[N&W] Re: GP-40 Question - "Storm Windows"

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Harry, I grew up along the Sewell's Point tracks 1956 - 1979. N&W didn't do
a great job keeping the "problem pyromaniac" units off the Sewells Point
tracks.  Several times a year they would burn down part of the swamp behind
my house.  The usual culpruits were the ex-Virginian H16-44, the ex ACY Hs
and NPBL switchers.  At night time the fireworks from these locos' exhaust
stacks could be impressive!

Roger Hofford
____________________________________________________________
Harry Bundy-- What does smokers have to do with what I said in my 
comment... I said, "Lamberts Point was the last stop before the scrap yard, 
or so it seemed to us in train service." I will agree those FM units set 
some fires, a crew I was working, with when pulling 90 + loads from Sewells 
Point to LP, set 8 or 10 fires along the right-of-way. As for as smokers 
staying at LP and "non-smokers" going to SP, well someone dropped the ball 
there as we had more than our share of "smokers" at SP when I worked 1st 
and 3rd Helper jobs there. But, most units in yard service at LP and SP 
were on their last legs be they ex-VGN, WAB, P&WV (P-willies) or N&W. The 
only job to pull fairly good power on a regular basis at LP was the 7AM 
Point Job working sidings from LP to Portlock. Oh yes, the Pier Job usually 
got a T-6 as they switched the passenger train and those units were in 
fairly good shape in the the mid 60's to mid 70's.

Regarding the 1970's version of discrimination, I have to agree with you 
there. Hate to say it but the VGN men certainly got the better deal after 
the merger, just like SOU men seemed to get the better deal when N&W and 
SOU merged. Nice when you can get paid even if your job is cut off for a 
day... money for sitting home, but that was in their contract. Didn't last 
as the RR changed that in time, then everyone got the shaft, so to speak.

Larry Crocker

----- Original Message -----
From: "N&W Mailing List" <mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "N&W Mailing List" <mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: GP-40 Question - "Storm Windows"

 > Larry Crocker--you're comment about Lamberts Point inheriting  all
 > the problem units -- certainly you must remember the ex-VGN
 > H16-44's.  They were hauling coal from Sewalls Point to Lamberts
 > Point when I went to Tidewater in 1960.  But by the 1970's, things
 > had changed.  The FM's were showing their age.  Some also had
 > a tendency to set right-of-way fires (the FM exhaust system).
 > Apparently, Roundhouse Foreman "Speedy" Bradley kept an
 > account of the pyromaniacs and in his office was a blackboard
 > for locomotive assignments designated '"Smokers" and "Non-
 > Smokers".  "Smokers" stayed at Lamberts Point. "Non-Smokers"
 > could go to Sewalls Point.  A 1970's version of discrimination.
 >                                                        Harry Bundy