> > I got arrested in the cab of the 4023.
> >
> > Does that count as a cab ride?
>
>
> Sounds like a good story. I'm interested if you
> want to tell it.
As a trucker, I had driven past the monument several times, and visited once or twice. I had climbed up on to the deck before, but there's a very nice padlocked Plexiglas barrier on the cab.
One time, in '04, I was up there and could see the Plexiglas was open. There was a young lady in a park outfit blowing leaves, and I asked if I could climb up and take pictures. She said, no, sorry, we don't allow that (the ladders have steel welded over them).
I thought about it for a minute, went over the knee fence and up the side of the locomotive (Marine training). She actually jumped up and grabbed my leg.
Anyway, she took off for the phone, and the supervisor (Very early on a Sat, if I remember), and I got into the seat.
It's simply incredible to sit there, with that throttle in your hand, thinking about 7000 horsepower and Sherman Hill.
1.25 -million- pounds of steel.
It's especially cool to be in that particular place, because the ground drops dramatically away in front of the Big Boy.
So, about 5 minutes later, the Trooper, the Sheriff, and the dog show up.
They say, "alright, get down, pal". I reply, "I can't".
"Why not?"
"Because the next stop isn't till Grand Island..."
(Now, they're trying not to crack up in front of the young lady)
They said, "if you don't come down, we'll come up."
I said, "You guys are fatter than me. You'll never get up here with all that gear."
Without hesitation, they said, "we'll throw the dog up..."
I got down (and handcuffed). I was arrested for "defacing a monument" or the like, but they let me go after about an hour. They ran my paper, searched my truck and stuff, but they were really nice. The Trooper pointed at the river and said "that's the state line. Cross it".
~
Doug Frederick, Chama, New Mexico.
"Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?"
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