In long ago times there were occasional "Gravity Dutch Drops"
executed by, usually, the Aurora Sw. engine. This clever move
consisted of the car or cars bein' shoved up the Incline and big
holed, that is put into emergency, to hold `em for a while. The
engine would then cut away, roll down the incline and, usually, head
into the "long track" to await the passing of the car(s). After the
stuff rolled by the engine would catch `em and go about its business.
As a matter of reference, the "Incline" and the "Long Track" were
situated in the vicinity of Aurora roundhouse and were clearly
visible from the window of the Enginemen's clerk in the roundhouse
office.
One day the clerk, while temporarily unencumbered, stood gazin' out
of his window in the direction of the aforementioned tracks. As he
watched he saw a tank car rollin' down the Incline toward the Hill
Yd. Thinkin' this was part of drop bein' made by the Aurora job he
thought nothing of it. Before long he saw the same tank car rollin'
back UP the Incline. As momentum ran out the car began its trip
back down the Incline. Soon, the same car came by rollin' back UP
the Incline. Thinkin' this a bit strange the clerk called the
Yardmaster at Eola yd. and inquired as to what the Aurora job was
doin' at Aurora. The YM replied "there AIN'T no Aurora job down
there"! The clerk suggested that he better GET one down there real
quick and catch this runaway car.
Seemed that the culprit car had rolled out of the Hill Yd. down
toward the Incline. After runnin' out of steam it proceeded back
down the Incline and back UP to the Hill Yd. repeating the sequence
until either inertia ran out or a sw. engine captured it.
Ain't railroadin' GREAT??
Karl
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