It happened last June.  I was working the coaches to Oakland Cal.  We were on our way home, day 5 of a 6 day trip.  Jenny and her dog boarded my car in Oakland.  Jenny’s 23, blonde, and cute as a button.  Lol  The dog is black, Labrador, and....lol   Jenny could get around the train fine on her own, but the dog needed to be let out at every other stop to do it’s thing.  And with this, she needed my help. The Conductors are aware that I have to do this at everyother stop.  They know to look for me outside with the dog and Jenny.  I’m working the last car on the train so usually one of the Conductors are there with me as I open the door.  But for some unknown reason in Granby Co., the Conductor decides to open a door 4 cars away from me.  I really don’t think too much about this because I had told him 3 times in the last hour that I would be letting the dog out there. As we were walking around with the dog, waiting for it to find the “perfect” spot, I hear the brakes release on the train.  This is no big deal either. The engineer will do this while were sitting if we are on level ground.  Usually, that is.  I’ve got my back to the train, I look over my right shoulder and see the Conductor talking into his radio and stepping into the train.  This is not good.  I’m thinking; “They can’t be leaving, he just looked right at me”.  But then again, he was looking into a setting sun as he looked back my way.  Now I hear the rumbling of the train wheels behind me.  I turn to look and sure enough, it’s moving.  Were 10’ from the door of the train, no way Jenny’s going to make it.  I know I could, but I can’t leave her here alone.  But then again, if I jump on the train I could call the Conductor over the P.A. and tell him to stop.  But Jenny has no idea what is going on.  All she would know is that I’m gone and the train is moving.  The train would stop but it would be ¾ of a mile down the tracks.  She’d be all alone.  The station is unmanned.  All that’s there is a payphone, waiting room and a coke machine.  We are the only people there besides some kid on a skateboard.  So I stay and the train does not. Jenny by now knows something is not right.  As I watch the train pull away with my door wide open and another passenger sticking her head out and looking at us, Jenny’s starting to panic; “The train is not leaving us is it Bill? Please say it’s not.  Please say no.”  To this I reply; “No, it’s not leaving us.  It’s already gone.”  As I watch the red lights get smaller and smaller.  So, here I am.  3 hours away from Denver ( where Jenny is going).  4 hours away from calling it a day and going to bed.  Now all that is gone with the train along with my clothes, cell phone, wallet, etc...  All I have is my uniform, train keys, and a full pack of cigarettes (THANK GOD!!!). Jenny by now keeps repeating: OMG, OMG, OMG.  Over and over.  I’m having visions of spending the night in Granby with no money. I give Jenny the “Everything is going to be OK” speech.  Trying to calm her down.  I gave her my elbow and we walk into the station.  At least there’s a place to sit. As we walk into the station I see the pay-phone.  The only number I know is the one for crewbace.  Crewbace is the place that calls me and other employees for work and runs.  But it’s the only number I know and it’s a 1-800 number as well.  So I call.  After about 5 min of explaining who I am and what has happened the guy finally believes me but he has no clue as what to do.  So I start telling him who he needs to call and what he needs to say.  First he needs to call Operations and tell them what has happened.  They in turn will contact the train and inform them of the situation.  Next, he needs to call the station of Denver, they inturn need to find Jenny’s parents and tell them she is OK.  Then they need to figure out a way to get us off this mountain.  So the crew-caller puts me on hold while he’s doing all this.  Jenny and I are smoking like fiends and talking.  She has calmed down allot. The crew-caller comes back on the line and tells me the people in Denver are not being very helpful.  Also, he’s still trying to get in touch with operations.  But he also tells me that there’s an Amtrak employee who lives here in beautiful Granby Co.  He’s trying to get a-hold of this guy and see if he can give us a ride down to Denver.  At last, a ray of hope. The crew-caller is also telling me that Denver wants us to find a hotel and spend the night here and catch tomorrow’s train.  LMAO  That would mean I loose all my personal belongings that are on the train, and I get home a day late.  And I just know that I will have to fight payroll over getting paid for this day.  I’ve been with this company long enough to know what kind of games are played.                                                                                                   (Continued on next page)