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Leo..I forgot about the red lantern requirement for the head end..One of the first bits of instruction I got when I made my first trip as a student brakeman in June 1956 was that my first duty when getting on the engine at the roundhouse was to check to see if there were these "tools of the trade" available. a red lantern (oil burning" Packing hook, packing iron, dope bucket and dope..and perhaps a "bull" chain. This stuff was always "down in the nose" of the FT's and other of its brothers and sisters..anybody who worked the head end during that period would recall what a pleasant atmosphere existed in that space. Pleasant odors and neatly arranged tools and other equipment..In the (still) high nose Geeps the same atmosphere prevailed and the scent was supplemented by the toilet which resided in that location on those engines. BTW I never saw, heard or did myself use said toilet facilities..It was much more convenient to "call on mother jones" (this came from an old RAILROAD MAGAZINE) in the great outdoors. Or to stand in the door and spray the weeds...I was once, one summer morning at Ravenna while standing on the ground directly under the door on the fireman's side nearly experienced a "golden shower" emitted by the old hoghead standing in the doorway above me.
Pete
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From: qutlx1@aol.com [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> To: CBQ <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tue, Jun 27, 2017 9:45 am Subject: Re: [CBQ] Hanging Markers in Chicago Union Station/flagging Pete,
I can't answer the red lantern question directly. But since you brought up the subject.....
On April 18,1941 a carrier/union agreement was signed that required in part "after the effective date of this agreement (June 1,1941),each trainman and yardman must provide
Himself with an electric white lantern". "Railroads will continue to use oil burning lanterns with red globes for flagging service."
The agreement went on to say the lantern must be of the standard prescribed by the carrier, must have not less than two white bulbs for instant use and provision for a spare bulb inside the lantern. As a side note the employee could be supplied his lantern by the carrier and pay for it with payroll deduction.
Then on August 25,1941 trainmasters at Aurora posted notice #92 requiring flagman to maintain a white oil burning lantern in addition to a w
hite electric lantern for use in flagging service. Similar notices were posted and observed by Aurora men at Burlington for other divisions about the same time.
The notice went on to state that it would not be necessary to keep the white oil lantern lighted except when in use. The notice also stated a white oil lantern is standard equipment on the engine and will be available for immediate use on the head end of the train.
Needless to say this set off a storm of protests from lodges to road general chairman and all the way to Cleveland national union HQ. On 1/19/42 the Q general chairman wrote to H.J. Hogland,asst. to Exec. V.P. Of the Q asking that the Aurora notice and all other similar notices be canceled that were not in agreement with the electric lantern agreement.
The file does not contain a response from the Q mgmt. however there is a notation on the file that notice #92 was canceled.
Based on your comment of R.I. Practice and the above I would agree with your comment
That it sure seems that shortly after the electric lantern agreement effective date, somewhere a flagman's electric lantern failed with a collision occurring .
Leo
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