My step-father was a railroad man. I hesitate to call him "stepfather", as he was my "Dad" from the time he married my mother, when I was six years old (my birth father is still living and will celebrate his 92nd birthday this month). Dad and both of his brothers followed their father as second generation railroaders, and a couple of my cousins have made it three generations.
Dad worked for years for Camas Prairie Railroad, which was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles. In one five mile stretch, there were more than a dozen trestles. For many years, Dad was a bridge foreman in charge of keeping those trestles in good repair.
Lawyer's Canyon Bridge (above photo *note, this is not Di's painting! Use above link to view the prize) was one such structure on which Dad worked. At the time, it was said to be the second highest railroad bridge in the US at 296 feet high and 1,500 feet long. I actually watched my Dad walk out on a plank that was wedged somehow under the rails near the center of this bridge and jump up and down, just like one would jump on a diving board. This was the same man who fell off the roof of his house while replacing a shingle! His dog, who was raised on the railroad and spent his days by Dad's side as he worked, would not cross a trestle. Instead, he would go down into the canyon and swim the river, then up the other side to cross. My dog, however, would happily trot across the bridge without a second thought, even though he wasn't a "railroad dog". Evidently the height was less formidable to him than the prospect of getting wet.Dad went on to become a supervisor, and eventually retired from Camas Prairie Railroad.
Thank you, Di, for picking me to receive this lovely print. Your gift will become our family's treasure.
Aw, man....she left the train out...Tell Di to add a train bursting into flames as it plunges off the tracks, and it'll be complete. Carnage....it's all about carnage, Granny. heehee
ReplyDeleteEG, that's a photo of the bridge, not Di's painting, which is a depot. Click on the link I gave to see the prize!
ReplyDeleteJust thinking about someone jumping up and down on a board that high gives me the willies and I'm not even afraid of heights. When we clean out the gutters, I'm the one that gets to go onto the roof since my DH doesn't like heights. But when someone else is next to the edge I freak out.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, and congrats on your winnings! God bless your dad and those dogs, just looking at that bridge makes me swoon!
ReplyDeletewow, granny! so cool you won a beautiful painting with so much meaning to you. great story! =)
ReplyDeleteglad to see you were able to get online, too. hope that works out better for you in the new year!
Oh, ok....then photoshop a train bursting into flames for me, and add people jumping out of it that are on fire...Ha! Dress them up like Alabama football fans, and that will be even better!
ReplyDeleteSorry, granny...I got kinda carried away...i'll check out the link.
Daphne, once Mr. H held the shaky ladder for me to get on the roof to hose off pine needles, then went inside to watch a ballgame. He forgot about me, and I would not climb down that ladder without it being steadied. I'm so glad I had a hose to keep me cool while I waited over an hour for him to get me down! The view is great from up there, though.
ReplyDeleteKelly, my (step)Dad and the dogs, Bosco and Skippy, are long gone now. I sure do miss them.
ReplyDeleteKelli, I just signed up with a new (to this town) provider, but the signal is rather weak. Yesterday the RV park installed the new satellite dish, so I'm hoping they get it up and running soon, as it should provide a really good WIFI connection.
ReplyDeleteEG, that's OK. If you go to
ReplyDeletehttp://www.camasprairierails.com/Jim_Morefield_collection.htm
and scroll half way down the page, you can see one of "Dad's" bridges that collapsed. I don't remember if he was a bridge foreman at that time or not, but it was pretty spectacular.
Gran, there was reason you were the first out of the hat! You tugged on my heartstrings with that story. Thank you, and I'm so proud to know you.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to sent me an email with where I should mail it; and I can wait if you don't want it sent to AZ. Let me know your preference. Heck, you might want to pick it up on your way through back to WA. ;) Diana
Di, email on the way.
ReplyDeleteOh, congratulations and ignore EG -- he probably only goes to movies with car chases.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you didn't stamp your way through the roof that one time.
Stefaneener, I stamped and stomped and hollered, but Mr. H was too engrossed in the ballgame, on the other side of the house. I was happy I had the hose and a nozzle, I just misted myself to stay cool until he came to my rescue :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy ending to the story of the Depot print. Who would have thought it would go to someone with a railroad in her history?
ReplyDeleteWasn't that great, Nell Jean?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! And what a great story you told us! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Granny! Thanks for sharing a little about your “Dad.” Wonderful story. Di- beautiful painting. I think it was meant to be just like the online friendship the two of you now share.
ReplyDeleteAwesome story and painting. I would have been fit to be tied if my husband left me on the roof like that!
ReplyDeleteTatyana, Rachel & Kitsap, I love sharing family stories. I just hope I don't get carried away with them and bore everyone!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Gran! I really wanted that print but I can't imagine a better person to get it than you. Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteOk. Your "Dad" was awesome. That's first. Secondly, you Dad was nuts (diving board on a bridge like that? that takes guts). I loved the story about your family and the history of the railroad. My boyfriend is very fond of train yards. When we rode Amtrak together to and from DC, his face would light up as we entered various train stations. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThomas, I'm sorry. Tell you what...when I get home, I'll have the print matted and framed. Then I'll take a photo of it every now and then and send it to you. You can pretend it's yours ;-)
ReplyDeleteKalena Michele, I spent a lot of time on the railroad with Dad during the summers. I have a few stories I could tell, but most aren't about trains or railroads, LOL! I spent a lot of time wandering, with my dog, through the woods and across the streams and through buildings.
ReplyDeleteThis post tickled me. My grandpa who passed recently was a railroad man too. (He fell off things a lot too, LOL) He worked 50 years for the Southern Pacfic railroad. Thanks for the story :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Nickie....You're welcome!
ReplyDelete