I remember one night when I was working as the evening Amtrak ticket
clerk/baggageman at the Burlington, IA in 1976, the westbound San Francisco
Zephyr, train #5 arrived in Burlington. Since there was no train baggageman
for that segment of the train's journey, the ticket clerk was required to open
the baggage car door, locate and unload the luggage for Burlington and then
load the luggage originating at Burlington in the car heading westbound. This
was to be done during the 3" station dwell. You were then required to signal
the Conductor that you were done and in the clear.
One night the train arrived and I opened the car to find the lights were not
working. I climbed aboard the baggage car with my flashlight to find a large
wooden remains crate that Chicago Union Station had loaded with the Burlington
luggage trapped behind it and other stacks of luggage against the wall.
After looking unsuccessfully for someway to reach the Burlington bags with on a
couple of minutes remaining, I realized that I would have to climb across the
remains to retrieve the bags. Afte aplolgzing to the occupant I did just that
and gently straddled the top of the crate and managed to unload and load the
bags in time for the SF Zephyr to head west. It was the last thing I wanted to
do, but I got the job done.
I remember in the early seventies when I was a baggageman at Kansas City Union
Station (I was a boomer) a remains arrived from Chicago head ed for Louiville,
KY. Due to flooding on the route of the "Floridian" between Chicago and
Kentucky, the train service was annulled and Chicago Union Station sent the
remains to Kansas City. So we sent the remains early the next morning on the
eastbound National Limited to Indianapolis, if my memory serves me. But I do
remember thinking this departed soul was going to be late for their own
funeral.
Hubert
--- In CBQ@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel" <no17eng654@...> wrote:
>
>
> As part of the Manly Jct. Railroad Museum (Iowa)displays, we will have 17
> flat screens depicting different North Iowa-Southern Minnesota railroads. In
> addition, we will feature things like Railway Mail Service, Railway Express,
> etc. Many human remains were transferred in North Iowa and Southern Minnesota
> by rail up to discontinuance of most trains in the late 60's.
>
> Would anyone out there be able to share a photo that would demonstrate the
> common scene of handling human remains by train?
>
> Dan Sabin
> No17Eng654@...
>
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