Train, Talent, Tangent, and Tribute

THE TASK AT HANDI just took a trip.  It wasn’t a trip I intended to take but sometimes you just go there.

It started with an innocent email from a fellow train enthusiast named Linda Leinen.  I frequently get emails from visitors to ChasingSteel.com, which I love by the way, commenting on the site or seeking train or railfanning information.  I had read Linda’s email and it seem typical in all respects.  It should have had the words “TICKET” printed across the top.

Linda had expressed her desire to go and see UP’s No. 844 as it ran through south Texas this weekend. She stated that she had made “a zillion inquiries” to ascertain the Valley Eagle Heritage Tour’s arrival time and departure route as No. 844 moved south.  I didn’t particularly know the details she sought but I love to help, if I can.

At this point I was, and continue to be, engrossed in my new iPad.  I thought that I would use it to research the details that Linda asked about and test my iPad at the same time.  So I went to the UP Steam’s GPS tracking site which shows the route in detail on the map when you have fully zoomed in.  I discovered the track routing out of Houston and then proceed to make a map for her showing the general route to Bay City that No. 844 would take.  I did this on my iPad in a cool drawing program I purchased for it.  So far so good.

I sent a reply to Linda’s email, which I used Pages to pen, and attached the map I created.  I gave her some advice on the chasing aspect and asked her to thank any crew members she encountered for their dedication and service to railfans everywhere.  

In her reply, she said she would.

She also graciously thanked me for helping her and detailed her plans for the chase.  She also took the liberty of including a URL to a recent blog post she has written about her childhood and her attraction to trains.

I  began to read her blog entry and was quickly taken by the fluid imagery and precise prose that held me captive.  Wow, “she can write,” I thought. Her blog, entitled “A Task at Hand,” is subtitled: A Writer’s On-going Search for Just the Right Word. I’d say she has found many of them. It is a very compelling post and a great blog that is certainly worth a read.

In her post she describes some of the railroad-themed music that she enjoys.  One notation, in particular, took me back to my time in the Army.  

I was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 1984 and thought of little else than being a good soldier and all of the women vacationing down at Waikiki.  Having been bitten already by the “train bug,” I did experience a departure from my idealistic pursuits briefly when I attended a Boxcar Willie concert on base.

For the uninitiated, Boxcar Willie was a persona created by Lecil Travis Martin and a legendary “hobo music” artist and a member of the Grand Ole Opry.  A truly talented singer and songwriter, he is best known for his uncanny ability to imitate a steam whistle sound with just his voice and a microphone.

As I read Linda’s post I clicked on the various links and took the “journey” she laid out for us. When I clicked on the Boxcar Willie link I smiled and got lost.  I clicked on link after link after link highlighting the various songs that Boxcar has performed. I had forgotten about his stirring talent and soothing sounds. Thanks for the memories Linda.  I learned more and more about Boxcar and discovered that he had succumbed to Leukemia in 1999. I feel fortunate that I got a chance to see him perform live and meet him.

The Perils of Railfanning and Home Decor

Being a fan of railroads these days has many challenges, to say the least.  First there are the elements to contend with while on location at your favorite train viewing location.  And then there are the snakes and critters (mis-informed or ill-intended railroad cops and foremen) and animals to deal with.  

Trust me, the last thing we need are challenges on the home front.  Well, sometimes it can be difficult to be dedicated to the cause, so to speak.

I suspect that I am not the only one who has a difficult time of getting railroad-themed “art” or items to meet with the approval of the significant other “home decor committee.”  The experience is often not unlike the infamous wagon-wheel coffee table scene from “When Harry Met Sally.” I have several cool pieces of railroadiana that I have collected over the years, to include a seat from a caboose, a scissors-gate dispatcher’s phone, and the obligatory railroad switch lantern, all of which are proudly displayed — in the garage!  (At least for now!  When I become a super successful and world-renown railroad blogger then I am going to run away with Salma Hayek and we will have railroadiana everywhere…)(Hey, a guy can dream!)

Tim LeefeldtWell it might be a little easier now to express your wonderful sense of style and love of all things railroad thanks to a talent architect and artist, Tim Leefeldt. Tim is an architect by trade but finds great passion in creating useful home decor items with re-purposed industrial materials, including railroad items.  He has several web sites where he presents and sells his items. His rail-related site is RailroadWare.

Tim has built quite a catalog of useful items that transcend the gap between railroad garbage and useful and expressive elements of fine living.  There are many items that all good railfans should have in their homes that should meet with the approval of the spouse.  Take a look at the simple elegance of this sconce.  It should complement any den or family room nicely:

There are plenty of items that any decent train room would be lucky to have as well.  Everything from hooks and knockers to pulls and racks.  One item I like a lot is the toilet paper holder:

Apparently there is no limit to the imagination and ingenuity of the human spirit.  So go check out Tim’s work and talent at his site, RailroadWare.com and tell them ChasingSteel sent you. 

P.S. “Come on sweetheart, it was a joke. You know I love you and only you. Please unlock the door!”

Tracking a Legend on Her Journey and Kudos to UP!

Now that the Union Pacific’s Valley Heritage Tour is underway, you can follow the train’s progress and current location on a map that is updated every 5 minutes thanks to the generosity and talents of the Union Pacific Railroad!  Here is what the application looks like with an overview of the route highlighted:

Union Pacific’s Steam Locomotive Tracking Application - Overiew Map

And here is a view of the map zoomed in:

Union Pacific’s Steam Locomotive Tracking Application - Detailed View

You can also follow the train, and Union Pacific, on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest updates. There is even an RSS feed of their “tweets” available as shown below:

RSS Feed Showing UP_Steam’s Tweets

I would like to tip my hat to the Union Pacific Railroad for extending these services out to the public. It is a very good use of technology that allows us to follow the train’s journey while I am a mere 900 miles away and still feel like I am there.  Thank you Union Pacific.  Your Public Relations and Information Technology groups are doing a great job!  Keep it “up.”  (Get it?, UP - oh nevermind…)

Now if we could only stream live in cab video…!

RSS Feed of UP_Steam's Tweets