While I haven't seen one in years on the "dinkies". There was a time when
"card tables were plentiful both in the A.M. and P.M. rushes. For the
convenience of having a rigid flat suface to spread over 4 pair of knees in a
flipped 4 seater the patrons would leave a few coins at the end of the game
on the table for the trainman who arranged for the device to be available.
Some trainman would simply tuck them against the wall with the side of the
seat backs holding them in place until the train was ready for departure and
then they would set the "table between the flipped four seater so as to
reserve the seat for the card players. Others would keep the "tables" in
their 'lockers" to ensure they didn't wander to other cars. Then bring them
out when the equipment was backed down to CUS.These tables were either the
backing forms from replacement windows for the double decks or large peices
of cardboard.
The frt crews would play Eucker(sp) when dead heading between Aurora and
Cicero and use the "tables" also. When a "table" wasn't available then a
"grip" or newspaper was used as the "table". Oh,yes the the "dinky" crews did
the same thing when dead heading home to Aurora after the morning rush and
then back in on the afternoon trains to cover the P.M. rush.
Leo
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