Rules of the Way

By Eddie Exum

Na-na-na-ya...! School is out! Summer will have officially begun by the time you read this.

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It got hot early this year and it appears it will remain that way. Maintenance of Way seems to be moving into Summer about as usual.

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Project Work

Mesquite: Dirt, concrete and track work are progressing well on Mesquite Intermodal Tracks One and Two will be complete before July 15. After they are completed, tracks three and four will be removed from service at Forney Road for completion. There is so much underground water, electric, cable and connecting conduit at Mesquite that some places look like a spider web. South Ney: We wait on available materials and track gangs. Arlington: At Big Mackie, we are waiting on track gangs to place rail on distributed cross ties.
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Our son Jon, the transfer from Maintenance of Way to Train and Engine Service is back from training in Dalhart, Texas and is breaking in as a Brakeman in the Fort Worth/Dallas Area.
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I still haven't taken that vacation I said I was ready for last month. I think it will involve clear salt water and sand.
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Independence Day is just around the corner. We will plan on going to a fireworks display.
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Yesterday, we took our soon to be 5-year old grand daughter to her first drive-in movie to see "Godzilla."
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Probably one more generation away from us Baby Boomers and there won be any drive-ins.
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Summer brings the health hazard of heat exhaustion. Protect yourself by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic and caffeine-free liquids.
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Summer heat sometimes makes us uncomfortable and increases our frustrations. Let's not let that make us do something unsafe.
Eddie is the ARASA Engineering Inspector in North Texas.

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