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I can go on and on about the great people I have met who worked for the LIRR during my teen years and how well I was treated by the vast majority.
One particular incident took place when I was a young adult, age 21. I was returning from Germany from the Army as my enlistment was ending. It was one of the few times I ever wore my uniform in transit because it would be one of the last times I would wear it. I mainly did it or my parents, who after growing up during the world war were thrilled to death I was serving my country. I should have done this more often.
I arrive JFK after a six or more hour flight from Frankfurt. This was 1981 so there wasn't an Air Train to Jamaica so I had to use a taxi. The driver and I make small conversation and when we get to the LIRR he turns off the meter and says "No charge,,"
I thanked him and gave him a healthy tip and I made my way to get my ticket. The ride out to Huntington was normal and as the conductor was punching the tickets he walks right by me. He punches the ticket of the man next to me and ignores my ticket. The man next to me started to pitch a fit to the conductor and the conductor asked the man what branch of the military had he served in? The man said he never served and the conductor gives him a glare, the man looks at me, then I look at the man with disdain, turn to the conductor and I said. "Civilians" and I give my eyes a bit of a roll. The conductor chuckled a bit and I said thank you and he went about performing his duties.
When we arrived Huntington, I was heading to the Port Jeff section and the crew was next to the power pack. The crew acknowledged my uniform and we struck up a conversation. I asked if I could ride the head end. Everybody was agreeable to the idea and in good spirits. Just as the engineer and I get ready to walk to the head end, one of the uniformed train men goes to shake my hand and plants a $20 in it. He says he figured I was out of money for a ticket and that's why I asked to ride the head end. I laughed and showed him my fare and told him that as a kid I had perhaps more miles in the cabs of these locomotives then some of the engineers did and it since I am no longer a teen, that my chance for rides in the best seat in the house are diminished. He agreed and apologized to me and I told him that there was no need to be embarrassed and declined the twenty. We head to the GP-38 and off we go for St., James. It was the last LIRR cab ride I had.
12/30/2008
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