Pete
I remember the old charcoal (and wood alcohol) banana
heaters. They would fill the car with carbon monoxide
and KILL yard clerks. Just another way that death
danced in the train yard. One of the perks of being
around the stations that handled the heaters, was that
you could get free charcoal for the grill at home! All
in all perishable inspectors had a pretty good job.
Most of them got all the fresh fruit they could eat.
By the way, at the end of the banana trade, the
messengers quit traveling with the fruit, and just
inspected the cars and adjusted the vents at fixed
locations.
John
--- PSHedgpeth@aol.com wrote:
> 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
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>
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