An early Christmas tale...

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Got a good reality check today.

Everyone has a bad day once in a while, you know, those days where you could care less about any and everything, catch a good case of the blues, and end up feeling really sorry for yourself?

Had one of those yesterday, and it looked like a repeat for today.

The yard is jammed to the gills with cars, no place to switch them to, more work than we could ever get done, knee deep in gators…that along with some personal issues keeping me down in the dumps, having a real good pity party for myself…

There is a young man, 16 now, who shows up just about every day it isn’t raining…he sits across from our yard entrance watching the action on the old SP line, and watching us switch.

The thing is, he sits in a wheelchair.

His Dad brings him up there in the afternoon, around noonish, and they sit, him in his chair, Dad in the van he has, watching, taking the occasional photo, waving at the crews as they go by.

I have never really talked to either one of them, other than giving them a few cans of water during a scorching summer day, and sneaking a gimmie cap out to the kid once…didn’t really know his story, other than he shows up all the time, and a few of the other regular fans seem to enjoy sitting with him.

Well, we were sitting there on the lead, blocked by another inbound, while we were trying to go grab another switch cut from the receiving yard…just piddling away time really, when I noticed the van drive up.

Dad unloads the kid; they have one of those hydraulic lifts in the side door.

He gets the boy all covered up with a blanket, and they are taking in all the sights.

The boy keeps looking over at us, we are literally just across the street from them, when I get one of those ideas that usually end up with me having to try to explain to someone higher up why and what I was thinking and doing.

I talk with my helper a minute, and he thinks it is a great idea al

2

Wow Ed! That was an amazing story. It even got me a little leaky reading it. I am really glad that your trainmaster realized the situation and allowed you to do that. And even mor happy to hear that you made that young boy’s day. If I were in your shoes, I would gladly trade looking like a fool in order to do that for somone. You are a good guy as is the rest of your crew and your TM. Usually when I have a day like yours I end up thinking about how much worse it could be, and it halps alot. Again, Awesome story Ed thanks for sharing.

3

Ed…

You da Man!

I’m sure I’ve made people’s days before while working, but that family will never forget you and your crew.

You may owe the TM an apology, but don’t think for a minute that you were the only one who had things set straight that day.

And thanks, from both of us, for your usual gift of putting it all into words.

Pat and…

4

Yes indeed there is a Santa Claus. A whole bunch of them - an engine crew, a TM and a YM. Y’all gave that boy the best Christmas present he ever had and one he’ll remember all his life. I too had to get my hanky out when I read your tale. Merry Christmas to you all and may you enjoy God’s richest blessings.

Mark

5

…Awesome Ed…!! You don’t get those chances but a few times in life. You fellows did this one right to the top.

Thanks for sharing the beautiful story…

6

Life is to short. You never know what will be dealt from one day to the next.
What you did was not a tale, but a pure token from the heart.

Merry Christmas
Brian (KY)

7

My sentiments exactly.

Boy, it sure is hard to type well when you’re having a hard time reading the screen.

8

Merry Christmas, Ed. Again you prove to be a man who knows what Christmas is really about. To all your crew a big Thank You. And for all who have lost a child to a drunk driver or to illness, or who have spent the holidays in hospital praying that your child be healed, your actions mean so much more.

Firefighters and paramedics get called heroes just for showing up to work and no doubt the work they do is important. (I used to be one myself.) But to that little boy and his dad, and to alot of us reading this forum, you and your crew are our heroes.

9

Words don’t express…

10

Thank you, Ed, for sharing your story.

And for the reminder about not doing something that might be regretted for a long time. Perhaps even one person reading this story will think twice about driving after one too many.

11

Ed - About all I can say is ditto to all of the comments above and [tup]! That is really an awesome, touching story.

12

Ed,

Thank you for sharing that story. The tears were rolling before I even reached the middle.

13

Ed, DITTO to all the above comments!!

Now somebody needs to figure out how to dispense tissues through the screen.

14

ed,[#ditto][#ditto]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT STORY… It was Great![bow]

15

Ed,

Thank you for having the sense to observe and the guts to act. It is also nice to know that even trainmasters can be people too.

Merry Christmas

Mac

16

I would not be living in Jerusalem if I didn’t believe there is an Eternal in Heaven, and I am sure he is going to thank you and the Trainmaster too! May the Eternal bless you a million times. And this story should be in the Magazine in print! Possibly with location and personalities made anonomous to avoid FRA inolvement!

17

INDEED!!!

Ed, may your [angel] watch over you. You have my utmost respect![bow]

18

Ed, if I can see to type this, from the tears in my eyes, all I can say is: you and your crew are anAMAZING crew, and so is your TM!! May God bless you, your crew and your TM. You all did an absolutely amazing, awesome thing, and that boy will NEVER forget any of you!!

Thank you so very, very much for sharing your story with us.[tup] [tup]

19

Ed

thank you very much!when you walk in someone elses shoes makes ya think.as far as the driving part thats me. 2 people I knew were killed by drinking and driving.

stay safe

joe

20

Ed…

Words can’t express, they really can’t.

The story that that father and son have to tell now, will live on for a million repetitions, until that boy is old and gray.

Can there be a better gift???

I think CShaveRR said it best

Merry Christmas Ed!..