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Thursday, October 30, 2003
I keep holding on to dreams and these slow moving trains...and I don't know how long I can last. -Pat Green
Today was my last day working for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Of course, that is exactly what I said about 14 months ago, but life has a funny way of bringing you back to the places you thought you had left for good. Working on the train is easily the best job that I've ever had at this point in my life, although, the other nominees for that title are Wendy's burger flipper, landscaper for the uptight Yankee, and ticket agent. As eager as I am to leave, I'm still a little saddened by the thought that I may never again have the opportunity to work such a carefree job.
As Crew Chief, my unofficial duties included plumber, Coca-Cola machine repairman, janitor, electrician, tour guide, mediator, Dear Abby, etc. Despite the messes I've had to deal with...both figuratively and literally...there are many more good memories of the railroad. I feel like for a moment I was able to step into a time when things were simpler. The days of passenger trains are long gone, but I feel like I was able to experience a time when train traveling across the land was the only way to fly. So, here is a quick list of things I will miss about my days as a railroader:
-wearing an engineers hat to work everyday
-playing cards in the club car with the brakemen
-listening to old conductors and engineers tell their stories of working in the days of steam engines for the Chessie system, Southern Railway, the L & N, or ESC.
-being asked for my autograph (ok, that only happened twice)
-being asked if people can have their picture taken with me (that happened almost everyday)
-getting hit on by elderly women
-climbing up into the cupolo of the caboose
-yelling "All Aboard!"
-witnessing God's amazing creation everyday
-exchanging witty banter with eccentric old folks
-listening to a live bluegrass band during all my breaks
-giving smart alleck answers to dumb questions
-hearing statements like "cutting the nuts off a frog" and "humping a goat" and not batting an eyelash (this is legitimate train lingo...and not nearly as dirty as it sounds).
Check back here in the next week or so to find out where I'll end up next. As for a tagboard topic, what is the best/worst job that you have ever had?
Ok, Possum out.
"Ahh, there's nothing like flying across the country on a train." -Homer Simpson
Today was my last day working for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Of course, that is exactly what I said about 14 months ago, but life has a funny way of bringing you back to the places you thought you had left for good. Working on the train is easily the best job that I've ever had at this point in my life, although, the other nominees for that title are Wendy's burger flipper, landscaper for the uptight Yankee, and ticket agent. As eager as I am to leave, I'm still a little saddened by the thought that I may never again have the opportunity to work such a carefree job.
As Crew Chief, my unofficial duties included plumber, Coca-Cola machine repairman, janitor, electrician, tour guide, mediator, Dear Abby, etc. Despite the messes I've had to deal with...both figuratively and literally...there are many more good memories of the railroad. I feel like for a moment I was able to step into a time when things were simpler. The days of passenger trains are long gone, but I feel like I was able to experience a time when train traveling across the land was the only way to fly. So, here is a quick list of things I will miss about my days as a railroader:
-wearing an engineers hat to work everyday
-playing cards in the club car with the brakemen
-listening to old conductors and engineers tell their stories of working in the days of steam engines for the Chessie system, Southern Railway, the L & N, or ESC.
-being asked for my autograph (ok, that only happened twice)
-being asked if people can have their picture taken with me (that happened almost everyday)
-getting hit on by elderly women
-climbing up into the cupolo of the caboose
-yelling "All Aboard!"
-witnessing God's amazing creation everyday
-exchanging witty banter with eccentric old folks
-listening to a live bluegrass band during all my breaks
-giving smart alleck answers to dumb questions
-hearing statements like "cutting the nuts off a frog" and "humping a goat" and not batting an eyelash (this is legitimate train lingo...and not nearly as dirty as it sounds).
Check back here in the next week or so to find out where I'll end up next. As for a tagboard topic, what is the best/worst job that you have ever had?
Ok, Possum out.
"Ahh, there's nothing like flying across the country on a train." -Homer Simpson
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