Carlton Evans:  

After graduation, I went to college and worked full-time. I received an A.S. degree in Transportation/Warehousing at Chaffey College and then pursued and eventually received a B.A. (or is that B.S.?) degree in History. While in college, I worked in a Hardware store and as a signmaker in a sign shop. On the weekends, I volunteered my time at the Orange Empire Railway Museum and became a "Motorman". A "Motorman" is to an electric railway what an "Engineer" is to a regular (steam/diesel) railroad. I operated various types of historical streetcars, interurbans, electric locomotives and the occasional diesel. Most of the rolling stock that I got to "play" with were of Pacific Electric (these were the famed "Red Cars") or Los Angeles Railway (lessor known than the Red Cars and known as the "Yellow Cars) stock. In 1990, I wanted some steam experience and hired out at Knott's Berry Farm as an Engineer/Fireman and ran that train for about 3 years. The two locomotives over there are 1881 vintage Baldwin locomotives. They also have a "Galloping Goose" railbus (Rio Grande Southern #3) which I ran during the off-season. It was at Knott's that I met my wife, Margaret, and we were married in 1993. In August 1993, we escaped Southern California when I hired out with the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, AZ. It was over here that I operated and worked on their steam locos as well an an ALCO FPA4 Diesel. Both steam locos over there were ALCO (American Locomotive Co.)products and were built in 1906 and 1910. I thoroughly enjoyed working with steam but the pay wasn't very good and the politics involved were even worse. I ultimately had to find something that paid the bills better. In 1996, I hired on with the Burlington Northern RR in Pasco WA. as a "Conductor" although I worked as a "Switchman" in the Hump yard. A year later, I got my "Engineer" rights and moved to Spokane. Being a high-seniority terminal, I spent a number of years as a Switchman (which I preffered to a conductor's position anyway) and did a number of trips as Brakeman, Conductor, as well as Engineer. I actually enjoyed switching freight cars and soon realized that there is an "art" to it. You've got to know what you're doing when you "kick" a car or you can cause a lot of damage or even kill somebody. So now I have a lot of respect for the lowly switchman! In 2004, my seniority coupled with a boom in traffic put me squarely into an Engineer's position which I held since. Currently, I work the "Pasco Pool" running freight trains between Spokane and Pasco although I have run trains between Spokane-Wenatchee, Spokane-Whitefish (gorgeous run!), Spokane-Kettle Falls. I also did a little time on the Coast running between Interbay (Seattle) to Vancouver WA. That was a nice run but Seattle, like any big city is too much of a Rat-hole to me. Nice place to visit, though. I guess railroading is in my blood as it is something I do well and for the most part, enjoy. It's a good stable business and, if you've got the seniority, it's very secure. I still miss steam engines, though, however a consist of Geeps working hard on the Kettle Turn is pretty cool! The scenery up here is great although the run to Pasco is mostly sage brush and farmland. None-the-less, I still get to see (and run over) lots of wildlife. Deer (both whitetail and mule) are as common as rats and the occasional Elk are often seen. Once in a blue moon, I'll spot a moose. as for birds, there are ...Expand for more