Working my way through college in the mid-60s I was on the CNW's Chicago west line extra board as a switchman for a couple of summers. Those were the days when a switchman could work 8 hours on, 8 off, 8 on, etc., which as an 18 year-old, I could do. I kept getting called for jobs at the CNW's Proviso Yard just west of Chicago over a 3-day 4th of July weekend. Not sure how many tricks I worked. But after 8 hours in 24 it was time and a half and on the 4th it was time and a half and if memory serves, which it may not, I worked one trick at double time and a half. I remember waking up after a nap one morning on the front stoop of an FM switcher girgling away.

Anyhow the amount of money I earned that weekend was far more that I ever had earned in such a short period. It payed for many textbooks and some tuition. Actually, in constant dollars I'm not sure I ever made more in three days. And it was great fun.