Who is Willis Joe Whinny from Slake's Limbo and what is their importance?

Willis Joe Whinny is a train conductor or motorman. He conducts the trains on the downtown tracks. When his father got injured, Willis Joe had to go to work for the family at 18 years-old. Upon his father's suggestion, he got a job as a train conductor for good money and a city pension. However, Willis Joe hates the job. His dream is to be a sheepherder in Australia. He submits to a fantasy world in which he pretends conducting the trains is like herding sheep. He continues this pretend game for a while in a happy state. But when he cannot pretend anymore, he grows depressed. Willis Joe is a man who is stuck in his life. He is married with two kids, so he must provide for them. But he is not fulfilled because he does not live his dream.