Re: What would Jumbo Miller say?

We all tend to look at railroading through rose colored glasses, as a novelty, and more about "fun" than a drudge-type job that you busted your hump for. Ask an F-18 pilot about how fun or "sexy" he thinks his job is and he'll tell you it's like driving a bus or any other routine "mission" type job. It was no different for those put in charge of getting trains over mountains. I am sure there were high points where it was fun and interesting. No doubt there were plenty of days when they just wished for the shift to be over. The story of the crews trapped in Gunnison by an early snow and taking 40 days to get back home to Como after clearing Marshall Pass for the D&RG comes to mind. I seriously doubt those guys were thinking how "great" Alpine Pass or mountain railroading was at that moment.