Pete, OK, so Mr. Terrill's name was spelled with an "i" instead of an "e."
Wasn't there an unrelated post some months ago from some Terrill family
member wanting to find out about him? Anyway, I do not recall the name of G.L.
Griggs and can not comment further as I do not know. Sounds like
another "story" there if you want to share. Dad was terminal
superintendent at Lincoln in, I think, 1957 or 58. Might've been '57 as I can
recall steam still being as switch engines. I remember visiting the Lincoln
roundhouse and dead line at the time. About all I can remember of the terminal
office were the banks of teletype machines all chattering away with train lists.
There was also a large framed Baldwin Locomotive Company builder's photograph of
M4 6312 hanging in dad's office that he brought home one night having saved from
the trash pile when his office was being repainted. The framed photograph now
hangs in my home office. I've got to locate dad's service record (somewhere
in a box) so I can be sure of all these dates as we moved around so often.
Walker Johnson is another name that I remember from my dad and mom. He
may've been Lincoln division superintendent when dad was terminal
superintendent. Dad kept a copy of every employee timetable he was listed in
over his career. They, too, are somewhere in a box. Those timetables would help
date names/positions during the eras mentioned. Too many boxes, too little
time - Louis
In a message dated 2/4/2013 6:16:40 P.M. Central Standard Time,
Jpslhedgpeth@aol.com writes:
Terrill was Division Supt here in Lincoln in IIRC 1954-55
era...G.L.Griggs Jr. was Supt here in 56...he was the guy who arranged for me
to get a braking job...Someone earlier posted that he was taken in and told a
supervisior.."This boy wants a job"...That's exactly the wording my
Grandfather used when we went into see Griggs about March 1956.
Griggs Sr. and my GF had been close personal friends from many years back..I
have copies of the very personal letters written back and forth between
them...He said toGL Jr. This boy wants a job as brakeman"
Griggs said..how old are you..I said "Ill be 20 March 23rd.
He said OK...you have to be twenty...He said "you'll be the first man
hired on either divsion (Lincoln or Omaha)....
Griggs "retired" sometime after summer 56 and went to live with his
father in law Fred Harris who was a banker at Alliance. My GF and
I stopped to see him early summer 1957 at Alliance...Walker Johnston who was
TM at Lincoln in 56 became Supt after Griggs retired...alll that to say that's
why I think Terrill was Supt before 56...His son..(I'm not sure if he was a Jr
or not was a student at UNL when I was there which leads me to think Terrill
was here before 56.
Louis may want to comment on my enclosing "retired" in parenthesis...If
you don't Louis I'll say no more regarding the matter.
Pete
-----Original
Message----- From: LZadnichek <LZadnichek@aol.com> To: cbq
<cbq@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Mon, Feb 4, 2013 2:39 pm Subject:
[CBQ] EL Potarf Story
For those who remember the late E.L. Potarf who was Q vice president of
operations during the 1960s, here's a story related by Fred
Crissey.
- - - -
Louis:
Here is my first E
L Potarf story. A R MacDonald (Art) told me this story in the early
1970's. Mr. Potarf VP-O, Art (who was an operating officer by this time
but do not remember what his title was when this occurred) and J W Terreill
(Divn. Supt.?) were high-railing on a Nebraska branch line
probably in the early 1960s. ELP had just bought a new camera and
suggested to Art who was driving that when they saw some phesants to blow the
car horn and he (ELP) would get some photos of the birds in flight.
They tried this several times but the birds would not take flight. ELP
then suggested that Art continue to drive slowly, JWT would sit on one fender
and throw rocks at the birds and he would sit on the other fender and get his
photos. They tried this plan but the birds still would not take
off. The birds would run ahead and then turn into the ROW grass or corn
fields.& nbsp; ELP was getting frustrated and with a few well chosen
words wondered why the birds would not take off. JWT suggested that it
was obvious the birds were not aware that Mr. Potarf was Vice-President.
More later. You can forward on if you want.
Fred Crissey
- - - -
What a GREAT story! I remember both A.R.
MacDonald and J.W. Terrell (I think that's the correct spelling). Arthur
"Art" MacDonald was train master at North LaCrosse, WI, during the
time dad was assistant superintendent there in the late 1950s. Art and
dad became personal friends and stayed in touch throughout his lifetime.
I well remember that Mr. MacDonald had a copy of Lucius Beebe's "Mixed Train
Daily" that he loaned me to read. This, I think, was the first railroad
enthusiast book I had ever read. This inspired me to have my own railroad
books and over the years I have accumulated more than a hundred volumes. J.W.
"Johnny" Terrell was, as I recall, a Lines West division superintendent. I can
remember his name being spoken by my mom and dad, so they were all
acquainted. I'm looking forward to Fred's next ELP story -
Louis
__._,_.___
![]()
__,_._,___
|
|