Re: [CBQ] Re: Chicago transfers

[Jpslhedgpeth@aol.com]

You got it right Bill

 

It's unbelievable the number of railroads that a transfer crew had to operate on in the Chicago Switching District "back in the day"..It was like going for a walk in the woods and just taking a turn here and there and sometimes not knowing whose railroad you were on  You just hoped that there was somebody on the crew that knew how to get where you wanted to go....The moves were just made from Tower to Tower and Switchtender to Switchtender.

 

A few years go a former CNW switchman...Bill Janz IIRC had a piece in either TRAINS  OR CLASSIC TRAINS about how this was. 

 

Pete Hedgpeth

Former Asst. Traimaster Rock Island RR...Joliet and Blue Island  1961-1964.

-----Original Message-----
From: William Barber <clipperw@gmail.com>
To: CBQ <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 1, 2012 9:20 am
Subject: [CBQ] Re: Chicago transfers

 

Leo,

I don't know how it was then in Chicago, but even today, crews regularly operate on the trackage of other railroads, both for interchange and road operation. To the best of my knowledge, they don't take specific tests for other RRs' rules, but they are required to know the other RR's rules and to follow them when operating on "foreign" trackage. My son works as an engineer on the U.P. out of KC and he regularly operates U.P. trains on other RRs, both yard and road, including BNSF, KCS and the KC Terminal. Many southbound U.P. trains leave KC on BNSF tracks to Paola, KS and all trains operating past Union Station, are on KC Terminal trackage. When operating on another RR, that RR's rules apply and the crews must know those rules. However, when he takes a rules test, they are U.P. rules. 

I am sure that the same applied and still applies in Chicago. It might be a little easier, today, with a few less RRs, but a tran sfer across Chicago probably involves operation on several different RRs' rails. On each RR, they must know the rules that apply, but I am not aware that crews were ever required to take a test specifically on another RR's rules. In addition, they also have to be able to pick up that RR's radio signals and communicate with their personnel. 

Bill Barber

Gravois Mills, MO

On Aug 1, 2012, at 6:28 AM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:

3

Chicago transfers

Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:40 pm (PDT) . Posted by:

"qutlx1@aol.com" leophillipp

Every operating employee working in/out of Chicago Union Station was 
required to pass its' book of rules and remain qualified to work on their 
property in addition to his home roads rules.

Did all the many crews working in transfer service have to be qualified 
and re-examined on the various roads they could be called to run across ? 
Imagine an extra board engineman or switchman who from day to day might work 
on any number of freight transfers or at 14th st and run over to another 
road/station to get mail or express cars. Did they also then need to be 
qualified on the other stations book of rules ? Seems one would be in rules 
classes a lot of the time.

Anybody have any insight into how this worked ?

This came to mind after looking at a photo of Bill Shoeners dad in the cab 
of # 540 the other night. I know strange minds....................

Leo Phillipp

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