Steve's story of course brought one to mind about that order board near Farnsworth for the Dinkys coming out of the Hill yard. It was a bit funny as every crew knew the rules required,at minimum a clearance to go past Eola yard office. So every crew knew they had to grab orders. But it was gospel that the rear man get up and verify that the order board was flashing red. The fireman would grab the engine crews orders from the doors of the control car. Then it got a bit comical as the middle man and Condr had to get order copies too. Each crew had their own pattern and it was pretty set in stone. Some middle guys would be up chatting with the Condr near the front,others would be alone in the middle of the train. Some crews had a coffee clutch in the rear car until approaching the first loading station. So Steve was right in not knowing where the doors would open. And if he got the pattern down by crew,then extra men would show up on the job and do
Something different.
One morning I was the middle man on Ed Metz job. Ed was the long time Condrs griever.
I think at the time I was the trainmens asst local chairman. Metz and I were chatting in the rear half of the rear car as we approached the order board. Metz asked the fairly new rear man if he was going to pop the door and look at the order board. The man responded we know we're going to get orders,why bother ?
The grand old man unloaded on that guy and I'll bet he didn't sit down the balance of the day.
Leo