cab ride as payment which the  BNSF agreed to, so he rode with me from KC down to Wellington, Ks.    Rightfully proud of his world series ring, he loved talking about the RR rather than baseball.  Warm and friendly man, really nice guy, was a real pleasure to meet him.

My jealousy is now in orbit! Baseball and railfanning are two of my greatest passions. And you got a fantastic 2 fer 1 here! You knocked it outta the park with this thread, my friend! 😎

Posted from iPhone

Good one. Hard to believe, my most interesting ride along I was working a great job for giving rides when one nephew inquired about a ride and by the end of the week both nephews, both nieces and much of each family went along on a ten mile round trip crowding sixteen people into the cab of the GP30. Two crew road in 2nd unit. Maybe record?
JB

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When I worked for the San Luis & Rio Grande, cowboy/country singer Michael Martin Murphy frequently would ride with me in the cab of 2-8-0 #18. He would perform a concert at the summit of La Veta Pass at Fir station.  We'd make a quick stop at the last road crossing near Sierra and he'd ride the sandbox up the hill.  He really got a kick out of #18 working up the hill.

Engineer trainee (yes, he was running the train, kind of). 1996 Operatrion Lifesaver "west" of Modesto, CA, on the SP. If you take a close look at the speedo on the console it's sitting right about 60 mph.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/25 14:50 by Railbaron.

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atsfer Wrote:
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> I was wondering who has stories to tell of an
> interesting or maybe famous person that took a
> train ride with you.   Over the years I have
> read about how Walt Disney or Jack Benny would
> ride in the cab of a passenger train for the
> experience.   Over 20 years ago,  the most
> interesting person that ever rode with me was
> Denny Matthews, radio announcer for the Kansas
> City royals.  He had done some PSA work regarding
> RR safety, and asked only for a cab ride as
> payment which the  BNSF agreed to, so he rode
> with me from KC down to Wellington, Ks.   
> Rightfully proud of his world series ring, he
> loved talking about the RR rather than baseball. 
> Warm and friendly man, really nice guy, was a real
> pleasure to meet him.

Interesting post. Do you think Denny Matthews had previous cab rides, or do you believe that it was his first?

Anyhow, I could imagine how Denny reacted on that one. My first ride in a Santa Fe locomotive cab was also between KC and Wellington (1991 hot intermodal pulled by a Superfleet 4-unit consist). It definitely was different than ones I had experienced on the N&W

As a crewman and Fireman on the 4449 on the American Freedom Train I remember my first cab ride on the locomotive. I was in awe of the experience and the teamwork between the the Engineer which was of course was Doyle McCormack and the Fireman who would change between crew members. One day I was riding in the cab with Al Phillips doing the firing when he stood up and said it's time you got some experience at the firing valve. I found out later that this had  been prearranged with Doyle. Down the railroad we were going with Al giving me tips and watching Doyle for changes on this big oil burner. I did okay and just couldn't believe I was firing a GS4. Al was a great instructor and later on that day when we were done Doyle walked by me and smiled! I knew then that I had taken my first step joining the Steam Fraternity.

sp3204 Wrote:
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> As a crewman and Fireman on the 4449 on the
> American Freedom Train I remember my first cab
> ride on the locomotive. I was in awe of the
> experience and the teamwork between the the
> Engineer which was of course was Doyle McCormack
> and the Fireman who would change between crew
> members. One day I was riding in the cab with Al
> Phillips doing the firing when he stood up and
> said it's time you got some experience at the
> firing valve. I found out later that this had 
> been prearranged with Doyle. Down the railroad we
> were going with Al giving me tips and watching
> Doyle for changes on this big oil burner. I did
> okay and just couldn't believe I was firing a GS4.
> Al was a great instructor and later on that day
> when we were done Doyle walked by me and smiled! I
> knew then that I had taken my first step joining
> the Steam Fraternity.

Great story Craig, and that is also pretty much the same as how I "broke in" firing on 4449, i.e. with Al Philips. I can remember a number of times that the cab was so full of people that in order to see what Doyle was doing with the throttle, after the two short air blasts on the air horn valve lever, I had to look over at the top of the throttle quadrant to see which way it was moving. Only Doyle can relate to what FAMOUS people rod the cab of 4449 over the years..

Back in 1989 I had an 18 year old kid named Ed Dickens ride with me up the hill out of Chama on the 484.

He says he still owes me a cab ride.....

Back in 1987 I rode on an Operation Lifesaver Tran from Sacramento to Los Angeles. Between Bakersfield and Mojave I rode in the locomotive and Michael Gross from the TV show Family Ties also rode in the locomotive. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/25 22:30 by OliveHeights.

When we were shooting the Newton Boys in Austin, Dwight Yoakum came up to the cab and asked to ride to the movie set. We happily to take him, and he enjoyed the ride.

I was working snow duty between Truckee California and Emigrant Gapi in the early 2000's and the storm had subsided so that day I was running the spreader.  As we were getting ready to depart Truckee up into the spreader came photographer Dick Dorn and Richard Steinheimer.  Though he was in declining health Mr. Steinheimer thoroughly enjoyed our run that day.

Over the years I had a couple of cab rides on the Texas State Railroad. , one at the insistence of the crew which I had known for years and were also club members with me in Southwestern Live Steamers.
Another was a gift from EarlK, a very nice and knowledgeable fella on the TSR.. I rode 3 trains he ran in Alamosa, Colo. behind the 2-6-0 and 2-8-0. Enjoyed every trip.

tomstp Wrote:
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> Over the years I had a couple of cab rides on the
> Texas State Railroad. , one at the insistence of
> the crew which I had known for years and were also
> club members with me in Southwestern Live
> Steamers.
> Another was a gift from EarlK, a very nice and
> knowledgeable fella on the TSR.. I rode 3 trains
> he ran in Alamosa, Colo. behind the 2-6-0 and
> 2-8-0. Enjoyed every trip

It was always good to to have you around, Tom...