Were the 70's and 80's a blur for any of you other old head rails?

You mean people actually read those comments required after selecting a "Best Answer" to a question?

Yup. A party on wheels. But did you know there were many company officers who were party animals as well? Its true. There were so many experiences, you could write a book about it. Come to think of it, I did. My memoirs, not ready for the publisher just yet, but I've been working on it almost three years. May be out this spring if all goes well.

But, you know what? We weren't killing or maiming one another due to a belly full of beer or being in a cannabis fog. You know what else? Since the SP started UA testing in early 1984, I know three people who have been killed on duty, another who lost a leg and one who lost both legs, three others that had career ending injuries and one engineer who could flat-a$$ run an engine, IF he had some weed and some papers with him. (By the way. Remember the old, yellow 'flimsies' train orders? In a pinch they would work just fine as a substitute for a Zig Zag.) Without it, he wasn't worth a damn.

We took care of each other.

When Ricky Gates overran a signal and sideswiped an Amtrak train, on a LITE ENGINE no less, he didn't do so because he was smokin' some weed. It happened because he was a crappy engineer and had no business behind the throttle in ANY condition. But, I have to admit his contres-temps did have the effect of saving me a lot of cash over the years.

Yeah. It was fun. More fun than any one person should be allowed or even hope to have in an entire lifetime.

But then we grew up...

I missed out on when the job was more interesting way back when, but I've heard some of the stories. By the time I joined the driving grade things had gotten very serious and all the fun had gone out of the job. I guess I was just born too late.

Funny You should mention. I was talking to a couple of acquaintances of mine and they said they hardly remember even working back then. Back then at least in the freight business it was just load, go and deliver will still a touch of joy. Now its just plain old work.

It was awhile ago that's for sure.

I spent a good bit of early and mid 80s moving, furloughed, moving again.

Had fun though.