Parker talks about the steps required to become a railway conductor and how jobs were awarded on the basis of seniority.

Parker discusses the railway work he has done outside of Smithers over the years.

Parker explains that the transition from the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway to Canadian National Railways had little effect on his day-to-day work, although it did result in some improvements to the train tracks.

Parker discusses the role the railway played in transporting all manner of goods to, from, and throughout the Bulkley Valley.

Parker discusses the importance of following the rules in a dangerous job such as railroad work.

Parker relays the story of how he once shot a goose from aboard the train.

Parker discusses the one serious accident of his railway career - a derailment at Forestdale.

Parker talks about using the rotary plow ('Rupert plow') to clear heavy snow off the tracks. He also mentions snow sheds, tunnels which were used to protect trains from avalanches.

Parker discusses his time working as a conductor on passenger trains, first between Smithers and Prince Rupert and later out of Winnipeg. Includes a story about an incident with a thief aboard one of the trains.

Parker tells a story about how he accidentally ran the caboose into the back of the train while attempting to bring it down a slope.

Parker discusses the decline of passenger trains as travel by car and plane became more commonplace.

Parker discusses the attitudes of engineers regarding the transition from steam power to diesel power.

Parker discusses how the Smithers route became a branch line of the CNR after the GTP merged with Canadian National.

Parker was the oldest conductor in service in the Western Region at the time of his retirement, having worked on the railway for 48 years.

Parker reflects on his decades of service on the railway, discussing topics such as improvements in working conditions, the pride people took in their jobs, how hard they worked during the War years, and his feelings on retirement.

Parker talks about a satirical poem that a railway worker wrote about soldiers during World War II.

A short note from the interviewer (Tom Parken) regarding several instances when the interview was cut short. (All have been edited out of the final recording).

Parker discusses clearing mud/slow/rock slides and operating the flanger car.

Parker says he has no personal stories about working on the railway. He briefly talks about the gravel cars which were hooked up to the flanger.