Re: (NNG) Looking for info on SPRR/TSRR/FWWR/GVRR 2248

Les: It was pretty hard for me to get into do that project too. I knew the place was going to into the crapper, but as far as the Railfan Weekend went, I knew that the "Show Must Go On". I always took pride in putting a good show for the fans even if my heart was not in it.

I still recall going into the Stockyards Ticket office the week before. There was FWWR Pres. Jim Martin and this other doofy looking guy. Martin gave us a piece of paper stating that as of next week we all worked for Coe Rail and this guy, Dennis Larson was our new boss. Martin then said, "There really won't be any changes, other than he will be signing your paychecks...."

I said, "Well, Mr. Larson, welcome aboard. You've inherited a great, very dedicated crew. I have 2 questions for you: Do you pay into RR Retirement, and do you have health insurance?"

He stammered a bit and said that "no we are not a railroad company so we do not pay into RR Retirement. At this time we do not have a health insurance program."

I looked at Martin and said "No, Jim, there's gong to be LOTS of changes around here"....... and walked out the door.

I gave them 6 months to try to get something going, and to give them an honest try. They cut all our salaries by 20%. I saw where it was headed and bailed out. Coe lasted a year and got kicked to the curb. Having a diesel passenger train clobber a freight train because the engineer (the fore-mentioned Mr. Larson) turned down the noisy radio got the FRA involved. It wasn't pretty.
FWWR ended up having to run it again (with diesels) until they could get the town of Grapevine to step in.

As far I am concerned, the current operation is a joke. It's run by the City of Grapevine, complete with their mondo-bizzaro Texas politics.