Tales From The Railyard - For The First Time by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
Tales From The Railyard - For The First Time
No matter how many times she saw them, CIC's E-70M AUs always impressed Janet. Their Green and Chrome were just so eye catching, even in the dim fluorescent lighting of the station. Janet had worked for CIC as a mechanic and yard engineer and now she training to be commuter train engineer. Her instructor, Adam, was a well known communter engineer. He had been training her for several months now.
Today was Friday the 13th, but that didn't bother Janet, she didn't believe in the superstitions, she just continued to gaze up at engine #419, nameplate TURBO. Janet and TURBO were at Track 19 in Union Station in Chicago. Ada
Tales From The Railyard - Just Another Day by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
Tales From The Railyard - Just Another Day
The pre-dawn sky was a beautiful array of pinks and soft oranges, the freshly fallen snow reflected the colors. The commuter train platform was empty. But in an hour or so, people would crowd the platform hoping the train won't be late to take the to their place of employment in downtown Chicago.
All was quiet when Adam showed up on the train platform. The snow softly crunched under his feet as he walked down the platform. His tattered brown fedora hat and old brown leather jacket set him apart when in a crowd. He pulled out his pocket watch and opened it to check the time, 6:10am. In five minutes he would be picking the inbo
Tales From The Railyard - One Christmas Eve by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
Tales From The Railyard - One Christmas Eve
11:55pm. That was the time on Veronica's pocket watch. It was Christmas Eve and Veronica was furious. Her shift was supposed to be over at 7pm but the higher ups told her she was working overtime tonight, her and her engineer Adam. Her train had eight commuter cars but only two were powered up for the late night run. She leaned against a support piller in the train shed, which was wrapped in holly.
All of Chicago Union Station was decorated for Christmas, right down to the train shed. Even the commuter E-Unit diesels were painted in a Christmas paint scheme. The E-Units were painted a dark forest green over all with an off whit
Tales From The Railyard - Old Milwaukee by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
Tales From The Railyard - Old Milwaukee
Veronica was in the last commuter car, the cab car, of CIC commuter train #3342 as it pulled into Chicago Union Station. The time was 6:30 pm and it was the end of the work day for her and her crew. Veronica is a Head Conducter and her crew includes Adam the Engineer, Dave a Standard Conducter, and Frank a Trainee Conducter.
As the train slowed to a stop, Veronica walked to the car entryway and punched in a code on the touch-screen computer and all the doors opened on the train. She then steped out onto the platform to help people step off the train and bid them fair well as the headed into the station.
"Thank you for ri
#6 Tales From the Railyard- So She Shall Live On by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
#6 Tales From the Railyard- So She Shall Live On
The Chicago Illinois Central offices were located in a new office building built right across the street from Chicago Union Station. High up on the 60th floor was Phil Deffendall's office. It overlooked the CIC's coach yard and diesel shops. From this vantage point Phil was able to see many of his commuter trains entering and departing from Union Station.
It was a beautiful sunny day with sunshine gleaming off the coaches and engines down below. But Phil barely noticed. He was deep in thought. There was a knock on his door.
"It's open," he said.
"You wanted to see me boss," said Veronica, closing the door behind her.
Phil
#5 Tales From the Rail Yard - No Choice by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
#5 Tales From the Rail Yard - No Choice
It all seemed so surreal. The Pastor said one final prayer over Skye's casket and after several more moments her family slowly began to leave. The Pastor walked Skye's mom and dad to their waiting car. Veronica and Adam still remained next to Skye. Sid had gone to bring the car around.
"It was a beautiful service they had for Skye, wasn't it," said Veronica, wipping away her tears.
Adam didn't say anything, he just continued to stare blankly at Skye's casket. He hadn't said anything since the accident, four days before. Veronica looked at Adam. He looked blank, lost, completely devoid of life.
"Adam, please say something," plead
#4 Tales From the Rail Yard - The Final One by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
#4 Tales From the Rail Yard - The Final One
It was 2pm and Adam's shift was over. He was now on his way to the train crew lounge. He had asked all his co-workers to meet him there because he had an announcement to make. As he rounded, Adam saw a maintenance man hanging a sign above the door to the lounge.
"Hey there, what's going on," asked Adam.
"Phil wanted to give this place a more welcoming feel. So he had this sign custom made to give the break room a more relaxing lounge feel," replied the maintenance man.
Through the white plastic sheet, Adam was able to read the new sign.
"The Rail Yard?" questioned Adam.
"Not the most imaginitive but I guess it fits," said the wo
#3 Tales From the Rail Yard - The Shark Attacks by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
#3 Tales From the Rail Yard - The Shark Attacks
"So, is he for real?" asked Veronica.
"I was just a skeptical as you are, then he showed me the title and ownership papers," replied Skye.
Veronica and Skye were staring up at green and chrome E-70M AU, #432, in stall 15 at Chicago Union Station. Veronica was a conducter for the CIC and Adam's "on-the-rails" boss. Adam and Veronica go way back, they trained together and were assigned just about every train for training exercises. Finally Veronica and Adam formed their own little team after becoming full fledged CIC employees.
"What the hell is he going to do with an engine?" asked Veronica.
"He told me CIC still wanted to keep i
#2 Tales From the Rail Yard - Unique to Her. by Starfox2o12, literature
Literature
#2 Tales From the Rail Yard - Unique to Her.
It was a beautiful, crisp Spring day and the coach yards just outside of Chicago Union Station was abuzz with activity. Today was the day Chicago Illinois Central received it's last shipment of the new E-70M AU passenger locomotive.
CIC ordered one hundred of these special order locomotives to serve on their newly aquired and expanded commuter service. The company Electro Motive Diesels, EMD for short, built these locomotives to CIC specifications.
The E-70M AU, whose full name is E-70 Modified Alpha Unit, are built in the style of the early EMD passenger locomotive from the late 1940s, the E-7. The E-70M AUs are 75 feet