The Three Railroaders

The three railroaders, Scooter Harris- Conductor, Bubba Walsh- Engineer, and Rocket Richard- Brakeman were finishing up laying down rail along Main 1 track in Rubber Canyon.

Rail Supervisor John Morris speaking on the train radio channel 70, “CRSL 6027 Conductor Scotter Harris, we have completed laying rail on main 2 and 1 track. We need to back up to Balentine Siding. The truck which is attached to the north part of the train needs to be separated at the siding so we can drive the truck back to the CRSL Maintenance Facility in Binsco. Please switch to radio channel 60.”

“Okay John, CRSL 6027 conductor Scooter is switching to channel 60 and monitoring channel 70 on my radio pack set. Is everybody else in the clear and on Channel 60? Please note a maintenance worker is in the driver’s seat of the truck and the brakeman in the passenger’s seat.”

Maintenance workers one by one acknowledge they are in the clear of the train and on radio channel 60.

Scooter on the train radio channel 60, “Brakeman Rocket everybody is in the clear. Are you ready to protect the shove of the rail train going north?”

“Yes conductor- Scooter, I am on channel 60 and ready to protect the shove of the train. “

At this moment a loaded freight train CRSL 5083 which is operating on radio channel 70 moves down main 1 track south to a stop before entering Rubber Canyon.

The brakes of CRSL6027 makes a loud hissing sound which grows stronger as the pistons disappear, and the train begins to move. The train movement starts at the south end of Rubber Canyon on main 1 track at 5 mph northbound.

Speaking on radio 60, “CRSL 6027 north brakeman Rocket protecting the point, let us start off with 50 cars.”

CRSL 5083 is stuck on a red signal at the north end of Rubber Canyon and wanting to head south on main 1 track and doesn’t hear anything on channel 70. The crew on the train is Micky Mantle- Conductor with a year experience and Marvis Hagler- Engineer who is brand new right out of engineer school.

Inside the cab of CRSL 5083, “Hey Micky we are on a red signal with a number plate to the entrance to Rubber Canyon so we can go restricted speed. Also, we don’t hear anything on the radio channel 70. So lets take off.”

“Okay Marvis, release the brakes of the train and we will head south on main 1 track in Rubber Canyon. I agree there is nobody working on channel 70.”

CRSL 5083 wheels start churning and grinding along the rails as the hissing increases profoundly. The pistons disappear as the brakes release as the train builds up speed into Rubber Canyon. The train squeaks loudly as it shifts from long curve to long curve. The speed of the train builds up to 15 mph.

In the canyon the two main tracks are very long and winding curves downhill from north to south. The visibility of the tracks is also poor.

Brakeman Rocket on radio channel 60, “CRSL 6027 North 35 cars, protecting the shove to a stop. Oh my gosh there is a train coming at us one mile up the track quickly. Put the freaking train in emergency and bail out now. They are going to run into us. Move it now people!”

In the CRSL5083 cab, “Marvis put the train in emergency now so it will stop! Crap were going hit that rail train with the truck on the head end. Brace for impact now. What radio channel are they on? We never knew a train was there!”

The train crew on CRSL 6027 which was on the south end of the rail train, Scooter, and Bubba bailed off the train after stopping it. The maintenance crew also bailed off the rail cars. Brakeman Rocket and the maintenance worker in the truck bailed at the same time.

The rail train (CRSL6027) and the south bound train CRSL 5083 make impact and the truck on the headend of CRSL 6027 is crushed. The rail train pivots off the main 1 track and falls into the canyon upon impact and the rail cars mows down trees one by one. CRSL 5083 squeaks to a stop while holding on the rails.

Screams and moaning comes from the workers and railroaders as they bail off to the side on the main 2 track. Brakeman Rocket lays on the other side of main 2 track on his back.

“Are you okay Rocket? I noticed your jacket is torn and is ripped from landing on the main 2 rail.”

“I am okay Scooter and only dazed. How is the maintenance worker who was riding in the truck with me?”

“He was crushed by the other train’s locomotive. The worker slid out from the truck but the locomotive fell on him. Very sad. All emergency workers were called to the scene. Everybody else is okay. The engineer and conductor from CRSL 5083 are shaken up but are okay. The trainmaster is on his way.

“Scooter why did they go down the canyon so fast? The visibility is very poor.”

“I do not know Rocket, but thanks for acting quickly on our end!” “Yeah, but I feel so bad I could not save the guy I was riding with in the truck!”