Well, I finally finished all the work from Bowden up to milepost 51... It only took me 4 weeks. It should have only taken me about two weeks, but because my machine was running so shitty it doubled up the time required.
The ironic thing about the whole mess is that even though myself and the tamper operator was telling the office I needed a mechanic to come out and service the machine they wouldn't send one, and in the same breath were bitching about the time it was taking for us to finish. The other thing was that parts for my machine were so hard to find. It took three weeks to get a damn fuel filter for it!
Nothing like an ounce of prevention.
So now all I have to do on this end is tidy up four bridge approaches in Elkins and then we can track-travel to the yard in Belington. That's going to be nice because we'll be able to get more track time and not be hampered by trains. A lot for days were spent just sitting on the machines on a siding waiting for the train to go by... Wasted time.
I'm also having some problems with my little Ford Ranger... But nothing I can't fix myself if I can get to a NAPA store before they close. I'm going to look at a 1996 full-size Bronco tomorrow. I had an 88' at one time and I like them even though they've got big V-8's and the price of gas seems to keep on rising. The way I figure it, I need 4WD for the winter around here, and I need something that'll be able to tow something. My little pickup can't do that and it's only 2WD. I'm looking at getting a small travel-trailer also, something self contained, and a Bronco would be able to easily tow one. My idea is, that if I've got a little 18' camper, no matter where I go I've always have someplace to live and not have to worry about finding a place.
Rambling Ranger Tom!
We're figuring another five to six weeks on this job and it'll be over and done with. After that I'm thinking of heading up to Philadelphia to visit some friends and family. After that, who knows? But what I do know I'll still be doing something on the railroad. I've proved to myself and to everyone else I can do it and be successful at it.
I've got my resume out to several railroads here in West Virginia and also some in Texas, Florida and even Alaska so you never know where RT will wind up!
Also, don't forget the I HEART Ranger Tom contest! Go here for the details on how to enter:
Copyright 2006 Thomas J Wolfenden
11 comments:
Alaska? Damn, that'd be an adventure.
You get that travel-trailer and you will be all set to come to the UP to do that deer hunting! And snowmobiling. And fishing. And duck hunting. And camping....
Maybe you'll end up in Texas like me :) We have our own theme song, you know: http://thoughts-on-life.blogspot.com/2006/06/ latest-installment-in-bud-light-series.html
The camper idea sounds good. You could be a Nomad and just go wherever the notion takes you. What a life ;)
Tom, please tell me that you're not planning on living in the trailer in Alaska.
Ranger Tomsicle just doesn't sound right.
Ramblin Ranger Tom, has a ring to it. LOL
Now those travails should make for some really great blog fodder!
I vote you end up in Texas. And I'm not at all biased. ;)
What happened to Europe?
You go to Alaska you had better find a way to get me on a Grizzly hunt cheaper than 11,000 which is the cheapest I have found it so far.
Good luck RT
Your bud
The Ramblin Hillbilly
Come to Texas! Come to Texas!
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