The Weathering Depot

The following is a tale from my days on the Indiana and Ohio railroad, this story taking place when I was their track inspector.

I one day was inspecting the line up to Lebanon, Ohio, and was just north a bit from a spot called Hageman Jct, an original crossing of the PRR line that came up from the Little Miami River and ran over to Middletown, Ohio and the steel plant there.

I had stopped my hirailer just south of the first wooden trestle on this stretch of track so I could walk out onto the trestle and inspect the rail more closely. Of course it was mandatory that I wear steel toed work boots.

As I was just about to step out onto the first bridge timber a huge long black snake darted out from underneath this railroad tie and scurried down the embankment. Needless to say it scared the pee out of me as I jumped! Fortunately I jumped backwards for if I had went forward I might have very well went off the trestle and about 20 or so feet into the creek below. What an experience when you’re not expecting something!