FL9

On a bleak February 28th in 2004 when all the vegetation was still dormant, the westbound ZNSLC train had a CSX unit leading, which in itself was not all that rare an occurance.  THe unusual part came in that this was a two-digit number GE AC44CW, CSX #15.

After I caught him in Boaz Park, I heard him talking to an eastbound he would be meeting at Iona.  Remember this is the UP where no road locomotive in recent history has less than a four digit number.  The eastbound asked the ZNSLC for his engine number, to which the reply was “CSX 15.”  The eastbound said ” I missed part of that number,” to which the reply was once again “CSX 15.”  The eastbound then tried again by asking, “OK, is 15 the first two or the last two digits of your engine number?”  This went on without improvement until the frustrated engineer on the ZNSLC said heatedly, ”Look, I give up, just read it for yourself as we go by!”  Not exactly Tonight Show material, but not bad for the railroad.

Tomorrow it is off to Sweetwater after work to look after my father until next Monday.