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Going for a ride on "Eureka" At Osier and in the office in pre-computer days and with E-70 at Deer Lodge (evening before dedication, August 1994)

A little about me (Is it relevant?)

I came to Canada in 1955 from Austria where I had developed an interest in trains at an early age. The big deal when I was growing up was the continuing electrification of the various lines. Steam was never that big although I do remember numerous journeys through Germany and Austria behind absolutely beautiful Pacific and Hudson style locomotives, you know the ones with the red tires and everything. To this day I think the most marvelous locomotive ever designed is the Swiss/Austrian Crocodile and I have a collection of these in various scales. Anyway, it is this interest in electrics that got my interest in the Milwaukee Road going, being too far from GG-1s etc.

I have worked numerous jobs, but of interest here are my jobs/careers on CN as a telegraph operator in Eastern Canada with stints on the DW&P. After an interlude I hired on for my final job on CP Rail where I retired as Senior RTC (dispatcher to you Yankees) when the office moved from Vancouver to Calgary. Took an early small pension. What has happened during my career, spanning from telegraph to computerized operation, from train orders to OCS clearances (very similar to track warrants), from wooden box cars to stacks, from steam to super-horsepower diesels, from wooden cabooses and five man crews to head-end only 2 man crews, from dispatching offices scattered everywhere to highly centralized operations, from many small lines to some bigger ones to many, many short-lines and a few super-railroads. I've seen and watched it all and been a part of it.

I am an avid modeler in N and HO scale, also have some G. I love motorcycling and touring. I rarely mix railfanning and bike touring, as they mostly incompatible. I read a lot, love Rock & Roll and R&B and Blues, AND travelling. Main interests in Railroads are the Kettle Valley Railway here in Canada and the Milwaukee Road "Lines West". Any excuse will do to jump in the car, on a train or plane and go anywhere. It does not even have to be rail related, but it helps.

I am an obsessive-compulsive collector (bad), been married too many times (bad), and love trains (good).

That's me folks

Helmut Wisinger in Beautiful British Columbia

Dispatcher initials: HW (Hot Wheels, Hot Water, Hard Work, Horse Whip and others not suitable for a family oriented website)