One of the most abused and little loved locomotives on the roster is the switch engine. Yard goats are usually grungy and carry the evidence of the constant work demanded of them. To add further insult to injury railfans tend to ignore them since they don’t carry the flashiest paint jobs and are usually well hidden in the confines of the yard.
Then there are the railroaders that work the yard. What job could be more difficult and dangerous than working the ground in a yard with close clearance between the tracks and equipment constantly moving? I respect those that do it safely and efficiently every day as they are a breed apart from those of us that man a desk everyday.
So here’s to the yard goat and all the railroaders that work with them…
Technorati Tags: train, railroad, photo, photography, Union Pacific, Lake Yard, Oregon, Portland, switch engine, UP


