Russo--
Yes, I probably am employee number 3. That day we found the tracks up at Los Pinos and followed them into Chama. Earl Bell was making a speech from a flatcar down in the yard and was asking who would sign on to work jsut as we pulled up to the yard. I talked Rich into signing as he wanted to go back to Michigan. And I signed with him--What an adventure!!
We lived in Rich's 2 story house across from the yard, that he bought with his savings for 1500 bucks. And Rich, me, Mike Car and Mike's girlfriend all lived there together. We worked 8 hrs a day for minumum wage and were expected to donate an additional 4-6 hrs in the evening--7 days a week. I didn't realize that we were paid dirctly out of Earl Bell's pocket--I learnrd this in 2010 at the reunion. I'm the culprit along with the rest of us for cutting up those beautiful little boxcars. (Just saw one up at Como last summer in its butchered state). In those early times we were the jack of all trades--and master at absolutely nothing. Suprisingly no one was seriously injured and nobody got killed.
During this time Rich had a real aptitude for all things mechanical and was quickly promoted to fireman and made a career of the RR. Gus and Virgil were the only ones who knew what they were doing and had to teach the rest of us. Volunteers came on weekends to help out. In everyone's rememberances no one mentions Earl Bell and crabby ole Fritz, who were the straw bosses of the outfit. The other one was dear old Sid, who was somewhat of a loose cannon but had a heart of gold. Greathouse helped out on occasion.
During the end of the summer, it was obvious that I didn't catch on quick and was regulated to odd jobs and brakeman on running trains. The first train out with passengers to Antonito was a shakey affair as everything barely ran--we had 4 brakemen to check things and in the picture you see 4 of us with brake clubs. Possibly one of those is me in the photo., maybe the one glaring at the camera as I didn't like my picture taken! Lol! ( I hope to get in touch with Rich to help ID the ones in the photo) I left the RR shortly after that first run.
So I have some questions--When was the first passenger run--was that the Govenor's run? I see that there are many of you who contributed to this thread---were you there during these early times too?
