When the job to operate a rail train was bulletined (1979) there was was one 5 man crew left in Quanah. The engineer, conductor and senior brakeman took the rail train (it paid better). That left to run the switcher upon the arrival of 537, the fireman, junior brakeman, an emergency board fireman who hadn't been called in years (decades?), and a brakeman forced to QU from the OC extra board. Those four ran the switcher which continued to deliver 537 to FWD, switch Georgia Pacific, the cotton compress, and occasionally the compress in Paducah. They also would occasionally deadhead out to pick up loaded rail trains or loads of bridge material. I can't remember much of those days since most of it happened thru the night...but I remember it was fascinating. Those guys were from a dynamic little shortline that went from glory days to pure neglect. When the rail job ended, the QAP men were canned, and the FWD switched all of QU. The OC brakeman went back home for a short time and then went back to college. It is not overly thrilling working on a branch line (although anxiety runs high because derailments are everywhere). However, it was an honor to work with those guys during their last days. They were great railroaders.
