The Section Foreman’s Dream
Extra Seven-four-six went into the ditch
At the switch there just south of the tower.
Put the engine and tank
And ten cars down the bank
And held number eight for an hour.
The called us all up on the carpet,
The G. M. was sore it would seem.
Thought they’d give me the walk
'Till they started to talk
Then I knew it was only a dream.
With his hand on the engineer’s shoulder
The train master said with a sigh,
It was not a low joint
Or a battered switch point,
He was taking the “puzzle” in high.
Then the engineer said with conviction,
I can prove by the man in the tower
When he gave me the ball
I was rocking them all
And rolling them sixty an hour.
Next spoke the Division car foreman,
As he stepped to the front with a frown,
It was not caused by speed,
For that gon in the lead
Clearly proves 'twas the brake rigging down.
The master mechanic yelled loudly,
If you’ll let me I’ll prove in a jiff
My department’s to blame,
I acknowledge with shame
That the engine was rigid and stiff.
I’m not much at visions or dreaming,
It’s seldom I sleep on my back,
I can side-step and scheme,
But it sure is a dream
When they don’t put the blame on the track.
Compliments of Tom Byrne
Representing the P & M Co.
The above is a little levity I found in a collection of paper I was picking through at a White Elephant Table at a train club. It’s struck me as both funny and true, so I kept it. I have no idea how old this photocopy is, but the hand written note says “Feb 20, 1976”…but I think it’s far older than that.
Tonight, I was bored, and digging around my stuff, found it, and I just decided to post it here. What the heck… We could all use a chuckle now and then…
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven