2014 Favorite Railroad Christmas Themed Stories

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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December 23,2014: MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL [bow]

For the last several years Forum Members have shared their favorite Christmas Stories.

One that was presented several years back is “The Story of Shep” A sort of qunticential bond between man and a dog.

See @ http://www.fortbenton.com/shep.html

“…
During the summer of 1936 a sheepherder fell ill while tending his flock and was brought to the St. Clare Hospital in Fort Benton, Montana. A nondescript sheep dog had followed the herder into town and soon set up a vigil at the hospital’s door. A kind hearted nun who ran the hospital kitchen fed the dog during those few days before the man died. The herder’s family in the East requested that his body be sent back home…”[snip]

I was unable to find the original posting by the Forum member, the linked story tells the story,( not nearly as well as the original post)

Ed Blysard has a version of the’ Night before Christmas’ that is a fun read for a railfan… I sure there must be some other Posters out there with their favorite railroad related Christmas stories.

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Here ya go Sam,

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the yard,

All the switchmen were switching, some working quite hard.

The grips were all hung by the shanty with care,

In the hopes that a time slip would soon show up there.

The trainmasters were nestled, all snug in their beds,

While visions of test failures danced in their heads.

The hogger in his kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a sneakey quick nap.

When out in the yard there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from our motor to see “what’s the matter?”

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It just didn’t feel quite like Christmas around here until we got Ed’s story.

Definitely a classic!

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Amen to that.

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I received this in an e-mail a few years ago. It’s made the rounds of bulletin boards, along with a few other railroad versions of classic stories. (I wish I still had, or could find if I do, the story of “How the Railroad Grinch stole Christmas.”)

It’s not quite as touching a story as Ed’s, but here it is.

You’ve been warned.

A RAILROADER’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS-author unknown by me.

T’was the night before Christmas back in "03

and no one was working 'cept losers like me.

Departing the depot my conductor and I,

fighting fatigue on another red-eye.

My conductor and I both dreading the hell

of yet one more holiday at the hotel.

Not ten miles out as we went through the night,

a feeling upon us that something’s not right.

We should have a clear… this signal was flashin’…

an approach came next as is usually the fashion.

Then what to my sleep deprived eyes should appear,

a dark signal and fusee with officers near.

We started to slow when I said with a sigh,

“I really am tempted to just blow on by.”

But rather than take thirty days of vacation,

we settled ourselves for this sad situation.

&nb

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To what Larry, Tree68, and Zardoz said ,

I’d add a hearty HUZZAH ! and [tup][tup]

Thanks to Jeff Hergert for sharing his “Railroad Grinch(s?) Story”, and of course to Houston Ed ! I wish I could find the original version of what was posted here by (Canadian Pacific____(?) I could never tell it like he did…

This is a special season and traitional tales are a part of that,IMHO. I hope eveyone had the Christamas Ceebratin that they wanted to have, and returned home from where ever they were safely.

NOW to have the Safest of New Years, for you all !