A.C. Needles in His Long Johns

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Over a half-century ago, my father told me an amusing story about N&W 
President Arthur Cushman Needles.  I'd like to know if some other "Lister" might have 
more details.

As the story goes, one of the Roanoke station switcher crews (and there was a 
crew at both ends of the station in the old days ! ) was one night digging 
out some private cars from the private car track.  Mr. Needles' car had to be 
put in position to be tacked on the rear end of a passenger train.  And of 
course, no one on the crew had any idea that El Presidente was sleeping aboard his 
car.

Due to some mis-judgment, the engine's coupling was in no wise gentle.  
Indeed, it was rather harsh.

Mr. Needles was rudely awakened from his sound sleep sleep.  He went to the 
observation platform of the coach, to which end the switch engine was coupled, 
leaned over the railing in his long-john underwear, and shook his fist at the 
engineman in the cab.

"What's your name, Engineer?" demanded Mr. Needles in an irritated voice.

The engineman hung out his window and responded "Jones" (or whatever his name 
was.)

"Well, Jones," shouted an angry Mr. Needles.  "You're fired !   Go home ! "

And Jones got off the engine and went home.

The next morning orders were issued to "Call up Jones and put him back to 
work."

Have others heard this story?  I'd love to know the details.

-- abram burnett
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/private/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20050203/39b748b0/attachment.html