Railroad Conductor Story

Item #322

True Builders of America

(August, 1984) Another True Builder, the Conductor reminds me of riding Pullman train cars in my youth. The step up to the train is so high, especially for a child, so the Conductor is always there to help. You Needn’t worry about your bags—he’ll see that they are on board. The Conductor himself has a large suitcase containing his many ticket reports and a change of clothing for the return trip. In keeping with the operating rules, he has stepped on the tie, and not on the rail, which could cause him to slip and fall. His hand is in his pocket, checking for candy for the children on the train.  When I was a little boy, the first thing I did after boarding the train was to look out the window to see if the Conductor had gotten on the train. He is always the first one off, and the last one on. He signals with his lantern to let the engineer know that all are aboard, and the journey can begin.

Dr. Thomas F. Clark