Don't ask me why certain things pop into my brain at times........tonight
while preparing dinner and looking out into the woods here in Northern
Illinois a mental picture of "Grandma & Grandpa" at Milledegville,IL came to
me. There are 3-4 individuals who are participantes on this list who will verify
what follows is completely factual. I dont recall if this story
has been passed along on the list previously; if it has I apologize. What I
am about to describe occurred in the 70's but it was so well established that it
undoubedtly existed in the 60s and earlier while the Q was still
in around. You may want to reference your Aurora Division or system track
chart/map. Ready?
For the most part the "C&I", actually the C&I (Aurora to Oregon)
and the CB&N (Oregon to Savanna) was a pretty sparsely inhabited run except
for places like Rochelle and Oregon. One could clearly see the stars at night
and not be bothered with city lights,etc. While I dont have my consolidated code
handy at the moment; there is a rule that requires employees to observe passing
trains for mechanical defects, in fact it goes into detail about when trains
meet that an employee on the standing train cross over the tracks and watch the
train passing from the other side and signal the rear end crew as to his
findings (reference the hand sign clinics as to which sign to perform for a
specific defect). Also a rolling inspection was required for moving,
passing trains to be observed from the back platform of waycars and lo to the
brakie who didn't get out of his nice warm seat and get out on the back
platform. 20 below and snow flying, too bad. No standing inside as there were
sounds that needed to be heard. As waycars passed signs were exchanged as
to the condition of the trains.
Back to Grandma and Grandpa. They never took the book of rules but they
sure complied with the rule about watching passing trains. Their house was near
the west edge of Milledgeville with the backyard abutting the ROW; whether it
was night or day the passing crew knew to watch for a sign. Grandpa was always
in his bibs and grandma in her "house dress." If they were outside the head end
crew got a wave and the rear end crew the same unless something was wrong. Many
hoggers gave them a "hello" toot on the horn when passing.
Most nights the head end crew got a little high ball from the kitchen
window with a light and the rear end the same unless something was wrong. The
head end crew would let the rear end know that grandma and grandpa were doing a
roll bye. I was suprized how late they stayed up watching the trains go
past.
During the day there would be a wave from the kitchen window. Many rear end
crews would let the head know they got a "high ball" from grandma and
grandpa.
To my knowledge the only "compensation" grandma and grandpa received was
from the wayfreight and in particular Bob Harding the #1 hogger on the division.
Bob and his job started out of Eola and headed "Around the horn" via
Mendota and Denrock to Savanna;returning the next day via
Savanna,Oregon,Rochelle,etc to Eola. When the westbound trip left Eola there
would be a momentary pause at Aurora tower as old Jake, #1 in operator seniority
handed up a huge bundle of newspapers to Bob for delivery to points along
the line. The papers had come off that mornings dinkies at Aurora, left by
riders who were finished with them. They were brought to the tower by coach
cleaners. (Newspapers were a type of currency or payment on the RR). (The
waitress at the Zephyr diner at 14th st coach yard probably had more papers each
morning than she knew what to do with).
Next day as the w/f passed grandma and grandpas house in Milledgville; Bob
would give a couple quick blast on the horn and toss off at least one copy
of each paper into their back yard.
I have no idea how long this mutually beneficial practice had been going on
but it existed before I came on the property and was still in place when I
left.
Leo Phillipp