In memory of Randy Moses

(a tribute from Tracie Rowland)

Posted 9/19/2010

Had a GREAT weekend last week.  Watched TV got to see the Gators win.  Went to the Jags game and got to see Tim in the season opener as a Bronco.  Got to hang out with an old friend, Dave and his lovely daughter Rachel, he was kind to invite me to the game, thanks again Susie.

But it was a movie I saw on Friday that got me to reminiscing.  Then meeting Dave at the Amtrak station to go to the game.  What a rush of memories.  The movie was Braveheart, love the movie.  It is the combination that got me to looking something up on the internet and so I wanted to share this with my friends about a friend who is no longer with us.

This coming Tuesday, September 21, 2010, it will be 15 years since the passing of Randy Moses.

It is hard to believe it has been that long and yet it does seem like a life time since the accident.  While at the station it amazed me for the 17 years I had worked there I only knew 3 of the operating crew, inbound and outbound train crew.  So chances are most of the bunch out there don’t know who Randy was.

The movie Braveheart had just come out and Randy was going on about what a great movie it was and at the time he was working with W. E. Wallace (Billy) and he would tease him about being related to that William Wallace (watch the movie).

I always loved to catch that crew off the board. I knew it was gonna be a fun trip no matter how late or bad the equipment might be.  That bunch was fun to work with.  Billy would call back on the radio with “Randolph” and finish transmitting what he had to say to the engines.

Randy had such a sense of humor and I loved to hear him laugh.  His laugh was sooo unique.  Loved his pranks, had to laugh even if you were on the receiving end.  I was lucky enough to catch him and Toller when I was learning the route to TPA for conductor.

Heading to PAK  we had no signal to cross the bridge (northbound) and the bridge tender wasn’t on duty.  So I got down and wanted to check the bridge out, went out a few ties and saw how the water was moving fast.  It was dusky dark and when I turned to head back to the engine, Randy started to flash the headlight on and off,  laughing at me the whole time on the radio.

The week before Randy passed he came in on 92 from MIA and I was taking the train north.  I remember still looking at him and telling him ” ‘bye” and to drive careful and a voice inside told me to go over to hug him.  I thought, nah I’d catch him another trip.  My next trip was behind them to MIA.  He and Steve on 91 and I was on 97; they were late and we were on time and gaining.

Heard about the accident from station to station, first heard it was a pickup they hit and figured the train would win that one.  By the time we got to WTH Vic Hood was at the baggage car and said it was a semi and hadn’t heard much more.

We got to OKE and picked their passengers up and I remember Jack Hammill helping us get them loaded.  That was when the dispatcher called and wanted someone from our engine and one of us ( conductors) to go to that train to take the equipment south.  91 crew was Steve Wilkerson and Randy.  Conductors were A.E. McMillan, Bobby Dyal and Roger Benton.  97 was Bob Flynn, J.B. Vanders, J. J. Jenkins and me.

Bob and I went to that equipment.  The world was tied up down there and by the time things were starting to flow again northbound 92 had arrived.  It was then when we heard Commander Wallace (Randy liked to call him that too) announce on the radio “We lost Randy today.”

The silence seemed to last the rest of the way south.  The out pouring of love at the church in Wildwood–the place was packed out the front of the church. Randy had so many friends both on and off the railroad. He touched a lot of lives.

Since leaving the railroad myself five years ago the reminders aren’t as often of course but seeing that movie just got me to thinking about him and the great guy he was to work with.

I can still hear his laugh or when he’d say “I heard dat.”  I am not telling those who knew Randy anything they themselves don’t already know but to those of you who didn’t get to work with him: y’all REALLY missed out.

I went into detail to mention the people by name cause NONE of them are out there anymore.  All are retired except for Al McMillan. He has passed on also.

And so I want to say this to you prior right boys, y’all were a hoot to work with.  I thank you for the stories and enjoyed working with y’all.

And this Tuesday, give a pause and dust off a few of those great stories of working with Randy and you’ll have no problem hearing that laugh of his.

Take care of yourselves and God Bless.

FooFoo a.k.a. T.D. Noakes (Rowland) I was Noakes for 35 years before Rowland (lol)