The Naked Railroader - Going Off The Rails

Working on the railroad for over 40 years, you meet a lot of people. Here are some of my favorites.   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Today, I talk about the utterly boring Union Pacific run from LA to Las Vegas. Well, I did get to meet a dragon, learn what to do with a run away train, drink Dr Peppers with Frank Sinatra Jr., and I met one of the most amazing friends I've ever had, Peter Robinson. I'd like to dedicate this episode to him.    Episode 17 Colorado Blvd. and the Rose Parade https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-589qf-1a0ad02   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy talks about qualifying to work on the Union Pacific section of the Dessert Wind. He also tells a typical Tommy story about a Red Flag.

Once you take all the written and oral tests or attend Choo Choo U, you are qualified to run a train. But how do you actually learn how to make it move? Today, Tommy shares how he learned to actually run a train, both Steam and Diesel.    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy received a question from a listener: Why did you become a Santa Fe locomotive engineer three times and were the procedures and examinations the same each time?    Intro and Outro: Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy tells a story of winning over the heart of one grumpy engineer.

Many people watch the Rose Parade on TV and we know that a lot of work goes into this event. Most people don't know that there is an active railroad track that goes right across the parade route.  Tommy tells us about getting the track parade ready and spending time with his grandmother at the parade. 

Tommy and Susi volunteered for almost 20 years at Railtown in Jamestown, California. For five of those years, they worked on the Polar Express, Tommy as a conductor and Susi as the Hobo. It made for long, exhausting days, but it was worth every minute.  Today, they share memories together of the time they spent putting this epic event together. Dad, of course must tell all the technical details, while mom and I want to share our memories of the fun times! 

Tommy continues to share his experiences and reveals who he liked working with the most.  #MitzyGaynor #SammyDavisJr #LeslieUggams # Liza #BillCosby #Rockettes #SteveMartin #BottomsUp #GaylordAndHoliday    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy had two loves in his young life; railroading and theater. His parents raised him on ballet, opera, and musical theater. But Tommy realized his true love was Railroading. After a few years of the railroads and military, he decided to see what the theater had in store for him.  Here are some of his theater stories from Inglewood High School, Ventura College, and, of course, Harrah's Lake Tahoe.   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy answers the often asked question of why he left the Santa Fe in the early 50's.    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy continues talking about the Harbor District with a few more stories.    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Welcome to the Harbor District. Before it was dismantled by the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific, the Harbor District was like the wild west of the railroad. There were no crossing gates and the people who worked there were rugged cowboys. But they were hard workers and Tommy enjoyed working there. Here is the first installment of the Harbor District.   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Employee timetables are a required piece of running a train. Find out what happens when Tommy doesn't have a time table.   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy talks about what it takes to get a train over Tehachapi using steam engines.   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

Tommy talks about what a hostler job is and a few good times he had when he worked them.   Intro and Outro: Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54.

How do you learn how to fire a steam engine? Well, according to Tommy, you stand outside the Train Masters door until he hires you. Then you find Engineers who will take you out on training trips. In this episode, he talks about learning how to fire over the Tehachapi Loop, one of the most intense grades in the United States.  Intro and Outro: Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

When you see trains in the movies, they are run by railroaders like Tommy. He always managed to figure out when the movie trains were running and position himself so that he was available. Tommy's knowledge about theater also helped to make the train look perfect and steal the show (in his eyes!) Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54   

In the late 80's, Amtrak started using Cab Cars on their trains so that the train wouldn't have to be turned around at the end of the line. In the beginning, they had many problems and you could leave it to Tommy to be the voice that let the powers that be know this! Also, what would you do if you saw the engineer lying in the middle of the isle of your passenger car when he was supposed to be running the train???   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

What was the purpose of a caboose? They haven't always just sat, abandoned, in train yards or used as restaurants or B &Bs. In this episode, Tommy will tell you who used the caboose and what it was used for.     Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

It takes many people to run a train. Passenger trains take additional people that you might not think about. What are their titles and the jobs they do? Tommy tells us in the episode of the Naked Railroader.    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

One of the most iconic pieces of track in the United States is the Tehachapi Loop. Tommy worked there when he was just starting out on the railroad. He shares how it was designed and what it accomplished. We also learn why Tommy is called the Naked Railroader!    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54 

There is always a beginning. Tommy will share with you how he became interested in railroading, and theater, even though his parents weren't really happy with his decision.  Spoiler alert: they were happy later when he would go by San Juan Capistrano on the way to San Diego and wave to them from the cab of that big engine.    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369 is on No. 54