Re: Seek, And Ye Shall Find ...

Years ago, during my time on the C&TS, I was operating one of the lighter track patrol motor cars ahead of the train between Osier and Chama. It was warm, I had just finished one of those wonderful lunches at the Osier eating house and was doing good to keep myself awake as my motor car traveled west around Windy Point. I knew that once I got across the highway below Coxo, I would have to keep my eyes open as cattle were scattered about, but then again....I was half asleep. I just got off the crossing and starting picking up speed pretty good and the track looked clear......then "POW"! A BIG steer came out of the brush from my right at a run and ran directly into the side of the motor car. All I could see was this face of this horrified bovine as the motor car listed at what seemed like a 45% angle to the down hill side with only the left two wheels on the track. I looked down and all I could think of was "this isn't good" as I visualized me hitting the rocks below, then the motor car landing on me, then the steer landing on the motor car! Before I knew it, the steer did an about face and headed back up the hill. The motor car came back down square on the rails and I was off down the track as if nothing had happened.

I didn’t have any trouble staying awake for the rest of the trip down the hill to Chama.