The Iron Horse - A Short Story
This is a follow up to Buzz's article, ''Have you ever run away from home''...I have, many times, but this was special, because it didn't start out that way.
Many years ago, before many of you were born, it was great sport and transportation for us to ''jump'' the ore trains. A common practice in the area that I lived in.
My two brothers and I would spend the best part of summer ''jumping'' ore trains to points unknown to us. Generally not far, since our world was about 5 miles in any direction.
It was July in the early 1950's when the three of use set off on our great adventure. Having had years of experience jumping ore trains, the day started out as any other. It would be a fun day riding around the countryside, and being home by supper. It was not to be.
We started out walking from our house to the local ''Roundhouse'', an area where trains switched and we could jump one as it was just starting out. After a walk of three miles we had it in sight,we waited by the railroad tracks for the first train to come by.
Here she came, huffing and puffing as she gained power, smoke blowing from her stacks. It was a ''Great Northern Railroad engine, the one with the mountain goat for an emblem. As she came closer and closer to us, the huge ''cow catcher'' pushing out front of her, she was bellowing, smoke pouring from her stacks and we could hear the clackity clack from running over the rails. She was big, powerful and scary.
We were excited and scared at the same time, this monster of a train was heading right at us. As she passed the noise was tremendous and the birds were leaving the trees. Huge steel wheels went by our heads and we looked up and could see the Engineer leaning out the side, looking ahead and the ''fireman'' was shoveling coal into her. She was beautiful and frighting at the same time, she was the most powerful thing on earth.
As she roared by us the ore cars tagging along behind this beauty. One hundred cars long, the red ore piled high in each, as she gained power, she ate up the tracks.
Now was the time, we started running along side of her reaching outto grab a ladder to swing ourselves up on, a slip meant death. Our hearts were pounding, our lungs felt like they were going to burst. Finally I reached up and grabbed a post and swung myself up on the ladder. Reaching back I helped my brothers up.
Now we were King of the Rails.She was our Iron Horse, one that would make us free. Shewas hurling down the tracks, gaining speed with ever turn of her mighty steel wheels. The birch trees on each side on the tracks were becoming a blur and she roared down the tracks.
Still gaining speed, her whistle blowing out a warning to all. ''Do not challenge me''.
We were holding on for dear life as she roared through a railroad crossing, the cars looking like tiny toys next to her. The people in the cars were waving to us and we waved back.
Freedom was ours on the back of this powerful being, we knew that she was alive, we had become part of her, our fear, leaving us as we screamed in joy, we are the King of the World.
Soon we were on the outskirts of a town about ten miles from our start. She was not slowing down, she was gaining speed. Her giant wheels taking bites out of the track, smoke from her stacks,thick and black, her whistle screaming at the heavens. We were riding the most powerful being in the universe.
We looked at each other, the same thought ran through our minds, we were headed to the ore docks on Lake Superior over a hundred miles away. She wasn't going to stop, this was a one-way ride for us.
Hours later we could see the ore docks, we had to get off or risk being killed when they dumped the cars. As she slowed down we jumped, hit the ground with a thud and rolled and rolled. Looking at each other not knowing if we were dead or alive.
Soon we realized that we were in a world that we had never seen before. 120 miles from home in the port city of Duluth. The only way home was to ''jump'' another train and hope that it was headed in the right direction.
That night we waited for a ''Great Northern'' engine to come our way. We waited and waited, soon the sun was coming up and a whole night had passed.
Here she came, huffing and puffing gaining speed for her trip back to the ore mines. We ran along side her and jumped aboard. The ride back was mixed with excitement and knowing that we were in big trouble.
Hours later we were coming up on the ''Round House'', as she slowed down we jumped again, landing with a resounding thud, we were still in one piece.
Now the long walk home and what awaited us there. We had been gone for over 24 hours and our parents must be out of their minds with worry.
We were right, the ass tanning that we got must have set an all time record. After the tanning we were sentenced to life without parole. We would bedigging potato's, plowing furrows, splitting wood,and every other job our dad could think of. When we were done with that, mum would have many other chores for us.
For 24 hours we were free, riding the rails, the power of theIron Horsewas our life blood.
It was worth it.
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One of many adventures of the ''Bad Boys of the Range''..
Never jumped a train but my friends and I used to use the big chunks of chalk they would throw out to us to make hopscotch boards.
ROFL !! I remember this one Kav. It's just as funny now as it was then. Thanks for sharing this adventure!!
Well Tzia, it was quite the adventure.
LOL well Uppy, your part way there. Soon you may be jumping trains.
I never jumped a train either, even though they slowed down by our house as they neared the GM Plant in Van Nuys. On the way back, they were gaining speed, like you said, but instead of jumping on, we raced them on our ponies and horses. The engineers would be blowing their horns and waving at us. We'd wave back and ride harder. Sometimes we beat them to the next street crossing about half a mile up the line where we'd have to rein in. Great memories -- and yes, freedom.
You sure have the noise and all the rest down pat.
I was looking at just such a locomotive this morning. It's the one Gene Autry donated to the City of Newhall when his movie town, Melody Ranch, burned. Until then, that fierce gal starred in many a movie, including a series I did stunt riding for.
Today she sits next to the old RR station which is part of the heritage village featuring a one room school house and several old houses, all authentic. I was wondering if my leg is doing well enough to go traipsing in and get some good photos. I didn't try, but I will soon because, like you, I still have those great memories of those powerful critters rumbling along the tracks and through my life. I still love the call of train whistles, even at night. They take me home so I can once again feel those long ago steeds surging beneath me and the joy all of it brought.
Great story. Well written. Made me smile and then laugh outright. Thanks.
Thanks Mashkawide'e, seems we share a loveof trains.
''Hear that lonesome whistle blow''...
How was baby Kavika?
The mind wonders..........
He was a handful Palma...
Bet he was. It seems you're a handful from an early age
Good energy, innocent times
By the way, how long did the "punishment" last? Did you guys ride the iron horse again?
It lasted until summer was over...LOLOLOL, it seemed like 100 years.
Oh yes, we never quit jumping trains.
I am not surprised
Dear Friend Kavika: Your train story reminds me of a scene from the movie, Duck You Sucker. It is a film about the Mexican revolution.
Ina scene Rod Steiger and James Coburn are hiding out in a livestock rail car to escape the war violence and flee to the USA.
Steiger is asleep on a bale of hay. A chicken on a perch near the roof passes white solid waste on his head. This wakes him up. He sees what happened, and says to the bird, "yet for the rich you sing"!
E.
Good one niijii.
We weren't actors, but we did our best.
LMAO... you were a bad boy!
Great story Kavika! I am glad you felt it was worth it all. It came with a high price... and a chance of getting killed. Every parent's nightmare and a typical boy thing to do.
''you were a bad boy!''. Yes I was and proud of it.
Ohhhhh, under the trains, risky business Melanie. But a lot of fun.
Hey, I'm a mom.... what did you expect??? LOL!
OK mom....LOLOLOL
Kavika, what a great story. Really well written, and also true. Funny in parts. My Dad ran away out West from MN jumping the rails after his Dad kicked him out. It was a big secret, but I always found out those "big secrets", LOL. Dad did a lot of wild things. Sounds like you did too. YOLO.
Idid more than a few ''wild things'' Kara...LOL...Your dad could have been our partner.
And probably was......his BD was yesterday, but he's in Heaven for years now, so I can't confirm anything. He was completely wild, though, in his youth. Then had to settle down and raise a family
. They were ready, though. He was a great Dad, and my best friend. I was always the one asking too many questions. He just ignored me if he didn't want to incriminate himself..........LOL. Then I knew I'd hit pay dirt. He had a good poker face, but I could read it too.