I am very thankful!!

After the events this week, I am very thankful for God is my protector and saviour.

I've been working on the railroad for almost four years. I've put the last three working in Youngstown, Ohio on the Ohio Central Railroad. I've become accustomed to working without rest days and I will be completing a streak of 19 days of work without a rest day today. I have also become accustomed to working alone at night. No big deal, but the events that have happened this week have made it the most challenging in my life. It goes without saying that I am thankful for the moment here and there that I will say a short prayer. I'm always asking the Lord for protection, forgiveness of my sins, and for the well-being of others. After this week, I'm convinced 100% that the Lord will always hear my prayer.

We have been hit by a string of inclement weather in Youngstown all week. Monday afternoon while I was working as the second trick (shift) yardmaster a tornado struck our interchange track flipping an empty 36 ton hopper car onto the CSX mainline. The tornado continued through Youngstown ripping roofs off industries and houses. Our office was a half mile from the path of the tornado and our MVRY rail crew was switching on the track with the overturned car only an hour prior. Thank the Lord for his protection.

Tuesday night the bad weather continued. It rained continuously all day Tuesday. During my shift, the Mahoning River crested. Our office sits along the Mahoning River adjacent to the former LTV Copperweld pipe mill. I was in for the shock of my life. The last time I looked at the clock was 9:52 PM. Our office is troubled with a leaky ceiling, and walls. It's typical to have water on the floor, but when I noticed water flowing underneath the front door was that our storm drain was clogged. I opened the front door and a deluge of water flowed in. I was quick to notice that the smell of the water was no longer rain water, but it was river water.

I slammed the front door and began to look (actually scream!!) for our company dog. I found Dakota in the GM's office and drug him out to the side door. We stepped down into a foot of water, when I realized I had the doors to the Regal locked. After what seemed to be an eternity I had the doors unlocked and open with the dog in the car. We got out of the warehouse and I could hear the water sloshing on my Regal's floor boards. I had driven a quarter mile in a foot of water and reached high ground in 5 minutes. Thankfully no water in my car. The water had risen a foot in minutes. I had no time to shut off the lock the front door or shut the garage door. I had even left the lights and computers on. There was no time for it. I was scared. Highwater, heavy rain, and a stubborn dog. I don't know how many prayers were said, but I guarantee everyone was heard.

When it was all said and done there was 2 1/2 feet of water at the office. By 1:00 AM the river had receded its banks at the office. Today (Friday) we have our office up and running and we still have railroad underwater in some places.

In the hardest times in my life, the Lord has been my protector, my saviour, and my closest freind. I am thankful for all of which he has done.

 

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE,

I guess you could go for a few nice weather days right about now! I'm glad you are OK. Whatever God has planned for you, one thing is for sure, It ain't your time yet! Good work rescuing the dog! I bet that was the Regals longest drive!

 

great

Great story of gods protection, its funny how we as humans think it can't happen to us! but it always seems too.i've worked those lonely nights also on the railroad,dark and desolete switching yards, pick up and set offs in the middle of nowhere and in the tower of whiskey iland switching yard as the yardmaster,so i know your situation.is the yard your talking about next to the old haselton yard in youngstown?? because if it is it is a little spooky there in the dark hours. god did bless!!!! Moz:grin:

 

Moz,

You're in the neighborhood!! I work at the Mahoning Valley Railway's old Yard office at the site of the old Republic Steel Mill. Youngstown isn't like what it used to be. It's more like a desert now that all of the old steel mills and glass plants have been dismantled. Just alot of open space.

In a complete separate event..........I had my wallet stolen, all of my clothes, and a bunch of other items Saturday, while at the pool...................I feel inspired to reread the Book of Job. I don't plan on relenting anything I have said. The thieves had the courtesy of leaving my Jerusalem Cruisers (my sandals). Otherwise I may have burned my feet on the scorching pavement!!