To Shiny Rails

A handful of us got started on the interior cleanup of Caboose #210: http://www.friends-smvrr.org/091212.html

Virlon gave the Friends of the SMVRR a lesson on track warrants: http://www.friends-smvrr.org/091210.html

“Dog catching” was a new term to me. It’s when a crew is sent to relieve an existing crew on a train. In this case, I relieved Rafael about 4:45pm as conductor after he had already put in a full day with Celite and a 24-car train. All we had left to do was spot the last 3 cars and get home. Rob came along, too, and took these pictures (it was getting dark and we had work to do, so pictures took a back seat). That’s me in the second photo listening intently to James’ instructions, and I’m on the ground throwing a switch in the third photo. James was our engineer (first photo).

It was a red letter day for me today! It was my first “solo” run on the SMVRR as a qualified conductor. I put solo in quotes as James was my engineer and helped immensely in the process of getting it all done correctly. By the end of the day (7 hours on the train), I was worn out. This railroading stuff is hard work!

I got to thinking that conducting a train, at least for me, is much like conducting a choir. These are the two things I’ve experienced that are so fun and challenging at the same time that I think of absolutely nothing else when I’m doing them. It’s not that I don’t want to think of other things, it’s that I can’t because both require such focus. And because of that, these two activities are very relaxing in the long run. All the other cares just disappear for the time while I’m engaged.

The picture below was taken last July at a Friends of the SMVRR event. Virlon was running us through a basic training on hand signals and car coupling. I had neither the time nor the inclination to worry about photos today.

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad, with the help of the Friends, hosted the Motorcar Operators West (MOW) “Speeder” Run on the SMVRR today. Photos: http://www.smvrr.com/091114.html and http://www.friends-smvrr.org/091114.html.

I attended the annual meeting of the California Short Line Railroad Association (CSLRA.org) earlier this week (along with Matt and Rob Himoto). And guess what?! It was held (mostly) on a train. The coolest car was on the end with a theater view out the back of the train (pictured below). The rest of the pics are here: http://jf2.smugmug.com/Other/091110-CSLRA-BNSF/