Kenronsberg
03-23-2007, 10:24 PM
I probably attended my first show with my mother carrying me but didn't join until 1987 after my cousin David Ronsberg and myself decided we should become productive members of society. I signed up to be a conductor on the train thinking that would be an easy to earn my meal ticket. Hartley Ellingson ( our Superintendant at the time ) was asking for volunteers for fireman and I quickly volunteered.
I was signed up to fire for Otis Phelps and Lorin Lindahl.
There are two rounds that stand out more than the others with Otis. The first and the last.
On my first round I climbed up into the cab of 353 trying to figure out everything that was going on. Otis looked down at me from the engineers chair, stuck out his hand and introduced himself with a smile. " You better stand behind me and watch what I'm doing if you want to work up here." As we pulled away from the locomotive building I couldn't believe how smooth it was. Otis talked about a lot of things on that round but on stuck out with me more than anything else. He said, " Son, you can think about what ever you want up here...... as long as every other thought is waterglass! I live by that rule and have passed it along many times.
Many years later Lorin and I started out without Otis on the engine. Lorin was pulling onto the east crossing when he stopped the engine, and said we have a special passenger to pick up. A frail old man climbed onto the engine with the help of his son in law. Lorin got out of the engineers chair and the gentleman sat down like he was at home. He signaled and started the train out just as smooth as glass. I started visiting with his son in law, about all the old fellow had done on the railroad over the years. Stories I have heard before, when it dawned on me. It was Otis. I hadn't seen him since the year before. He had been hit with cancer and had changed from the big strapping guy to a frail old man. I jumped up beside him as i had done years before to say hello and try and offer some encouragement. I said you'll get better Otis, you haven't finished teaching me how to run this thing. Otis laughed, that hadn't changed and it was a great laugh.
He said " If you listen to her she'll tell you what she needs." I didn't totally understand it at the time, but I started listening and they do talk to you.
I haven't yet made my last round with Loren Lindahl yet. Loren continued what Otis started, teaching me about the engine. I hope it will be many years before that last round comes.
Ken Ronsberg 353
I was signed up to fire for Otis Phelps and Lorin Lindahl.
There are two rounds that stand out more than the others with Otis. The first and the last.
On my first round I climbed up into the cab of 353 trying to figure out everything that was going on. Otis looked down at me from the engineers chair, stuck out his hand and introduced himself with a smile. " You better stand behind me and watch what I'm doing if you want to work up here." As we pulled away from the locomotive building I couldn't believe how smooth it was. Otis talked about a lot of things on that round but on stuck out with me more than anything else. He said, " Son, you can think about what ever you want up here...... as long as every other thought is waterglass! I live by that rule and have passed it along many times.
Many years later Lorin and I started out without Otis on the engine. Lorin was pulling onto the east crossing when he stopped the engine, and said we have a special passenger to pick up. A frail old man climbed onto the engine with the help of his son in law. Lorin got out of the engineers chair and the gentleman sat down like he was at home. He signaled and started the train out just as smooth as glass. I started visiting with his son in law, about all the old fellow had done on the railroad over the years. Stories I have heard before, when it dawned on me. It was Otis. I hadn't seen him since the year before. He had been hit with cancer and had changed from the big strapping guy to a frail old man. I jumped up beside him as i had done years before to say hello and try and offer some encouragement. I said you'll get better Otis, you haven't finished teaching me how to run this thing. Otis laughed, that hadn't changed and it was a great laugh.
He said " If you listen to her she'll tell you what she needs." I didn't totally understand it at the time, but I started listening and they do talk to you.
I haven't yet made my last round with Loren Lindahl yet. Loren continued what Otis started, teaching me about the engine. I hope it will be many years before that last round comes.
Ken Ronsberg 353