Down the Acolita grade through Regina and old Tortuga at 90 mph on a BSMFF with a dynamiter and only one unit of dynamic braking. Like surfing on a 6000 ton, 7000 foot, surfboard. We counted every yellow flash of that distant block signal approaching Niland, until it turned green. If it didn't turn green we'd have had to plug it there, to stop and clear the west end of Niland, about 4 miles out. It went green, and we flew on to Indio.

Another great run was with two "shut down" auto cars for the Chatsworth GM Plant, with two SD45T-2's and a caboose. The RFE asked me how fast she would go. Good dynamics and no speedo, once again 90 down Acolita, counting telephone polls to estimate speed, they were going by like a picket fence. Yuma to West Colton non stop, a truly memorable trip. Up Beaumont Hill at maximum authorized speed, instead of the usual crawl.

I once hit a triple out of Indio, too. A triple is three trips within the hours of service in one day. They were out of crews in Yuma and Indio, so off of the eastbound at Yuma, and onto the westbound, off of that westbound at Indio, onto another eastbound to Yuma. That was like hitting all the Cherry's on a slot machine pay wise.

It was great to be a simulator baby.....ah the good old days.