Christmas on the Rails
By Nell McKeon
December 23
A two-hundred-foot ponderosa pine stood majestically as a silent sentinel at the top of the ridge overlooking a narrow steep valley. Its roots burrowed deep into the mountain top for five hundred years, slowly undermining rocks and huge boulders that had been deposited by glaciers thousands of years ago. Melting snow mixed with heavy rain during an unusual December warm spell caused the earth to loosen its stabilizing hold. A massive granite boulder tilted, the center of gravity shifted and it started to topple and slide.
A spur line connecting a few small ranches and mining settlements to the main transportation hub in the area ran along a small river valley in the lower passes of the Colorado Front Range Mountains. The regular service train, consisting of the locomotive, coal tender, two passenger and one baggage car, was making its last trip before the coming Christmas holiday. The cars were relatively empty as most inhabitants that intended to travel had already left for their destinations, knowing the capricious nature of the local weather.
“It’s finally stopped raining, Thaddeus. Maybe we’ll actually make it to Denver to visit Clem over Christmas. That is if the trains run on schedule.” Heyes remarked as he stared out the window at the clearing sky.
Kid Curry snorted with skepticism. “It’s a good thing we sent that telegram telling her we were probably delayed just in case. With how changeable the weather’s been in the mountains I’m not countin’ on anything going according to plan.”
The two ex-outlaws sat sprawled in facing seats midway in the sparsely occupied second passenger car where it was warm from the small coal stove in front but not too hot. They shared the car with Theo and Marilyn Rhys and their four children sitting in the front as well as Andy and Sid, two thirty-something miners a few rows behind them on the other side.
At the front of the train the engineer and fireman were busy tending to their routine tasks as the train trundled down the tracks. The engineer caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head and stepped to the side of the platform for a better look. A loud rumbling noise grew louder and closer. “*#**&! MOE, SHUT IT DOWN! NOW! THE DAMN HILLSIDE IS COMING DOWN!.” In a controlled panic the engineer closed the throttle to shut off the steam supply to the cylinders before reaching for the train’s steam brake. The fireman immediately closed the dampers to the firebox to cut the air supply for the fire, then rapidly opened the safety steam pressure release.
The train jerked, slowed and screeched along the rails. Smoke and sparks flew from the wheels. Momentum carried tons of steel towards a collision with the mass of stone, dirt, and vegetation sliding down the steep slope. The landslide halted as suddenly as it started, forming a wide swath of destruction, completely obliterating the tracks. The locomotive’s occupants ducked, covering their heads with arms as the steam engine plowed into the slowing tonnage of displaced mountain. Dirt, rocks, large tree branches and small bushes rained down on twisted metal.
The unsuspecting passengers were thrown forcibly to and fro into their seats before being propelled forward by the train’s sudden stop. Luckily the cars remained on the rails. The adults were mostly shocked into silence while the children in both cars screamed in terror. The conductor and brakemen in the first passenger car sputtered a few choice expletives under their breath as they stared at each other in confusion.
“We’re being robbed this close to Christmas?” the dark-haired ex-outlaw whispered incredulously at the sudden stop.
The gunman muttered as he picked himself off the floor, “we robbed a train on New Year’s Day once.”
“It wasn’t Christmas, was it? We never robbed anything Christmas week.” Heyes declared indignantly under his breath while pressing his face against the window. “They must have dynamited the track. Wait, maybe this isn’t a robbery at all.” His voice trailed off
Curry stood and glanced around him. “Is everyone alright?”
Theo Rhys was bent over to check on his family and settle them back into the seats while his wife was trying her best to comfort the children. “Bumps and bruises. Thank God nothing more serious.” Sid and Andy muttered their agreement as the two men rubbed sore heads, wrists and shoulders.
“What happened? What was that noise?” Andy demanded. As the adrenalin rush subsided, he became more thoughtful. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say it sounded kinda like a cave in.”
Heyes started up the aisle. “Don’t know yet but I’m gonna find out.” He turned to his partner. “Thaddeus, you stay here with these folks while I go up front.”
Curry nodded and unconsciously rested his right hand on his Colt. He started to help put the railcar back into some semblance of order.
The older ex-outlaw stepped off the train stairs onto the sodden and slushy ground. Immediately the problem was visible. He jogged the length of the train quickly to find the conductor and brakemen frantically tossing rocks and tugging tree branches from the pile that half buried the engine in their effort to reach their colleagues. Heyes joined the urgent effort.
Several hours later the occupants of the train gathered in the first passenger car. All eyes were on the tall slim dark-haired man standing at the front of the car in a circle of flickering lanternlight. His blond companion stood at his side, keeping one eye on the weather outside and one eye on the people before him. Neither direction afforded a pleasant view.
“Okay folks, listen up. From what we can see outside and what the railroad men are telling us we may be stuck here for a couple of days until help can get to us. The landslide buried half the engine. Even if we could dig it free, Sam, the engineer, thinks it’s too twisted to run on the rails even if me and Thaddues could get thing going backwards.”
The grave faces of the watchers grew more alarmed as their disappointment grew and imaginations ran wild. Murmurings, gasps and overlapping questions came at the partners. The shaken conductor and brakeman drew protectively closer to the tended injured engine crew ensconced near the small stove.
Curry let his practical but optimistic nature come through in the tone of his voice. He wiped any worry from his face, kept his demeanor calm, and his blue eyes reassuring. “Don’t worry, we have a plan. Let Joshua explain and then everybody will get a chance to put their two cents in.”
“It will be easier to keep one car warm so we’re all gonna get to know each other real well. Ladies, some of you please help the conductor organize this car as our home while the others can watch over the children…” Heyes commanded attention, growing respect, and general agreement for the confident and thorough outline of how each of them would spend the time stranded on the rail along with how individuals could contribute to the common cause according to their abilities.
*****ASJ*****
December 24
Sid and Andy looked at each other from across the firepit and spit they were constructing along side the rails.
Sid whispered skeptically, “We’re probably doin’ this for no reason. I’m think’ we’re gonna have to make do with what little food we have on the train.”
“Joshua insists Thaddeus likes to eat and will come back with somethin’ worth eatin’,” Andy answered on a hopeful note.
“Well, he better be some great hunter ‘cause all we heard is one shot a couple of hours ago and he probably missed at whatever small game might be around.”
The fireman dumped an armload of semi-dry wood on the ground. He turned quickly at the sound of something moving through the forest. He broke out in a satisfied grin. “Hey fellas, Smith was right. Jones got us dinner or I should say dinners.” He called out at the sight of Curry emerging from the edge of the trees hefting a good-sized field dressed mule deer.
Theo Rhys descended the first car’s steps. He glanced up at the high cirrus clouds partially covering the incandescent halos around the sun and an early rising moon. Smoke from the stove flu hung low. The man rubbed his hands together in anticipation of hot roasted venison and to warm them in the dropping temperature. “Need help with that Thaddeus? We better get the meat cooking because the signs are indicating we’re in for more bad weather, rain or maybe even snow tonight.”
Appetites satiated as best they could with the fresh game and the food on hand, the train’s passengers passed the evening hours in small groups of quiet conversation. The seven children amused themselves in the limited space by playing not so quiet games and mostly peacefully sharing toys.
A sudden sob broke through quiet conversation. Marilyn Rhys hurried to her eight-year-old daughter, who was looking forlornly out the grimy window.
“Mamma, how will Santa Claus find us on the train?”
The other children stopped in their tracks. Tears started to trail down horrified faces. The adults glanced at each other with a helpless air.
Marilyn, trying to console her disappointed daughter, stuttered. “I…I…Santa Clause will not forget you....” Her voice rose. “...won’t forget any on you, but…”
The ten-year-old boy broke in. The tremor of his matter-of-fact tone belied his worry and skepticism. “We don’t have a Christmas Tree, or stockings hung, or even a chimney. He ain’t gonna come.”
Heyes loudly cleared his throat to be heard over the children’s sudden clamor of concern and the parents’ clumsy attempts at consoling explanations. “I’m sure Santa will figure something out. Maybe your presents will be left where you should have been on Christmas morning.” His sharp mind rapidly grabbed onto a passing thought of a stop gap solution as he talked.
A dirty-blond curly-haired, freckled faced boy shot back. “But we’ll be here tomorrow.” He spread his scrawny arms out. “Nowhere with nothin’.”
Gang members, marks for cons, and generally all adults Heyes knew how to handle. However, the gang of half-size humans staring up at him with expectant faces caused his confidence to falter for just a minute. “I think…”
“Thinkin’s no good. We need doin’ somethin’ to make sure Santa Claus don’t forget.”
Brown eyes darted to his partner leaning against a seat with his arms crossed and blue eyes crinkled in amusement. A silent conversation passed between them. Heyes raised a dark eyebrow and tilted his head towards the train car door.
“Ssh, Tommy. Mr. Smith is just trying to help. So far, his thinking has been pretty good.” Scolded Tommy’s father.
Kid ambled over to his friend. He put on his best wide smile and crouched down to eye level with the pint-sized passengers. “Have you all been good this year?”
Solemn faces nodded in unison.
“How about you hang up a sock along the front of the car. We can devise something that will keep them hanging. Maybe Santa will spot the car when he flies over in his sleigh. Joshua thinks that Santa might drop a few token gifts for Christmas morning. I think it’s worth a try, don’t you?” He swept his gaze around, meeting the dubious faces of his large and small audience. The wide affable smile implied trust me and kindly blue eyes turned frowns into tentative smiles. The blond rose and patted Heyes’ shoulder. “Go on Joshua, tell us what you were thinkin’.”
“Yes, uhm about a Christmas Tree. There’s a solitary blue spruce close to the tracks I saw earlier that would make a good Christmas Tree…” Heyes outlined his impromptu plan to growing enthusiasm.
The partners watched with amused satisfaction as the rest of the passengers and the uninjured train crew moved around a blue spruce illuminated in a circle of golden latern light. Young and old were “decorating” the tree with miscellaneous suitable items unearthed from pockets, luggage and what nature provided.
“Didn’t think the kids would be so mercenary, Kid.” Heyes muttered.
Curry laughed. “We can hardly fault them for that.”
The older partner glanced over at his friend, a grin forming. “These are church going people and what with the teaching of the meaning of Christmas and all.” His voice trailed off at the Kid’s continued laughter.
“They’re still kids. I just hope that my bag of peppermints and whatever you and everyone else can come up with to stuff in the socks will be enough.”
“It’ll have to be.”
Kid turned serious. “There’s plenty of other days that life can be hard or downright grim. You did good making sure tomorrow has a little joy.”
December 25
Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. The car came to life early. Excited children eyed the noticeably empty hanging socks with anticipation. The adults all watched with pleasure as the kids exclaimed their delight at not having been forgotten. Each person felt inner warmth as their contribution was discovered from Curry’s peppermints, Heyes’ pennies, the Rhy’s walnuts, the brakeman’s precious oranges, hair ribbons for the girls, the whistles Andy and Sid had spent most of the night carving for the boys and more.
Morning rituals and meal over as best as could be in the circumstances the stranded travelers congregated before their Christmas Tree. Eyes widened with wonder. The night had brought a thin blanket of dry fluffy snow. The light frosting of snow and crystalized ice sparkled in the sunlight. The adorned tree with its added pinecones, tied on pretty colored quartz pebbles, bits of bright colored ribbon was to them a beautiful sight. A golden ray hit the ice-covered tip of the tree just right, causing a shimmering halo.
Marilyn Rhys caught her husband’s hand on one side and her youngest child on the other side. Her clear soprano started to sing, “O, Christmas tree, o, Christmas tree …” Theo’s bass rumbled below his wife’s melody. Slowly one by one the other joined hands, forming a circle around the spruce. Their voices rose in song. Lastly, Kid’s tenor and Heyes’ baritone entered the chorus of Jingle Bells.
*****ASJ*****
“Do you hear that?”
“What?”
“Singing. I swear I hear singing.” The dirty and tired man leading the rescue efforts from the nearest town paused from his careful trek across the damaged landscape caused by the landslide. The crew stopped in their tracks and listened. Smiles crossed the weary faces of those who worked for hours to reach this point – people were alive. The men pushed forward harder. The sight that greeted them was unexpectedly heartwarming.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
The singing stopped. Surprised faces looked around before turning towards the front of the train.
“Merry Christmas! It may not be Santa’s sleigh and reindeer, but we do have a nice red engine with a car waiting to take you on down the line. We couldn’t clear the last bit yet but we should be able to get you and the most important cargo over this last large mound and on your way in soon enough.” The grinning rescue leader shouted at the stranded travelers.
The passengers were still humming Christmas tunes in between greeting their rescuers and preparing to rejoin civilization. This would be a Christmas to remember.
Notes:
Landslides – AI overview “Landslides are triggered by factors that destabilize a slope, most commonly heavy rainfall, earthquakes, or volcanic activity. These events increase the stress on the slope by adding weight or reducing friction through lubrication, causing the rock, earth, or debris to slide down due to gravity. Human activities, such as deforestation and construction, also significantly contribute by altering drainage patterns or removing vegetation that anchors the soil.”
Christmas Trees - The history of the Christmas tree dates back to ancient pagan traditions of using evergreens to symbolize life during winter solstice celebrations. The modern custom originated in 16th-century Germany, where trees were decorated with candles, apples, and nuts. German immigrants brought the tradition to America in the 1800s, but it was popularized globally after a famous 1848 illustration of Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, with their Christmas tree.
A real Christmas Tree is the one Christmas tradition or decoration that is a must have for my family. Perhaps it is due to my partial German ancestry.
Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)- Bark: Gray-brown with thick scales on mature trees. Leaves: Evergreen needles are blue or light green with white lines; 1 to 1-1/4 inches long. stiff and the points extremely sharp, light green with a white stripe. Fruit: Shiny light brown, cylindrical cones; 2 to 4 inches long with thin, long, flexible and irregularly toothed scales; contains paired, long-winged seeds. Elevation: 6,700 to 11,500 feet. Height: 70 to 115 feet. Habitat: Well-drained, sandy soils; moist sites of narrow bottomlands or along mountains streams; often in pure stands. Relation to Fire: Easily killed by fire due to thin bark, shallow roots and low branches.
Fraser Firs are apparently the US’s most popular Christmas tree, but they are only found in the Northeast, Appalachian Mountains and the upper Great Lakes regions in the wild.
Reference :
https://csfs.colostate.edu/forests-trees/colorados-major-tree-species/
A good site giving an overview of the 20 species of live trees used as Christmas trees in the US is listed below. It gives a concise description of the tree, pros and cons, and where it is currently grown and available.
In my area of the country (MidAtlantic/NE) the ones I usually see are Fraser Firs, Douglas Firs, Balsam Firs (smell lovely!), Colorado Blue Spruce, and White Pine. I’ve had most of them at one point or another over the years as Christmas Trees.
Popular 1880’s Christmas Carols in America
O Tannenbaum" - (German: [oː ˈtanənbaʊm]; "O fir tree"), known in English as "O Christmas Tree", is a German Christmas song. Based on a traditional folk song that was unrelated to the holiday, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree.
The modern lyrics were written in 1824 by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree. The lyrics do not actually refer to Christmas, or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir's evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness. The folk song first became associated with Christmas with Anschütz, who added two verses of his own to the first, traditional verse.
"Away in a Manger": Published around 1885, with a musical setting by James Ramsey Murray in 1887.
"O Holy Night": Composed in 1847, this carol was a popular choice in the 1880s.
"O Little Town of Bethlehem": Written in 1868, this song was a staple of Victorian Christmases.
"Silent Night": Though composed much earlier (1818), it remained extremely popular throughout the 19th century and was certainly sung in the 1880s.
"We Three Kings": This 1857 carol was a favorite during the period.
"Good King Wenceslas": Another carol that was written before the 1880s but was very popular during the Victorian era.
"Jingle Bells": Originally composed in 1857, this festive tune was already a classic by the 1880s.
Heated Train Cars? (A I overview)
Yes, train cars in the 1880s were heated, but the methods were primitive and inconsistent. Initially, wood or coal-fired stoves were used, which were a safety hazard and often resulted in uneven heating, with passengers near the stove being too hot and those further away feeling cold. Later in the decade, steam heating systems, which took steam from the locomotive, began to be developed and implemented.
Heating methods
- Wood/Coal-fired stoves: This was the earliest and most common method, but it was a major fire risk and provided poor heat distribution.
- Foot warmers: Some passengers, particularly first-class passengers, had access to foot warmers filled with hot water or sand.
- Steam heating: Developed in the latter half of the 1880s, this system used steam piped from the locomotive's boiler to heat the cars through radiators.
- Baker heater: A specific type of hot-water heating system that was a precursor to modern heating systems, but it was also developed in the 1880s.
Train Crew:
Engineer - Responsible for operating the locomotive.
Conductor - In charge of train in its entirety, and of the train crew at large.
Brakeman - Inspects the train, assists the conductor, operates the brakes and assists in switching.
Fireman - Steam locomotive crew who feeds the firebox with fuel. On diesel locomotives, the firemen would monitor controls and assist the engineer.
AI Overview of caboose
No, not all trains had cabooses in the 1880s, but virtually all freight trains did. Cabooses were not used on passenger trains but served as a mobile office and crew shelter at the end of freight and mixed trains.
Why cabooses were common on freight trains
- Crew and conductor's office: They provided a workspace for the conductor and brakeman to monitor the train.
- Safety: Crew members in the caboose could observe the train for problems like hotboxes on the wheels or dragging equipment.
- Braking: In the days before air brakes were fully adopted, the caboose was where the rear brakeman would apply handbrakes as directed by the engineer.
Why they weren't on all trains
- Passenger trains: Cabooses were specifically for freight service. Passenger trains did not need them because they had no freight cars to monitor.
- Early trains: While the concept of a caboose is old, the number of cabooses in use expanded significantly over time. In 1870, there were about 2,700, which grew to over 17,600 by 1900.
Santa Claus (A I overview) - In 1880s America, Santa Claus was often called Santa Claus and sometimes Father Christmas, with the name Santa Claus emerging from the Dutch "Sinterklaas" and becoming increasingly popular. Both names were used, with some depictions and poems using "Santa Claus" and others "Father Christmas," sometimes in interchangeable ways, reflecting the merging of Dutch, English, and American traditions. He was also still referred to as Saint Nicholas or St. Nick.
- Santa Claus: This name came directly from the Dutch "Sinterklaas" and grew in popularity, though its current spelling and form were still developing. By the 1880s, it was becoming the standard American version of the gift-giver.
- Father Christmas: This name was also used, especially in England, and sometimes interchangeably with Santa Claus in the United States during this time.
- Saint Nicholas/St. Nick: The figure was still recognized by his original name, especially in more religious or traditional contexts.
