this came across the original Norfolk and Southern groups, on the old N&S line.
Enjoy
OK, there seems to be some interest in this tale. I don’t know whether to call it an adventure story or comedy,
but you guys can decide after reading it. I will not use any names as I believe most of the people
involved are still living.
Well, I was working as the head brakeman on a Senter turn out of Raleigh which of course had a Baldwin
engine consist as EMD’s were not allowed to operate on the Fayetteville branch line.
There were two large sand pits located at Lillington on the Fayetteville branch, Senter and Becker.
Both of these were owned by Becker Sand & Gravel Company which had their own fleet of
Alco switchers and ore cars there. It was our job to switch these plants plus a few other industries
located in Lillington.
After having completed our work at Lillington we headed back up the Fayetteville branch
to Varina where we would rejoin the main line for the trip to Raleigh. Upon our arrival at Varina
the dispatcher informed us that Number 64 was tied up on the mainline south of the Raleigh yard limits
and it’s crew had gone home, but the trainmaster would be waiting for us there.
We were to couple to 64’s caboose and combine the trains into one. The engines on 64 were stopped at
Carolina Pines Ave. and the rear was south of Airport siding. (where Tryon Rd. runs beside the RR tracks)
We managed to find the rear of 64, couple to it, line the air, and isolate the Baldwins.
The trainmaster drove me and the engineer to 64’s engines, leaving the flagman on the Baldwins
to keep an eye on them. You had to be careful while towing Baldwins to make sure that the brakes
were releasing properly or you would put flat spots on the wheels. Well, we now had a train consisting
of 4 EMD’s, 100 plus cars, 3 Baldwins and 40 more cars.
this came across the original Norfolk and Southern groups, on the old N&S line.
Enjoy
OK, there seems to be some interest in this tale. I don't know whether to call it an adventure
story or comedy, but you guys can decide after reading it. I will not use any names as I believe
most of the people involved are still living. Well, I was working as the head brakeman on a
Senter turn out of Raleigh which of course had a Baldwin engine consist as EMD's were not
allowed to operate on the Fayetteville branch line. There were two large sand pits located at
Lillington on the Fayetteville branch, Senter and Becker. Both of these were owned by Becker
Sand & Gravel Company which had their own fleet of Alco switchers and ore cars there.
It was our job to switch these plants plus a few other industries located in Lillington.
After having completed our work at Lillington we headed back up the Fayetteville branch to
Varina where we would rejoin the main line for the trip to Raleigh. Upon our arrival at Varina
the dispatcher informed us that Number 64 was tied up on the mainline south of the Raleigh
yard limits and it's crew had gone home, but the trainmaster would be waiting for us there.
We were to couple to 64's caboose and combine the trains into one. The engines on 64 were
stopped at Carolina Pines Ave. and the rear was south of Airport siding.
(where Tryon Rd. runs beside the RR tracks)
We managed to find the rear of 64, couple to it, line the air, and isolate the Baldwins.
The trainmaster drove me and the engineer to 64's engines, leaving the flagman on the Baldwins
to keep an eye on them. You had to be careful while towing Baldwins to make sure that the brakes
were releasing properly or you would put flat spots on the wheels. Well, we now had a train consisting
of 4 EMD's, 100 plus cars, 3 Baldwins and 40 more cars.
Th
There is nothng quite like the sights and sounds of a long, slow moving train having a Emergency brake application…as the brakes apply from the head end to the rear and the slack runs in from the rear end to the now stopped head end!