Re: Question for Earl

Hostlers had to be qualified as fireman before they could bid on hostler jobs. There was a lot of crossing of craft lines over in Durango, probably arising for a chronic shortage of employees. He might have been a machinist or boilermaker before making a fireman's date. Waterman did eventually get promoted to engineer. Likely his most memorable trip was firing 494 for Bill Holt the day 483 was wrecked on Bocea Hill in 1958. 483 was running as helper for 494.

Lee "Pinky" Lynton was in his late 50's when he quit the RGS (where he had worked starting in 1910's) for a more steady job on the D&RGW in 1951. He too was promoted to engineer and worked into the 1960's.