The intimidation factor also worked as a positive force for learning and
complying with the rules:
One morning I'm an extra man filling in as the rear brkmn on an eastbound
dinky out of the "Hill Yard" back when you had to check the order board at
Farnsworth Ave to confirm running orders for your train at Eola. The "middle"
man
was also an extra man and as the middle man it was his responsibility to
check the order board and grab orders at Eola yard office as we went past. As
usual all three of us were comfortably situated in the rear coach as we would
piddle along for some time before the first passenger stop. The middle man
didn't raise himself off the cushions as we went over Farnsworth and onto the
main. Here comes the positive intimidation factor.
Ed Metz"the grand pubab" was the "boss" on this job and when the middle man
didn't move Ed softly inquired as to whether he was going to "check the board
or not" the guy responded he didn't see the need "since every train got
orders". Ed proceeded to rip this guy w/o mercy quoting rule word for word
and
letting him know that too many men had died not paying attention to order
boards. Further if he didn't want to comply with the rules he was free to get
off at Eola. Needless to say the board was quickly checked and orders caught.
Wish somebody would write a book about Ed. Ed was the Condrs "griever" for
many,many years.
Second positive case of intimidation:
One beautiful spring day I'm the head man on one of those tie everything but
the yard office on extra easts out of Savanna, around the horn. At Denrock
we slow and I line the switch for the Mendota branch and stay on the front
platform until I grab the orders. There's a healthy pile of them this day and
I
return to my seat in the cab and read them. I then hand them to the engineer
with a comment about one or two.
I then returned to my seat.
What do you think happened next ? Clue.... Who are orders addressed to ?
I'll wait for a bit before telling "the rest of the story"
Leo
**************Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on
AOL Music.
(http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?ncid=emlcntusmusi00000001)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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