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[BRHSlist] Car seals...bananas and other trivia

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Subject: [BRHSlist] Car seals...bananas and other trivia
From: PSHedgpeth@aol.com
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2003 17:22:41 EDT
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A few days (weeks) ago there was a thread which started with Gerald's "seal 
records"..and spun off into some different areas..one of which was banana 
messengers and bananas in general.

Check page 58 October TRAINS...you'll see at lower left a clerk "pulping"  a 
"hand" (I think that's what they were called) of bananas..As mentioned as 
bananas ripen they create a considrable quantity of heat and depending on how 
far 
the car is going, what the outside temperature is and what degree of ripeness 
the owner wants it's critical to monitor the condition and adjust vents, 
heaters and/or ice accordingly...If the carrier missed any instructions or did 
the 
wrong thing it gave the consignee just the reason they were looking for to 
file a claim for carrier neglegence....Any carrier who missed something or did 
something wrong was charged with a "point of negligence" as the claim payment 
was apportioned among the roads who handled the car...and the claims were pro 
rated accordinglly...

Another little tidbit as ;you read the photo caption:  "For a clerk, the yard 
was hazardous duty, as there was no one watching out for him.  Before a clerk 
crossed or neared a track he had to look carefully for cut-off cars silently 
rolling down that track.  Death awaited the unwary"...

Most yard clerks especially when engaged in PPSI (Perishable Protective 
Service Inspector) work were regarded as a nuisnance and basically a hindrance 
to 
the operation...But let a train be ready to leave and the bills not be 
ready...woe betide that clerk....There was no blue flagging of cars for the 
inspector..he would normally tell the YM what he was going to do, but he was on 
his own 
and indeed, as the caption reads, there was no one to look after him".

Any old "mud hops" out there have a story for us????.

Also in the same feature on page 60 of TRAINS headed up NIGHT TRAIN....is the 
most realistic picture I can ever remember seeing of a conductor at work...in 
his "office"...what a great shot....Note these things:  Blue serge 
uniform...got lots of miles on it...note the "shine".  Watch chain visible 
through his 
vest buttons, coat pocket loaded with "hat checks and possibly cash fare 
receipts.  Note the high top, well shined shoes complete with "hooks" near the 
top 
for easy lace up...Note his "train box" complete with hat checks, ticket report 
forms and other "paperwork" which made up the conductor's office work on a 
passenger train...This may have been a "posed shot", but boy is it realistic 
and 
 anyone who worked passenger when trains were trains and train crews dressed 
like they should be dressed will, I believe agree....

That photographer really caught a good one.

Pete


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