Exploring the Life of a Railroad Pioneer: Sue Kislingbury’s Journey
While trains might merge into the landscape of a typical railroad town, the stories of those who operate them stand out vividly. Author Scott Thybony delves into one such story, engaging with Sue Kislingbury, among the pioneering female railroad engineers in the U.S., as she shares her experiences from the tracks.
In the nostalgic setting of La Posada, a Winslow, Arizona restaurant, Sue Kislingbury reflected on her beginnings at what once served as the dispatch office for the Santa Fe Railway. Dressed casually in a fleece vest, Sue recounted her journey that began in 1969 at the relay office. “I hired out,” she recalled, “as a printer clerk and train order operator. I was going to be nineteen that July.”
Her transition from a “country girl” to a “city woman” happened swiftly upon her move to San Francisco, coinciding with the tail end of the Hippie movement. Sue’s career took a significant turn as she became one of the first women to drive trains, although she humbly credited the women of World War II for truly paving the way.
Curiosity about her ancestor, Frederick Kislingbury, initially led Thybony to Sue. However, their discussion turned to her railroading career. When asked about the skill involved in train operation, Sue emphasized the necessity of “controlling the slack” to prevent accidents on the tracks.
She recounted a particularly tense moment on the rails: expecting a clear track with signals all green, she was caught off guard by a sudden yellow block, followed by a red. “Once you commit yourself, you’re done,” she described the gut-wrenching experience. “I said, ‘Hold on, here it comes!’” The train swayed dramatically, but eventually settled to a stop. “I learned more in that five minutes than I learned in twelve years,” she admitted.
As a train rumbled past outside, Sue reflected on her fortune of never having hit a car or person, despite close calls. Her family had a storied connection to the railroad, and she acknowledged the demanding lifestyle it entailed. “It has to be in your blood to stick it out,” she remarked, referring to the grueling nature of rail work.
Sue’s career saw her traverse much of the West, though she held a particular fondness for the rail line between Los Angeles and Chicago, affectionately dubbing it “the Home Road.”
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