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Charlie The Train Spotter
A Tribute
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Charles Elmore |
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Unfortunately, I
didn't get to know Charlie The Train Spotter. But he was a
familiar voice on a local Americana radio station here in the DFW
area. Charlie had a fiberglass shop by the railroad tracks that just happen
to also be close to the radio station off the same freeway where Charlie
worked.
Charlie would call the
radio station to tell them a train was coming and from what direction.
This was a daily occurrence as far as I remember. And with that
would follow a "train tune"...not so much in honor of the train, but
in honor of "Charlie The Train Spotter". This became a steadfast
tradition. It became known as the "mandatory train tune",
because there is also the "optional train tune", which isn't nearly
as important as the mandatory train tune, but nice to have when you're
in the mood for a train tune.
The radio station has
several daily players (listeners) who call in regularly with one
shtick or another. Many of these players take on nick names to
go with the character they try to portray on the radio. It's all
part of the "daily grind" and who can come up with the most clever
"gimmick" to be a regular, I guess. But not for Charlie.
And Charlie was his real name, he wasn't really a player.
Charlie was just a good ol' guy who liked calling into the station to
say a train was coming. He was sincere and unpretentious, I do know that about him.
I did have the
pleasure of meeting Charlie at a popular local venue a couple of
times. He enjoyed the music and the comrade of the crowd, and he was very humble
when he realized I was taking his picture once. I'm sure glad I
did now. I've even got a picture of Charlie dancing with one of
my friends somewhere on my hard drive.
So who will authorize
the "mandatory train tune" now that Charlie has
passed...who could ever replace "Charlie The Train Spotter"?
He was my favorite of the regulars. He
was loved by the listeners, for just being himself. God
bless Charlie. He will be missed by many. Every time I see
or hear a train, I'll think of Charlie...and play or listen to a train
tune if I can in his honor.
"I hear that train
a-comin, it's comin' round the bend."
Rest in peace,
Charlie, and thanks for being our Train Spotter.
Written by Lana Hughes, January 27, 2005 |
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