Thanks for the kind words guys. I do love serving as conductor, and it is my pleasure to get people to their destination safely, and help them enjoy their time visiting the railway. The not yelling but being able to be heard thing is definitely a teacher thing.
One of the nice benefits of coming into Sheepscot with just the last vestibule on the platform is the privilege of personally thanking each of our passengers for traveling with us as they detrain and sharing a last moment with them.
I find that I don't talk too much about the railroad, other than usually touching on where the railway ran (based on our ticket) why narrow gauge was used, and some of the impacts the railroad had on life. Mostly, I want to know who our riders are, where they come from, why they are visiting us and how they are doing. Railroad therapy, as it were. The personal connection is real- in its day, the narrow gauge had a small number of conductors and they developed meaningful relationships and friendships with their passengers- that is part of the experience I strive to capture.
