Ken Lothridge was born in Weatherford, Texas, as the youngest of five children born to Floyd and Bonnie Lothridge. Weatherford has a railroad track running through it, but Ken never had much interest in trains. After finishing high school, he served 2 years in the U.S. Army which included 1 year in Vietnam. Returning from the war he decided to try working for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He knew nothing about railroading when he started, but he was amazed at how much he loved the railroad from the first day on the job. Ken worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad (which later merged and became part of the Union Pacific Railroad) for 15 years and took a break in service for 5 years. Ken was lonesome for the sound of the locomotives and the click-a-de clack of the train going down the tracks. It was at this time, that Ken discovered Amtrak was hiring Passenger Conductors, so he went back to work at the profession he loved so much. Over the years as Ken told the stories about his adventures to friends and family, he was encouraged to write the stories down, so he did. Ken would now like to share these stories with you and your loved ones, and hopes that after reading his book, you will have a better understanding of what the trainmen see and do, while they are on that huge piece of machinery that rolls down the rail.
|
|
