Louis Griggs ( Sr. went by George) was a roadmaster at Centralia when his father was Beardstown Division Super and then was Ass't Division Engineer at Beardstown. I heard the oldtimers talk about him. His father and he are pictured on page 36 of BB# 35 (fifth from the left in the back row). The way I got it, demon rum finally got him.
John
--- On Mon, 2/4/13, Jpslhedgpeth@aol.com <Jpslhedgpeth@aol.com> wrote:
From: Jpslhedgpeth@aol.com <Jpslhedgpeth@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CBQ] EL Potarf Story
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, February 4, 2013, 6:16 PM
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.
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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. 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
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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
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