+The "snap" of rails contracting on a cold winter night.
+A fusee thrown high into the air by the "hind man" to tell the head end that the work was all done and it's OK to go. (A Texas Highball)
+The aroma of food cooking in a dining car galley on a passing train.
+Crickets on a hot summer night.
+The welcome warmth of a caboose stove.
+The knot of fear in your gut when you had to hand up orders "on the fly" to a hotshot freight going by you at speed, a mere four feet away. (Is he going to go on the ground? Is there something sticking out or dragging, that I didn't see?) And the little glow of pride you felt afterwards. (He got the orders and I didn't slow him down.)
+The ringing thump of spike mauls driving spikes home into new ties.
+A steel spike keg turned into a stove so the track gang can have a hot lunch where they are working.
+The happy sound of singing on a Friday night coming from the "outfit cars" parked on the Camp Track.
+The warm itchy feel of your wool Kromer cap pulled down around your ears on a cold winter night.
+The way the engines made the office windows hum and buzz when they were standing right out front and the hogger "revved 'em up" to pump air.
+The reflection of a headlight on wet rails.
+The way men stood around helplessly at a derailment waiting for the "hook" to arrive.
+Exchanging highballs (and smiles) with the crew of a passing train. (Was it the unspoken understanding that we were all part of this wonderful thing?
+Wheels pounding over a diamond at high speed.
+Pheasants feeding on grain spilled along the right-of-way.
+The click of the Conductor's ticket punch as he worked his way down the aisle of a coach.
+ The deck plate banging up and down in the engine cab.
+ The rattle of the coal scoop followed by the his of the firebox door.
+ The engineer and fireman calling out signals to each other across the cab ("Hi Green". "High Green it is.")
+ The noisy hiss of escaping air in the cab as the engineers releases the brakes.
+ The shrill screech of a back-up whistle.
+ Returning the wave of a little boy in a passing dome car. (Was it his first train ride?)
+ Floor traps and "Dutch doors" being slammed shut as the train pulled out of the station.
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