The Red Freight Train

Many moon's ago Dad took a notion to build a bar-b-cue smoker.

He had the basic tools (welder, cutting torch) to do it and somewhere found a large piece of oil field pipe that was what he called, "long as a freight train".

Most folks would have cut the pipe into manageable pieces to construct the fire box and meat smoking areas separately. Not Dad.

Dad welded the pipe onto an axle with wheels, cut out doors for the meat and wood burning areas, and finally stuck on a smoke stack.

One more thing. Smoker pits are traditionally a flat black color to match the smoke stains that will inevitably appear. Wouldn't you know.... Wright City Gene painted his the brightest RED he could find.

Dad and son had no clue how to smoke meat properly, but being dumass in an area of expertise never slowed us down much (especially if lubricated with cold adult beverages?).

We set out to the local woods, cut a bait of hickory, and proceeded to smoke (don't remember what?) from early til late. Trouble was, ya ain't never tasted AWFUL til ya chow down on meat smoked with green wood...go figger?

Now some 25 years later the ole ranch hand has acquired his own smoker....store bought, traditional flat black color....and laid in a large store of oak firewood seasoned over the last few years in Tin Star wood racks.

Do ya reckon I will ever be able to use my rig without thinking bout Dad and his Red Freight Train?