Rupert,
I think The comment that no engineer ever taught anyone anything on a steam engine refers just to these guys time period. As the one stated the hoggers he had as a fireman had worked with hand fired engines,they didn't know the left side of the cab with stokers. I'm sure they passed on how to run the loco just not how to fire.
The laid off every winter was very true. After the fall rush traffic dropped dramatically and there were few guys on vacation,once vacations came into being. The layoffs of operating Crafts quickly followed. Which of course brings to mind a story. I was working the dinkies shortly after being elected Aurora division griever for the trainman. I was walking out of the depot to the train one morning and an inbound freight crew stopped me to introduce a greenhorn brakeman and I asked him if he been told he'd be laid in the next month or so. He looked astonished. The only way one didn't get laid off in the winter was by pure luck of when you were hired, how many were retiring and how bad the winter weather became. I was not laid off but my brother was. Pure seniority.
Finally "drunk as ducks". Pretty much speaks for itself. Since this was a steam engine he was talking about the engine crew.
Leo
I saw this inteview a year or so a go..It's the most authentic and interesting record of this kind of thing that I have ever seen..It's totally authentic and represents the railroad and the railroaders as they actually were 60 plus years ago..It was my privilege to work with these kinds of guys during my short term as a trainman back in the 50's..This is actually the way they talked and acted..It is not put on or "Affected"..It's the real thing.
I'll wait and let Karl and Leo comment on Rupert's questions and then maybe I'll jump in...however I'm pretty sure that I can make an accurate response,
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: JK public@redtower.net [CBQ] < CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
To: CBQ < CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Dec 27, 2016 3:07 pm
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Burlington railroaders interview
Rupert wrote:
> There a video
interview conducted by Galesburg Railroad Museum with three
ex-Burlington employees at
> https://archive.org/details/CbqRr-menOfSteamEra
The interview, which last for about 50 minutes, is supported by
a variety of photos.
There were a couple of things in this interview I had some
questions about...
Bob mentioned that "no engineer taught anyone anything on a
steam engine"...what did he mean by that? (7:00 min)
Bob mentioned that he was "the first one not laid off every
winter"...again, what was this practice about? (10:00 min)
The narrator mentions that his grandfather let him ride, and on
one trip his grandfather pointed out that the speed recorder was
"at 98" and they were all "drunk as ducks"...was he referring to
the train crew? (12:40)
Cheers!
Jan Kohl
www.castlegraphics.com
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