This is some incredible footage of what railroading used to be like, It's awesome to see this entire journey documented and that scene with the snowball getting thrown at you guys from the guy on the siding waiting at 1:02:45 is absolutely hilarious. Must have been a time and adventure with every run you all went on together.
Thank you very much for taking the time to watch! Yes, we definitely had some fun together as colleagues. There were still the us against them mentality between labor and management, and while the pay wasn’t great with a company with which we were employed, it was still cool to run equipment from BNSF.
the conversation that was going on around 5:49 was really interesting. it was nice to see two people able to talk freely and yet professionally at once without anyone getting up in arms. now these days its all eggshells. I am glad you posted this time capsule of what life once was. it seems fun. i was just a tiny 6 year old then.
I love the ride alongs.there really interesting hearing the engeneer and conductor just talking about the train and personal stuff.Alot of responsibility running a freight train or any train. much thanks. ffor the video post and a big thumbs up
Great video! I was a UP conductor. Had a few sd40-2s on road jobs. Love the light hearted atmosphere in the video. Wish all my trips could have been that enjoyable.
I began as a CNW employee out of Proviso in Chicago, and it was a lot of fun until UP took over!! I have over 30 years in the industry, but I still have 9 more years to get the age before I can leave the railroad!
What about lost lives and millions in destroyed equipment, because some idiot crew were too distracted with "electronic devices"? Same reason truckers are fined $6000, plus charged with a misdemeanor for using an "electronic device" while driving. 😏
@@testosteroneinc.3800 I was merely stating a fact about using "electronic devices" on trains back in the day and in no way condoning their use as such. The use of most electronic devices is dangerous while operating just about any moving equipment including skateboards (even so called "hands free" phone use is distracting). As the bumper sticker says, "PUT IT DOWN AND DRIVE!!!"
@@testosteroneinc.3800 There are definitely two sides to that one. Many of us did it, but we were smart enough to know when to focus. Like you say, it only takes one or two to screw it up for everyone else. However, sometimes I feel safer without the distractions, especially if you have a fight with the spouse, you can shut the phone off without letting it affect your job and concentration.
This is the best railroad content I’ve seen on UA-cam! Please upload more of these if you have them. What ever happened to conductor Rust? The camaraderie between you two was amazing! This was such a different perspective, two people relaxing and railroading at the same time. I won’t look at another railroad video the same way now.
Thank you for the kind words! I have posted everything that I have. Conductor Rust left IMRL shortly after I did and she went back to school to become a college professor. I lost track of her about 15 years ago.
I used to get excited at the end of the Chicago Central when we got run threw BN C30-7s on your guys coal trains....3 of those were better then 8 Paducah GP10s
@@warbonds they were jumpy, but they could pull a hell of a coal train....they are still running in Brasil for Rumo/all, and MRS....although the days are numbered on the ALL line....they were regauged to metric and meter
My uncle worked on the RR for over thirty years. He started with the GM&O in Jackson, TN early 70s, and retired in 05 under CN working out of Fulton, KY.
Thanks for a glimpse of a former Milwaukee line I knew little about. And, btw, it's a good thing Iowa is flat, or you might have had to make another trip or two up Rutledge ;-) I have read about it before, but now have a much deeper respect for it now. Have you ever been up Red Barn hill east of Savanah? Heard that was another tough one for the "flat" midwest. Looking forward to any future gems you might have. RTH
Can't believe they made you guys take 2 trips up the hills. Is that still practiced today? I guess now they have TV monitors on you in cab. Big brother always watching. Paranoia will destroy ya. Looks like great job at the time.
Yeah guys. I worked for Conrailn for a time worked the extra board as a breakman .Its nice to see the old school gauges Brake pipe, pressure A Bi Any how A BIG thanks for posting!
Im watching my second IMRL coaltraine. Speaking of coaltrains . Do you remember Carlos Santana & Stevie Ray Vaughn playing a song called coaltrane A real blues song
I will back you up on that.....when I got a offer to buyout I did it...at 42 years old I bought a house in Florida and have no regrets....when I hired on in 1994 it was fun....by 2008 if your toenails were not clipped right it's 90 days off unpaid and investigation time....doing my final 6 years as a steering wheel holder on the super slab.....now that's getting politically bad.
@@trainandtruckmodeler786 I got my CDL back in 1998. I can tell you all these new regs, are not because of the govs overreaching. There's a lot of guys out there, that shouldn't have gotten a license. Texting, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, brake checking 4wheelers, tossing pee bottles out of their moving trucks, going #2 an offramp and leaving it for some poor worker to clean up, etc... Truckers brought it on themselves!! The sooner we get autonomous trucks, the better!!
@@testosteroneinc.3800 sure has changed since I rode with dad's cousin in the 1980s....before the railway I drove semi dump in Chicago which is what I think helped with my railway job, that and having a lot of family in rail....when I came back out here I was shocked.....I'm not gonna mention the company but there was a 23 year old man that was crying IN TEARs because he hadn't gone home in 4 days.... I been out for 278 days now and still love it....I don't like being in the Midwest now with it getting colder, but I pulled up my underwater and jeans, fasten my belt after a shower at the pilot and go on my marry way....as you say pee bottles, they are all over Arizona and Cali rest areas and truck stops....I feel for the flying j and TA yard people.
I’m just finishing up my trucking career after 47 plus years behind a wheel recuperating from a total knee replacement that I think may have been caused from climbing in and out in all kinds of weather but always wanted to be a locomotive engineer. Too late now I guess. Still would like to learn it though
Yes, when a crew is going to leave a train unattended, the engineer will set all the airbrakes on the entire train and handbrakes on the locomotives while the conductor will set handbrakes on the cars. The number on handbrakes on the cars can be anywhere from a couple to maybe upwards of 30 depending on where the train will be left.
Hi my name is Neil schwerdt are you still running engine,s for the BNSF? I'm a big BNSF train guy. I've got a ho train layout 18x14 out in the garage. I run MRL Montana Rail link. From Neil
Yes, I am the engineer in the video. I shot the footage many years ago, and I finally transferred from VHS to digital. Since I wanted to initially share it with friends, I placed it on UA-cam, and its been pleasantly overwhelming to see how popular my videos have become! To answer your second question, I still have 11 years to go before I can retire. I began my career just after I turned 20, and became a promoted engineer a few month before turning 22. The industry has changed tremendously, but I still enjoy what Im paid to do.
@@warbonds How awesome! What railroad are you working for, BNSF? Hopefully the industry will change soo. It's seems to be getting more superficial and money oriented.
110% serious. If you get past a red signal, you have potentially killed yourself and the crew of another train that you might be meeting. If you haven’t already seen it, look up BNSF Kismet Collision, and you will see why running a red can be a deadly mistake.
@@warbonds Do (newer; less experienced) engineers sometimes misjudge their stopping distance, and slide past a red? Can they hide it; or would the dispatcher see it on his screen? Do they need to reverse to get back in front of the signal? Backing up a long train must be tricky; without a caboose and tail end brakeman on the point. (Or the "van" as (Canadian) CP crew used to call them.
Thanks for your question Brian. Around the time that this video was taken in 1997 and the years prior, the only way that you could possibly cover up a red signal violation is if the dispatcher knew you and tried to help you cover it up if you just nosed past it which happened in a few very rare instances. However, as a rule of thumb, in CTC territory, they know where you’re at at all times, and if you run a red signal, it sends off alarms, so they know, without a shadow of a doubt what has occurred. However, with positive train control, or PTC, the system is designed to stop you before you have a red signal violation.
I look so young, thank you for putting this on here Eric. Brings back memories.
The good old days!
Were you the cute conductor?
@@bellboy4074 I didn't think Travis was THAT cute! lol 😉
Good train operations Eric
Great cab ride
Cute conductor in the beginning
Cool power also
This is some incredible footage of what railroading used to be like, It's awesome to see this entire journey documented and that scene with the snowball getting thrown at you guys from the guy on the siding waiting at 1:02:45 is absolutely hilarious. Must have been a time and adventure with every run you all went on together.
Thank you very much for taking the time to watch! Yes, we definitely had some fun together as colleagues. There were still the us against them mentality between labor and management, and while the pay wasn’t great with a company with which we were employed, it was still cool to run equipment from BNSF.
Good look into the railroading during that time period. I remember it well.
BN/BNSF 1978-2010
the conversation that was going on around 5:49 was really interesting. it was nice to see two people able to talk freely and yet professionally at once without anyone getting up in arms. now these days its all eggshells. I am glad you posted this time capsule of what life once was. it seems fun. i was just a tiny 6 year old then.
Yes, I was definitely easy because we had a small crewbase, and we were like family working together. Even management wasn’t as bad at the time.
@@warbonds must have been nice to have a work family to run trains with.
I love the ride alongs.there really interesting hearing the engeneer and conductor just talking about the train
and personal stuff.Alot of responsibility running a freight train or any train. much thanks. ffor the video post and a big thumbs up
I wish BNSF would bring back this paint scheme on some of their units, the BN was always my favorite for diesels!
I grew up around the BN in Galesburg, Illinois, and I certainly miss it as well.
I loved this paint scheme. Too bad it's pumpkin orange now.
Yes I really want some of their units to be painted in Cascade Green & Black 😢 I love BN it’s really rare to find them nowadays
Great cab footage of Renee singing Clapton in that BN C30-7! I was surprised/impressed you could hear that well in that thing!
having these on DVD would be cool. these are awesome time capsules.
Great video! I was a UP conductor. Had a few sd40-2s on road jobs. Love the light hearted atmosphere in the video. Wish all my trips could have been that enjoyable.
I began as a CNW employee out of Proviso in Chicago, and it was a lot of fun until UP took over!! I have over 30 years in the industry, but I still have 9 more years to get the age before I can leave the railroad!
@@warbonds I was only out there 10. I survived the Hoxie, AR head on train crash in 2014. My body still hurts from that today.
A good mood in the cab!😎😎 I enjoyed this video!Thank you 👍
Thank you very much! ☺
Back in the day when train crews could use "electronic devices" while running a train and pretty much no fear of getting caught.
What about lost lives and millions in destroyed equipment, because some idiot crew were too distracted with "electronic devices"?
Same reason truckers are fined $6000, plus charged with a misdemeanor for using an "electronic device" while driving. 😏
@@testosteroneinc.3800 I was merely stating a fact about using "electronic devices" on trains back in the day and in no way condoning their use as such. The use of most electronic devices is dangerous while operating just about any moving equipment including skateboards (even so called "hands free" phone use is distracting). As the bumper sticker says, "PUT IT DOWN AND DRIVE!!!"
@@testosteroneinc.3800 There are definitely two sides to that one. Many of us did it, but we were smart enough to know when to focus. Like you say, it only takes one or two to screw it up for everyone else.
However, sometimes I feel safer without the distractions, especially if you have a fight with the spouse, you can shut the phone off without letting it affect your job and concentration.
This is the best railroad content I’ve seen on UA-cam! Please upload more of these if you have them. What ever happened to conductor Rust? The camaraderie between you two was amazing! This was such a different perspective, two people relaxing and railroading at the same time. I won’t look at another railroad video the same way now.
Thank you for the kind words! I have posted everything that I have.
Conductor Rust left IMRL shortly after I did and she went back to school to become a college professor. I lost track of her about 15 years ago.
Theres another retired engineer who was with CSX who has footage up, Mike Barnett . You remind me of him.
Yes, I have seen his videos as well! As you can probably tell, I can certainly relate to the enthusiasm he had on the job as well! ☺
@@warbonds i can for sure, glad i found you
I used to get excited at the end of the Chicago Central when we got run threw BN C30-7s on your guys coal trains....3 of those were better then 8 Paducah GP10s
You mean 8 wannabe steam engines blowing every color of smoke you could imagine? Wonder how that ran through East Dubuque tunnel...
Yes, the C30-7s were beasts!
@@warbonds they were jumpy, but they could pull a hell of a coal train....they are still running in Brasil for Rumo/all, and MRS....although the days are numbered on the ALL line....they were regauged to metric and meter
My uncle worked on the RR for over thirty years. He started with the GM&O in Jackson, TN early 70s, and retired in 05 under CN working out of Fulton, KY.
He definitely goes back a long way with GM&O! Thanks for taking the time to watch! ☺
694 moving into plant on tight curve with 118 loaded hoppers. Looks sketchy. Amazing 👏
We did it all the time for years, and it still goes on under the CP.
Excellent video enjoyed it
Thank you very much for your kind words and taking the time to watch!
Great stuff, thanks Eric
Thank you Dave!
This is a really cool video, very enlightening! Thank You!
Great video!How did the baby do?Healthy?
You ever crew a train through the Utah area? My grandpa retired in 2000 and spent most of his time between Helper yard and Provo yard.
I have only worked in the Midwest in the 30 years that I've been in the industry.
Thanks for a glimpse of a former Milwaukee line I knew little about. And, btw, it's a good thing Iowa is flat, or you might have had to make another trip or two up Rutledge ;-) I have read about it before, but now have a much deeper respect for it now. Have you ever been up Red Barn hill east of Savanah? Heard that was another tough one for the "flat" midwest. Looking forward to any future gems you might have.
RTH
Can't believe they made you guys take 2 trips up the hills.
Is that still practiced today?
I guess now they have TV monitors on you in cab. Big brother always watching.
Paranoia will destroy ya.
Looks like great job at the time.
Yeah guys.
I worked for Conrailn for a time
worked the extra board as a breakman .Its nice to see the old school gauges Brake pipe, pressure
A Bi
Any how A BIG thanks for posting!
Wonder if any of these guys still work for the RR? PSR has all but screwed working for the Class 1's.
Im watching my second IMRL coaltraine. Speaking of coaltrains .
Do you remember Carlos Santana &
Stevie Ray Vaughn playing a song called coaltrane A real blues song
I like that console a real toucch of blue on your thrittle & foreword . reverse dynamic. brakeing
They sayy a picture speaks a thousand words
back when railroading was fun, modern day railroading is garbage.
I will back you up on that.....when I got a offer to buyout I did it...at 42 years old I bought a house in Florida and have no regrets....when I hired on in 1994 it was fun....by 2008 if your toenails were not clipped right it's 90 days off unpaid and investigation time....doing my final 6 years as a steering wheel holder on the super slab.....now that's getting politically bad.
@@trainandtruckmodeler786 I got my CDL back in 1998. I can tell you all these new regs, are not because of the govs overreaching. There's a lot of guys out there, that shouldn't have gotten a license. Texting, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, brake checking 4wheelers, tossing pee bottles out of their moving trucks, going #2 an offramp and leaving it for some poor worker to clean up, etc... Truckers brought it on themselves!! The sooner we get autonomous trucks, the better!!
@@testosteroneinc.3800 sure has changed since I rode with dad's cousin in the 1980s....before the railway I drove semi dump in Chicago which is what I think helped with my railway job, that and having a lot of family in rail....when I came back out here I was shocked.....I'm not gonna mention the company but there was a 23 year old man that was crying IN TEARs because he hadn't gone home in 4 days.... I been out for 278 days now and still love it....I don't like being in the Midwest now with it getting colder, but I pulled up my underwater and jeans, fasten my belt after a shower at the pilot and go on my marry way....as you say pee bottles, they are all over Arizona and Cali rest areas and truck stops....I feel for the flying j and TA yard people.
I’m just finishing up my trucking career after 47 plus years behind a wheel recuperating from a total knee replacement that I think may have been caused from climbing in and out in all kinds of weather but always wanted to be a locomotive engineer. Too late now I guess. Still would like to learn it though
@@Retired88M find a operating railroad museum to volunteer at.
Is that what that means when they say tie the train down , i hear that every so often
Yes, when a crew is going to leave a train unattended, the engineer will set all the airbrakes on the entire train and handbrakes on the locomotives while the conductor will set handbrakes on the cars. The number on handbrakes on the cars can be anywhere from a couple to maybe upwards of 30 depending on where the train will be left.
❤❤❤
I think my father worked with that engineer...
Hi my name is Neil schwerdt are you still running engine,s for the BNSF?
I'm a big BNSF train guy.
I've got a ho train layout 18x14 out in the garage.
I run MRL Montana Rail link.
From Neil
Are you the engineer in this film? When did you retire? Do you miss railroading?
Yes, I am the engineer in the video. I shot the footage many years ago, and I finally transferred from VHS to digital. Since I wanted to initially share it with friends, I placed it on UA-cam, and its been pleasantly overwhelming to see how popular my videos have become!
To answer your second question, I still have 11 years to go before I can retire. I began my career just after I turned 20, and became a promoted engineer a few month before turning 22. The industry has changed tremendously, but I still enjoy what Im paid to do.
@@warbonds How awesome! What railroad are you working for, BNSF? Hopefully the industry will change soo. It's seems to be getting more superficial and money oriented.
@@warbondsthank you for the video
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954.
The railroads have done everything in their power to ruin the career for us.
🚂👍
Are you serious if you go past the red signal you dont get a paycheck? You get taken off the train?
110% serious. If you get past a red signal, you have potentially killed yourself and the crew of another train that you might be meeting.
If you haven’t already seen it, look up BNSF Kismet Collision, and you will see why running a red can be a deadly mistake.
@@warbonds Do (newer; less experienced) engineers sometimes misjudge their stopping distance, and slide past a red? Can they hide it; or would the dispatcher see it on his screen? Do they need to reverse to get back in front of the signal? Backing up a long train must be tricky; without a caboose and tail end brakeman on the point. (Or the "van" as (Canadian) CP crew used to call them.
Thanks for your question Brian. Around the time that this video was taken in 1997 and the years prior, the only way that you could possibly cover up a red signal violation is if the dispatcher knew you and tried to help you cover it up if you just nosed past it which happened in a few very rare instances. However, as a rule of thumb, in CTC territory, they know where you’re at at all times, and if you run a red signal, it sends off alarms, so they know, without a shadow of a doubt what has occurred.
However, with positive train control, or PTC, the system is designed to stop you before you have a red signal violation.
Women were cool back then nowadays what he said to her would've been sexual harassment
Ugh GOD, get a room!
Lol!
E h
This was a fun video. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for the kind words and interest! ☺