a summer evening in 1969, #18, the eastbound Portland Rose, changes crews and is serviced at Salina on its last leg from Portland to KC. #18 only has a few more months to live on the KP. In December, it will become a mere mixed train betweeen KC and Denver.
The gang's all here, so let's get introduced.
Left to Right :

2nd Trick Roundhouse Foreman Frank Freeman. The man who hated passenger trains. He had both #18 and #9 on his shift. #9 hit Salina 30 minutes before his shift ended. He had 10 minutes to top off two or three 900s with fuel and fill the steam boilers with, in his words, "A G$@&$*D#@^%$ Garden Hose". By the time 9 left Salina, it was usually 10 to 15 minutes late. When Frank got back to the roundhouse, the phone would be ringing. Omaha wanting to know what the delay was on 9.

Carman Ernie "Bad Order" Davidson (consulting his log book). Ernie's claim to fame was bad ordering the diner on #9 one night for bad wheels. The diner crew stayed with the car in those days, so a new diner had to be rounded up at Denver and a fresh crew had to be flown from Omaha to man it. The General Car Foreman in KC personally drove to Salina to inspect the wheels. Ernie was proven correct and the car inspectors at KC probably received a brownie or two.

Inbound Engineer C.C. "Cross Country" Mallon (Arms folded). Known for making up time across the prairie if trains were late.

Roundhouse Laborer Donnie "Hatrack" Heidrick. Donnie was entrusted with feeding and watering the diesel horses.

Behind Donnie, Outbound Engineer F.L. "Fedora" Marks. Known for his interesting hats, he was engineer on the last passenger train out of Salina, #10 on May 2nd, 1971.

Outbound Fireman F.E. "Frankie" Williams (in cab door). A boomer in his early days, he fired steam on the WP out of Winnemuca, NV and the CB&Q out of Lincoln, NE when he was cut off at Salina.
Mr. Marks and Mr. Williams will have a quick run to Junction City (47 miles), lay over for a couple of hours and take 9 back west through Salina to Ellis.

Roundhouse Laborer C.G. "Clean Glass" Gardenaur. No engine left Salina without Charlie's attention to the windshield and headlights.

The photo was taken by Inbound Fireman Cliff J. Cross. Cliff was the Local Chairman for the Fireman for 36 years.

I have known and worked with all of these men and have preserved alot of their stories on tape.
Today, all are deceased except for "Bad Order" Davidson, who still lives in comfortable retirement here in Salina.

Thanks for looking.

Bob Helling
PRose

Forum Discussion: #18, Crew Change at Salina - Come meet the Gang.