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<DIV>Harry,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I had the pleasure of meeting a Bill Bridger. He was Superintendent on the
Shenandoah Division in 1978. Bill had a natural grin as he talked to you. He was
running a Southbound at Nace, VA during the strike of '78 and had pulled a
knuckle right at the top of the grade. When I first saw the locomotives
they were running repeatedly north and south within sight of their disabled
train. My curiosity got me and being a young eager railfan I stopped to see what
was going on. Seems the lead unit had no sand so they were sanding the rails
with the second unit. Mr. Bridger and the other fellow had hauled the
replacement knuckle back about 15 cars but couldn't get something in the drawbar
to lift so they could get the new one in. I offered to help, remember I did say
young and eager..., and took the flag they had used to carry the knuckle and
stuck one end in the drawbar, gave it a twist, and the part lifted. With the
knuckle replaced they recoupled. My reward was a short cab ride back to the
crossing.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As far as the commuter cars, the Roanoke Chapter, NRHS acquired No. 1009.
Our car had two seats per side but they were spaced very close to the seat in
front.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Richard D. Shell</DIV>
<DIV>Troutville, VA</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>