Spring Station Agent Lodge Again 1975 in Tales of the Jointed Track

Remember I had been released, from the Colorado Springs switcher. Also under the scrutiny, and watchful eye of Station Agent Lodge. Who knew we were to meet again.

Summer 1975 Train 414:
The 414 was a Santa Fe symboled drag out of Denver. It usually was a mishmash bunch of four axle EMD and/or GE locomotives. It was yarded and humped at Pueblo, and the cars and power went to their next destination. It was usually a day time call, or late afternoon, if cars and power were not ready for a call.

I got called for 730 AM on the 414. Upon arrival at the C&S 7th St Roundhouse, I saw I had Ray Redman, as the engineer. I always liked Ray, and he was a good hogger. I can’t remember the train crew at this time. Looking over the call sheet we had three BN SD-40’s as power, which was odd being a Santa Fe train. Was this a mileage equalization, or the C&S needed to move this train out to make room in the yard. I don’t know.

A double over, air test, and leave town. We did good till Kelker, just south of the Springs, about 3 miles. We were high Green leaving south Springs, and the north end of Kelker beckoned, a clear as we rounded the curve. As we straightened out, the signal is clear, but there is a guy walking his motorcycle down the middle of the main line. I am running, I am blowing to warn, but this one is oblivious. I plug it five cars before we hit at 40 mph. Something clicked, he dropped the bike and jumped clear. Well a quarter mile later we stopped with the bike, stuck under the plow, leaking what little gas there was. We brought out a fire extinguisher, just in case. The rear end walked up, the DS was called, and the head brakeman went to find the owner.

Everybody showed up, police, fire, the Santa Fe and Rio Grande section crews. The guy was ticketed for no proof of registration, and trespassing, but held for further investigation by the police. A day late and a dollar short, Mr Lodge appears.

He talked to the Conductor, and then he comes up to me. “I need your Drivers License,address and phone number”. “For what?” “Well you caused this accident and are delaying this train”. “What!!” “The train struck your motorcycle”. Is this guy clueless or what. “Mr Lodge ( that startled him ) I am the fireman on this train, the 414, and I was your Colorado Springs engineer a couple of weeks ago. Talk to that guy over there, that is sitting on the ground, who is talking to the police”. He left as confused as he arrived.

After an hour and a half, we got the motorcycle removed, and gave statements to the police and trainmaster. We found out later that the guy ran out of gas, and thought the main line was the siding and the siding the main line. Why he chose to walk in the middle of the tracks, still to this day don’t know. Nevada Avenue is just to the south and parallels the tracks. Probably would have been an easier push. We finally got released, and proceeded to Pueblo. Station Agent Lodge, well if he is still alive, he is probably wandering around still oblivious and clueless. Good thing no one was killed or injured.