Well, I have kept my mouth shut up until now. There are ALWAYS two sides to every story. I am getting damn well sick of Jasons email to Phil Johnson that then ended up on Face the State. For the record, I NEVER forced fired the No.9 up 80 puonds in 15 min. I don't know how Jason could have known anyways, the days he worked he was never there early, rushing in minutes before the call time was his usual routine.
I started with guys that had no previous experaince on a steam engine...and now after two short seasons...some of these guys think they are experts! The only true experts at running trains up and down the Loop are the former operators engine crews that have many years experiance.
I do not feel a need to explain myself or defend myself in regard to Jasons email. It is full of "out of context", untrue and misleading stuff. HE even admitted to me that he was angry when we wrote it and didn't really mean to beat up on me...well, thanks...a lot of good that does...for the rest of my working career Jason's ravings will haunt me! I promised Jason I would not beat up on him in any public forum....but if anyone wants a laundry list of all the stupid and dangerous things I witnessed him doing...please feel free to email me....we can only hope that any negative email that I might send to someone as a private email ranting about Jason won't end up on Face the State!
Fact...not ONE TME can anyone say they heard Torrico claiming that any Railstar crew member was better or more experianced than the former operator....how could I. Does anyone really think Railstar and myself deserves being judged by the ravings of a disgruntled employee? Is that fair? Remember...Railstar is just the operator. CHS holds the purse strings and dictates what will be spent and on what. Who in there right mind tries to operate a steam railroad, advertising steam 7 days a week, with only one steam engine...maybe I am biased but I think Railstar has done a hell of a job working with what the OWNER of the railroad has given them to work with!
Peace to all,
Steve Torrico
Former GTL Ops Manager.
