I knew a guy named George Franks who owned a bike shop here in Sebastopol. Turned out that he spent a few years in the 40's firing on the Western Division, mostly out of West Oakland. Sometimes, I could get him to recall the past and relate what he experienced. The following is one that I remember well.

He and his engineer had a 4300 (Mountain) on a time freight out of Roseville for Oakland when they had to make a stop for orders at Davis. The old hogger told George to watch for him and if he waved from the building, then to kill the fire and they'd go to beans. They had an officers special behind them and it was possible that the rr would let the more important train overtake them here.

When George saw the engineer trotting back toward the engine, he got back up on his seatbox and picked up the fire in preparation to leave.

Once they got the train moving, the guy widened on it and George told me all he could do was hang on and try to keep up with him. He told me that they were flat battin' the stack and just tore through Suisun while trying to stay ahead of the special. After they tied up in Oakland, he shyly asked the old guy just how fast they were going. They guy grinned and said "86 miles an hour".

Back then, you weren't worth much if you couldn't make time when needed. A different era.