shuttling train crews

[Terry Toenges]

My nephew got a job at BNSF. His job is picking up train crews and transporting them. Sometimes back and forth to a hotel or motel from the train. sometimes he carries them from city to city.
There are 212 places in Missouri where he picks up crew members as well as other states.
I guess it's a job I never thought about

[ebtnut]

Back in the old steam days, the railroads used to employ Call Boys.  They would be tasked with going around to the YMCA, the rooming houses, or wherever the crews slept, and notifying them that were being called to duty.  This was back in the days when a crew might only have 8 hours off between runs.  As was sometimes the case "back in the day" where lots of unattached men assembled, the ladies of negotiable virtue would set up shop.  The men who frequented these places would often take their brakemen's latern with them and leave it on the doorstep so the call boys would know where to look.  Hence the term "red light district". 

[RAM]

Call boys were needed because there vere few telephones.

[Terry Toenges]

I guess Hickory Hollow's Tramp Was playing host to the railroad men.