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Video: History according to Hediger 7: A real railroading story from our senior editor
Oooohhhh… good thing that Jim Hediger wasn’t standing in the spring’s path! That would a be a painful trip to the hospital. Youch!
Thanks again, It’s real nice to hear from someone like Jim. I have loved his stuff for a long time over the years.
I’m thinking about it know, One day 20 years from now I could be watching my 3D Hologram player about a balding old MR editor.
The Mishaps and Dangers of “N” scale in the world of David Popp…
Eric G. Hall
www.GSMrr.net
Wow… that would ruin your day! Ouch!
Can we say that could of HURT!!!
Must have been a “spring” day!
Ah spring, when a person’s thoughts turn to the love of trains…
Thanks Jim, always good to hear your stories.
Den
I worked as a relief operator on the CNW and can relate to working
interlocking tower jobs. Never had the close experience Jim had, but one nite I invited my fiancee to come with me to the tower. No one ever showed up. This particular nite, about 2 AM there was a knock on the door downstairs and it was the Night Chief Train Dispr., he wanted to use the yard phone. I introduced him to my fiancee and thought I would be in a lot of trouble as only authorized persons were allowed in the tower. I nervously waited for an investagation notice, never received it. Thus, the Nite Chief overlooked my rule violation.
WHERE I GREW UP IN CALIFORNIA IN THE 40S AND 50S, WE HAD A LOT OF COAL TRAINS PASS THRU TOWN,SO ONE HAD TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR FALLING COAL FROM A CAR.
PICKED UP A LOT OF IT AND USED IT IN THE COAL STOVES OF THOSE TIME.
I LIVE IN OKLA NOW AND ABOUT THE ONLY COAL TRAINS WE SEE IS ALONG US 287 BETWEEN WICHITA FALLS, TX AND AMARILLO.
OH FOR THE GOOD OLE DAYS.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK,ENJOY ALL THE ARTICLES
THANKS
I didn’t say nothin.
When I was growing up in the 40’s and 50’s in a section of town called Buzzard Roost, we had the Southern RR running right thru our back yard, Like 50 feet from the back door of our house and here is the RR ! We didn’t have to buy much coal in those days just go pick it up and other things too. Wouldnt trade it for anything. Saturday was my day to go hang around the depot on Depot St. Occasionally I would get to ride to the next town about 10 miles away for free where my mom would pick me up. Sometimes I would get to ride in the cab! For a 10 year old, I dont know which was going faster, the beating of my heart from excitement or the engines wheels. Of course, they told me to not to tell anyone but that was almost 60 years ago. . . . I model the Southern in HO now. GREAT ARTICLES! Keep up the fantastic work, luv the mag and use frequently as reference.
We talk about things coming off, or hanging from trains as part of our safety meetings/briefs constantly - but NOONE has ever mentioned a car spring departing. Thanks!
I am on the former Erie (1/8 mile from house) and less than a mile from the old Wabash. I once had a school bus (aplushobbies’ customers will remember) - Indiana prison vintage, that was a blue the color of the Wabash. I had it detailed as a Wabash locomotive and visited many area parades. Your reference to the Wabash brings back many fond memories…Thanks for the smile! Kevin White, formerly of Warren Indiana, now of Huntington, IN.
WoW… I never thought about that when sitting outback of Grand dads house along the PPR at Kensington Ave. in early 40’s. The sights I hope to never forget…Now into “N” scale. Gotta love it!
It wouldn’t have just ruined his day, that would have been his last day. The springs weigh somewhere around 40-50 lbs., maybe more.
When I lived back east, I had a similar encounter. While railfanning the CSX Metropolitan Sub at Riverdale Park, Maryland, I was standing on the platform as a hot mixed freight rolled by at 55+ MPH. I heard something hit one of the newsracks behind and to my right and I started looking the newsracks over, I discovered a dent about the size of half a golf ball in one of them. I found the cuplrit laying on the platform about 6 inches away, a sheered off bolt. One of my buddies on the platform said he saw the bolt come off a passing coil car but couldn’t say anything before it zipped past. After that night, I stood behind the platform benches when a train passed!
I’m from Detroit and the photos of the old concrete arches for the Ford/DTI electrics shure bring back memories!
Paul O
An impact from that spring probably would have more than hurt. There’s a good chance it would have been fatal.
Back in the late 70s east of Rochester, NY I was talking to a Conrail MOW crew who told me that they had seen the aftermath of a person standing next to the tracks watching a train go by who got decapitated by a metal pallet strap that was apparently flailing from an open empty boxcar door.
It’s probably a good idea to give a passing train a berth at least as wide as the tallest cars. 20 to 25 feet is a good rule of thumb. (though I have to admit those times I’ve stood real close were quite a rush…stupid me!)
Actually, Jim was lucky. A truck spitting out a spring could happen anywhere along the track at any time. Trains are complicated, massive machines and Murphy’s Law applies. If you’re too close and it’s your time…oh, well.
For Jim, hope “springs” eternal!!!