Re: [CBQ] Hand signals

["Louis Zadnichek via groups.io" <LZadnichek=aol.com@groups.io>]

December 13, 2022

 

Rupert - HILARIOUS!  This could've been the basis for a skit by the Three Stooges..... Thanks for posting. Merry Christmas - Louis

 

Louis Zadnichek II

Fairhope, AL

In a message dated 12/13/2022 12:43:25 AM Central Standard Time, gamlenz@hotmail.com writes:

 

From the Railway Age February 1883

The Ottumwa, Iowa Democrat thus relates how General Manager Potter, General Superintendent Stone and Division Superintendent Maxon, all of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road cleared a blockade In the Ottumwa yard:
The switchmen were told to stand aside and watch what could be done. Tom Potter took "check" of a train. Maxon was to tend the switch, Stone was to cut 'em off, while one of the boys was detailed lo do the "coupling." The switch engine coupled on, and the trouble commenced. Putter had forgotten the signals, and instead of giving the engineer a signal to back up, he by mistake, gave a "go ahead " signal. Now, If there is anything on earth a switch engineer has a healthy respect for it is a “sign”, especially if it happens to be wrong. Seeing what was apparently wanted he put the engine in "forward motion" and commenced "pounding her," as the boys say. This was rather totally unexpected, and before they could stop the engineer, he came very near running the whole train into the coal house. But the calamity was prevented by one of the boys who, seeing what was going on, stepped out and gave the contrary signal, and stopped the engineer in his wild course. Potter said there had been a "clerical error" somewhere, and going up to the engine told the man to "back up." This was done, but they supposed the fellow would stop when the tail end of the train crossed the switch, but it is customary to give a sign to stop, and not seeing anything of this kind, the engineer would have gone to Agency had not one of the switchmen who had got on the engine, hit him with a club laying conveniently on the tank. This break rather rattled the three distinguished switchmen, and after trying to make a fly, and running two cars upon the turn table, they gave the job over to Frank Jennings.

Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ

 

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