Re: Christmas Tree on Narrow Gauge Caboose
| April 27, 2010 03:49PM |
Greg Scholl Wrote:
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> I seem to remember reading a story someplace,
> either a NG book, or a magazine article regarding
> how D&RGW crews would cut Chrismas Trees from he
> high country and tie them onto the caboose and use
> them for the holidays.
> Anyway in the footage we have, there is one such
> Tree on top of the caboose on the very last train
> from Chama to Durango on Dec 6, 1968. I was just
> looking at it, and realized I forgot to include
> this in the script.
> Does anyone know the story I am referring to,
> and can relate it to me on this scenario. I
> believe there may have been a mention of the guy
> who got the tree and was taking it to Durango for
> the last time.
> Its another typically unique thing about the
> railroad that I thought was worth a mention.
> Thanks in advance for any info on this.
> Greg Scholl
When I was growing up, not only was the idea of buying a dead tree ridiculous, no one would be stupid enough to try to sell them
Cutting your Christmas tree along the highway or railroad ROW was common - pretty much everyone did it. Only city folks - the ones with money - paid for trees.
Beginning in the fall, my father would keep an eye out as he drove around, and some Saturday after Thanksgiving the whole family would pile in the truck and off we'd go to get the one he'd chosen. Some years it was right off the road, but I remember one year hiking up the Frisco from some road crossing to cut down the chosen tree.
I can also recall railroaders bringing trees that had been cut from the ROW to friends.
The first year Danah and I decorated for Christmas together, she was appalled that I would consider 'stealing' a tree, and I was appalled that she would waste money buying a dead one. So we compromised, and alternating 'stealing' and buying a tree. I guess that's what I get for marrying a city girl.
All this is by way of saying that a railroader cutting a tree along the right of way and taking it home would have been utterly commonplace and unremarkable.
JAC
-------------------------------------------------------
> I seem to remember reading a story someplace,
> either a NG book, or a magazine article regarding
> how D&RGW crews would cut Chrismas Trees from he
> high country and tie them onto the caboose and use
> them for the holidays.
> Anyway in the footage we have, there is one such
> Tree on top of the caboose on the very last train
> from Chama to Durango on Dec 6, 1968. I was just
> looking at it, and realized I forgot to include
> this in the script.
> Does anyone know the story I am referring to,
> and can relate it to me on this scenario. I
> believe there may have been a mention of the guy
> who got the tree and was taking it to Durango for
> the last time.
> Its another typically unique thing about the
> railroad that I thought was worth a mention.
> Thanks in advance for any info on this.
> Greg Scholl
When I was growing up, not only was the idea of buying a dead tree ridiculous, no one would be stupid enough to try to sell them
Cutting your Christmas tree along the highway or railroad ROW was common - pretty much everyone did it. Only city folks - the ones with money - paid for trees.
Beginning in the fall, my father would keep an eye out as he drove around, and some Saturday after Thanksgiving the whole family would pile in the truck and off we'd go to get the one he'd chosen. Some years it was right off the road, but I remember one year hiking up the Frisco from some road crossing to cut down the chosen tree.
I can also recall railroaders bringing trees that had been cut from the ROW to friends.
The first year Danah and I decorated for Christmas together, she was appalled that I would consider 'stealing' a tree, and I was appalled that she would waste money buying a dead one. So we compromised, and alternating 'stealing' and buying a tree. I guess that's what I get for marrying a city girl.
All this is by way of saying that a railroader cutting a tree along the right of way and taking it home would have been utterly commonplace and unremarkable.
JAC
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.