| Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad E9 9988B eastbound in the fog at Aurora, Illinois on December 23, 1964, Kodachrome by Chuck ZeilerThere is some risk in me taking this photo. I'm on the wrong side of the tracks. It's close to Christmas on this photo date, and I've treated myself to a ride on the Oregon Way Freight, which will expect to pick me up from the platform seen in the background. But this train was sitting in the station on that platform. It appeared to be an Extra or Section of a regular train, so I crossed over to snap this photo. I crossed back to the platform, and stayed out of trouble this time. But later I managed to piss off the Conductor of the way freight by over-stoking a pot-belly stove (it was glowing red) in the baggage section of the Combine #3003, which served as the waycar (caboose) and as accommodations for local passengers between Aurora and Oregon, Illinois. He let me hang out of the baggage door, and I wasted his fuel and gave him cause for concern, besides making him process a Passenger Ticket, which required an Extra Report. I always got curious looks from the ticket agents at Aurora when I asked for a round trip ticket to Oregon, but didn't want to ride the Zephyr. Apparently this required the agent to call the tower and have them set up a signal (lunar, I think) to let the way freight know they had a passenger. I was a pain in the butt to all involved on the last mixed train out of Eola. |