Re: [CBQ] Re: 1954 on duty fatality at Eola

[dhartman@mchsi.com]

Amen brother. Too many close calls - particularly at night, in rain, dead beat tired. And, along with so many others, the west yard at Eola could be a scary place.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

---

From: Karl Rethwisch <qrailroadman@yahoo.com>

Sender: CBQ@yahoogroups.com

Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 08:54:11 -0800 (PST)

To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com<CBQ@yahoogroups.com>

ReplyTo: CBQ@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [CBQ] Re: 1954 on duty fatality at Eola

 

In the daze of the "Congo", Congress Park Tabulated Wayfreight, I was a "ground man" during our feverish switching out of "West cars" at the Park.  The ground was blanketed with about a 4" covering of snow but, as I remember, it wasn't real cold.  As we did our work we still had a bit of afternoon winter light so it was easy to SEE the cars rolling down the tracks toward you.  While I waited for the next car to come to me I noticed two things. One, it was a flat. Two, though I could SEE the flat commin' I HEARD NOTHING !!!!  The slow moving car, as well as the snow, combined to COMPLETELY silence the car's approach !!!  

 

That incident has stayed with me to this day !  It PROVED to me that rolling freight cars can be both totally silent AND deadly should one's attention be momentarilly directed away from the task at hand.  Awareness of your surroundings is paramount to survival both as an employee as well as a "casual" observer !!

 

Karl

__._,_.___

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___