Ride the Rails Package

From 1991 to 1993 I was Track Engineer on CN's Saskatchewan District.  Track Engineers at the time were assigned hi-rail vehicles to encourage us to get out of the office and into the field with our employees.  Not a bad way to make a living, as long as the trains stayed on the track!  In 1992, I was assigned one of CN's first hi-rail equipped Ford Explorers .  It was a nice compact vehicle, at least in comparison to the Suburban that had preceded it, and the 4x4 really made it a good smaller inspection vehicle for two people and gear.

Before or after inspection trips, I would often take the vehicle home and have it parked in our driveway.  Our neighbours in Saskatoon were a couple of Yuppies who had everything.  Fancy home, nice clothes, European cars.  We certainly couldn't keep up with them, nor did I have any desire to try.  But despite the fact that Lisa drove a Saab, she was always commenting about that fancy Ford Explorer with the "Ride the Rails" package, and jealous that she couldn't have one.

Here are a couple of shots from one of my inspection trips with the Ford Explorer.  It is April 1992 and we are on the Rivers Subdivision in the signaled siding at Wattsview, Manitoba.  #2 is scooping us at 70 mph.