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On this episode of Randomness with Heath and Josh, the guys sit down with Temple, Texas native and locomotive engineer Robert Goates for a fascinating conversation about growing up in Central Texas, family traditions, and life on the railroad.

Robert talks about growing up in Temple before moving to the small town of Academy, Texas, for high school. After graduation, his plan was to pursue a career in radio—but life had other plans. Instead, Robert took a hard turn and followed in the footsteps of his dad, grandfather, and uncle, beginning a career as a locomotive conductor and eventually becoming an engineer.

Robert explains what a conductor actually does, what the engineer's responsibilities are, and how the two work together to safely operate a massive freight train. He also talks about the people who still attempt to hitch rides on trains—often referred to as “hobos”—and why it happens more often than you might think, although not nearly as much as some people imagine.

The conversation gets even more interesting as Robert takes Heath and Josh inside the locomotive, explaining the engines, horsepower, weight, pulling capacity, and even the basic layout of the locomotive. He also explains why cabooses have largely disappeared from modern freight trains and what their job used to be.

It's a fun, entertaining, and surprisingly informational episode that gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at an industry most of us see every day but know very little about. All aboard for another episode of Randomness with Heath and Josh!

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