A Blind Girl and Her Dog

Jacks House

h ome

Back to Stories Back to High Ball

It happened June of 1999. I was working the coaches to Oakland Cal. We were on our way home, day 5 of a 6 day trip. Jenny and her dog boarded my car in Oakland. Jenny's 23, blonde, and cute as all hell. Lol The dog is black, Labrador, and....lol Jenny could get around the train fine on her own, but the dog needed to be let out at everyother stop to pee. And with this, she needed my help.

The Conductors are aware that I have to do this at everyother stop. They know to look for me outside with the dog and Jenny. I'm working the last car on the train so usually one of the Conductors are there with me as I open the door. But for some unknown reason in Granby Co. The Conductor decides to open a door 4 cars away from me. I really don't think too much about this because I had told him 3 times in the last hour that I would be letting the dog out there.

As we were walking around with the dog, waiting for it to find the “perfect” spot to pee, I hear the brakes release on the train. This is no big deal either, The engineer will do this while were sitting if we are on level ground. Usually, that is. I've got my back to the train, I look over my right shoulder and see the Conductor talking into his radio and stepping into the train. This is not good. I'm thinking; “They can't be leaving, he just looked right at me”. But then again, he was looking into a setting sun as he looked back my way. Now I hear the rumbling of the train wheels behind me. I turn to look and sure shit, it's moving. Were 10' from the door of the train, no way Jenny's going to make it. I know I could, but I can't leave her here alone. But then again, if I jump on the train I could call the Conductor over the P.A. and tell him to stop. But Jenny has no idea what is going on. All she would know is that I'm gone and the train is moving. The train would stop but it would be ¾ of a mile down the tracks. She'd be all alone. The station has nobody working it. All that's there is a payphone, waiting room and a coke machine. We are the only people there besides some kid on a skateboard. So I stay and the train does not.

Jenny by now knows something is not right. As I watch the train pull away with my door wide open and another passenger sticking her head out and looking at us, Jenny's starting to panic; “The train is not leaving us is it Bill? Please say it's not. Please say no.” To this I reply; “No, it's not leaving us. It's already gone.” As I watch the red lights get smaller and smaller.

So, here I am. 3 hours away from Denver ( where Jenny is going ). 4 hours away from calling it a day and going to bed. Now all that is gone with the train along with my clothes, cell phone, wallet, exc... All I have is my uniform, train keys, and a full pack of cigarettes (THANK GOD!!! ).

Jenny by now keeps repeating; OMG, OMG, OMG. Over and over. I'm having visions of spending the night in Granby with no money.

I give Jenny the “Everything is going to be OK” speech. Trying to calm her down. I gave her me elbow and we walk into the station. At least there's a place to sit.

As we walk into the station I see the pay-phone. The only number I know is the one for crewbace. Crewbase is the place that calls me and other employees for work and runs. But it's the only number I know and it's a 1-800 number as well. So I call. After about 5 min of explaining who I am and what has happened the guy finally believes me but he has no clue as what to do. So I start telling him who he needs to call and what he needs to say. First he needs to call Operations and tell them what has happened. They in turn will contact the train and inform them of what has happened. Next, he needs to call the station of Denver and talk to the station master. The Station Master needs to find Jenny's parents and tell them she is OK. Then he needs to figure out a way to get us off this frickin' mountain.

So the crew-caller puts me on hold while he's doing all this. Jenny and I are smoking like fiends and talking. She has calmed down allot

The crew-caller comes back on the line and tells me the Station Master is not being very helpful. Also, he's still trying to get in touch with operations. But he also tells me that there's a Amtrak employee who lives here in beautiful Granby Co. He's trying to get a-hold of this guy and see if he can give us a ride down to Denver. At last, a ray of hope.

The crew-caller is also telling me that the Station Master wants us to find a hotel and spend the night here and catch tomorrow's train. LMAO That would mean I loose all my personal belongings that are on the train, and I get home a day late. And I just know that I will have to fight payroll over getting paid for this day. I've been with this company long enough to know what kind of stuff they try to pull on it's employees. So I tell the crew-caller to call the Station Master back and to tell him that a hotel is not an option. The train will be in Denver for an hour getting serviced and I have every intention of being on the thing when it leaves.

So, I'm on hold again. As I'm waiting I notice a car pull into the parking lot of the station. It turns out to be the Amtrak employee. He's telling us to hurry and come with him. There's a Greyhound bus up the street leaving for Denver. So still being on hold with the crew-base guy, I tell skateboard boy to come take the phone and when the guy comes back on the line, tell him we caught a bus. Lol

So we all pile into this guy Honda and fly to the gas station to catch this bus. Just one small problem, no money. So now I have to talk our way into a free ride on a bus, and I hate buses. Lol

I explain our predicament to the bus driver but I can tell he's real reluctant. I can tell he doesn't want to do this. I know on the train we have what's called a 720 form. That's for people who loose there tickets and stuff so I figure Greyhound has something similar. It's a form you fill out and then get a bill in the mail. Sure enough they do but this guy says he has none with him. We will have to fill one out when we get to the station in Denver. By this time I'm ready to strangle this idiot!!! He finally agrees to let us on the bus “only” if there's enough seats. Grrrrrr......... It ends up there are only 10 people on the stubid thing

So were finally on the bus and it's moving. I'm trying to calculate the time of our arrival with that of the trains departure. This is going to be close.

When going through the mountains on the train we go “through” them via tunnels. This road the bus is on goes over the mountains. As we are making our way up the mountain the brakes catch on fire. Uh huh. The bus is smoking and stinking. The driver pulls over and gets out to look at the wheel. Never telling anybody what's up with the bus. I mean do we get off? What? It stops smoking and were on our way again. This will happen 2 more times on the way up the mountain. All I keep thinking is; “were going UP the mountain. What's going to happen when were going DOWN the mountain? THAT'S when we are going to need the brakes!!!!!” I hate buses. But we had no further problems. The rest of the bus ride was uneventful.

Jenny wanted to know how something like this could happen. Then she asked if I though Amtrak would give her a free meal on her return trip. LOL Oh my little mind was thinking revenge big time!!! LOL

Not only was Jenny going to get a free meal but she was going to get a free up-grade to a Deluxe Bedroom as well. All her meals would be free there. And guess who was going to pay for this?? LOL The Denver Station Master. Rat that he is. LMAO

I explain to Jenny how to go about this. I tell her to call the station tomorrow and ask for the station master. Then to tell him exactly what you want. If he gives you any problems, you are to just say the words; “Americans With Disability Act” and “Lawyer” in the same sentence. That, I tell her, will get you anything you want, Guaranteed. Then I add she might as well go for a total re-fund too. LMAO

As were coming into Denver via the same freeway that I see when I'm working the train in Denver, I see the train. But the fuel truck is pulling away. It's done fueling the train. That means there about 10 min or so from leaving. Not good. I sure as hell don't have time to fill out a 720 form. And I'm going to be on that train when it pulls out of the station. I'm on a mission !!!! LOL

I explain this to Jenny and tell her that we are going to hit the ground “running” when the bus stops at the station. The bus station is 5 blocks away from the train station so we will need a taxi too.

The bus comes to a stop in the station, the driver opens the door and turns to his right to open the luggage compartment. We are right behind him, but we turn left and high-step it into the main waiting room. With her holding my arm with one hand and the dog leash with the other, were running through the station to the taxi stands. The dog thinks it's going for a walk when it has it's leash on opposed to the harness. The dog is about 3 feet to Jenny's right. I keep yelling; “Blind Lady coming through.” LMAO People are jumping to get out of our way !!! lol

We reach the taxi stand. 1 taxi, no driver. We climb into the back seat. I reach over the seat and honk the horn. The guy finally shows up and off we go. Then I remember “NO MONEY”. So I explain to the guy what happened to us and for him to go inside to the ticket counter to be paid for the fair. He has me sign a voucher.

As soon as we get out of the taxi, Jenny's Brother is there. I hand her off to him, say my quick goodbyes and run through the station and up to the train.

As I'm coming up the ramp to the tracks, I see the train along with my supervisor. What a relive. He told me he was holding the train for me. They have been waiting over 1 ½ hrs. But he said they were not going anywhere without me. LOL

I head back to my car to see what and how many people were loaded into my car in Denver. As I make my way up-stairs people start to clap. There all looking at me and laughing. I'm all confused. Come to find out, my supervisor made a P.A. announcement telling the whole train why they were being held in Denver!! And ending the announcement with; “We can not leave Bill.......AGAIN.” Ha-ha, funny guy. I quickly remove my name tag.

As the day comes to an end, I'm making my way up to the crew-car. Walking through the closed Dinner, all the employees in there start to bark at me. Ha-ha, funny.

As I get to my room in the dorm car, there's a sign taped to my door saying to wake me up at 5:30am so as I can “walk the dog”. Ha-ha, funny.

About 3 weeks later I receive a letter in my work mailbox from Jenny. In it she tells me what a nice ride she had in her Deluxe Bedroom. LOL

As for Amtrak. I still to this day, haven't heard zip. Good or bad.


	Jacks House h ome Back to Stories Back to High Ball A Blind Girl and Her Dog It happened June of 1999. I was working the coaches to Oakland Cal. We were on our way home, day 5 of a 6 day trip. Jenny and her dog boarded my car in Oakland. Jenny's 23, blonde, and cute as all hell. Lol The dog is black, Labrador, and....lol Jenny could get around the train fine on her own, but the dog needed to be let out at everyother stop to pee. And with this, she needed my help. The Conductors are aware that I have to do this at everyother stop. They know to look for me outside with the dog and Jenny. I'm working the last car on the train so usually one of the Conductors are there with me as I open the door. But for some unknown reason in Granby Co. The Conductor decides to open a door 4 cars away from me. I really don't think too much about this because I had told him 3 times in the last hour that I would be letting the dog out there. As we were walking around with the dog, waiting for it to find the “perfect” spot to pee, I hear the brakes release on the train. This is no big deal either, The engineer will do this while were sitting if we are on level ground. Usually, that is. I've got my back to the train, I look over my right shoulder and see the Conductor talking into his radio and stepping into the train. This is not good. I'm thinking; “They can't be leaving, he just looked right at me”. But then again, he was looking into a setting sun as he looked back my way. Now I hear the rumbling of the train wheels behind me. I turn to look and sure shit, it's moving. Were 10' from the door of the train, no way Jenny's going to make it. I know I could, but I can't leave her here alone. But then again, if I jump on the train I could call the Conductor over the P.A. and tell him to stop. But Jenny has no idea what is going on. All she would know is that I'm gone and the train is moving. The train would stop but it would be ¾ of a mile down the tracks. She'd be all alone. The station has nobody working it. All that's there is a payphone, waiting room and a coke machine. We are the only people there besides some kid on a skateboard. So I stay and the train does not. Jenny by now knows something is not right. As I watch the train pull away with my door wide open and another passenger sticking her head out and looking at us, Jenny's starting to panic; “The train is not leaving us is it Bill? Please say it's not. Please say no.” To this I reply; “No, it's not leaving us. It's already gone.” As I watch the red lights get smaller and smaller. So, here I am. 3 hours away from Denver ( where Jenny is going ). 4 hours away from calling it a day and going to bed. Now all that is gone with the train along with my clothes, cell phone, wallet, exc... All I have is my uniform, train keys, and a full pack of cigarettes (THANK GOD!!! ). Jenny by now keeps repeating; OMG, OMG, OMG. Over and over. I'm having visions of spending the night in Granby with no money. I give Jenny the “Everything is going to be OK” speech. Trying to calm her down. I gave her me elbow and we walk into the station. At least there's a place to sit. As we walk into the station I see the pay-phone. The only number I know is the one for crewbace. Crewbase is the place that calls me and other employees for work and runs. But it's the only number I know and it's a 1-800 number as well. So I call. After about 5 min of explaining who I am and what has happened the guy finally believes me but he has no clue as what to do. So I start telling him who he needs to call and what he needs to say. First he needs to call Operations and tell them what has happened. They in turn will contact the train and inform them of what has happened. Next, he needs to call the station of Denver and talk to the station master. The Station Master needs to find Jenny's parents and tell them she is OK. Then he needs to figure out a way to get us off this frickin' mountain. So the crew-caller puts me on hold while he's doing all this. Jenny and I are smoking like fiends and talking. She has calmed down allot The crew-caller comes back on the line and tells me the Station Master is not being very helpful. Also, he's still trying to get in touch with operations. But he also tells me that there's a Amtrak employee who lives here in beautiful Granby Co. He's trying to get a-hold of this guy and see if he can give us a ride down to Denver. At last, a ray of hope. The crew-caller is also telling me that the Station Master wants us to find a hotel and spend the night here and catch tomorrow's train. LMAO That would mean I loose all my personal belongings that are on the train, and I get home a day late. And I just know that I will have to fight payroll over getting paid for this day. I've been with this company long enough to know what kind of stuff they try to pull on it's employees. So I tell the crew-caller to call the Station Master back and to tell him that a hotel is not an option. The train will be in Denver for an hour getting serviced and I have every intention of being on the thing when it leaves. So, I'm on hold again. As I'm waiting I notice a car pull into the parking lot of the station. It turns out to be the Amtrak employee. He's telling us to hurry and come with him. There's a Greyhound bus up the street leaving for Denver. So still being on hold with the crew-base guy, I tell skateboard boy to come take the phone and when the guy comes back on the line, tell him we caught a bus. Lol So we all pile into this guy Honda and fly to the gas station to catch this bus. Just one small problem, no money. So now I have to talk our way into a free ride on a bus, and I hate buses. Lol I explain our predicament to the bus driver but I can tell he's real reluctant. I can tell he doesn't want to do this. I know on the train we have what's called a 720 form. That's for people who loose there tickets and stuff so I figure Greyhound has something similar. It's a form you fill out and then get a bill in the mail. Sure enough they do but this guy says he has none with him. We will have to fill one out when we get to the station in Denver. By this time I'm ready to strangle this idiot!!! He finally agrees to let us on the bus “only” if there's enough seats. Grrrrrr......... It ends up there are only 10 people on the stubid thing So were finally on the bus and it's moving. I'm trying to calculate the time of our arrival with that of the trains departure. This is going to be close. When going through the mountains on the train we go “through” them via tunnels. This road the bus is on goes over the mountains. As we are making our way up the mountain the brakes catch on fire. Uh huh. The bus is smoking and stinking. The driver pulls over and gets out to look at the wheel. Never telling anybody what's up with the bus. I mean do we get off? What? It stops smoking and were on our way again. This will happen 2 more times on the way up the mountain. All I keep thinking is; “were going UP the mountain. What's going to happen when were going DOWN the mountain? THAT'S when we are going to need the brakes!!!!!” I hate buses. But we had no further problems. The rest of the bus ride was uneventful. Jenny wanted to know how something like this could happen. Then she asked if I though Amtrak would give her a free meal on her return trip. LOL Oh my little mind was thinking revenge big time!!! LOL Not only was Jenny going to get a free meal but she was going to get a free up-grade to a Deluxe Bedroom as well. All her meals would be free there. And guess who was going to pay for this?? LOL The Denver Station Master. Rat that he is. LMAO I explain to Jenny how to go about this. I tell her to call the station tomorrow and ask for the station master. Then to tell him exactly what you want. If he gives you any problems, you are to just say the words; “Americans With Disability Act” and “Lawyer” in the same sentence. That, I tell her, will get you anything you want, Guaranteed. Then I add she might as well go for a total re-fund too. LMAO As were coming into Denver via the same freeway that I see when I'm working the train in Denver, I see the train. But the fuel truck is pulling away. It's done fueling the train. That means there about 10 min or so from leaving. Not good. I sure as hell don't have time to fill out a 720 form. And I'm going to be on that train when it pulls out of the station. I'm on a mission !!!! LOL I explain this to Jenny and tell her that we are going to hit the ground “running” when the bus stops at the station. The bus station is 5 blocks away from the train station so we will need a taxi too. The bus comes to a stop in the station, the driver opens the door and turns to his right to open the luggage compartment. We are right behind him, but we turn left and high-step it into the main waiting room. With her holding my arm with one hand and the dog leash with the other, were running through the station to the taxi stands. The dog thinks it's going for a walk when it has it's leash on opposed to the harness. The dog is about 3 feet to Jenny's right. I keep yelling; “Blind Lady coming through.” LMAO People are jumping to get out of our way !!! lol We reach the taxi stand. 1 taxi, no driver. We climb into the back seat. I reach over the seat and honk the horn. The guy finally shows up and off we go. Then I remember “NO MONEY”. So I explain to the guy what happened to us and for him to go inside to the ticket counter to be paid for the fair. He has me sign a voucher. As soon as we get out of the taxi, Jenny's Brother is there. I hand her off to him, say my quick goodbyes and run through the station and up to the train. As I'm coming up the ramp to the tracks, I see the train along with my supervisor. What a relive. He told me he was holding the train for me. They have been waiting over 1 ½ hrs. But he said they were not going anywhere without me. LOL I head back to my car to see what and how many people were loaded into my car in Denver. As I make my way up-stairs people start to clap. There all looking at me and laughing. I'm all confused. Come to find out, my supervisor made a P.A. announcement telling the whole train why they were being held in Denver!! And ending the announcement with; “We can not leave Bill.......AGAIN.” Ha-ha, funny guy. I quickly remove my name tag. As the day comes to an end, I'm making my way up to the crew-car. Walking through the closed Dinner, all the employees in there start to bark at me. Ha-ha, funny. As I get to my room in the dorm car, there's a sign taped to my door saying to wake me up at 5:30am so as I can “walk the dog”. Ha-ha, funny. About 3 weeks later I receive a letter in my work mailbox from Jenny. In it she tells me what a nice ride she had in her Deluxe Bedroom. LOL As for Amtrak. I still to this day, haven't heard zip. Good or bad.