Back in my days on the railroad, the 16-hour law days, when in Oakland on the WP we usually slept in our caboose, which was considered better than being taken in a company van to some joint in downtown Oakland. In Oroville, the other away terminal for Stockton crews, there was a nice motel with a decent swimming pool right near the Oroville station. It was a van ride to get there as there was nothing near the freight yard and roundhouse. Later, when I moved over to Tracy on the SP, we had what I recall was a company-owned (not sure of that) very old hotel with tiny rooms. The Roseville switch engines were noisy all day and night, right nearby. But Fresno was as bad, with a company-subsidized motel on "motel row" where less than desirable folks hung out. At least it wasn't noisy.

Many times the SP would hold crews away too long and we'd get "heldaway" pay that didn't amount to much. Certainly not enough to make up for having to be stuck in those not too pleasant places.

My wife didn't like my being on the railroad...too much time gone, which is why I ended up in the fire service, from which I retired. Yes, it required 24 hour shifts but home was close and Mom and the kids could visit the firehouse any time. I did miss railroading but I have to say, even then it was very hard on family life.