Gerald
The preference of your uncle for "nights" as the Number One YM is not that
unusual among old timers of that era...We had the exact same (is that
redundant) situation on the Rock Island at Blue Island...Mel Voitic was the
number one YM and worked 11:pm-7:00am...Always said he like that.."nobody to
bother him"..I certainly didn't. Those guys could run the place the way they
wanted to...which was usally the right way. Mel said...I just can't sleep at
night anymore...Mel drove a Cadillac and told me when he and his wife were on
vacation he would always have to stop during the day and take a nap since that
was his normal sleeping time.
Also "hiding" a foreign line crew's waycar..(caboose on the Rock Island) would
not be considered punishment, but would be "well pleasing" to that crew, since
they were usually on OT or would be by the time they got back to their own
yard. That was a common "problem" at the BRC. That crew would go to work at
3:59pm and manage to make 16 hours every night going to Clearing Yard and back
to BI.
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald & Virginia Edgar <vje68@hotmail.com>
To: cbq@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 6:01 pm
Subject: RE: [CBQ] Clyde Yard
believe you are referring to my late Uncle Ed (aka 'Smitty' or 'Red') Smith of
owners Grove who passed away 2 yrs ago. He was night yardmaster @ Clyde for
EARS (& when he had enough seniority to go on days, he decided nights was more
o his liking - less interference!) He also had a stint as a Trainmaster but
hose to go back to the yards. A Chicago native who started with the Q right
fter WWII (he was a vet) and at retirement from BN was Sr yardmaster on the
ntire system & one of the handful of former Q emps to still have some Q stock
hich he finally converted to BN stock for a BIG profit.
I cannot speak as to what extent he created "situations" for foreign roads but
o know he did NOT tolerate anyone screwing up 'his' yard. I suspect if
cabooses' got buried its because a foreign crew did not do as he told them & he
ade sure it did not happen again. He had the utmost respect for Harry Murphy
or 'knowing' & caring about so many Q emps.
I always envied his son, my cousin Ed Jr, who got to work as a CUS Redcap every
ummer (due to his Dad's connections) while attending Southern Illinois. He
ade good tips from celebrities who still rode Zephyrs in the late 60's. All
hat said Ed Jr. was never interested in RRing whereas I was so Ed Sr. gave me
is set of keys after he ret'd.
Gerald
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
rom: cvlk@comcast.net
ate: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:21:11 -0600
ubject: [CBQ] Clyde Yard
Leo's post about transfer runs reminds me of a true legend that I'd like to see
ecorded.
uring the 60's there was a Clyde Yard Manager (I don't know his position or
itle, but he had some supervisory authority
hat allowed him to do the deed) that would somehow "arrange" things so that
oreign road transfers couldn't get their
aboose, hack, van, crummy, buggy, cabin, waycar, or whatever they called it for
he light engine trip back home. The goal would
e to collect as many different road's cars as possible in a shift.
believe the guy was a relative of a member of the society.
sure would like to see the story (with the truth and all colorful urban legend
mbellishments added/set straight)
n writing in a future BRHS publication.
harlie Vlk
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