Moffat Tunnel Story

Since we're sharing some tunnel stories. My Dad told me a good one long ago. . .

In his late teens, he went on a "hobo" excursion as a lark, this would have been in the Depression, '37 or '38. He just said it was the kind of things kids did back then (!!). He left L.A. with the vague plan of going back where his uncles lived in CO. Like most of his generation at that time, RRs were just transportation, not something that one would be a "fan" of. I think he only saw his story as noteworthy when my brothers and I became railroad fans as we grew up.

He knew he was riding through the Colo. Rockies one night, but no idea where. The train (long U.P. freight) stopped in the middle of nowhere. The train crew walked up and down the train, gathering up all like him riding on open cars. He was surprised there were about 30 guys.

He recalled a crew member made a little speech to the effect: "We're now going into the Moffat Tunnel, so you all have to get into this box car and I'll close the door. We're not happy that you're on our train, but we'd rather do this than pull your dead bodies off at the other end."

Yes - he did get in trouble when he got off the bus back in L.A. weeks later.

Bob of AZ