GREEN COVE SPRINGS — You can almost always find Roger Henson perched happily on the bright red caboose at the Historic Triangle every Friday.

Those are his days of reminiscing. When he's able to vividly relive the days of life on the rails.

"I've got a gazillion stories to tell," Henson said.

Although he retired as a train conductor in 2009, Henson never misses an opportunity to share his thorough tales with visitors at the Clay County Historical Society Museum. As a volunteer, Henson gives frequent tours of the fully equipped station — which has been transformed into a makeshift repository.

The bells, ticket punchers, telegraph operators and other trinkets located inside, he said, are much like the ones he used more than 50 years ago.

Henson's journey began in 1967 when he was just in high school.  Following a large storm that swept through, there was a need to keep the trains operating. He said a call over the intercom requested any students who wanted a job. Henson accepted the offer and worked for two days cleaning switches.

When it was time to go back, he made them a promise that he would return full-time after he graduated. 

 When he turned 18, he signed the paperwork, took the necessary physical exams and was hired.

Henson said that he was already well versed in riding the rails, as his father taught him how to drive a train when he was younger. But, in particular, being a conductor was his calling. 

He worked freight trains for both the Norfork and Western and the Norfork and Southern railways. He also worked for Metra — the fourth-busiest commuter rail system in the U.S.

"I got an opportunity to work the passenger train that was going up and down my main line. I got to work it every so often when people would take a day off," he said.

With a never-ending stack of perfectly starched white shirts, a pristine tie and his special conductor hat, all which he still has to this day, Henson said he oversaw the safe, efficient and orderly operation of the trains.

From freezing cold nights, fascinating commuters and drama-filled trips to illnesses and even witnessing some tragedies, Henson said he never had a dull moment on the job.

While the most challenging part about working passenger trains was the frequent changing schedules, he said the hardest part about working a freight locomotive was dealing with young children breaking into the box cars and stealing items.

"I'm in a caboose, so I can't do [anything]. And the engineer and brakeman, they're on the engine and they can't do [anything]," he said.

"It happened all the time. And we never figured out how."

But even with the difficult, came the happy times. One of his favorite memories was the year he was able to start a Santa Claus train tradition. For $5 a person, each passenger was able to meet Santa.

"They wanted me to do more movies, but I retired," he said. "I was going to be in 'Batman.' I was going to be in a few others."

Although it was tough walking away from a job he had called home for so long, the experience, he said, was nonetheless rewarding. That's why he chooses to keep the memories alive.

The Clay County Historical Society Museum, 915 Walnut St., is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays and 2-5 p.m. on Sundays, except for holidays. You can also call (904) 284-9644 to schedule a tour.