"Railroading is often called a dog's life, men curse it, for it tears them from home and loved
ones. Many times in the blackness of night when other folks are snugly in bed, they are compelled
to 'roll out' and face cold, disagreeable weather in order to keep the wheels of transportation
rolling"
"Yet railroading has its rewarding aspects, for 'riding the rails' is a combination of many and
varied experiences - it is the beauty of a glorious sunrise over the lofty heights of the mighty
Cascades, the warm glow of a harvest moon over valley farmlands, wedge of wild geese circling over
the green fields in springtime."
"Railroading is the red glow of caboose stoves when cold winds are howling around the cupola and the
air in the crummy is thick with the aroma of strong coffee brewing over a coal fire, blue tobacco
smoke and the fumes of oil lamps. It is the throb of air pumps and the pounding of rain on the cab
windows."
"Railroading is the bright streak of color that marks the flight of the steamliner, the solitary
glow of the green eye of a block signal. In the old days of steam power it was the rattle of tank
spouts when heat waves danced over the gleaming rails. It was the odor of creosote across the cool
path of shade, cast by dripping water tanks; the warm, friendly lights shining from the farm house
windows; the flickering glow of an oil torch as some runner "puts the fat on 'er."--Bill Tupper
