Re: Some better days on the SLURG

I think I remember that day.... The MOW guys had been out tamping and lining the track. Whenever their hydraulic equipment is out working they leave a fine coating of hydraulic fluid on the head of the rail, which is an absolute disaster for the next train, which happened to be #18 and passenger train. For some reason, #18 had an extreme dislike for left hand curves that day and we stalled just below Occidental. John Charles was with me on #18, Kevin Bush was along for the ride. John stalled out, I made a go at it, backing up and taking a run at it. I got about 10 feet further than John did. Finally we set out that one dome car. I recall we still had a hell of a time getting up the hill. I remember Kevin out there hand sanding the left hand curves to keep forward motion going.