I was an SP Trainman , Engineman and lastly a Signalman. Hired out in Eugene on 9/79. Worked all over Oregon , Arizona and Tracy California. Took the buyout in 87 and went to Signal dept in Brooklyn , lasted until 94 and walked across the parking lot and hired on as a Signalman for the light rail in Portland. Best thing I did for my family. Stayed with them for 19 years.
@@tsgmultimedia It was good until the railroad decides it doesn't need you anymore. Just like any career, the company is always looking for a way to eliminate your job!
Great story of your time as a brakeman, my dad was a brakeman for the sp at gemco in the valley and worked on the Northridge switcher, he would tell me simlar stories he also worked the same routes as you in the past, I remember him taking me and my mom up to Taylor yard to the yard office at night to pick up paper work and stuff. I always remember the old candy machine there next to the bulletin boards and the old converted baggage car painted dark gray sitting on a spur track that was used for storing old files of paper for the office storage . You can hear the frogs chirping away in the Los Angeles river, and the huge orange spiders sitting in the center of there webs right out side of the yard office.
Best trip I ever had from the Shops to Bakersfield, I was on the second unit since we had a fireman and fell asleep before Burbank Jct. and woke up at Caliente. I don't know if we stopped, nor did I care.
@@rodonis88 anything good! Always liked the 8200 SD40T2s, they were new and might have an operating A/C they always had a smooth ride and you had plenty of room with the large “front porch.” SP also had great large green chairs in those units also. Least favorite anything with a smelly toilet!
Great video Ozzie.had laugh I once sat in the front seat in the carryall and pissed off John Peterman on a deadhead to Mojave. .Great story about DD Burke using a Berry pistol to call in the rear brakeman .Great narration of the years we spent together on the. Mountain
This was such a nice video..I spent 87 through 90 in Tehachapi and Bakersfield. Very familier with the area.. commuted to LA a lot from Tehachapi..I was working EMS during that time and I did not have that much time to railfan..I am a PTI driver now out of Portola CA. It was neat of you describing what a brakeman does with orders etc. and dark areas.
Very thorough and interesting description of taking the LABRF over the main line back in the late 1970's. Thank you Mike Osborne for the enjoyable video! Great job!! Mike Armstrong
Taken this same trip with the Pacific Rail Society in 1970 . I was a 12 year old rail fan, and my parents and a buddy also enjoyed all scenery. Classic streamlined, dome and vending machine cars , was really a cool trip. Sounds of a train ride before continuously welded rail was a fast metronome experience! Thanks for a awesome story.
San Fernando / Sylmar born , raised 1952 , hiked along those tracks many times , San Fernando road I remember those trains would be haul'in ass into LA , and always a caboose and a wave ! I made a bad decision and moved up north Cal. after the 71 quake , Here it is the end of 2024 and was told those tracks into Newhall tunnel are not main line anymore ? is that true ? Great video and fun stories , thanks Mike
I remember the conductor usually riding in the front seat next to the carryall driver. However, I do not recall any other particular place the rest of us sat. I always sat in the back whatever brakeman I was.
Were you describing a running air test? WB trains did this at East Truckee prior to ascending Donner Pass. There was also a dragging equipment detector. Conductors would call the head end and first announce a “dark dragger”, and then the set and release for the running air test.
I switched from LA to the Bakersfield board and trains to Colton or Fresno. When doing Colton, around Monolith we would put in our Carl’s Jr. order to pick up in Mojave. Yes it was free! Always got the Super Star
Speaking of Taylor Yard anyone here ever work the top end of A yard herder job? Or engineers locker room herder? As a brakeman, I also did switchman jobs when needed. That’s 8 hour shifts
A little jiggle with the lantern is the “stretch em” or-and expanding outward motion with hands. Could mention that when cutting in the air you have to tap on the angle cock moving it slowly in little increments until fully open because if you open too fast you big hole the train.
Another reason to be the head brakeman is that you don’t have to walk the train at meets. Though there were a lot of younger engineers, I did have some old grumpy ones too.
I grew up with the SP in the Davis Sacramento area in the 1970's and early 1980's. I probably graduated from high school about 2 years before Mike. I really wished I would have gone to work for the SP at that time but I didn't. I later traveled to and through the Rockies and got Rio Grande fever but today I am interested in both the SP and Rio Grande. There are some really nice models out on the market now for both railroads for 70's and 80's era modeling. Was that a Dell Taco soda? I haven't seen a Dell Taco since I was last in California years ago. Live in Virginia how, thankfully.
I hired out March 17, 1979. Went to brakeman’s class at the West Colton yard. After that, was put on the LA Brakeman’s extra board. First assignment was the Riverside Local. So many of the jobs were taking a train from Taylor Yard to Colton. Sit around and take a train back to LA. Boring and low pay. Enjoyed the San Luis Obispo run and also would occasionally be augmented to the Colton board for Yuma trips. 197 miles and can be done in under 5 hours on a hot train.
Occasionally you’d get a GMC carryall. A lot times when working a satellite yard, there would be no carryall available to return you to Taylor. So you would call a cab, and a clerk at Taylor would pay the driver.
I used to work with old heads who signed on in 1950’s and watched in awe as they didn’t use radios at all. All hand signals. Someone should do a video on hand signals before that art gets forgotten
When. I first hired out in 1979, no hand held radios. We use road flares to signal and lanterns at night. In 1981, they finally issued Motorola radios to all brakeman, conductors, engineers, firemen
@@MichaelOsborne-v1o I remember the LABRF. It was hot. But when the PTPCX/LAPCX came out in May 1991 with those brand new GP60’s (I was born and raised in Stockton, CA) I was impressed!!! Thank you for your story. I was an Amtrak conductor.
HAHT time! Held away from home terminal. Sometimes they didn’t want to pay HAHT time if you were going to be there too long and they would deadhead you home by bus or even carryall
In Bakersfield they had a screwy system of non-continuous HHAT 8 hours hat off for 16 hours again I’ve been up there for 40 or more hours. And only got 8 hours of hat Yuma on continuous hat they would deadhead you!
Taken this same trip with the Pacific Rail Society in 1970 . I was a 12 year old rail fan, and my parents and a buddy also enjoyed all scenery. Classic streamlined, dome and vending machine cars , was really a cool trip. Sounds of a train ride before continuously welded rail was a fast metronome experience! Thanks for a awesome story.
This is great stuff. I’m 48, grew up in Southern California, so SP was/is my favorite.
I was an SP Trainman , Engineman and lastly a Signalman. Hired out in Eugene on 9/79. Worked all over Oregon , Arizona and Tracy California. Took the buyout in 87 and went to Signal dept in Brooklyn , lasted until 94 and walked across the parking lot and hired on as a Signalman for the light rail in Portland. Best thing I did for my family. Stayed with them for 19 years.
Sounds like a great career!
@@tsgmultimedia It was good until the railroad decides it doesn't need you anymore. Just like any career, the company is always looking for a way to eliminate your job!
Great story of your time as a brakeman, my dad was a brakeman for the sp at gemco in the valley and worked on the Northridge switcher, he would tell me simlar stories he also worked the same routes as you in the past, I remember him taking me and my mom up to Taylor yard to the yard office at night to pick up paper work and stuff. I always remember the old candy machine there next to the bulletin boards and the old converted baggage car painted dark gray sitting on a spur track that was used for storing old files of paper for the office storage . You can hear the frogs chirping away in the Los Angeles river, and the huge orange spiders sitting in the center of there webs right out side of the yard office.
Who was your father? I probably know him. Thanks for the memories of Taylor yard.
I’ve worked the Gemco job a couple of times off the extra board. GM parts coming in from back east and cars going out.
Best trip I ever had from the Shops to Bakersfield, I was on the second unit since we had a fireman and fell asleep before Burbank Jct. and woke up at Caliente. I don't know if we stopped, nor did I care.
We don’t always have a fireman but when we do, we prefer a trailing unit! I always liked sitting in the hoghead’s chair and look at the guages
Absolutely the best SP video ever!!
Please do more of this series.
Thanks much
HOLEY MOLEY! This is Awesome!
Thanks plug!
Good to hear the old ways and put them into perspective with the current practices we have nowadays coming from LA to Bakersfield.
Love to hear more! This gentleman was great at story telling
Look for more
More coming…..
@@MichaelOsborne-v1owhat was your favorite SP power? Your least favorite?
@@rodonis88 anything good! Always liked the 8200 SD40T2s, they were new and might have an operating A/C they always had a smooth ride and you had plenty of room with the large “front porch.” SP also had great large green chairs in those units also. Least favorite anything with a smelly toilet!
@@MichaelOsborne-v1o thanks !!
Great video Ozzie.had laugh I once sat in the front seat in the carryall and pissed off John Peterman on a deadhead to Mojave. .Great story about DD Burke using a Berry pistol to call in the rear brakeman .Great narration of the years we spent together on the. Mountain
Awesome story Dagwood
Mike is a great guy, used to work with him at UP… Awesome video, thanks for sharing!
This was such a nice video..I spent 87 through 90 in Tehachapi and Bakersfield. Very familier with the area.. commuted to LA a lot from Tehachapi..I was working EMS during that time and I did not have that much time to railfan..I am a PTI driver now out of Portola CA. It was neat of you describing what a brakeman does with orders etc. and dark areas.
Thanks much
Very thorough and interesting description of taking the LABRF over the main line back in the late 1970's. Thank you Mike Osborne for the enjoyable video! Great job!! Mike Armstrong
Thanks Mike
Taken this same trip with the Pacific Rail Society in 1970 . I was a 12 year old rail fan, and my parents and a buddy also enjoyed all scenery. Classic streamlined, dome and vending machine cars , was really a cool trip. Sounds of a train ride before continuously welded rail was a fast metronome experience! Thanks for a awesome story.
Thanks
I grew up down the street from Taylor yard…… I think that’s what sparked my affinity for trains.
I worked all over the LA basin...PE jobs , LA to west Colton, East end, To Bakerfield from West Colton over the Cutoff...Wonderful job
This is a very enjoyable video. Thanks for the post. I worked for ATSF mid to late 70s. Ran between Richmond to Calwa or Calwa to Bakersfield.
Thanks, you understand what it was like!
San Fernando / Sylmar born , raised 1952 , hiked along those tracks many times , San Fernando road I remember those trains would be haul'in ass into LA , and always a caboose and a wave ! I made a bad decision and moved up north Cal. after the 71 quake , Here it is the end of 2024 and was told those tracks into Newhall tunnel are not main line anymore ? is that true ? Great video and fun stories , thanks Mike
I remember the conductor usually riding in the front seat next to the carryall driver. However, I do not recall any other particular place the rest of us sat. I always sat in the back whatever brakeman I was.
Were you describing a running air test? WB trains did this at East Truckee prior to ascending Donner Pass. There was also a dragging equipment detector. Conductors would call the head end and first announce a “dark dragger”, and then the set and release for the running air test.
Yes running air brake test
Great story. Brought a lot of memories.
Thanks
I switched from LA to the Bakersfield board and trains to Colton or Fresno. When doing Colton, around Monolith we would put in our Carl’s Jr. order to pick up in Mojave. Yes it was free! Always got the Super Star
I only worked the Bakersfield run once. We laid over at the Royal Palms on Union Ave.
Speaking of Taylor Yard anyone here ever work the top end of A yard herder job? Or engineers locker room herder? As a brakeman, I also did switchman jobs when needed. That’s 8 hour shifts
Yes worked the herder job, top end, mainline, shops, dinky never worked the hump herder.
Really wonderful, thanks for sharing this.
Glad you liked it more to come
Glad you like it. Keep following TSG
Nice narrative Mike........Greg j
Thanks a lot!
Great story on the LABRF (Los Angeles - Brooklyn "Portland" Forwarder.)
Glad you like it. Hopefully more to come on TSG
Thanks a lot.
Wonderful video
A little jiggle with the lantern is the “stretch em” or-and expanding outward motion with hands.
Could mention that when cutting in the air you have to tap on the angle cock moving
it slowly in little increments until fully open because if you open too fast you big hole the train.
Another reason to be the head brakeman is that you don’t have to walk the train at meets. Though there were a lot of younger engineers, I did have some old grumpy ones too.
I grew up with the SP in the Davis Sacramento area in the 1970's and early 1980's. I probably graduated from high school about 2 years before Mike. I really wished I would have gone to work for the SP at that time but I didn't. I later traveled to and through the Rockies and got Rio Grande fever but today I am interested in both the SP and Rio Grande. There are some really nice models out on the market now for both railroads for 70's and 80's era modeling. Was that a Dell Taco soda? I haven't seen a Dell Taco since I was last in California years ago. Live in Virginia how, thankfully.
Yes it was from the Dell
Hi Mike, I am Strube's sister and he wanted me to see your video.
Thanks
Thank you, you have a great brother, a legend the Tinman!
I hired out March 17, 1979. Went to brakeman’s class at the West Colton yard. After that, was put on the LA Brakeman’s extra board. First assignment was the Riverside Local. So many of the jobs were taking a train from Taylor Yard to Colton. Sit around and take a train back to LA. Boring and low pay. Enjoyed the San Luis Obispo run and also would occasionally be augmented to the Colton board for Yuma trips. 197 miles and can be done in under 5 hours on a hot train.
That was great. Funny how a lot has changed but a lot of the odd-ball things haven't changed.
Occasionally you’d get a GMC carryall. A lot times when working a satellite yard, there would be no carryall available to return you to Taylor. So you would call a cab, and a clerk at Taylor would pay the driver.
I used to work with old heads who signed on in 1950’s and watched in awe as they didn’t use radios at all. All hand signals. Someone should do a video on hand signals before that art gets forgotten
I plan on doing one real soon
When. I first hired out in 1979, no hand held radios. We use road flares to signal and lanterns at night. In 1981, they finally issued Motorola radios to all brakeman, conductors, engineers, firemen
Very interesting trip. I worked for the NYC, the PC And B&O. My question is what was the major difference in the SP and UP?
SP was very lax on the rules. The track is in way better shape on the UP
Especially the branch lines.
Speaking of smoking, I’m on the caboose, have smokes, no matches. So I used fusees. 😮
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I’m surprised you didn’t work on the PCX train.
Yes I did work on the PCX train many times
This is pre PCX
@@MichaelOsborne-v1o I remember the LABRF. It was hot. But when the PTPCX/LAPCX came out in May 1991 with those brand new GP60’s (I was born and raised in Stockton, CA) I was impressed!!! Thank you for your story. I was an Amtrak conductor.
Models the same thing I do. Very good.😂
I didn’t quite catch Mikes Instagram account.
SFPMRR
SFPMRR
Hello, I have a question. The glowing locomotive to your right, is it a stationary model or does it have a motor to drive?
It’s is an Aristocraft SD45 g scale just a battery hooked up to the headlight.
Thank you for the information
HAHT time! Held away from home terminal. Sometimes they didn’t want to pay HAHT time if you were going to be there too long and they would deadhead you home by bus or even carryall
In Bakersfield they had a screwy system of non-continuous HHAT 8 hours hat off for 16 hours again I’ve been up there for 40 or more hours. And only got 8 hours of hat
Yuma on continuous hat they would deadhead you!
Taken this same trip with the Pacific Rail Society in 1970 . I was a 12 year old rail fan, and my parents and a buddy also enjoyed all scenery. Classic streamlined, dome and vending machine cars , was really a cool trip. Sounds of a train ride before continuously welded rail was a fast metronome experience! Thanks for a awesome story.