The Nickel City

So it has been a while since I've last updated. I was in a hotel in Thompson MB that didnt have the best internet connection. Also, the video above displays another short coming of the hotel. That, believe it or not, is full pressure from both hot and cold. I neglected to take further video evidence, but the sink faucets would spew bits of solid black chunks. I was on the very end of the line and was getting all the builup in the pipes. At least that is my hope.

My time in Thompson was enjoyable. We had long days doing train stuff. I couldn't ask for a better couple of guys to train under. Both the engineer and the conductor (pictured above in a restaurant at the hotel) were super helpful and always in good spirits. The last day we were there, we worked 16 hours straight then got a cab home at midnightish and back in the Pas 5amish. I was so happy to lie down after being awake for nearly 24 hours.

Also pictured - one of many very cool rocks that were strewn about as ballast by the tracks. Thompson is a mineral rich region with gold, nickel, iron and traces of platnium mined frequently. I am told that the glitter in this particular rock is Mica.

Not pictured: my new magic bullet to make being a healthy vegan easier and a knew knife as the ones in the bunk house are about as sharp as spoons.

Lastly - a picture of me enjoying a Pas sunset.

That's all for now.

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Not much happens on the days off

Not much to report but did get to meet some puppies today. Meet Bob's extended family pictured above. Victorian style bull dogs. The one eating is dad, the other is mom. The pups are only about a week old. The guy holding the pup is Lyle (the cat care taker). Bob's wife wanted to drop by the bunk house to show them off. Super cute things.

Aside from the puppy invasion, it was a pretty lazy day. Worked out, did some grocery shopping and watched way too much TV. Went out last night just for something to do. That's the gang I've been hanging out with mostly. From the left, that's Jamie, Travis, myself and Jordan. The next picture is of them by the southern welcome sign for The Pas.

That's all folks!

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Why is this happening?

Nothing like a little snow in June to make a guy ask, why is it snowing in June?

I am sitting in what I've told is the only espresso bar in the Pas. I haven't had an Americano since a day before leaving BC. The coffee is really good - although, I'm not much of a connoiseur.

I have the weekend off which is nice but I'd almost prefer to be working to keep myself in the groove. I don't really feel like getting accustomed to time off. It will be nice to get to the gym, though. I haven't been since Tuesday.

So far I am really enjoying the work. Most of the guys are super helpful and pleasent to be around. I will be going up to Thompson on Tuesday which I am excited about. Not much else to report. Missing everyone. <3

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Flin Flon

The train ride to Flin Flon is gorgeous. I have never seen so many lakes in succession as I have today. The bits of land we travelled on were just like small bridges between lakes. Beautiful. This gave me the opportunity to use my video camera which takes surprisingly high quality video.

The conductor and engineer on this trip were great. Helpful and cheerful at every turn. I felt like I really learned a lot today. The trip lasted about 8 hours in total with a few switches along the way. Plus paper work at the end of the shift made for an 11.5 hour day. Nice long days weeks ahead of the grain run. Can't wait for my first pay.

Enjoy the video and I'll update again soon.

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Meet Arggee.

I met a man here in The Pas by the name of Lyle. He's from BC as well. I noticed one day that he came back from getting a few groceries and included in the stack was about 10 cans of cat food. Of course I had to ask.

There was a pregnant mom cat that found her way to the locomotive shop. She gave birth to some kittens and Arggee was in the bunch. Argee grew into a tom and started spraying on everything and became unpopular with some of the guys and was booted around. Lyle took it upon himself to catch and neuter Argee. Since then he's been knowm as Lyle's cat and everyone leaves him alone. He has his own eating station, filled with water and several choices of cat food. Lyle really loves him and sort of talks to the cat like a certain mother of mine. That takes a certain amount of bravery with this crowd.

Lyle wss telling me that wasn't his first rescue. Just this past winter he was driving, early in the morning to get some coffee. On the way back on this 40 below winter morning, he looked in his rearview and saw a puppy chasing along behind him on the pavement. He parked at the bunkhouse which is only a few blocks from the coffee shop and the dog immediately went to him for comfort. He said that it was so cold he only kept two paws on the ground at once and was shaking like a leaf. Lyle took him in and kept him in his room and rode around with him in his work truck. He was starting to get attached to the dog and vice versa. He knew he couldn't take on an animal but as luck would have it, some other worker that Lyle became good friends with wanted a pup so the little guy found a good home with lots of land. Great stuff. Anyway, thats all for now! Enjoy Argee.

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Train time.

Finished rules class so I am now officially certified with the Hudson Bay Railroad. My first job is taking a train from the yard here in The Pas (train 291) to a place called Pukatawagan which is about a 10hr train ride to the north.

I did find a gym and have gone a couple times already. Great gym which is pictured above. Very few people use it so when we go, we have it all to ourselves. Two guys in my train class like working out and it's nice to have company.

That's basically it for now. Just wanted to show off my rules cards and gym pictures. Hoping for a more interesting post tomorrow when I go to the diesel shop with Lyle.

Bye for now :-)

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Almost a conductor

Today I received some shiney new gear for when I will be on the trains. In the picture you see switch keys, high visibility vest, safety glasses, a new lantern and a brand new radio. Along with the new boots and overalls I bought before I left, the old hats should have no problem picking the new guy out of a line up.

Classes have been going well. I haven't received less than 90% on any of our tests which are fairly easy considering they are open book. I should get 100% each time but that instructor makes a really tricky exam. He freely admits that one must be a skilled wordsmith to ace one of his exams.

Final exam is tomorrow and once passed, I will be CROR qualified with HBR, conversant in its special special insructions and general operating rules. Then it's time to take the real test - not screwing up. Of course it's bound to happen. The sooner I get it over with, the better. Excited about getting comfortable and out of probation :-)

I met a real character (one of many) who is from Liverpool. A self proclaimed "fat bastard" who made a very hilarious effort to bestow upon me the physical laws of "fat bastard dynamics 101" and how they prevent him from using tiny bathrooms in locomotives because, apparently there's not enough pork fat and shoe horns to accomodate his girth (his words). One of the funniest monolougs I've ever heard and coupled with a trainee vomiting he's laughing so hard (seriously, and there was no alcohol involed), one of the funniest moments of my life. If only I had it on video. It felt so good to be keeled over in uncontrollable laughter.

Aside from being asked (several times now) if I was vegetarian, things have been quite smooth. Look for another update tomorrow and bye for now. :-)

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