You Might Get What You Ask For

Years back, the old Santa Fe Railroad had a depot or station every ten miles or so, and with this depot was an Agent. These Agents were in charge of a variety of activities and personnel. Usually there would be a section gang, signalman and sometimes a switch crew or local train crew. The Agent would also handle freight delivered at his location and deal with customers. Usually there would be stock pens on the property. The old Depot Agent was one known by all.

One such Depot and Agent was located at Bangs, Texas. This old Agent was all powerful, well maybe not "all" powerful, but in his mind he was the man. There was a problem developing in Bangs that concerned the delivery of freight. It seems that westbound trains (running from Brownwood to Sweetwater) that had freight to deliver at Bangs at night would not always stop the train before delivering the freight. They would simply throw said freight from the train to the loading dock as they rolled through Bangs. The reason for this act was due to the fact that these westbound trains had to pull up one of the steepest grades on the territory, Bangs Hill, and if they stopped their train at Bangs and they were on a heavy train, it was very difficult for even the most experienced engineer to get his train moving again after the delivery was made.

The Agent became furious about this practice and put out a bulletin stating that in the future all trains that had a delivery to Bangs at night would stop their train and deliver the freight inside the depot without fail. Those failing to follow these instructions would be reported and disciplined.

The next night there was a train that had a delivery for Bangs and they followed the Agent's instructions to the letter. Everything was delivered inside the depot and the doors locked. The next morning the Agent arrived and as he walked to the depot , a smile came on his face as there was no freight scattered on the dock. He unlocked the door and entered, there they were, fifty head of goats making themselves at home.

There was no longer a smile on the old Depot Agent's face.