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Station Stop => Layout Tours => Topic started by: Judge on January 05, 2019, 03:59:09 PM

Title: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 05, 2019, 03:59:09 PM
  There is no formal Saturday Report today because the A&S has been shut down due to "the Babe's" monthly hair appointment in Mount Dora.  No one knows how Mount Dora got its name.  The highest spot in the city can't be more than a foot above sea level.  Never-the-less, Mount Dora natives drive cars with bumper stickers that say "I climbed Mount Dora."

    Since there has been some enthusiasm for my Saturday Reports from Forum members, I have decided to occasionally provide information about the Atlantic and Southern Railroad to those who care to learn about it. 
    I have to admit that many of my stories had their origin in a book my father gave me years ago entitled "A Treasury of Railroad Folklore."  I have tried to change the stories to fit the particular circumstances of the A&S, but some of the information necessarily contains direct quotations.  I am also limited by the format limitations of the Forum.  It would be much easier if it were Word compatible. 
    I understand this first tale has some truth in it involving the purchase of the Hudson River Railroad by Commodore Vanderbilt in the late 1800's.

                                                                        HOW THE ATLANTIC & SOUTHERN WAS ACQUIRED

     The previous owners of the Atlantic & Southern were all members of the Bixbie family.  The patriarch of that family, Alphonse (Big Al) Bixby, found smoking to be offensive and prohibited it on any of his trains.
     One day, Commodore Vanderbilt happened to be riding on the A&S in order to connect with the ACL on his southern jaunt to Palm Beach.  (Flagler's FEC was enduring one of its many labor strikes at the time.)  The Commodore decided to take a trip from his stateroom to the baggage car and smoke one of his famous black Cuban cigars. 
     The A&S conductor happened into the baggage car just as the Commodore was lighting up.  The conductor tapped him on the shoulder and said, "There is no smoking allowed on this train."  "That is what I understand," the Commodore replied, and continued to smoke.  The conductor became more forceful and threatened to remove the Commodore from the train if he didn't put out his cigar.  The Commodore stated, "Do you know who I am?"  The conductor replied, "I don't care who you are, I am here to enforce the rules of this here railroad."  The Commodore replied, "You know, I like you.  You know how to enforce the rules.  I think I may just buy this railroad."  And, wouldn't you know it, the Commodore bought the railroad.  Shortly afterwards, he realized he didn't really want a railroad that wandered mainly through a Florida swamp and sold it at a loss to the present owners, who have relaxed the rule prohibiting the use of tobacco by providing spittoons in every passenger car.  Oh, by the way, a condition of the sale required the A&S to keep the Conductor on his post.   :)


                                                                                               

Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on January 05, 2019, 04:13:37 PM

Judge,


I, for one, greatly appreciate your information regarding the Atlantic & Southern.  Because this is a G rated forum, let me just say that I have to wonder if Mount Dora could possibly have been named after a lady that was overly generous with her personal favors.  After all, that might explain any deeper meaning behind those somewhat politically incorrect bumper stickers. 


Further, I find it interesting that the A&S allows tobacco on their passenger cars since I believe the road's current president abstains from any type of alcoholic beverage. 




I am not certain what you refer to when you say the forum is not "word compatible".  I often type some of my longer posts for construction threads as a word document, do a final edit,  and then simply copy and paste them into the reply box. 
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on January 05, 2019, 07:17:52 PM
I'm enjoying your reports Judge. Great addition to the forum.
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 05, 2019, 07:27:15 PM
Interesting story Judge.
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on January 05, 2019, 10:17:20 PM
Now the truth shall come out and be known to all who enter here (this is not a quote).

Jim
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on January 06, 2019, 07:57:14 AM
I'll certainly be following along on the history/folk lore of the A&S! 
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 06, 2019, 08:08:39 AM
Jerry, et al.  I appreciate your analysis of the origin of the name of the Town of Mt. Dora.  I will make inquiry of the mayor and endeavor to get his take on the subject. 

As for the use of tobacco and booze on the A&S . . . .  it is 1950-51 on the A&S and smoking is the norm in all public places.  I'm sure you recall reading about the millions of people who died each week from second hand smoke in 1950, as well as the thousands of children who perished for not being strapped into child safety seats, facing backwards towards the plastic seat covers.  It is a wonder any of us survived.  All of our parents would have been arrested for "child neglect" if it were today.  But that is progress.

As for "Word" limitations, I have not tried to copy and paste a document with footnotes into the forum page, but I have noticed the limitation on centering titles.  I am not complaining.  The forum was not created for essays from authors who have advanced technology training and are skilled in mimicking the prose of Lucius Bebee.  It is more for those who tweet and twitter.  But I shall use the tools available and press on with spinning my tales of the adventures of the Atlantic and Southern. 

Anyway, I am pleased that some of you are enjoying my whimsical look at the Railroad.     :) 
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on January 06, 2019, 08:18:01 AM
Thanks Judge, I will throw my hat in the ring as well saying that I look forward to and enjoy your tales and insights of the A&S RR.
Thanks again and all the best,
--Paul
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 06, 2019, 08:58:51 AM
Love the tales you are weaving Bill.....wasn't it wonderful that those Southern boys got such a great deal on the A&S from that fella from the cold north.....kinda of makes ya wonder.  ;D
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 06, 2019, 09:19:45 AM
As the new owner and President of the Atlantic and Southern RR, I must set the record straight. The Judge was very conservative and polite when telling the story of our Mt. Dora. I, on the other hand, just says what gots to be said.

Mt. Dora got the name from an early 1800's homesteader named, Ms. Dora Ann Drawdy. She was an independent cuse. Now we don't really know much about Ms. Dora except she befriended many of the federal surveyors in the area. She was also known for her warm hospitality and the surveyors named the lake after her rather "friendly" moments with them.

She homesteaded on what is now called Lake Dora in Mt. Dora. Now Dora was a big lady. She weighed almost 225 pounds, smoked a corncob pipe and chewed tobackie. She crushed Lantana flowers under her armpits for deodorant.

Due to her size and friendliness, one surveyor came up with the laogan, "I climbed Mount Dora."
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 06, 2019, 09:27:07 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 06, 2019, 09:19:45 AM
As the new owner and President of the Atlantic and Southern RR, I must set the record straight. The Judge was very conservative and polite when telling the story of our Mt. Dora. I, on the other hand, just says what gots to be said.

Mt. Dora got the name from an early 1800's homesteader named, Ms. Dora Ann Drawdy. She was an independent cuse. Now we don't really know much about Ms. Dora except she befriended many of the federal surveyors in the area. She was also known for her warm hospitality and the surveyors named the lake after her rather "friendly" moments with them.

She homesteaded on what is now called Lake Dora in Mt. Dora. Now Dora was a big lady. She weighed almost 225 pounds, smoked a corncob pipe and chewed tobackie. She crushed Lantana flowers under her armpits for deodorant.

Due to her size and friendliness, one surveyor came up with the laogan, "I climbed Mount Dora."


.....and that's the rest of the story..... ;)
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 06, 2019, 09:37:40 AM
Commodore Vanderbilt dang near ruined the A&S RR. To him it was just another tax write off. Prior to him selling the railroad to the present owner, he nearly scrapped all the rolling stock. There are no A&S passenger cars remaining on the roster.

At one time, the current owners discussed renaming the railroad the Atlantic Southern System. That decision was dropped after someone said it would then be known as the ASS railroad.


A few locomotives did survive along with two hoppers, three boxcars and one caboose.

The two hoppers are still in revenue service as well as the caboose. The boxcars are in the car shop getting upgraded for revenue service. The locos are also being upgraded.

It has taken several years to get the A&S RR back earning revenue. At one point the resident Ticket Agent was going to have the Judge apply for a federal grant so new equipment could be purchased. After a very short board meeting, the decision was also made to not apply for the federal grant as the government has no business interfering in our business.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/24-060119090120.jpeg)

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/24-060119092908.jpeg)
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on January 06, 2019, 10:30:52 AM
Add me to the list of dedicated followers of the Saturday Report.   :D  I love it!   :D :D
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on January 06, 2019, 10:59:59 AM
I'm sure there'll be a discussion of the legal history of the A&S at some point from Hizzoner the Judge.  Many railroads had really wild legal history, so this story should be a doozey.  (And to my great surprise, some of what I learned about things like proxy fights from reading railroad history turned out to be useful in 1-1 scale, when the company I worked for was involved in a lawsuit for control.  The two parties each owned about 48% of the stock, so the actual control was in the hands of the dozen or so employees who held the remaining 4%.  Lots of stories from that experience!  At one point, i had a stack of legal filings and exhibits about 6" tall.)


dave
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 06, 2019, 11:30:21 AM
I know we are serious about building models and layouts, but the back stories that are made up for these empires can provide some entertaining reading.....remember Gnatshop, Captn. Mike and LongHornCaddy.


This is shaping up to be a ton of fun.....thanks guys.  8)
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 12, 2019, 08:41:06 AM
We have a busy day planned.
Title: Re: Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on January 12, 2019, 09:28:32 AM
Hummm

I am still getting my head wrapped around the writing being mimicked after Lucius Bebee.  Seems more like that of Samuel Clemens. However I suspect Samual will make a guest appearance at some point on this far reaching story of epic proportions.

With all twists and turns in the plot Congress may (or more likely not) require seat belts with shoulder harness on trains. I am buckled up and waiting on the next installment.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 12, 2019, 02:43:23 PM
Saturday Report January 12, 2019

The A&S CEO and the Ticket Agent met and huddled in conference for a time this morning to discuss the progress on installation of marker lights on many of the cabeese (more than one caboose) on A&S property.  Progress is good, although some parts are still on order and causing delays.  One caboose belonging to the SAL was ready for service and it proudly followed up a local freight powered by an SAL Q3 Mike.  The freight made its rounds of the entire system, picking up and setting off boxcars in Tahope but the trip "came up short," forcing a shut down until the trouble could be discovered.

Trespassers were discovered on Railroad property and were identified by RR police as Greg DeMayo, Bob Butts, and Jim Miller.  Demayo entertained us with an engine that wouldn't run and Butts brought a beautifully assembled kit that he declined to donate to the A&S.  Miller, as usual, brought nothing.  The A&S crew and the trespassers turned in pie cards at Smokey Bones for lunch.  All-in-all, another great day in Central Florida where the sky is almost cloudless and the temperature approaches 80 degrees.  For all of you "up Nawth," sorry about that.

There was an incident reported between a passenger and the Sanlando ticket agent.  The incident was investigated and it was determined the complaint was unfounded.  A verbatim report of the incident is as follows:
                                                                                      TRAVELING BY PULLMAN ON THE CITY OF MIAMI

   Now everybody knows the crack passenger train from Miami to Chicago is the City of Miami.  The "City" is sometimes rerouted through Sanlando on the A&S because of labor trouble on the FEC.  On this particular day, a passenger approached the Sanlando ticket agent, who didn't seem at all concerned whether the passenger took the train or stayed home.  The passenger requested a berth on the "City"for the overnight trip to Chicago.
   "For a single passenger," the agent finally asked without enthusiasm?
   "No," the passenger replied.  "I am married, but I am not taking anybody with me.  A single berth will do fine." 
   "Upper or lower," asked the agent?
   "What's the difference, asked the passenger?
    "A difference of 50 cents,"came the answer.  Our prices to Chicago are $2.50 and $3.00.  You understand of course, explained the agent, the lower is higher than the upper.  The higher price is for the lower berth.  If you want a lower, you'll have to go higher.  We sell the upper lower than the lower.  It didn't used to be so, but we found out everybody wanted the lower.  In other words, the higher the fewer. 
   "Why do they all prefer the lower, the passenger asked?
   "On account of its convenience.  Most persons don't like the upper, although it's lower, on account of it being higher and because when you occupy an upper you have to get up to go to bed and then get down when you get up.  I would advise you to take the lower, although it's higher than the upper, for the reason I have stated - that the upper is lower than the lower because it is higher.  You can have the lower if you pay higher, but if you are willing to go higher, it will be lower."
   "What if I want a single compartment," asked the passenger?
   The agent ignored the question and handed the passenger a ticket for a lower.  "Have a nice trip," he said. 




                                                             
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 12, 2019, 03:00:29 PM
Yep, it occurred just as described.

The A&S shut down was caused by some upper level electrical issue. The lower level was still up and had higher electrical volts than the higher level which in reality had a lower level of electrical power.

Ya just can't make this stuff up.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on January 12, 2019, 03:18:49 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 12, 2019, 03:00:29 PM


Ya just can't make this stuff up.

Tom  ;D



I've heard that truth is stranger than fiction, but I have my doubts about this one... :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 12, 2019, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: jerryrbeach on January 12, 2019, 03:18:49 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 12, 2019, 03:00:29 PM


Ya just can't make this stuff up.

Tom  ;D



I've heard that truth is stranger than fiction, but I have my doubts about this one... :o :o :o


Jerry,

Well, maybe "Ya" can't make this stuff up but "We" certainly can.  :P :P

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on January 12, 2019, 03:55:39 PM
Great report Judge.  I'm sure glad the A&S has you to cut through all the BS and report the facts. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 12, 2019, 04:07:51 PM
Hey Bill....."Who's On First?.  ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on January 12, 2019, 04:11:29 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 12, 2019, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: jerryrbeach on January 12, 2019, 03:18:49 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 12, 2019, 03:00:29 PM


Ya just can't make this stuff up.

Tom  ;D



I've heard that truth is stranger than fiction, but I have my doubts about this one... :o :o :o


Jerry,

Well, maybe "Ya" can't make this stuff up but "We" certainly can.  :P :P

Tom  ;D

And "We" did.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on January 13, 2019, 10:50:33 AM
Quote from: Judge on January 12, 2019, 02:43:23 PM
Trespassers were discovered on Railroad property and were identified by RR police as Greg DeMayo, Bob Butts, and Jim Miller.


Lucky for us the RR police decided to let us off with just a warning about the dangers of getting too close to the tracks.  He scolded Greg about littering on railroad property.  Must have been related to some prior encounter they had.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 13, 2019, 12:28:36 PM
Couldn't have been me.....I wasn't there yesterday..... ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report 1-19-19
Post by: Judge on January 20, 2019, 03:34:30 PM
  Sorry about the delay of publishing this week's Saturday Report.  I decided to include a couple of photographs with this week's A&S story and it was quite a learning curve for me.
   The A&S management had a long pow-wow to discuss the track plan off of the ovalix on the third level.  The curve the passenger trains will use to back into Union Station will be a radius of about 54" that ought to make backing passenger cars easy.
   The ACL Champion made a run and had a wreck, as is described below.  Fortunately there was no damage to the engine and the Champ made it into Sanlando on time.  An SAL local freight was the source of the problem that caused the wreck but the mainline was clear shortly after the investigation was complete.
    Curt Webb, of Pennsy fame, stopped by and ran a Pensy freight before we all checked out for lunch at Smokey Bones. 
After lunch activities mainly included Tom trying to teach your author how to import photographs into the Forum.  No luck there.  The process is not intuitive.
The following tale is true and I'm sticking to it. 




                                                                                        THE WRECK OF ACL 92


It was a rainy, spring night when SAL local freight 48 ran out of steam south of the Bascule bridge, with the caboose blocking the sidetrack into the Piney Woods Station.


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-190119170608.jpeg)

The fireman, George (Crack-a-Diamond) Musselwhite, set to shoveling to bring up steam.  The conductor instructed the colored brakeman to walk about a mile back from the caboose and flag any oncoming traffic, including ACL's Champion, Number 92, which was due within 20 minutes.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-190119171822.jpeg)

The shack did as he was told but the Champ flew by him and collided with the stalled freight train's caboose, causing serious damage to property and personal injury to several passengers.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-200119151516.jpeg)

Naturally, several law suits were filed and the case was set for trial in the local federal court.
During pretrial maneuvers, the President of the A&S asked the conductor to explain what had happened.  The conductor requested a written explanation from the fireman and submitted the fireman's report to the railroad's President.  The report explained the situation poetically:

The wind was high, the steam was low,
The train was heavy and hard to tow,
The coal was wet from rain and dew,
And that's why we blocked Number 92.

   The Plaintiff's lawyer, Larry Lickem, who represented the injured passengers, called Bud Millstone, the head brakeman, to give testimony about the status of the train crew just before the wreck.  Millstone, who had been a railroader for over 40 years, testified as follows:
   The con was flippin' tissue in the crummy's crow's nest, the hind shack was freezing a hot hub, tallow pot was crackin' diamonds in the tank, Eagle Eye was down greasing the pig, and I was bending the rail when 92 hit us."
   Under lengthy cross examination, this testimony was translated to mean, "The conductor was examining the way bills in the cupola of the caboose, the rear brakeman was cooling off a hot journal, the fireman was shoveling coal, the engineer was oiling the running gear on the locomotive, and the head brakeman was throwing a switch when the collision occurred."
   An eye witness to the wreck was standing near the freight station located near where the collision occurred.  Lawyer Lickem asked the witness, "What did you think after you saw the diesel run into the caboose?"  The witness answered, "This is one hell of a way to run a railroad."
   The ACL's lawyer, William Barett Richman, was concerned about the flagman's role in the wreck.  He called the flagman, Willie Jackson, who testified that he followed the conductor's orders to the letter by walking about a mile down the track and swinging his red lantern with all his might when Number 92 approached, but it passed him by without applying brakes.
   The jury found the ACL at fault for the wreck because Number 92 had warning of the obstruction in plenty of time to avoid the tragedy.  After the jury was dismissed, the SAL's lawyer spoke to Jackson outside the courtroom and congratulated him on his clear and convincing testimony.  Jackson replied, "I answered Mr. Richman's questions as truthfully as I could.  But I was really worried he'd ask me if that lantern was lit."
         








Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Janbouli on January 20, 2019, 04:25:39 PM
Great story , you are a wonderful narrator  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: rslaserkits on January 20, 2019, 04:50:24 PM

great story, love the last line
rich
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on January 20, 2019, 05:22:37 PM
Priceless! 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on January 20, 2019, 05:32:48 PM
Another wonderful 'Saturday Report' from the Judge ....   Priceless;   and what color these reports add to an already beautiful railroad.
Keep up the great work boys !!!
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: madharry on January 20, 2019, 05:36:53 PM
Did the lights on the caboose help in anyway?
Mike :-\
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 20, 2019, 07:45:15 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 20, 2019, 08:40:33 PM
Love it Bill.....  It's a good thing I wasn't at the throttle during that episode.....Tom would not have been amused. ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on January 20, 2019, 08:56:02 PM
Another Great report and story.  Keep them coming!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 21, 2019, 06:57:37 AM
Good morning everyone!  And thanks for following my stories on the Saturday Report. 

And now, as Paul Harvey used to say, for the rest of the story.   The marker lights on the SAL  caboose did indeed contribute to the accident.  The ICC investigation report indicated that after 92 passed Jackson,the hind shack, the engineer saw the markers in the distance and put the brakes into emergency.  This action caused most of the injuries to the passengers, who were just getting down from their uppers and up from their lowers and heading to the rest rooms.  However, as you can see from the photos, 92 was almost at a complete stop when it collided with the caboose because the damage was minimal and when 92 backed away, the caboose righted itself on the mainline.

Stay tuned for a new adventure next week.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on January 21, 2019, 09:02:29 AM
Great story and the pictures were worth the effort you made. Thanks Judge Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on January 21, 2019, 09:19:34 AM
Quote from: jrmueller on January 21, 2019, 09:02:29 AM
Great story and the pictures were worth the effort you made. Thanks Judge Jim

What he said!   :)

I'm glad the layout is set in the 50's.  If it was modern day I can just imagine the commercials we'd be hearing..."Involved in a car, motorcycle or train accident?  Call Attorney...."   ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on January 21, 2019, 09:25:02 AM

Judge,


The courtroom drama seems all too real, maybe drawn from personal experience?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 21, 2019, 09:38:23 AM
Greg, if you would of been running the passenger train when you hit the caboose it would of exploded just like in the movies...oh the humanity! :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on January 21, 2019, 11:58:43 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on January 21, 2019, 09:38:23 AM
Greg, if you would of been running the passenger train when you hit the caboose it would of exploded just like in the movies...oh the humanity! :)

Greg was not worried about any accident on the A&S as he is represented by the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem and Howe, who were recently trying to find cheap office space in Tahope.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 21, 2019, 02:50:33 PM
Miller - There is only one lawyer in Tahope and he is the in-house counsel for the A&S, whose name is Marvin Bello.  A second lawyer is not welcome because they would sue each other. 

I tried to send the comment below out earlier this morning but it disappeared.  I guess I am still a novice at using the Forum's platform.  Perhaps my earlier missive is out there somewhere, so if you run across it, delete it.

There has been some inquiry as to why a perfectly good SAL Q3 Mike would run out of steam on flat terrain while pulling #48 and cause the Champion to collide with its caboose.  The answer was found in my newly acquired book entitled "Hogger," that I purchased from AMAZON. 

When local freight #48 left the yard, the green fireman had the pop-offs popping, but by the time the train got to Eaton's curve, the pressure was dropping faster than a barometer just before a hurricane (we have those in Florida).  The Mike made it to the Piney Woods Station and just ran out of steam.  The engineer opened the fire door and was surprised to see the fire completely out.  The green fireman had forgotten to turn on the blower and had kept shoveling coal.  The wet coal covered the fire and snuffed it out.  It was quite a show of skill to get the fire hot again by the time the ICC inspectors had finished their work.  The fireman would have been given his papers except for the fact that he was the superintendent's nephew.  Whew!

It's sunny and 60 degrees here in beautiful Central Florida.  Sorry about that.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 21, 2019, 02:58:33 PM
Quote from: jimmillho on January 21, 2019, 11:58:43 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on January 21, 2019, 09:38:23 AM
Greg, if you would of been running the passenger train when you hit the caboose it would of exploded just like in the movies...oh the humanity! :)

Greg was not worried about any accident on the A&S as he is represented by the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem and Howe, who were recently trying to find cheap office space in Tahope.

Jim
Hi guys.....I know nothing.....I see nothing.....I hear nothing.....I wasn't there, whenever there was.  ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 26, 2019, 04:52:39 PM
Saturday Report January 25, 2019.
The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours to discuss progress on the area known as "Summit," which is located where the track on the Ovalix achieves its highest point leading to the third level of the Atlantic & Southern.  And there was much progress, including  track laying and turnout locating.  The road is now operable from "the bottoms" (the lowest level) to the Summit.  There was a celebration trip.  An SAL GP7 (with boiler) was coupled to three passenger cars and ran from Summit to the bottoms.  The trip, at speed step 25, took a few seconds over 11 minutes.  Interestingly, the WOW sound decoder apparently automatically slowed the engine as it made its decent.  We timed the reverse trip at the same speed from the bottoms to Summit and it only took 9 minutes, 45 seconds - and we added one more car.  The additional car was a solarium by Pullman that provided an excursion for the mayor and city council of the City of Tahope.  The sounds of happy politicians enjoying the freebees attendant to such a trip was a joy to hear and did not influence them in any way to be in favor of the Atlantic & Southern's future projects.

Additionally, five passenger cars of the IC persuasion were delivered from the Sanford Car Shops and are now ready for the electrician to finish the interior lighting.

Oh, yes, before we broke for lunch President Langford  made a video of ACL's 1516 (A USRA Pacific that was purchased in 1965 - so it has lasted much longer than the prototype of the same number).  1516 pulled four passenger cars up the 1 percent grade of the Ovalix without difficulty.  Unfortunately, due to a low hanging coupler, the train broke in two just before it reached Summit.

We surrendered out pie cards at Smokey Bones and feasted on the blue plate special.

After lunch we did a little switching and viewed the video.  Then we called it a day - but not before The Babe gave your writer an ice cold peanut butter pie to take back to Sanford.  No worry, it is all low-cal.

Today's story involves the telling of tall tales in the roundhouse.  Reminds me of bull sessions in college and in the army.  Here goes:

                                                                                     THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER

   The good ole boys were sitting around the round house one evening waiting for Number 835 to come in for a quick turnaround.  The question of who had traveled fastest over the rails came up.
   Ethan Douglas, one of the A&S engineers, said, "You boys want to know something about speed?  I can tell you one that will curl your hair.  One day back when I was a hogger for the A&LM, we were pulling a freight with 40 cars down a steep grade off a mountain in Arkansas.  I had checked the air before we left the yard and it was working.  As we picked up speed on the downgrade, I went to hold her back and I got nothin'.  I whistled for brakes but the skipper and the hind shack must have been sleeping because they paid me no mind and we went faster and faster.  We went so fast you might not believe it if I told you." 
   "I'd believe about anything tonight,"said a nut splitter named Anderson. 
   "We wus goin' so fast," declared Douglas, "that the train crew didn't hear the whistles because the crummy went past the noise before they could hear it."
   "Wait a minute," said the conductor, I've got some figuring to do." 
   "Don't stop him," said the hostler, "he's pert near got 'em strung out."
   "Yes," Douglas continued, "we wus in quite a fix. I called the fireman over to my side and said "Jim, his name was Jim." "Jim," we're in a hell of a pickle and we are the only ones who can get us out of it. So, do you know what we did?"
   "Didya Drop an anchor,"asked the conductor?
   "We didn't have no anchor, but I'll tell you what we did do.  Me and Jim, we both grabbed the reverse lever and, pulling with all our might, we set her in the back corner."
   "Then what happened,"said the hostler, cautiously?
   "Well, that old ten-wheeler ran backwards so fast that it caught up with the whistle noise and woke up the hind shack, who set the brakes, stopping us within ten feet of the worst wash-out in the history of the road.  Did I mention the president's daughter? 
   "You forgot that part," someone said.
   "Well the president's daughter was on board that train and she was so grateful to Jim and me she wanted to marry one of us.  But I was too old and Jim was too young so she married the brakeman."
   "Well," remarked the conductor, "that may not be the best lie I've ever heard but it is the biggest.  Whoever heard of a brakeman getting married?"
   "It's the God's truth, said Douglas. 
   

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 26, 2019, 05:00:56 PM
Great one Bill..... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 26, 2019, 05:01:38 PM
Oh my, what a story. Imagine telling us the brakeman got married. What a whopper lie that was.

Here's the proof of old #1516.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nq5kGVpoT8
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 26, 2019, 05:55:10 PM
Great story...er, I mean history Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on January 26, 2019, 09:26:12 PM
Another fine report - great to hear about the good times on The Atlantic & Southern.  Tom I know where you left your watch.  Check the video.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 27, 2019, 08:16:57 AM
John,

Funny, if only I could find stuff by looking at the video, life would surely be easier, especially in the train room.  :P :P :P


Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on January 27, 2019, 12:22:59 PM

Inquiring minds want to know,
why was the engineer of 1516 blowing for grade crossings in the ovalix? There's gotta' be a back story there, somewhere.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 27, 2019, 01:12:42 PM

Gentle readers:
1516 blew her whistle for crossings in the Ovalix in order to (1) show off, and (2) because she could.  It also proved she had enough steam to make it all the way from the bottoms to the summit while blowing the whistle.  Thanks for asking.  Things happen for a reason on the A&S.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on January 27, 2019, 01:57:12 PM
Love the story Bill and I can see that it took a lot of steam to blow that whistle that long.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 27, 2019, 03:35:34 PM
Miller - The steam was no problem.  There was an abundance of hot air in the shed Saturday.  More than enough for the whistle.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 27, 2019, 04:34:07 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on January 27, 2019, 10:26:17 PM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 28, 2019, 04:00:43 PM
I forgot to show the SAL Geep at Summit.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280119155752.jpeg)

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/24-280119155807.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tct855 on February 01, 2019, 01:02:28 AM
Nice work T~.  The only layout in American with an actual mile of modeled track in a 1500' room. grin.  Keep up the great work brother!  KP-out...
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 01, 2019, 07:28:34 AM
Quote from: tct855 on February 01, 2019, 01:02:28 AM
Nice work T~.  The only layout in American with an actual mile of modeled track in a 1500' room. grin.  Keep up the great work brother!  KP-out...


KP1,

Thanks brother much appreciated. There is a lot packed into this small space.

KPII  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: vinceg on February 01, 2019, 08:45:58 AM
That really is a spectacular piece of engineering, Tom. I have never seen anything like it. Amazing.

You gotta track cleaning car, right?  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 01, 2019, 02:29:09 PM
Vince - The A&S does own a track cleaning car, but I am here to tell you we haven't used it on the ovalix for over two years.  Between DCC and WOW Sound's Keep Alive feature, we have very few stalls, even on turn-outs while running 0-6-0's. 

You do have a point.  I'll get a maintenance order off to the head of the A&S's MW Department, Will Fixer, and get him onto track maintenance right away.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on February 01, 2019, 03:25:54 PM
Quote from: Judge on February 01, 2019, 02:29:09 PM
Vince - The A&S does own a track cleaning car, but I am here to tell you we haven't used it on the ovalix for over two years.  Between DCC and WOW Sound's Keep Alive feature, we have very few stalls, even on turn-outs while running 0-6-0's. 

You do have a point.  I'll get a maintenance order off to the head of the A&S's MW Department, Will Fixer, and get him onto track maintenance right away.

Assign Greg "Fireball" DeMayo as the engineer on the MOW train and the entire layout will be clean in 5, 10 minutes tops. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 01, 2019, 03:45:49 PM
I like "Fireball" Bob, it made me chuckle.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 01, 2019, 04:25:49 PM
it certainly has more appeal than "Crumbs"..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on February 01, 2019, 07:15:00 PM
Hey Tom:

Wow!!!!! That's some track work.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 02, 2019, 01:51:14 PM
Quote from: postalkarl on February 01, 2019, 07:15:00 PM
Hey Tom:

Wow!!!!! That's some track work.

Karl


Karl,

Thanks my friend.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 02, 2019, 04:02:45 PM
Saturday, February 2,2019

Well, the track inspectors gathered at 0830 hours for the purpose of testing the new trackwork in the Summit area.  All possible moves through the reversing loop/wye were made without a hitch, although your reporter was advised that the success was achieved with care and a little trial and error in the wiring department.  Anyway, it is a thing of beauty, with each inch of track carefully laid without kinks or rough spots.  The 52" curve in place is a track to nowhere now, but it will eventually be the passenger car lead to the Union Station.  Tests were made.  An ACL Pacific with six passenger cars traveled from the Bottoms to Summit at speed step 35 in 17 minutes and 30 seconds.  An ACL freight of 19 cars and a caboose, powered by an A-B-A lash-up of F3's bettered the steamers performance, but those diesels are only a passing gimmick so not to worry.

Bob "Reading Bob" Butts paid the A&S a visit in time to make a run up and down the ovalix and got some experience throwing switches electronically.  Lunch break was at Smokey Bones.  The management accepts A&S pie cards.

Some of the stories related on this weekly post will deal with special citizens who live and work, or don't work, in the Tahope County Area.  Today's post examines the owner of the dinner located on the south end of the road in the Midlands.  It also has passing reference to her two employees.

                                                                                                   SWEATY BETTY'S DINER

   Sweaty Betty's Diner is the only restaurant catering exclusively to railroad men and their families near the Sanlando Classification Yard.  Her customers mostly live and work in or near the yard, or are members of train crews passing through.  One was married to a brakeman.
   Betty is of late 40's vintage, with high mileage and the shape of a ripe Florida grapefruit.  She positions herself by the cash register in the dinner and spews insults at her customers when they complain about the food or the service.  Betty bathes infrequently and her aroma blends nicely with the restaurant's smell of stale coffee, fried food and day-old beer.
   The menu at Betty's Diner is simple. It reads,

   Breakfast   $1.50
   Lunch        $2.00
   Supper    $3.00

   You get what you get at Betty's.  Food here would shock anyone with a preference for gourmet fare.  Breakfast usually includes fried eggs, bacon, grits, and toast.  Coffee is so hot it will sear your throat.  It's as thick as #40 motor oil, and as bitter as a two-timed girl-friend. Lunch can be burgers and fries or the "Blue Plate Special," on Fridays which includes Betty's meat loaf, which would convert a cattle rancher into a vegetarian.  Steak and potatoes are optional at supper, but most customers go for the fried catfish, grits, and lima beans.  It saves wear and tear on the teeth.  Everything on the menu is fried except the iced tea.
   The cook is s greasy, tall, skinny drink of water, named "Bo," who wears baggy overalls and a soiled undershirt.  He greats customers by lifting his nose and nodding in the customer's direction rather than uttering a verbal welcome.
   The waitress is an elderly soul, affectionately known as Ptomaine Tessie.  She is friendly enough, but forgetful and sometimes sloppy when serving the food. 
   Sweaty Betty's was quite busy during the war years, but the customer base has slacked off as the troops and troop trains have disappeared.  Sometimes even the rats fail to show up. 
   Betty is designated by the A&S to accept "pie cards" from railroad employees in lieu of cash payment.  The amounts are deducted from the employee's next payroll check.
   Betty has a working relationship with the Tahope County Restaurant Board and the inspectors tend to overlook minor infractions in return for a slice of Betty's lemon pie.
        Betty is accepting reservations for the upcoming Valentine's Day celebration.  Call early.  Last year's celebration resulted in six arrests and the brakeman's divorce.  Witnesses said, after a few beers the brakeman pulled out his wallet to pay Betty, turned to his wife, and said, "Hey, you wanna see a picture of my girlfriend?"  She was arrested for assault and battery.  He was hospitalized.  A good time was had by all. And everyone arrested made bond.   










Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 02, 2019, 04:10:56 PM
I heard it said that the cuisine at Betty's will stick to your ribs.....although it has been known to be responsible for some disastrous bowel distress.....great story Bill.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 02, 2019, 09:13:32 PM
Another great tale Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 03, 2019, 06:39:53 AM
I want to thank my friends for pointing out my misspellings and grammatical errors in this week's report - especially my wife, who noticed I spelled "diner" "dinner."  I guess I need an editor - I have made a number of corrections to this week's story. 

The Atlantic & Southern is set in the early 1950's.  The characters who live in Tahope are mostly happy swamp dwellers who hunt and fish in lieu of working at a full-time job, much as their forefathers did before them prior to the coming of the railroad.  These types were in greater abundance back in the early 50's than they are today.  Now they have compensation from the government and have blue tooth in their pickup trucks, so they are much more sophisticated.  Betty's Diner closed forever in 1960.  The city fathers had tried to close her up for years without success.  What finally got her was lack of revenue, forcing the bank to foreclose the mortgage.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on February 03, 2019, 08:33:13 AM
I'm kind of disappointed.  I thought any errors in grammar and spelling were to add some 50's local atmosphere to the A&S.  Um, localspeak, so to speak.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 03, 2019, 10:33:58 AM
Quote from: vinceg on February 01, 2019, 08:45:58 AM
That really is a spectacular piece of engineering, Tom. I have never seen anything like it. Amazing.



Vince,

Thank you, it sure was fun to build and it did take a few months. Greg DeMayo designed it for the A&S RR, so the credit goes to Greg.

Also, it's fun to watch the trains going up and down.

Tom  ;D



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on February 03, 2019, 11:46:30 AM
Great Story Bill, I hope you never run out of Topics.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 09, 2019, 10:12:18 AM
Saturday, February 9, 2019.
There is no Saturday Report on the progress and adventures of the Atlantic & Southern today because it is the day for the Babe to travel to Mt. Dora for a hair appointment and Tom travels with her for protection. 

I do have a story, albeit a short one, that has to do with one of the A&S engineers.  This guy really lives and breathes his calling to the high iron.  Here goes:

One of the most senior engineers on the A&S is Reginald "Fatso"Johnson.  He's been a railroader for nearly fifty years and riding on the right side of the engine for over thirty.  Railroading is in his blood.  He always "talks engine" about his own anatomy, clothes, food, and drink.

He refers to his hat as his 'dome casing;' his brotherhood pin is his 'number plate;' His coat is "the jacket;" his legs are the "drivers;" his hands are the "pins;" his arms are "side rods;" his stomach is the "firebox;" and his mouth the "pop."  He refers to a missing suspender button as a "broken spring hanger;" his limp is a "flat wheel;" he "fires up" when eating; he "takes water" when thirsty, and he "oils around" when tasting whisky.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 10, 2019, 05:09:56 PM
Bill,

Thanks for mentioning Fatso. He is one salty cuss with his 50 years on the job, including the 30 years on the right. All the engineers lean towards the right on the Atlantic and Southern RR.

It might be time to pension him off.  8)

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 16, 2019, 05:05:31 PM
Sorry, faithful followers of the Saturday Report.  The Report is delayed until tomorrow (2-17-19) due to the amount of material available and time restraints due to out of town company.  Try tomorrow after noon.

The Judge
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Bruce Oberleitner on February 16, 2019, 05:44:13 PM
the AMOUNT of material available.  Sounds likes it's going to be another barn burner of a report.

;D ;D :o

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 17, 2019, 08:08:25 AM
THE SATURDAY REPORT - FEBRUARY 16, 2019
   The Saturday session of the management of the A&S Railroad started at 8:15 a.m.  A newly delivered SAL Citrus Scheme E4 B unit was examined.  It was manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive Industries (BLI) and will receive an upgrade to a decoder from TCS WOW Sound before entering actual revenue service. 
   The gandy dancers and the civil engineers have been very busy this past week.  Considerable track has been laid at the Summit level (the three levels of the railroad will be referred to in this report as "the Bottoms," "the Midlands," and "Summit.")  A complete description of each will be the subject of later reports.  Additionally, seven, count 'em, seven switch machines have been installed, all but one of which functions off of the controllers.  The lone hold-out is unfortunately located over a wooden brace and cannot be activated by a Tortoise machine without serious modification of the structure.  Fortunately, it is located at the aisle edge of the railroad so it can easily be worked by the "five finger method."  By-the-way, that method is used exclusively on the midlands Tahope Branch because all of the switches are within easy reach.  A similar system is in the planning stage for the yard at Summit.
   The CEO decided that it was time to run major trains from the Bottoms to the Summit so we pulled the Pennsy's Broadway Limited out from its storage area in the Bottoms and ran it up the Ovalix to the Summit.  The trip was smooth as silk and the passenger cars negotiated the Summit wye without difficulty.  Backing into what will eventually be the passenger lead to Union Station was a breeze, as it should be, with a lead radius of over 50 inches.
   Next, we decided to make the same test with SAL's Orange Blossom Special and achieved the same results.  We backed in, pulled in and tested every possible move in the Summit area and were completely satisfied.  The trackwork is as close to perfect as 1950's engineering can devise and this area of the railroad will eventually be a spot people will really admire.
   We sent the Blossom down to the Bottoms and decided to run a steamer up the Ovalix.  ACL P5A Pacific 1559 was selected to do the job pulling a head end car and seven heavy weights.  The smooth and steady 1% grade up the Ovalix proved to be too much for the steamer so a helper was recruited to assist in the form of the A&S's newly upgraded B&O E-27 2-8-0.  This little fella provided just the right amount of power and pushed the train slowly up the Ovalix.  The trip to the Summit was interrupted by the arrival of Greg (Fireball) DeMayo.  Since 1559's rate of climb did not suit Greg, it exited the Ovalix at the Midlands and was spotted at Sanlando Station awaiting further orders.
   Gregg wanted to run a passenger train up the Ovalix and C&O's George Washington was selected.  This crack passenger varnish is powered by an A-B-A set of F3's and sported 11 cars.  Normally, A&S management limits the speed on the Ovalix to speed step 25, but Greg insisted on making a fast run and set the speed at speed step 50.  Happily, the train tracked perfectly and the passengers survived without injury.
   By the time the George Washington was returned to its spot in the Bottoms, it was nearly 11:00 a.m. and, after a little switching in the service area of Tahope, the crew headed for lunch at Smokey Bones.  We were disappointed to learn that our favorite server, who is very efficient and not without physical charm, had taken the day off.  But the food was good and the B.S. was about normal.
   After lunch, we decided to try sending a freight train from the Midlands to the Summit and selected a brace of ACL F3's in royal purple and silver for the trip.  The trip was without incident and should probably not deserve mention except to remark that the track leading off the Ovalix at the Summit is long enough to hold a long freight train, at least a train as long as is reasonable on the A&S.  A mark of the serious progress that has taken place in the past week.   

   Well, the hurricane season will soon be upon us again and this week's story involves one of those events of nature that occasionally visits Central Florida.  Most of us would rather ride out a hurricane than put up with the ice and snow our Yankee friends are experiencing this winter.  The tragedy known as The Tahope River Flood will be retold for generations to come.  Here it is in abbreviated form:

                                                                                                      THE TAHOPE RIVER FLOOD

   The A&S Superintendent of Maintenance, Will Fixer, hired Princeton Penman to keep an eye on the track gangs and report on both progress and irregularities involving work assigned to them.  Penman was better educated than most A&S employees and he excelled at preparing written reports.  These reports tended to be very detailed, and included the most insignificant information.  (Penman later went to work for Microsoft.) The Super called Penman on the carpet on several occasions to complain about the length of his reports.  The Super wanted reports that briefly stated the necessary facts without including unnecessary verbiage.
   That summer, Hurricane Annie swept through Central Florida and, with winds of over 70 miles per hour and eight inches of rain, causing the St. Johns River to rise and overflow its banks, flooding the nearby swampy areas, including some of the A&S right of way.  The Super needed a report to submit to management surveying the extent of the flooding in order to justify estimated repairs.  Naturally, the Super selected Penman to do the job. 
   Now Penman was one who took his job seriously and he was determined to accurately report the extent of the flooding caused by the hurricane with the brevity demanded by the Superintendent.  After a thorough investigation, and after gathering a significant amount of information, he finally submitted his comprehensive report.
   The Superintendent was impressed with the completeness of the report as well as its brevity.  The Board of Directors awarded Penman the A&S Outstanding Employee Pin for his report, which read in its entirety as follows:

   To:   Superintendent Will Fixer
   From:   Princeton Penman
      Sir:   Where the railroad was, the river is.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 17, 2019, 08:51:25 AM
Fireball here.....the ole' C&O named passenger train "The George Washington" used a powerful ABA combo of diesels to take the grade in grand fashion yesterday and kept the speed up to maintain the tight passenger schedule.

All aboard the crack train agreed that the ride was silky smooth and approved the timely arrival at their destination. A report of a higher than usual rate of alcohol consumption in the club car will be investigated.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 17, 2019, 09:01:03 AM
I just watched the whole adventure. No brag, just fact.

T  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 17, 2019, 09:45:14 AM
Another great adventure Judge. At least "Fireball" didn't mess anything up! ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on February 17, 2019, 12:21:53 PM
Have we created a "Fireball Express" on the Ovalix  8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on February 17, 2019, 01:09:37 PM
As a point of historical insignificance, I had the pleasure of riding the real C&O George Washington home from college several times.
One section departed Louisville, KY where I boarded while section 2 departed from Cincinnati, OH with the trains club car.. The eastbound train was then joined at Ashland, KY.
The trips home at Christmas were particularly enjoyable as we were accompanied by large numbers of recently discharged troops from Fort Knox (Louisville) who celebrated their newly returned freedoms. The real George Washington race took place between Ashland, KY and the West Virginia border. Due to tax and archaic blue laws, the alcohol in the club car was turned off at the border. Celebrating ex-GI's had lots of cash but little time to party. Made for some interesting trips.
Back to you, judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 17, 2019, 02:21:03 PM
Those of you who have actually ridden on the C&0's George Washington know it terminated in Washington, D.C. and not in a Central Florida swamp.  However, few people know that the 1970's merger of the numerous  roads, including the ACL, SAL, L&N, and C&O, was anticipated by the Atlantic & Southern.  Accordingly, it frequently happened that the George Washington would come south to A&S tracks during the busy winter season in the early 1950's, leaving northern Washington politicians stranded.  The C&O hoped that rerouting the George Washington would teach them a lesson and make them treat railroads with the same generosity as the trucking industry, but we all know how that turned out.

Good to hear from an actual GW rider.  The only thing worse that a bunch of hemmed up drunk G.I.'s is a bunch of hemmed up sober G. I.'s who wish they were drunk. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on February 18, 2019, 05:35:16 AM
Great report on the A&S Judge!  Sounds like the Ovalix is working as the engineers had designed & built it.  The flood report was spot on...Mr. Penman sure has a way with words.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 23, 2019, 05:35:26 PM
The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report for February 23, 2019, will be delayed until February 24.  This edition has photos and your reporter is having difficulty (again) figuring out how to post them.  Seems like this could be much easier.  But I am going to master this process! 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 23, 2019, 05:46:45 PM
Quote from: Judge on February 23, 2019, 05:35:26 PM
The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report for February 23, 2019, will be delayed until February 24.  This edition has photos and your reporter is having difficulty (again) figuring out how to post them.  Seems like this could be much easier.  But I am going to master this process!


Oh no, not again!

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 24, 2019, 08:57:11 AM
The Saturday Report - February 24, 2019

The Saturday Session of the A&S Railroad started right on time at 0830 hours.  After some BS and a review of the excellent progress addding three turnout motors and signals, it was determined that the Florida Special, composed of nine heavy weights and a brace of three F2 ACL diesels, should climb the ovalix from The Bottoms to the Summit and so it began its climb at speed step 25.  As the trail approached The Summit, the "B" unit started making an unusual, loud electrical kind of noise as if the decoder was dying.  The unit was removed and replaced in position a few minutes later.  Apparently, it repaired itself. 

Another heavy weight passenger train, the Southland, joined the parade at the Sanlando Station.  it was a 10-car consist powered by ACL 1559, a Class P5A Pacific.  The weight was just too much for 1559, so the consists were switched and 1559 was coupled onto the Florida Special.  All went well after that.

"Reading Bob" Butts showed up in time for lunch so we adjourned to Smokey Bones for our noon repast. 

Grimlins attacked when we returned to railroading.  A mysterious short caused the railroad to shut down.  After much investigation, the cause was discovered.  An intermittent short was caused by some defect in the newly acquired A&LM ten wheeler.  This engine was sent to the shops at Ucita Yard  for repair. 

After the short problem was solved, the CEO made a second effort to train your reporter on how to attach photographs to these reports.  This time he was successful to some extent. 

The story this week introduces you to two of the characters that live at their fish camp located on the Tahope River in The Bottoms.  Clovis and Boone are big, strong men, who gained their muscles working lumber in Piney Woods.  They also obtain "corn squeezins" from the idle folk who live in the woods and have a still.  Anyway, these two guys are not dangerous, but they can be persuaded to get involved in questionable behavior.


                                                                                                          THE CONTEST

One day toward the end of summer, 1950, passenger service picked up on the A&S, mainly because of rerouting due to labor troubles on the FEC.  This caused considerable confusion requiring baggage to be transferred to a different baggage car in Sanlando..  Naturally, the Sanlando Baggage Master needed help to complete this task so the he hired two muscular guys, Clovis and Boone, as part-time baggage handlers.

Rumor got around that these two bozos were going to have a contest to see who could load the most baggage the fastest.  Clovis had a reputation of being able to chuck a Saratoga trunk into a baggage car with more force and greater damage than any other baggage smasher in Tahope County.  But some of the interested observers thought Boone could "fire more baggage into a car in five minutes than Clovis could in half an hour." 

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240219081952.jpeg)

Bets were placed and, sure enough, the first passenger train to arrive was Number 92, the East Coast Champion, powered by two FEC "E" units.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240219082208.jpeg)
 
Our heroes unloaded the baggage car on the Champion and piled it in two immense piles by the baggage car scheduled to make the trip to New York.  Many types of baggage were in the piles, including canvas covered trunks, fine leather two-suiters, and "Georgia traveler" held together with twine.  There were even some wooden crates and barrels from Key West, filled with salt water trout and grouper, destined for fast delivery to New York's finest restaurants.  The crowd gathered 'round the baggage car and at exactly 3:26 p.m., the New York bound section of the Champion pulled into the station and the doors on its baggage car were thrown open.  The sound of gunfire started the contest.

Clovis pounced on a good-sized, old-fashioned valise, bound together with clothesline and, after spinning it over his head two or three times, hurled it into the car, causing it great damage, much to the delight of his admiring public.
 
Boone had not been idle.  He humped himself over a large trunk, and bending his back into the work, sent it to the rear of the car.  It was admirably done, and it would take at least an hour to collect the contents scattered in one brief moment.
This spurred Clovis to greater efforts.  He lifted a Singer Sewing Machine to his shoulder, winked confidently to his admirers, and let her go.  Pieces of cast iron went everywhere.

Then Boone snatched four ladies' valises and with no apparent effort heaved them into the car.  The dresses and fancy under garments looked right in place with the other debris.

Most of the bets were in favor of Clovis by that time but Boone was not to be denied.  Before the 30-minute shot was fired, he had turned four small wooden trunks into kindling, leaving one corner of the car completely filled with wearing apparel, broken umbrellas, and cooking utensils. He also rolled a barrel full of fresh fish with sufficient force to splinter it, scattering trout and grouper all over the floor of the car.
 
As a final demonstration of prowess and dexterity, Clovis thought he cinched the contest by handling two large trunks as though they were paper weights, scattering bonnets, panties, and feminine dry goods, all through the car.
 
When the final shot was fired, both the men gleefully grabbed up an ancient valise, owned by some rural citizen, and "let 'er go."  The dry goods, shoes, tinware, and groceries burst their bonds, to the delight of the multitude there assembled.

The contest was declared a draw and both contestants were rewarded with cold beer and the title of National Baggage Smashers before they caught an outgoing freight and headed back to their fish camp for some turtle Stew.
 
Some months later, Clovis and Boone were hired by Herndon Airport in Orlando as baggage handlers.  Some of their grandchildren work at Orlando International today, but now-a days their specialty is loading baggage on the wrong flight instead of damaging it.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 24, 2019, 09:17:31 AM
Hey, Clovis and Boone aren't still hanging around in the baggage car are they?

No, they're off drinking "corn squeezins" at the fish camp.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/24-230219135313.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 24, 2019, 09:31:18 AM
Sounds like the insurance and lawyer guys are going to be busy with the aftermath of this episode.....great yarn Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on February 24, 2019, 10:02:16 AM
Several years ago I flew into and back out of the Orlando airport.  I often wondered why I had baggage issues there and at no other airports.  I understand why now that I know the "rest of the story".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 24, 2019, 10:11:14 AM
Another great story Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on February 24, 2019, 10:50:17 AM
Another wonderful story! 

I must admit, I'm beginning to get a little concerned that those electrical gremlins seem to only appear when I visit.  I didn't touch anything!  I swear!   :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 24, 2019, 12:30:18 PM
Bob, Curt, Greg, Jerry, and Tom - Thanks for the kind remarks.

As far as the rest of the story goes - I suspect some of our friends "up Nawth" will have questions like why would FEC "E" units be pulling the ACL Champion into Sanlando Station.  And why would there be a need to change baggage cars in the first place? 

The answers are not obvious, but have a lot to do with Florida railroading, which, like other Flori-duh things, needs explanation.  The ACL's Champion is the railroad's premier deluxe passenger train.  One section of the Champ (East Coast Champion)  originates in Miami and the other (West Coast Champion) originates in St. Petersburg.  The two sections meet in Jacksonville, where they are combined for the remainder of the trip to New York and Boston.  The East Coast Champion normally takes FEC trackage to Jacksonville, and, through a pool agreement, motive power is sometimes ACL and other times FEC.  This arrangement allows the train to service Florida's Gold Coast from Miami through Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Cocoa, Daytona, Palatka, and St. Augustine, up to Jacksonville.  It also allows the ACL to service St. Petersburg, Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, Winter Park, Deland, and points north into Jacksonville.  ACL power takes over in Jacksonville and carries the train through to Richmond.  At that point, the Pennsy takes over into New York.  Normally, in 1950, the Champ's motive power is an A-B-A E6 lash-up, but from 1938 until recently, a single ACL R-1 4-8-4 could handle the 20-car consist all the way to Richmond without stopping to get water or coal.  Those were the days and maybe they will be depicted here in a future report.  For now, here is a shot of 1809.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240219122658.jpeg)

As for the change of baggage cars . . . . Your reporter contacted the FEC dispatcher in Miami (the FEC Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is on strike) and he stated that the East Coast Champion was being crewed by scab labor on the day in question and, being somewhat inexperienced, failed to notice a hot box on the lead truck of the regular baggage car.  By the time it was discovered, the car needed to be replaced and sent to the repair shop.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on February 24, 2019, 12:57:31 PM
Great story Bill.  I hope you never run  out of topics.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 24, 2019, 01:27:36 PM
Thanks, Jim.  I have a lot of stories in the bag and more come to me every day.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: RWL on February 24, 2019, 03:28:07 PM

Bill,


Another great tale that you have expounded, you have a very creative mind.


To the explanation of southern traveling. I traveled on the West Coast Champion to St. Pete to visit my grandparents back in the 50s, I truly enjoyed the French Toast in the diner. I was also amazed by street running down 4th, I never saw that back in New York, I couldn't get over seeing cars pass us as I was looking down on them.


One comment about your story, I don't think the RF&P Brotherhood of Engineers will appreciate your disregard for their efforts in Richmond. None the less a great explanation on Florida railroading and the trials and tribulations of the rails.


Bob
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 24, 2019, 05:00:05 PM
Quote from: ReadingBob on February 24, 2019, 10:50:17 AM
Another wonderful story! 

I must admit, I'm beginning to get a little concerned that those electrical gremlins seem to only appear when I visit.  I didn't touch anything!  I swear!   :o


Not to worry Bob.....I'll probably get blamed in absentia (didn't think I knew that one did ya Bill).  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 24, 2019, 05:04:24 PM
Greg - People shouldn't be blamed for what they can't help.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on February 24, 2019, 06:03:07 PM
Judge - Your stories are the highlight of my Saturday. You have a great talent. Thanks for efforts. Do you compose after going to lunch and having barbecue and suds?! Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Bruce Oberleitner on February 24, 2019, 07:05:20 PM
Btw, I think some of Clovis and Boones grand children also work at Ohara airport in Chicago.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 25, 2019, 06:58:29 AM
Jim and Bruce - I'm glad you enjoy reading the Saturday Report.  Amazing that I haven't insulted anyone - at least not yet!

I get some of my ideas from a book my father gave me years ago entitled "Railroad Folklore."  I take a story and work it into a 1950 setting involving the A&S.  My grandfather was a conductor on the ACL back before WWI.  He was also the mayor of Lakeland, Florida, which was a division point in those days and he served a term in the Florida Senate.  My dad loved trains and used to take me to the Orlando station on Sundays to watch the the trains come through.

Not to worry - I have plenty of stories in the pipeline and won't run out of them anytime soon.  I will be concentrating on the people who live in and around Tahope for the next few weeks.  Clovis and Boone are only the beginning.



 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on February 25, 2019, 07:07:00 AM
Another interesting and entertaining back story Bill, really brings Tom's A&S alive for us all.


And like others, I very much look forward to your Saturday report.
Thanks and be well,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 25, 2019, 08:39:42 AM
Quote from: Judge on February 24, 2019, 05:04:24 PM
Greg - People shouldn't be blamed for what they can't help.


I like the wisdom in your words.....but I don't think that defense would work in court.  :'(
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on February 25, 2019, 09:38:37 AM
Quote from: GPdemayo on February 25, 2019, 08:39:42 AM
Quote from: Judge on February 24, 2019, 05:04:24 PM
Greg - People shouldn't be blamed for what they can't help.


I like the wisdom in your words.....but I don't think that defense would work in court.  :'(

Ignorance of the Laws...........

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on February 26, 2019, 07:08:48 AM
Another excellent Saturday Report!  You really do a great job spinning those tales based on the stories in the Railroad Folklore book into tales of the 1950s.  Great pics as well!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 26, 2019, 09:12:14 AM
Quote from: jimmillho on February 25, 2019, 09:38:37 AM
Quote from: GPdemayo on February 25, 2019, 08:39:42 AM
Quote from: Judge on February 24, 2019, 05:04:24 PM
Greg - People shouldn't be blamed for what they can't help.


I like the wisdom in your words.....but I don't think that defense would work in court.  :'(

Ignorance of the Laws...........

Jim


After 200+ years of bureaucrats and lawyers, at the local, state and federal levels, pumping out rules and regulations, I can't see that old notion working Jim.  ???
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 02, 2019, 04:58:43 PM
Atlantic &Southern Saturday Report March 4, 2019  (Partial report)

     The management & staff of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad met briefly at 8:30 a.m. this morning.  The discussion centered on the design of the main freight yard that will be constructed at the Summit.  (For new readers, the A&S has three levels which are referred to as the Bottoms, the Midlands, and the Summit.  These levels are reached by travel up and down on an "ovalix" that makes ten revolutions of twenty-six feet each and rising a consistent grade of one degree.)
    There was also a discussion about signaling at the Summit level.  A semaphore will be installed near the throat of the passenger car lead to Union Station.  The CEO demonstrated the new double target signal recently installed on the west side. 
    The initial effort to power the railroad came up short.  A pesky intermittent problem seemed to resolve itself, but bears further investigation.
     A Seaboard GP7 pushed a cut of freight cars around the 50+ inch radius curve leading to Union Station.  Then it traveled down the ovalix to the Bottoms where it was spotted in the staging yard.  It is a pleasure to watch such smooth, graceful operation.   
    Curt Webb arrived about 10:00 a.m. and sat on the right side of the cab of a long coal drag as it worked its way slowly all the way from the Bottoms to the Summit.
Then we all went to lunch at Smokey Bones and called it a day.

       There is more to this report.  However, there is something wrong with the Forum program and I cannot attach photos.  I checked with Tom (ACL1504) and we fiddled with the problem for about 30 minutes with no results.  I have notified the administrator.  I'll try again tomorrow morning and if the photos can't be attached, I'll go without them.  Try back around 11:00 a.m.

       Sorry about that!

       The Judge

   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on March 02, 2019, 05:15:41 PM
Great report Judge! You guys sure seem to be having fun. I'm looking forward to your pictures.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: EricQuebec on March 02, 2019, 05:26:50 PM
Objection your honor. It appears that this report is falsified because backdated 2 days. How can we relate facts that have not yet occurred? :) :)
Eric


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on March 02, 2019, 06:13:16 PM
Good evening Bill (Judge),
Your 'Saturday Report' is now somewhat akin to a weekly radio show.  Something to look forward to all week, very entertaining and not to be missed as we hear more about the comings and goings of the cast of characters that made up the A&S during a bygone era.
I (like many others here) look so forward to your weekly missives.
Just wanted you to know and please keep at it,
All the best to you, Tom and the entire A&S Crew,
Sincerely,
--Paul
newly of Marshfield, MA
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 03, 2019, 07:18:25 AM
Eric - Picky, picky, picky. We don't worry about little things like accuracy on the A&S.  Ignoring it makes the whimsy more whimsical.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 03, 2019, 08:07:19 AM
The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report for March 2, 2019 (continued)

I have added the pics. 

Recently, your reporter began to introduce the readers to some of the inhabitants of Tahope County who live in the Midlands.  Sweaty Betty and her diner were described in detail.  Introductions will continue over the next few weeks, and perhaps a tale or two will be told about the characters you have previously met.  Today we meander down the mainline from Sweaty Betty's, passing Sanlando Station, to Eaton's Curve.

                                                                                                The Inhabitants of Eaton's Curve

Perhaps you have heard the name "Florida Cracker." The name comes from the 1880's when Florida's version of cowpokes lived in the Central Florida area.  The sound their whips made when they herded cattle was a "crack;" hence the name.  Many of their ancestors live in Tahope.  They drive pick-up trucks with rifle racks in the back window and hunt alligators, deer and ducks.    They have Confederate Flag license plates on the front of their trucks.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-030319214830.jpeg)

There are two "cracker shacks"on Eaton's curve.  These shacks have been in place for many years and are in need of indoor plumbing and general maintenance.  There is a small cornfield located adjacent to the lot on which the shacks are located.  A good bit of the corn finds its way to Piney Woods where "idle folk" have a still and make mighty good corn squeezins. The residents of Eaton's Curve have "tied in" to electric power provided by the Tahope Power Co.  The power company does not charge them for electrical usage because they are not listed as customers.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-030319213358.jpeg) 

Most "working folks" in Tahope County are related to each other some way or another.  Their family trees have very few branches.  Sweaty Betty has a sister named Tallula who lives with her common law husband, Luke, in one of the Cracker Shacks located on Eaton's Curve.  Luke, makes a living harvesting blue crabs from his crab traps on the St. Johns River.  The crab traps sit on the river bottom with a "float" attached to mark their location.  The traps are baited with chicken necks Luke gets from Farmer Perkins in exchange for a share of the crabs.  Florida is the only state in the union that makes it a felony to "molest a crab trap," so Luke guards his traps with a shotgun from a flat-bottomed boat to ward off would-be crab molesters.
 
Tallula spends her days mostly cleaning their shack and doing laundry, which she takes in from neighbors to supplement the family income.  Her washing machine is on the front porch and the clothes line is located behind the house.  Coal dust from passing steam locomotives give her "whites" a distinctive grey color.
Luke and Tallula have a son named Newton Ray Lee, but his friends call him Newt.

Newt is tall, strong, and surprisingly verbal.  He tried to join the navy during the War, but was turned down when he flunked the psychological test.  (He has a pathological fear of accomplishment.)  He is pushing 30 years of age and has never had a job that lasted more than a week or two.

Vergil Turner and his wife, Daisey, live in the other shack on Eaton's curve.  (Daisey's kin tend to name all their wimmin young'uns after flowers or plants.)  Vergil is Luke's half-brother.  They have a son named Donny, but his friends call him Short Stack.  Short Stack is a few years younger than his cousin, Newt.  When Daisey, who is blond, thought she might be pregnant with Short Stack, she went to the Tahope family practitioner, Dr. Minnie Staysic, to find out.  After Dr. Staysic confirmed Daisey's condition, she asked her if she had any questions.  Her only question was "Is it mine?" Short Stack inherited his mother's intelligence.

Short Stack helps Luke harvest crabs sometimes and other times he rides in the truck with Vergil down to the Sanlando Depot to help him clean the place up.  Short Stack gets $.87 an hour for his labor, which he likes to spend at the pool hall in Tahope.

Recently, Newt and Short Stack "went to railroading."  They bummed around Florida looking for odd jobs in railroad yards and accumulating minor criminal charges.
 
Disappointed in their career advancement, they have abandoned all full-time employment and have "taken up as homeless vagabonds" in the Bottoms of the A& S Railroad, where they subsist on odd jobs, petty thefts and the fish and other critters they can catch.  They sleep in a lean-to covered with Palmetto fronds.  They keep a fire going in front of the lean-to, with a pot of hot Mulligan stew simmering from dawn until late in the evening.

The vittles are shared with other vagabonds, hobos, and bums who pass through the Bottoms, hoping to nail a ride on a "Pullman Box Car" to parts elsewhere.  The Mulligan stew is "help yourself," provided each hungry traveler contributes something to the pot or shares a bottle of shine from Piney Woods to take the edge off.

Short Stack is in charge of "obtaining" the ingredients for the Mulligan stew when other drifters are not about.  He gets fish, crabs, and turtles from the Tahope and St. Johns Rivers and traps small gators.  The turtles and gator tails dress nicely for the stew and the fish are fried over the fire. (Gator tails taste "just like chickin.")  The crabs are boiled in river water.  Short Stack's Aunt Betty occasionally gives him one of her pies to take back with him for after dinner.

All-in-all, life is good for Newt and Short Stack, at least for now.  More later on their adventures.



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 03, 2019, 08:37:41 AM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 03, 2019, 09:23:31 AM
Another good one Bill..... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on March 03, 2019, 12:12:38 PM
Love the story Bill.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 03, 2019, 02:34:16 PM
Paul, Jim, Curt, Greg, et al.  - Thanks for the kind remarks.  I enjoy doing the Saturday Report.  It is a challenge to find material, but so far no problem.  When I run out of ideas I will consult the Trains app on my computer.  It has many years of Trains magazines and I'm sure I will find stories in them that apply to the A&S.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Oldguy on March 03, 2019, 05:08:16 PM
All good stories.  They even sound plausible.  Gnat and I can relate to most of them as both of us live in Hillbilly country.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 03, 2019, 09:52:27 PM
GOOD NEWS!  THE REPAIRS(?) HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE PICS HAVE BEEN INSERTED INTO THE SATURDAY REPORT.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!

The Judge

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 09, 2019, 05:10:13 PM
The Saturday Session of the A&S started promptly at 0820 with a discussion about the plans for the main freight yard, which will be located on the east side of the Summit.  The trick is to keep it simple and yet keep it functional.  Plans are not settled but concepts are formulating.
    The first move was to return the Sharks and their coal drag from the Summit to the Bottoms.  This occurred without a hitch due to the excellent design of the Ovalix and the meticulous track-work laid out by the A&S gandy-dancers. 
     Next a POL train composed of tank cars was brought from the Bottoms to the Summit.  It was powered by two ACL GP7's and made the trip without incident. 
      An express reefer freight was scheduled after the POL train, powered by an A-B-A brace of SAL F3's.  Lack of maintenance was the apparent cause of the trailing A unit to fail to respond to the throttle.  We have experienced decoder failure with some of our older TCS WOW decoders and the decoder in this unit was one of our older ones.  It seems they fail while they are in storage for a time.  This unit had not been run in several months.  The good news it that TCS replaces the defective decoders without charge and usually includes an upgrade.  We have not had any problems with replacement decoders.
    The remaining working F3A unit (the B unit is a dummy) powered the reefer consist without difficulty but couldn't make it up the 1% grade on the Ovalix without help, which was provided by an SAL GP7.
   Lunch was at Smokey Bones, as usual.
    After lunch we scheduled a steam powered passenger train, composed of heavy weights and powered by an ACL P5A Pacific.
   No meeting scheduled for next Saturday.

   Today's story has a smatter of truth to it in that it vaguely resembles one of the many murder cases I tried while I was on the bench.  Barlow's Bar-B- Que is a hotspot in Tahope and provides full Saturday night service with food, drink, dancing, pool, and pin ball.  Sometimes the locals get a little rowdy and this story takes place on a Saturday night after our heroes have had a hard week cutting timber in Piney Woods.                                                                               

                                                                                     THE BARLOW'S BAR-B-Q SHOOT-OUT

March is sometimes quite balmy in Central Florida and so it was in 1950.  The oak leaves were still falling, but it was not yet Spring, so it was too early for pollen.  With the humidity over 90% in the evening, it was not unusual for local Tahope residents to take to Barlow's Bar-B-Q for a few "cool ones" and some of Bob Butt's famous ribs. The Super Saber sauce is so hot it makes your forehead sweat and your ears turn red.
    On this particular evening, Bruce Bonebreaker and Sam Savage, both of whom worked timber in Piney Woods, commenced to drinking about dusk and decided to try a game of pinball for a quarter a game.  The more they played, the more they drank and the more they drank the louder they got, until a crowd gathered, causing quite a disturbance. 
   Bruce allowed that Sam had cheated by lifting the pinball machine off of the floor to his advantage, and Sam called Bruce a "no good, lying so and so," or maybe something worse. The argument escalated until one or the other of them threw the first beer bottle.  The fight was on and some of the supporters for each belligerent joined the fracas. 
   The owner calmly suggested the fight should be moved outside by displaying his 12-gage shot gun, so the crowd spilled out into the parking lot. 
   There the fisticuffs turned into a brawl.  Bruce grabbed a 2x4 and swung it towards Sam.  Sam pulled his deer skinnin' knife and commenced to carve on Bruce's mid-section.  At that point, Bruce pulled out his pistol and fired it point blank at Sam.  The bullet made a loud crack as it hit its target between the eyes.  Sam fell to the dirt with a thud.
   About the time the fatal shot was fired, the Tahope Police arrived on the scene.  Upon being advised of the situation and upon viewing the corpse, Officer Poovey decided to arrest the survivor for the Murder of Sam Savage.
         
         The top photo shows the overall crime scene. (Please note that the yellow coupe, driven by one of our subjects, ran through the parking lot fence.) The bottom photo is a close-up of Officer Poovey's arrest of Bruce for Sam's murder. 

           (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-090319170836.jpeg)

           (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-090319170005.jpeg)


                 
   Now Bruce did not intend to take this incident laying down, so he hired the only criminal defense lawyer in the City of Tahope, Marvin Bello, who immediately mounted an argument for self-defense. 
   The trial was scheduled a few weeks after the arrest and the events described above were placed before the all-male jury.  The coroner testified that Sam died as a result of a gunshot wound to his brain, which he said was somewhat smaller than the average.  The presiding Circuit Judge, Honorable Elvin P. Thomas, had been on the bench since 1918 and it was not his first murder trial.  At the judge's direction, Brass spittoons were strategically placed in the jury box and at the bench.  Judge Thomas always had a chaw of tobacco and he could make a spittoon ring with every shot. 
   When the time came, Judge Thomas instructed the jury as follows:

   "Now, gentlemen, afore y'all convict the defendant of this here murder, you first have to decide if the decedent deserved to be kilt." 

A Not Guilty verdict was soon returned, to the loud approval of the citizens present.
   The crowd adjourned and accompanied Bruce and Marvin Bello to the bar located in downtown Tahope, where they celebrated the victory without further incident.  And Judge Thomas took the A&S local mixed train back home to Sanlando, while sipping bourbon and playing poker with the mayor and other local politicians on the way.
   


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on March 09, 2019, 06:12:27 PM
Ahhh,
Southern justice.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on March 09, 2019, 10:19:12 PM
But the question remains, did Sam actually lift the pinball machine as accused or was he simply a man who brought a knife to a gun fight?

Given the poorly maintained condition of Barlow's facility it is just as likely the floor sagged at the right moment, due to the large group of people jumping up and down watching the match and thus tilting the machine to Sam's advantage. What happened next is well documented, much to Sam's demise.

I expect we might hear more on this subject due to the widow Savage and her 13 children having lost husband and pappy. He might have been a poor excuse of a man, a drunkerd, womanizer and mean but he was their source of income, such as it was, and widow Savage expects Barlow's to do her right.

Just saying...
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on March 09, 2019, 10:28:13 PM
Love the story Bill.  Sounds like some personnel experience might be part of the History between Bruce and Sam.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 10, 2019, 08:57:39 AM
The rest of the story. 

Jim Donovan is right!  The tragic death of Sam Savage had a devastating effect upon his widow and 13 children.  She hired attorney Larry Lickem, who successfully sued the ACL several weeks ago in that unfortunate accident involving the caboose that fouled the track at the Piney Woods Station.  Lawyer Lickem proceeded to sue Barlow's, Bruce Bonebreaker, and Regressive Insurance Co., whose motto is "You Pay and We Don't."  Sam only made minimum wage, less than a dollar an hour in 1950, and he had no pain and suffering due to his instant demise, so the damages in his case depended upon the widow's "loss of services."  With 13 kids, it was obvious that Sam provided better than average services and the jury, angry at the insurance defense lawyer, made sure she was more than adequately compensated.  However, the court of appeals substantially reduced the award, leaving the widow with only several million dollars.  She subsequently married SAL fireman George "Crack a Diamond" Musselwhite (Remember George?) and provided him with six more head of young 'uns.

However, Jim is wrong in his analysis about whether or not Sam actually lifted the pinball machine to his advantage.  In self-defense cases, truth is a matter of perception.  It matters not if the pinball machine was lifted.  The only question was whether Sam "deserved to be kilt."  The jury found he did deserve his fate and the community was better off without the shiftless, no-count SOB. 

Oh, yes, I almost forgot, Bruce Bonebreaker "drug up" and moved to the Florida panhandle where he went to work cutting timber for the St. Joe Paper Company, whose trustee was also the trustee for the FEC.  So Tahope got rid of both of these characters and it was a better place for it.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on March 10, 2019, 09:24:48 AM

Judge,


I would like you to show more sensitivity when referring to the locomotives in service on the A&S.  You referred to a specific B unit as a "dummy".  It would be better, at least in my opinion, to refer to it as "unpowered" since there is no proof that this particular B unit is any less intelligent than an A unit.  Now, if you would want to share the standardized test scores of both the A and B units involved, I might have to retract my objection. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on March 10, 2019, 10:01:34 AM
"The rest of the story" reminded me of my time on a jury.  In Virginia, the plaintiff isn't allowed to ask for specific amounts.  Well, the defendant hit the plaintiff (with her car.)  It was clear she didn't want to be in court, she was only there because her insurance company made the case go to jury trial.  The plaintiff laid down his medical expenses and lost wages, and we went into the jury room.  Our deliberations included making sure the plaintiff got all his expenses covered, and then we threw in another $20k because the insurance company would pay, and they were real a-holes! 


Afterwards, the plaintiff's attorney called to get feedback on what worked and didn't work.  I was really impressed with him, I made sure I got his phone number, in case I had to sue someone.


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 10, 2019, 10:37:32 AM
Another great story. I love the staging of the crime scene.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 10, 2019, 11:16:29 AM
They keep getting better and better Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 10, 2019, 01:15:24 PM
Jerry - I guess the age of political correctness has even touched model railroading.  I hope an inanimate object like an unpowered plastic model diesel is not offended by my use of the term "dummy."  Perhaps "Locomotively challenged" or "unmotorized placeholder unit" or "non-functional-but-pleasing-consist-enhancer" would be a more appropriate.  For this defalcation, I humbly apologize.  However, I may retain Lawyer Lickem and sue for defecation of my character.     
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on March 10, 2019, 03:59:45 PM
"motive-challenged power"?


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 11, 2019, 08:59:30 AM
Quote from: Judge on March 10, 2019, 01:15:24 PM
Jerry - I guess the age of political correctness has even touched model railroading.  I hope an inanimate object like an unpowered plastic model diesel is not offended by my use of the term "dummy."  Perhaps "Locomotively challenged" or "unmotorized placeholder unit" or "non-functional-but-pleasing-consist-enhancer" would be a more appropriate.  For this defalcation, I humbly apologize.  However, I may retain Lawyer Lickem and sue for defecation of my character.   


Oh boy..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on March 11, 2019, 02:52:58 PM
These stories just keep getting better and better, as do the comments.  ;D

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on March 11, 2019, 03:21:56 PM
I have one of those lazy locomotives on my railroad.  Just will not pull its own weight.  Great report!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on March 12, 2019, 08:35:53 AM
Quote from: Judge on March 10, 2019, 01:15:24 PM
Jerry - I guess the age of political correctness has even touched model railroading.  I hope an inanimate object like an unpowered plastic model diesel is not offended by my use of the term "dummy."  Perhaps "Locomotively challenged" or "unmotorized placeholder unit" or "non-functional-but-pleasing-consist-enhancer" would be a more appropriate.  For this defalcation, I humbly apologize.  However, I may retain Lawyer Lickem and sue for defecation of my character.   



Your honor,
I place myself at the mercy of the court.  While I felt it my personal responsibility to address the mis-characterization of the B unit as a "dummy", in no way did I intend to imply that the court was less than objective in its ruling.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on March 12, 2019, 10:16:48 AM
Hey Judge:

Love the BBQ kit. You did a great job with it.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 12, 2019, 03:57:33 PM
Karl - No, no, no, no!  I take no credit for the Bar-B-Que joint!  That is the creation of Robert "Redding Bob" Butts, Grand Poo-Bah, Master Model Builder and all 'round good guy.  Bob is also the whimsical owner of Barlow's.  Its motto is "We have the best butts in Tahope County."  That is true in more ways than one on most Saturday nights.

Alas, my model building ability is amateurish to say the least.  Perhaps I will delve into kit building after I retire again.  Meanwhile, I am quite happy being allowed to discuss construction plans for the A&S and doing goffer work like populating passenger cars.  Also, get a great deal of pleasure from running trains. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 16, 2019, 04:05:08 PM
There is no Saturday Report for today because the wife of the Atlantic and Southern's CEO had her monthly appointments in Mount Dora.  Your reporter spent most of the morning watching U-tube train videos and adding another tale to my list of future publications.  This week's story is a detour from my description of folks who live in the Midlands of the A&S and requires a journey to that dark and somewhat dirty place called "The Bottoms." 

For those readers who are new to this report, a quick explanation is needed about A&S terminology.  The A&S Railroad exists in three levels -  The upper level is known as the Summit and is under construction.  It will eventually be an urban scene with a major freight yard, a passenger station, and a diesel service facility.  The middle level is known as "the Midlands" and is a rural scene with a number of places of interest, including a passenger station, a small freight yard, a freight station, a wooded area, and a farm.  The City of Tahope and a major steam service facility are located on the branch line.  The lower level is a staging yard with nine tracks on the east and west sides of the railroad.  It is known as the Bottoms and is the subject of this week's story.  It is suggested that newbie readers consult with a previous edition entitled Inhabitants of Eaton's Curve (Page eight) for background information.

Let the story begin!

                                                                                                      LIFE IN "THE BOTTOMS"

Life is hard in The Bottoms.  Daylight never shines in the place and it is only partially illuminated.  It was not designed for human habitation.  It is a staging yard that runs under the entire length of the Atlantic & Southern and holds trains awaiting call.

Trains are stored there for days or weeks until called when needed.  There are no hostlers to tend to the fires in the Bottoms, so the steamers are cold and so are the diesels.
 
Though the environment is hostile and facilities are scarce, a variety of transitory types inhabit the Bottoms on a more-or-less regular basis.  Most of these individuals are hobos, but some are tramps and some are bums.  These characters tend to look alike to the casual observer but there are differences.  A hobo works and wanders, a tramp dreams and wanders, and a bum drinks and wanders.  Most of them carry their "possibles" in a bindle composed of a sack or handkerchief tied to a stick for carry on the shoulder.  All of them share the same mode of transportation, that is hopping a freight or an occasional passenger train to "get wherever its going." Some have more success than others when hitching a ride.  A famous hobo named "A No. 1," who thrived in the decade before WWI, claimed he traveled 500,000 miles for $7.61.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-160319155618.jpeg)

Here you see the camp in the Bottoms.  Short Shack is on the far left.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-170319062449.jpeg)🤷‍♂️
Hobo with a bindle

Hobos pick up odd jobs and know where to find a place to sleep out of the weather at night because other migrants have left messages identifying friendly spots on freight station walls, water tanks, or sign posts.  Before WWI, every experienced wanderer had a "little red card" with him identifying him as a member of a railroad brotherhood.  Even at this late date, 1950, this identification sometimes convinces railroad personnel to allow the presenter of the card to have free passage. 
Hobos used to call obtaining free passage on an outgoing freight train "nailing a drag." When steam was in its heyday, heavy freight trains accelerated slowly out of the yard, so talented transients could obtain passage on a "Pullman boxcar" with relative ease.  The art was in determining just when the "drag" was at a speed that was too dangerous to chance.  "Missing a drag" usually resulted in scrapes and bruises from falling into the track ballast or, not infrequently, more serious injury. 
By 1950, the population of migrant boomers and homeless transients had significantly dwindled.  The post-war economy was better and it was more difficult to "hitch a ride" on the faster diesel-powered freights.


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-160319154610.jpeg)
Nailing a drag
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-160319154828.jpeg)
Missed the drag and ended up on the ballast
 

There are a few places left that cater to "Kings of the Road" and one of them is the Bottoms of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.  Usually, on summer evenings, a number of "Bos" can be found huddled around a fire over which is simmering a pot of Mulligan Stew. The proprietors of this camp are its semi-permanent residents, Newt and Short Stack.  Others tend to drift in and out as their travels dictate.  All of the campers go under assumed names or monikers because a number of them are running from something.  So, names like Chicago Dan or St. Louis Slim are common.  Identification by a place of origin gives one a sense of well-being.
Mulligan Stew is a staple dish in the Bottoms.  It is composed of water and almost anything else available that is edible. 

On this particular day, Newt was able to buy a couple of chickens from farmer Perkins with the day-labor wage he received yesterday, for sweeping up at the A&S round house.  Short Stack was able to capture one of the turtles that are plentiful in the rivers of Florida.  Others managed to beg or steal local fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, corn, celery, beans, and onions, all of which were added to the pot.  Somebody managed to procure a quart size Mason Jar of "corn squeezins" from the still in Piney Woods, so the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly.  Everybody was welcome, provided each person contributed something to the stew.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-160319160043.jpeg)
Short Stack dressing a turtle for the Mulligan Stew


After dinner, long about 7:00 p.m., the Bo's heard the disinctive sound of EMD 567 diesel engines "cranking up."  Sure enough, a freight drag was leaving for the Midlands.  Although the Tahope County topography is essentially flat and is only a few feet above sea level, the trip up the ovalix to the Midlands requires multiple diesel units, or helpers for the steamers.  This drag was powered by an A-B-A lash-up of F3's.  It eased off about 100 yards from the yard throat and accelerated rapidly. 
The Bos wanting a ride had to "nail" it before it got to moving too fast.  Fishmouth Ferguson, an experienced Bo, spotted an open box car door and made a dive for it just as the drag passed him.  Tampa Turkey, who was not so experienced or observant, grabbed for a ladder on a box car and slipped into the cinders.  He suffered lots of scrapes and cuts, but nothing was broken.
 
As the drag approached the yard throat switch, it slowed to a crawl.  The other Bos saw their chance and climbed aboard, some in box cars, some in gondolas, some up on the tops.  Unfortunately, the reason for the slow approach to the yard throat became apparent when six "Railroad Dicks" watched the Bos get aboard.  The drag came to a complete stop at the yard throat and most of the Bos scampered off the train.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-160319155428.jpeg)
Thrown off the train by the Railroad Dicks

"All in a day's work," said Fishmouth, who managed to purloin a couple of bottles of California wine from his box car before he disembarked.

   The Bos returned to their camp, caught a little shut-eye and waited for another drag. Newt and Short Stack waited until everyone was snoring and proceeded to rifle through Fishmouth's bindle and scored a bottle of wine.

   Life is what you make of it in the Bottoms.


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on March 16, 2019, 04:22:11 PM
Great story your Honor!   :D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on March 16, 2019, 04:25:09 PM
Quote from: Judge on March 16, 2019, 04:05:08 PM
There is no Saturday Report for today because the wife of the Atlantic and Southern's CEO had her monthly appointments in Mount Dora.  Your reporter spent most of the morning watching U-tube train videos and adding another tale to my list of future publications.  ...

Ah, what my wife calls "Choo-Choo Porn."  (And we know what Justice Potter Stewart said about porn. :-) )

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 16, 2019, 05:02:20 PM
Civilians need to be careful if they wander into the Bottoms.....some really strange people down there.  :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 16, 2019, 05:19:52 PM
Great story Bill. You are really talented telling tall tales.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on March 16, 2019, 09:10:49 PM
Great Story Judge! I'm really enjoying your thread.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on March 16, 2019, 09:28:39 PM
Thanks Bill,
Another wonderful story presented vividly and cleverly.
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 16, 2019, 10:21:41 PM
Bob, Greg, Curt, John, and Paul - Thank you for your kind comments.

Dave - I didn't intend the tale to be "Choo-choo porn."  But I guess writing about dirty bottoms and railroad dicks could be taken the wrong way.  I withhold my opinion about Justice Potter Stewart in deference to the dead.  But thanks for taking the time to reply.  Famous authors wallow in encouragement from loyal fans.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on March 17, 2019, 06:50:10 AM
Another great story Bill.  I really enjoy following along on the journeys that you weave here.  The pictures really add to the whole scene.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on March 17, 2019, 07:47:33 AM

Sorry I missed all the fun. I spent the day riding on the Pennsy.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on March 17, 2019, 10:21:53 AM
Another great tale, especially with the period photos.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on March 17, 2019, 11:24:42 AM
Quote from: Judge on March 16, 2019, 10:21:41 PM
Bob, Greg, Curt, John, and Paul - Thank you for your kind comments.

Dave - I didn't intend the tale to be "Choo-choo porn."  But I guess writing about dirty bottoms and railroad dicks could be taken the wrong way.  I withhold my opinion about Justice Potter Stewart in deference to the dead.  But thanks for taking the time to reply.  Famous authors wallow in encouragement from loyal fans.


I was referring to watching train videos and reading train books, not the subsequent story.   So I move for dismissal of the charges, Your Honor!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 18, 2019, 03:34:09 PM
Dave - Case dismissed without costs, sine die!  Sorry, I "tuck it the wrong way"  Keep following - we venture back into the Midlands next Saturday.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 23, 2019, 03:45:51 PM
   The Saturday Session on the Atlantic & Southern was busy and exciting today.  Your reporter arrived at 0820 hours ready to inspect the completed mainline on the Summit level of the railroad.  The track was in place with nary a rough spot or a kink.  The basics of Ucita Yard were in place and it appears that the yard tracks will be six in number and stretch about 16' in length.  There will be a yard lead, caboose track, and a stub for switchers.  The yard will extend to the South end of the property where a major diesel repair facility will be located.  Your reporter ran an SAL GP7 with 16 cars and a caboose without difficulty and the CEO called out a long freight powered by ACL Purple and Silver F3's. 

The A&S was borrowing a NYC Hudson for testing.  It ran well enough, but its TCS WOW Sound decoder needed volume adjustments.  That is not a problem with WOW Sound.  The decoder's program gives voice instructions and the master volume was increased to an appropriate level in no time.   Greg "Fireball" Demayo arrived on the property about 1030 hours and had a go at running the Hudson around the Midlands.  Then the crew high-tailed it to Smokey Bones for lunch. 

After lunch, the management agreed to allow "Fireball" to run his Hudson up the Ovalix from the Midlands to the Summit at speed step 99.  He said he wanted to see if it would stay on the track.  Your reporter envisioned centrifugal force causing the Hudson to fly into the blue yonder but she tracked exceedingly well.  However, this will be the last time such an experiment is allowed on the A&S..

This week's story is of young people in love.  The young man in the story appears to be driving his father's 1950 Buick Roadmaster. My recollection of the favorite car was the 1957 Chevrolet.  Anyway, I don't remember any kids in my era being as law abiding as these kids.

                                                                                                  LAW ABIDING CITIZENS

The mainline of the Atlantic & Southern passes Barlow's Bar-B-Que and crosses Mosquito Lagoon over a bascule bridge.  It passes Delwin's Fish Camp and approaches the Piney Woods Freight/Passenger station.  It is a whistle stop for passengers and usually the only train that stops there is the Sanlando Local Mixed Train. 

Piney Woods was a New Deal project.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted numerous pine trees in neat rows during 1934, and they have matured into full grown trees.  No one actually lives in Piney Woods, but some "idle folk" have built a still in the woods where they produce "mighty good 180 proof corn squeezins," aged in pine barrels for up to two weeks before being distributed in pint size Mason jars.
   
Late one evening, Officer Eldridge  Poovey, of the Tahope Police Department, was on routine patrol in the vicinity of the Piney Woods freight station.  There had been reports of suspicious activity in the area.  He noticed there was a car parked back up in the woods.  It was well off the road and the interior light was on.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-230319154110.jpeg)
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-230319153845.jpeg)
       
Officer Poovey approached the vehicle out of concern for its occupant's' safety and well-being and noticed there was a young man in the driver's seat reading a Mechanic's Illustrated magazine and a young woman sitting in the back seat filing her fingernails. 

Officer Poovey tapped on the passenger side window.  The driver reached over, rolled down the window, and said, "Yes, Officer, is there something the matter?"  "No," said Poovey, "I was just checking to make sure you were alright.  Do you mind if I ask, what are you doing?" "Well," said the young man, "I am reading this Mechanic's Illustrated magazine. "And the girl?" "Oh, she's filing her nails." 

With this information, Officer Poovey believed further inquiry was in order.  He said to the driver, "Young man, how old are you?" The driver answered, I'm 22."  "And the girl, how old is she?" "Oh," said the young man, looking at his watch, "she'll be 18 in 12 minutes."

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 23, 2019, 04:24:06 PM
The last time......maybe, but the official speed run from the Bottoms to the Summit is still in the offing..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on March 23, 2019, 06:57:02 PM
Another fine report. I'm enjoying your stories Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 23, 2019, 07:01:14 PM
Sounds like a grand time and "Speedball" must have been ecstatic  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on March 23, 2019, 07:57:49 PM
I gotta believe that was the longest 12 minutes of that young man's life.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 24, 2019, 01:38:12 PM
                                                                                                      THE REST OF THE STORY

The young man's name is Terrell (Tater) Cartwright and the girl's name is Peaches.  Peaches is a niece of Luke and Daisey Turner, who live on Eaton's Curve..  (All the "wimmin" young'uns in that family are named after flowers or plants.)  Tater is a promising young man who is employed by the A&S Railroad as a roundhouse mechanic's helper. Peaches, who is slightly cross-eyed, is a cheerleader at Tahope County High School.

Here is a picture of "Tater" working in the A&S Roundhouse.  "Tater" is on his haunches by the low pressure cylinder on the 2-6-6-2, which is A&S Number 7.
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240319132639.jpeg) 

This, of course, is Peaches.
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240319134305.jpeg)



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on March 24, 2019, 05:51:17 PM
Judge you continue to provide great stories. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on March 25, 2019, 07:09:02 AM
I love the latest tale from the A&S!  Keep 'em coming!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 30, 2019, 10:43:10 AM
  The Atlantic & Southern's CEO and the Babe are off property today visiting Tom's older sister in South Carolina.  It's a trip that allows you to enjoy both I-4 and I-95.
There will be a regular session of the A&S management and crew next Saturday.  A&S's 2-6-6-2 will be out of the shop by then and will probably make a revenue run with pulpwood (There's a lot of pulp wood in Florida - its where paper comes from.)
  However, in spite of Tom's absence from the railroad, your reporter has not been idle.

FYI, the A&S is proud to have TCS WOW sound in all steam and diesel locomotives that are in regular service - and that is a bunch of them.  We have been in contact with TCS for the past couple of years, whining about the fact that sound for Baldwin diesels is not available on their products.  NO MORE!  Soon our Sharks and Centipedes will be powered with real Baldwin sound!                                                                                                       

                                                                                                              Happy Days! 
                                                                             TCS WOW Sound now has Baldwin sound on their decoders.

I just learned that Train Control Systems now has decoders that have four different Baldwin prime movers and some Baldwin horns.  I heard the sounds briefly yesterday and I was impressed.  Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the nomenclature of Baldwin prime movers so I don't know which of them are available for, say Sharks, Centipedes, S-12's or V-1000's.  However, I have ordered two decoders (along with two of TCS's new super speakers) for intstallation in my BF-16 Sharks.Below is a web site that has a chart showing the various Baldwin diesels and the types of prime movers they used.  I understand that all of them were maintenance nightmares.  The Sharks, particularly, leaked oil.  Leak or not, they could lug coal hoppers better than the steamers they replaced.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Baldwin_diesel_locomotives

I also found some web sites that have Baldwin diesels, complete with sound. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdSSx6tNtpc (I think this one may have computer enhancement)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpuEPoEIB9I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNhcjDGg2zo

This week's story is one of the triumph of the weak over the strong - Little A&S takes on the big Jacksonville Steamship Company.

                                                                                             THE BRIDGE OVER THE TAHOPE RIVER

   The Tahope River is fed from the mighty St. Johns, which flows north from Florida's Gold Coast to Jacksonville.  The Tahope River branches off of the St. Johns and meanders west into Sanlando.  The earliest railroad bridge across the Tahope River was constructed in 1903.  It was a wooden structure containing many thousands of feet of creosote treated timber and many tons of iron.  Over the years, it became rickety and would not hold the weight of A&S locomotive traffic. Finally, in 1948, the old bridge was replaced with another wooden bridge.
   The citizens of Tahope were happy with their new bridge, but the happiness was not universal.  The bridge passed over the Tahope River at such a height as to preclude the passage of most river traffic in route to Sanlando.  And there was considerable traffic diverted from the St. Johns to the Tahope River in those days.  The traffic included not only steam boats carrying passengers up and down the river from Jacksonville, but also included freighters transporting agricultural products "up Nawth."  Thus, shippers were precluded from using the Tahope River to transfer their products to Jacksonville, and were forced to ship them by rail, using the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.
   Enter the Jacksonville Steamship Company, whose board of directors insisted the Trustees of the Florida Intrastate River Commission abate the bridge as an obstruction to navigation.  The A&S immediately filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court through its attorney, Marvin Bello, seeking to enjoin further interference. 
   While the suit was pending, one of the Steamship Company's ships attempted to pass under the bridge and, not surprisingly, collided with it.  By accident, the ship caught fire and the flames ignited the underside of the wooden bridge.  The bridge was destroyed before the City of Tahope's 1923 firetruck could arrive on the scene and extinguish the blaze.
   The railroad and the steamship company reached a settlement whereby the steamship company would pay for a new steel bridge that would not be a fire hazard, and the A&S agreed to dredge six feet from the river bottom under the bridge, to allow clearance for the company's vessels.  The settlement resulted in the completion of the present bridge in 1950.  The outcome of the case was publicized far and wide, and has been used to this day as a model for Congress to successfully compromise partisan differences. 
    And Marvin Bello became the first citizen in Tahope County to own a Cadillac automobile.

                                         
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-300319104208.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 30, 2019, 06:14:50 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tct855 on March 31, 2019, 03:39:07 PM
Your Honor,
               With an imagination like yours, who needs to hear the facts! (grin)  When it comes to hearing fake news or fake stories, I like your stories because the facts sound so believable and the tone and demeanor are very fiduciary.

That's it, I'm giving up reading my novels and sticking to this thread here on out!  keep your hand on the whistle and pull hard on the throttle Judge.  Thanx Thom...
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 01, 2019, 08:45:39 AM
Ole Marvin is quite the scamp..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on April 01, 2019, 09:36:28 AM
Once again a great story that highlights the progressive and flexible nature of Florida jurisprudence. I wonder if by chance the ship involved was, shall we say, 'dated' but fully insured for this type of untimely end? I suspect that might have been the case though my own dealings with insurance companies is they are even better at getting out of paying then they are at selling the policy to begin with.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 01, 2019, 10:00:16 PM
                                                                                                 The Rest of the Story

While I seldom include a personal note on any of my Saturday missives, I need to celebrate this particular April Fool's Day.  For it was on April Fool's Day, 1969, (fifty years ago) while I was assigned as a staff officer in the Special Forces Headquarters at Ft. Bragg, N.C., that I received a telephone call from the Pentagon in Washington, D. C. , notifying me that I had come down on officer's levy for MACV (Military Advisory Command, Vietnam) and would be proceeding there in October.  Fortunately, my boss, who was the staff Adjutant General, knew the MACV Adjutant General and he arranged for me to be assigned to the General Staff in Saigon.  My year in Vietnam was more interesting than dangerous and, happily, I never had to fire a shot.  Funny, it seems like only yesterday.  But April Fool's Day every year means something special to me and that is why I am telling you.  It is also why, on my current Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report, a lawyer named Marvin Bello managed to get a Steamship Company to settle a dispute by having the City of Tahope dredge six feet of river bottom under a new bridge so the steamships would gain clearance.  Happy April Fool's Day!

And thank all of you who have taken the time to reply to my Saturday Report entries.  I appreciate your comments.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on April 02, 2019, 09:21:11 AM
I'm just waiting for the story that starts, "This is no s**t!"  :-)


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 02, 2019, 09:26:00 AM
Dave you must of been a sailor at some point.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on April 02, 2019, 02:19:35 PM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on April 02, 2019, 09:26:00 AM
Dave you must of been a sailor at some point.
Nope, Army.  But the difference between a fairy tail and a war/sea story is a joint concept - it applies to all Branches of the Service.

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 06, 2019, 05:24:34 PM
The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern met promptly at 0815 hours this morning and discussed a number of matters of interest.  Two new Baldwin prime mover decoders have been received by the A&S and will be installed in the railroad's leased Pensy Sharks.  The new SAL Citrus Scheme E units were received after being refitted with WOW Sound.  They run like a watch.  A&S #7, the 2-6-6-2,  was returned from Ucita Yard after out-shopping and she looks like new.  She hauled a pulpwood train from Sanlando up the Ovalix to the Summit without difficulty, although due to her low drivers, it took a full eighteen minutes to make the trip.  Greg would not like to run this locomotive.  Sufficient speed could not be attained, even at speed step 99, to suit Greg.  Lunch was at Smokey Bones, as usual.  After lunch, an ACL freight powered by an A-B-A set of F3's made the trip from Sanlando yard to the Summit via Piney Woods.  Those ACL diesels are really something else.

Number 7 looks brand new after shopping.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-070419160531.jpeg)

The lead ACL F3

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-060419171829.jpeg)

ACL freight through Piney Woods

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-060419172100.jpeg)

  This week's story is one that proves Murphy's law is alive and well.
                                                                                                            All in a Day's Work

   The workers on the maintenance crew at the A&S Roundhouse are a busy bunch on most days, and the day in question was no exception. 
   The single action air pump on number 1516 needed repair.  The headlight on number 431 needed a new bulb.  The valve gear on number 7 was out of wack and required the front low-pressure cylinder on the engineer's side to be disassembled.  And the airbrake line on number71 needed replacement.  All of this work needed to be completed by noon because the crew was scheduled to work on diesels at the "diesel lubritorium" located south of Bedford Forrest after lunch. 
   Will Fixer, the A&S Railroad's Head of Maintenance, was fit to be tied.  Two of his mechanics had called in sick this morning and he was short on hostlers.  Fortunately, "Tater" Cartwright was present for duty. (Many of the residents of the City of Tahope work for the A&S and most have last names describing medieval occupations.)  "Tater" never missed a day of work and was an up and comer on the maintenance crew. Fixer put him to work disassembling the cylinder on the 2-6-6-2, while the only hostler on duty banked the fires on the other engines spotted in the roundhouse. (See the previous photo of Tater on page 11 working on Number 7.)
   Occasionally, the roundhouse floor becomes so littered with dirt, grease, grime, and metal shavings that someone has to take the time to "sweep up."  So it was today, and Fixer, being short of help, decided to give a day's wages to Short Stack if he would lend a hand.  Short Stack, who was still a little hung over from the wine he swiped from Fishmouth's bindle, wrapped his hands around the handle of the broom Fixer gave him and started sweeping up the debris on the floor and loading it into a barrel. 
   Wouldn't you know it, about that time number 835 limped into the service yard with a broken spring hanger.  She was scheduled to power freight number 48 from Sanlando yard up to Summit at 12:30 so repairing her was a priority.  Unfortunately, all nine of the stalls in the roundhouse were full and replacing a broken spring hanger requires equipment that is not available on the A&S RIP track.
   Fixer looked for a hostler to move number 71 back out of stall number 5, but none was available.  His eyes fell upon Short Stack, who eagerly volunteered to back the engine out of the roundhouse.  Short Stack had been hired as a day laborer in the past and Fixer figured he knew how to back a switcher out of a roundhouse stall. Fixer gave Short Stack the go-ahead and drove to the freight station in Tahope to catch the local mixed train to Sanlando.
   Short Stack was in his glory!  Imagine, giving him the helm of a real live steam locomotive even for the short distance from the roundhouse to the turntable!  Short Stack enthusiastically yanked the whistle cord for three short blasts of the three-chime whistle and set the reverse lever in the back corner.  He cracked the throttle for a wisp of steam.  The engine slowly began moving towards the turntable. 
   The turntable operator, Tony Baker, noticed the engine backing towards him but the turntable was not in position for it to move onto the table.  So, Baker hollered to Short Stack to hold tight where he was until the table was ready.  Short Stack applied the engine brake and got nothing.  The air hose had not been repaired.  Slowly the engine crept back towards the pit and it became apparent that Baker could not get the table in place in time.  The rear truck on the tender dropped into the pit, which stopped the engine's progress. It also blocked number 835 from access to the roundhouse and it blocked any movement of the other eight engines.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-060419172247.jpeg)

   Short Stack, visibly shaken over the mishap, rounded up two other helpers to remedy the situation.  Tom Tanner, the assistant roundhouse foreman, telephoned Will Fixer, who was about to board the Sanlando Local mixed train to supervise the make-up of freight number 48 and somehow substitute another engine for that run if 835 wasn't repaired on time.  Tanner told Fixer that Sort Stack had backed the rear truck of 71's tender into the pit, which made Fixer furious.  Tanner tried to calm the situation by reporting that Short Stack and two other workers were rigging the hand derrick to re-rail the tender.  Fixer boarded the local and proceeded to the station at Sanlando.  He decided to place a call to the roundhouse and find out how things were going.  Tanner reported that the hand derrick was now in the pit.  He suggested that they send for the steam derrick.  At that, the pressure in Fixer's boiler rose to the danger point.  He ordered, "Leave the steam derrick where it is.  No more room in the pit!" 
   Short Stack managed to hike it back to the Bottoms before Fixer returned on the local, thereby avoiding any unpleasantness.  And number 71 was back in the roundhouse for completion of the repairs to its air line by the next morning.  It's all in a day's work.   

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 06, 2019, 06:13:10 PM
Another great story Bill about "A day in the life"
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on April 06, 2019, 06:25:11 PM
Yepper, twas a busy day all around the roundhouse and on the A&S RR.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on April 06, 2019, 10:35:48 PM
Thanks for the explanation Judge.
When I first saw the photo, I suspected a well known Florida speed freak had attempted an Evil Knievel type jump over the turntable pit. Aiming to put the loco in the proper stall with the brakes fully applied in mid air, he failed to allow for a sudden cross wind, and, as they say, the rest is history.
I like your version better. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 07, 2019, 08:59:20 AM
Hey Bill.....Ole' No. 7 might be fast, but she sure can pull a bunch of timber.....great steamer.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 07, 2019, 09:01:30 AM
Quote from: BandOGuy on April 06, 2019, 10:35:48 PM
Thanks for the explanation Judge.
When I first saw the photo, I suspected a well known Florida speed freak had attempted an Evil Knievel type jump over the turntable pit. Aiming to put the loco in the proper stall with the brakes fully applied in mid air, he failed to allow for a sudden cross wind, and, as they say, the rest is history.
I like your version better. Thanks for keeping us informed.


Not in this life with any A&S engine BandOGuy.....I have never had a Death Wish.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: cuse on April 07, 2019, 09:34:59 AM
I've missed a lot of the recent SBG meets since I moved to the coast...The Judge's accounts here might be just as good as the real thing (minus the BBQ)  ;D


John
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 07, 2019, 04:12:55 PM
I have received a suggestion that the paint job on Number 7 is blue in color instead of black.  It must have been old Kodachrome film that decayed before developing.  I have corrected the color (sort of). 

Thanks for the comments.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on April 07, 2019, 04:20:05 PM
Quote from: Judge on April 07, 2019, 04:12:55 PM
I have received a suggestion that the paint job on Number 7 is blue in color instead of black.  It must have been old Kodachrome film that decayed before developing.  I have corrected the color (sort of). 

Thanks for the comments.



Judge,


That's interesting.  I thought the engine was blue because it reflected the state that Greg has been in ever since he found out that #7 was his permanent engine assignment by A&S management to solve his "need for speed".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 07, 2019, 09:51:14 PM
Jerry - A&S management is considering limiting Greg to speed step 25 for all A&S locomotives, owned or leased.  This will allow him to B. Y. O. L. (bring your own loco) if he wants to speed.  It's on the agenda for next Saturday morning. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 08, 2019, 08:20:12 AM
Quote from: Judge on April 07, 2019, 09:51:14 PM
Jerry - A&S management is considering limiting Greg to speed step 25 for all A&S locomotives, owned or leased.  This will allow him to B. Y. O. L. (bring your own loco) if he wants to speed.  It's on the agenda for next Saturday morning.


25.....that's a bit drastic, isn't it.....how about 45?  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on April 08, 2019, 12:39:16 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on April 08, 2019, 08:20:12 AM
Quote from: Judge on April 07, 2019, 09:51:14 PM
Jerry - A&S management is considering limiting Greg to speed step 25 for all A&S locomotives, owned or leased.  This will allow him to B. Y. O. L. (bring your own loco) if he wants to speed.  It's on the agenda for next Saturday morning.


25.....that's a bit drastic, isn't it.....how about 45?  ;)

Don't worry.  You should be able to adjust the speed tables in the decoder to make 25 max out the engine.   ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 09, 2019, 10:46:11 AM
Quote from: ReadingBob on April 08, 2019, 12:39:16 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on April 08, 2019, 08:20:12 AM
Quote from: Judge on April 07, 2019, 09:51:14 PM
Jerry - A&S management is considering limiting Greg to speed step 25 for all A&S locomotives, owned or leased.  This will allow him to B. Y. O. L. (bring your own loco) if he wants to speed.  It's on the agenda for next Saturday morning.


25.....that's a bit drastic, isn't it.....how about 45?  ;)

Don't worry.  You should be able to adjust the speed tables in the decoder to make 25 max out the engine.   ;D ;D ;D


Great lateral thinking.....thanks Bob.  8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on April 10, 2019, 01:05:37 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on April 09, 2019, 10:46:11 AM
Quote from: ReadingBob on April 08, 2019, 12:39:16 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on April 08, 2019, 08:20:12 AM
Quote from: Judge on April 07, 2019, 09:51:14 PM
Jerry - A&S management is considering limiting Greg to speed step 25 for all A&S locomotives, owned or leased.  This will allow him to B. Y. O. L. (bring your own loco) if he wants to speed.  It's on the agenda for next Saturday morning.


25.....that's a bit drastic, isn't it.....how about 45?  ;)

Don't worry.  You should be able to adjust the speed tables in the decoder to make 25 max out the engine.   ;D ;D ;D


Great lateral thinking.....thanks Bob.  8) 8) 8)

OH, OH.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 13, 2019, 04:22:58 PM
4-13-19
The Saturday session of the A&S began on time a little before 0830 hours.  Oh! Happy Days!  The Baldwin Sharks are back from being refitted with TCS WOW Sound Baldwin decoders!  They also have the new CTS bass enhanced speakers, which are an improvement over the previous models.  The Sharks were put through their paces powering a 21 car coal hopper train with a Pennsy Mae West Caboose.  The Sharks sounded like they were going to self destruct any second, just like the prototypes, but they did not leak oil, at least not as far as we can tell.  The Sharks rose up the Ovalix from the Bottoms without incident at speed step 25, notch 3, and made a tour of the Midlands, including the City of Tahope and the steam engine facility.  Then the Sharks tackled the steady 15 grade from the Midlands to the Summit without incident. 

Curt Webb and Greg Demayo arrived on the property around 10:00 a.m. Speedball Greg wanted to run the sharks but had trouble holding them to lugging speed.  We took lunch at Smokey Bones as usual .  We continued to run the Sharks and did a little switching with #7.  [We broke for lunch at Smokey Bones, as usual.  After lunch, the new SAL E6 A-B lash-up took some turns around Summit.  The Citrus Scheme paint job is really stunning!  It was not rerouted down to the midlands for fear of collision with the Sharks, which were by now being run at speed step 50 by Greg.

                                                                                                        This Week's Story

A number of the higher paying jobs on the Atlantic & Southern, such as engineers, foremen, master mechanics and superintendents, are held by folks of Irish decent who migrated to Florida from railroads in New England and the Mid-West.  They are hard-working, hard-drinking sorts who provide the kind of labor a railroad must have to be a first-class operation. We will get a glimpse of these characters from time to time, beginning with this week's story of Irish close friendship and brotherhood.  It involves a bottle of "Fine Irish Whiskey," which, I'm told by Dr. Google, goes for up to $1100.00 a bottle.            

                                                                                       The Bottle of Fine Irish Whiskey

     Well, the Track Maintenance Foreman, Patrick O'Malley and his pal, Michael O'Toole, the Assistant Superintendent of Civil Engineering, had a busy week on the Atlantic & Southern.

    The gandy dancers laid a lot of track and installed a number of switches in the freight yard at the Summit.  Being Irish, they drank some, and when work was finally over on Friday afternoon, O'Malley suggested the two of them repair to the pub located in the downtown Tahope.
 
    Once they arrived at the pub, they ordered two pints of "black and tan" (a mixture of Guiness Stout and Bass Ale) and proceeded to relax.  They drank one, then two, and lost count of the number of pints they consumed.  As the bartender was about to close the place, O'Toole put his arm around his buddy's shoulder and said, "O'Malley, yuv ben a fine friend of mine all these years and I have a proposition to make ye.  Let's you and me go and buy a bottle of fine Irish whiskey and whichever one of us dies first, the other one will celebrate the passing of the dear departed by pouring the whiskey over his grave."  "Good idea," said O'Malley, and they made the purchase.
   As luck would have it, O'Malley passed away not long after the agreement was made.  O'Toole waited until the first full moon after O'Malley's funeral and approached the gravesite, which was covered with fresh grass.  He pulled out the bottle of fine Irish whiskey from his coat pocket, removed the cork and said, "Ah, Pattie, me darlin', I'm here to fulfill the pledge we made some weeks ago, and I'm going to pour this bottle of fine Irish whiskey over your grave.  But Pattie, I hope ye don't mind if I run it through me kidneys first."

                                                                      (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-130419161207.jpeg)


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 13, 2019, 04:37:42 PM
Harrumph......I thought I was well behaved today, but do I get credit for doing 10 street running in Tahope or keeping it at 15 around the roundhouse and thru the backside of town, No.....I get nailed for a short speed burst past that darn ole' farm. I didn't even go for a  record run up the Ovlix..... :'( :'( :'( ::) ::) :o :( :( :( .....pass the single malt.....none of that Irish stuff. ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on April 13, 2019, 06:05:06 PM
Hmm, I must have not been paying attention as I thought Greg only got the throttle up to 35 around PERKINS FARM!

As far as the O'Toole guy, I may have to reconsider his employment status.

The A&S did acquire three new ACL hoppers this fine day.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 13, 2019, 07:48:25 PM
Now that's funny. Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on April 14, 2019, 12:04:18 PM
Outstanding story Bill.  I hope Taphope never runs out of characters.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 20, 2019, 03:56:51 PM
Disclaimer - I set the photos for thumbnail this week by mistake.  Seems like I have a new problem with photos every week.  Sorrry.  Just click on them and they will grow in size - I hope.

The weekly train session of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad was a day early.  Saturday is the Babe's day for her monthly trip to Mt. Dora.  The session was productive.  The CEO's son-in-law visited and entertained us with his stories of youth and model airplanes.  Then we ran trains.  The WOW Sound Sharks made a tour of the railroad and were eventually spotted in the Bottoms.  The ACL P5A 1559 powered an eight car passenger train with Pullman heavy weights behind it.  This train, named the Florida Special, is diverted from its usual route through Tahope County due to yesterday's bad weather.  Your reporter decided to "fiddle" with the roundhouse turntable and determined that the AB&C 0-8-0, number 71, was acting sluggish.  The crew repaired to lunch at Smokey Bones and decided to investigate 71's problem upon return.  The loco was spotted on the program track where it was pronounced "dead."  Not to be defeated, we spotted it on the loop that goes around the roundhouse and it came alive.  Must be those Saturday gremlins or, more likely, it just takes time to get a cold engine up to steam.   

This week's story focuses on Perkins Farm.  The story introduces the reader to farm life in Central Florida in the early 1950's and provides a little opportunity for introduction to Florida Cracker cuisine.  All of the Perkins kin have names that start with "P."

                                                                                                             PERKINS FARM

  Perkins Farm is located South of Piney Woods and across the Tahope River on the East side of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/thumb_684-200419161712.jpeg) (http://www.modelersforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=38698)
This is a photo of the sleepy Tahope River.  Watch out for the gators!  They lurk under water.

  Farmer Patrick Perkins acquired the farm from his father, Percy Perkins, who bought the farm in 1905 when the Atlantic & Southern was just a short line.  Grandpa Percy still lives on the farm with the family.  The 300-acre farm has extensive orange groves and about 100 acres set aside for raising cattle.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/thumb_684-200419153517.jpeg) (http://www.modelersforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=38693)
Looks like the oranges are ready for picking.  Local labor pitches in at pickin' time.


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/thumb_684-200419155030.jpeg) (http://www.modelersforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=38695)
This view shows the proximity of the A&S mainline to the Perkins farm. 


  Farmer Perkins is married to Paula Dean Perkins, who is famous for her contributions to the cooking contest each year at the Tahope County Fair. She likes to serve "Good Old Florida Cracker Food," such as grits, swamp cabbage, fried soft shell crabs, turtle stew, and gator tail. Local wild duck, venison, and quail are also popular on her menu.  Stewed okra and tomatoes and corn on the cob are the preferred vegetables. That's good eatin'!
  Paula has a stand of cabbage palms growing behind the farmhouse.  The Florida Sable Palm has an edible "heart" that can be harvested, chopped, and fried (or stewed) with bacon, onions, and almost any other vegetable.  In fine restaurants "up Nawth" they call it "hearts of palm" and put it uncooked in salad.  But to Florida Crackers, it is plain old swamp cabbage and it is best served, like Paula serves it, fried or stewed.  The heart of a Florida Palmetto can be substituted for the heart of a Sabal Palm.  (More about swamp cabbage later.)
  The Perkins have three children:  Peter Perkins, age 16, Perry Perkins, age 14, and Patricia Perkins, age 12.  Patricia is called "Fatty Patty" by all who know her.
Pete and Perry "help out" their father with the chores on the farm.  They arise before sunup every day and put in three hours before breakfast, which their mother serves promptly at 7:30 a.m. during the week and 8:00 a.m. on the weekends.  Breakfast consists of orange juice, eggs, bacon, pork sausage, grits, and biscuits with orange blossom honey.  Sometimes fried catfish is substituted for the pork sausage.  Pete picks the oranges from the nearby orange grove and Perry squeezes the juice into a quart size jug.
  Fatty Patty is of the age when most young girls start to become a discipline problem.  She is supposed to help her mother with the cooking and cleaning but she has become extremely lazy and has to be "spoken to."  She whines a lot.  (The photograph shows Fatty Pattie sitting on her lazy patootie at the edge of the front porch, while being scolded by her grandfather, Percy Perkins, for not bringing in the laundry before the ACL afternoon freight stormed by, spewing boiler water and coal soot all over creation.)
 
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/thumb_684-200419154705.jpeg) (http://www.modelersforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=38694)
Grandpa is giving Fatty Patty a piece of his mind.  Farmer Perkins is sitting on the porch and Paula Deen Perkins is assisting Grandpa.  "If'n you won't even sweep the porch, there'll be no strawberry cream pie for desert."

  The children board the school bus promptly at 8:00 a.m. each day and travel the short distance to their schools in the City of Tahope.
There are more chores in store when the children get home each evening.  Fatty Patty has to help Paula fix "suppa" shelling peas, shucking corn, or going to the garden to pick okra and tomatoes.  She does these chores under great protest.  "Aw, Ma, do I have to?"  Usually, she loses her privilege to play her Victrola after "suppa" when she misbehaves. 
  Farmer Perkins has a couple of helpers who live on the farm, whose names are Tom and Vida.  Vida helps Paula with the cooking and cleaning.  Tom runs the tractor in the orange grove and helps Farmer Perkins tend to the fences and the cow pasture.  They live in a shack located back in the woods on the east edge of the farm.
On the surface, all appears to be tranquil on Perkins Farm.  But farming is a constant struggle getting crops and cattle to market and making ends meet.  A drop in the price of beef or a sudden hard freeze can put Farmer Perkins on hard times.
  Saturdays are the highlight of the week.  On Saturday mornings, Farmer Perkins loads the whole family in the pick-up and heads for downtown Tahope.  The family stops by the local department store (a new addition to Tahope) and the hardware store.  Lunch is served in the local diner and the kids go to a movie after lunch.  This week's selection at the movie theater is Walt Disney's Song of the South. The grown-ups stop by the public library and check out the latest publications to read during the hour of down time they spend each evening before going to bed.  (Television, is a new invention and no one in Tahope County has a television set.  The closest TV station is in Jacksonville and its range is far short of Central Florida.)

                                                                                             Paula Dean Perkins' Swamp Cabbage

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/thumb_684-200419155311.jpeg) (http://www.modelersforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=38696)
Sabal Palm

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/thumb_684-200419155421.jpeg) (http://www.modelersforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=38697)
Florida Palmetto

   From a palm and pine thicket at the back of Perkins Farm in Tahope County comes the sound of a machete. Farmer Perkins is there amidst the smoke and the mosquitoes--with sweat dripping off the end of his nose.
He has just chopped down a 5-foot Sabal palm tree, which lies at his feet, and his machete is now ripping through a segment near the top of the tree just below the leaves.
  He tears back the remaining stiff outer segments until a shimmering core is exposed. He now holds its ivory white heart in his hand.  That's the tender part and it's sweet and edible.
  The next step is cooking the swamp cabbage. Local recipes tend to be of the ''add a little of this, enough of that and cook it until it`s done'' variety.
Paula Dean Perkins doesn't mind sharing her basic recipe for swamp cabbage, but she didn`t want to take credit for it.
   ''It belongs to the people of Florida,'' she said.
The tree selected for eating shouldn`t be too big, nor should it grow too near the water or the heart will be bitter.
  "Clean it right away and keep it in cold water until you`re ready to cook it or the dish will turn green instead of being white as it should be," Paula warned.
Fry some hickory smoked bacon or fatback in a pot, then brown chopped onions in the fat. Put in the swamp cabbage, broken into bite-sized pieces, and stir it awhile until it is just soft. Add water until it`s level in the pot with the swamp cabbage. Bring the water to a boil and cook the swamp cabbage until it`s tender. 
  Cook it too long and it will be a mess.   
  When serving, some people add a little Worcestershire sauce and a dash of Tabasco.
Raw swamp cabbage is appreciated by some of Florida's more uppity citizens.  It goes great with lettuce and tomato salads. Onions and green olives add flavor and pimento strips add color.  Your choice of salad dressing.


Here is Paula Dean Perkins' recipe for swamp cabbage (Hearts of Palm to y'all Yankees.)
SWAMP CABBAGE
Six servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 3 to 4 hours
6 slices smoked bacon or fatback (fatback preferred)
Onions
1 cup water
Small head swamp cabbage (cut out tender part inside the palm) or 2 cans hearts of palm
Salt and pepper to taste. 

1. Fry bacon until crisp in frying pan; drain and retain grease.
2.  Add swamp cabbage and fry until just soft.
3. Crumble the fried bacon and add to a saucepan along with bacon grease.   Simmer, covered, until tender. (Cooking time will be less if using canned hearts of palm.) Add water as needed -- Salt and pepper to taste.
Another authentic Florida recipe for Swamp Cabbage Stew is found at:
https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Swamp-Cabbage-Stew
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 20, 2019, 04:07:54 PM
Neat background on the Perkin's clan Bill.....it's a good thing dinners only a couple of hours off.....all those great dishes makes a body hungry.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on April 20, 2019, 05:55:00 PM
That Patty is a sturdy girl, lots of "sturd".

(Yinzers of a certain age know from whom I stole that quote!)

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 20, 2019, 09:26:19 PM
Great story Bill. You have a great imagination.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on April 21, 2019, 09:32:44 AM
Another great story.  I hope those Perkin's folks know that bacon is bad for 'em.  So's eggs.  Heck, nothing's good for ya' these days.  :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on April 21, 2019, 06:54:31 PM
I look forward to your stories each week. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on April 22, 2019, 07:26:33 AM
Another fantastic report Judge!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on April 22, 2019, 12:42:22 PM
Quote from: ReadingBob on April 21, 2019, 09:32:44 AM
Another great story.  I hope those Perkin's folks know that bacon is bad for 'em.  So's eggs.  Heck, nothing's good for ya' these days.  :o

What Bob said.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 24, 2019, 10:24:11 PM
I want to thank all of you who took the time to make comments about my Saturday Report.  I also want to thank the folks who took the time to view it.  There were over 200 of you this week.

I received my copy of RMC this month and was surprised to see the monthly Dremel award go to kit bashing an old Athern side window caboose to more closely resemble an NC&StL caboose.  Then I read the copy that accompanied the article.  It referred to the NC&StL as the North Carolina and St. Louis.  Now that slip really got to me.  For those who don't know the fantastic history of the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis RR, I should tell you it went from Atlanta through Chattanooga and Nashville to Memphis.  It never came close to North Carolina, or St. Louis for that matter.  I emailed the editor of RMC and pointed out the error.  Do you believe it, he emailed me back and said it was the biggest goof the magazine has ever made.  I replied that if that was his biggest goof he should thank his lucky stars.  I wish my biggest goof was something like that.  I just hope the guy who kitbashed the caboose didn't think he got the name right.  North Carolina indeed!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 27, 2019, 05:48:33 PM
ATLANTIC & SOUTHERN SATURDAY REPORT 4-27-19

The board of Directors of the A&S met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  All board members were present, including Tom, the CEO and your reporter, who is the ticket agent.

Much progress was reported for the week.  The Summit is now a separate power district.  The ACL Champion, with a lash-up of A-B-A E7's and eleven cars was summoned from the Bottoms to traverse the track on the Summit and it arrived without a hitch.  The SAL freight spotted on the Summit did a turn or two.  Bob "Reading Bob" Butts arrive around 10:00.  Greg DeMayo arrived soon thereafter.  Meanwhile, #7 was fired up for a turn around the Midlands pulling a pulpwood train. Then the crew went to lunch at Smokey Bones.  After lunch, there was a general discussion and Greg ran the SAL freight.  He was stopped for speeding but was let off with a stern warning.  The group broke up about 1:45 p.m. without incident.

This week's story is about one of the most important members of a passenger train crew, at least from the 1870's until the 1950's  - The Pullman Porter

                                                                                                PULLMAN PORTERS IN THE 1950'S.

   The Pullman Company had stringent requirements for its employees.  In the segregated South (and even in the Nawth) of the 1950's it was difficult for black folks to get a job that paid  above minimum wage and did not involve manual labor.  Pullman offered a path to at least modest success and hired black men as porters, chefs, and waiters on the trains.  Competition for these jobs was fierce and only the applicants that met Pullman's high standards were hired.  Pullman claimed porters were trained to be "the perfect servants" They certainly had ability to get along with difficult guests and possessed the patience of Job.  Some of the porters went on to work for luxury hotels and one porter, J. W. Mayes, served President William McKinley in his sleeping car and then accompanied him to the White House where he served eight presidents over four decades.
   Porters had a variety of duties including welcoming their passengers, stowing their luggage, seeing to their whims, preparing their beds in the evening, and even shining their shoes.

                                                                   (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-280419122340.jpeg)


   This photo, taken about 1915, could be representative of this scene for the next 50 years.  As Lucius Bebee pointed out, the photograph shows the little tot in the white hat "patently doesn't want to go.  The porter already hates his passengers, and the woman on the steps is getting ready to file complaints before the train moves out of the depot."  Later, after Madison Avenue gets involved, "Mad delight will suffuse the faces of all concerned and Junior, from Central Casting, will be all Buster Brown smiles."

                                                                     (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-280419122743.jpeg)

   Trains, like the Florida Special, arrived at their destination in several identical sections during "the season" and rivaled the finest passenger transportation, even surpassing the Twentieth Centrury Limited.  Here, one of ACL's dual service Pacifics, a P5B, number 1740, does the honors prior to the power switch to FEC north of Jacksonville.

                                                                        (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-280419123018.jpeg)

   Naturally, there was a kind of fraternity of Pullman car porters.  Along with the comradery, there came the lore.  There is just something about travel by train that calls for adventure.  Here is Porter A. B. Jackson.  A fine example of the kind of man passengers expected to provide Pullman's best service.

   There were still some 14-section heavy weight passenger cars on the rails in the early 1950's and the porters called them "battleships."  Those attentive souls who have read the tale involving the cost of the uppers as compared to the lowers on p. 2 have some understanding of what it was like to spend the night in a section.  The accommodations were comfortable enough once the passenger learned to dress in confined space and accepted a green curtain as a privacy wall.  The only place for carry-on luggage was under the seats of the lower berth.  Personal belongings could be stored in a net that was stretched across the window of the section. The porter fixed a sheet of fabric over the window in pre-air-conditioning days to keep out the dust, soot, and coal dust.  Ladies and Gents bathrooms were located at the opposite ends of the car and could be crowded in the mornings.  Toilets flushed directly onto the tracks and a sign prohibiting flushing while the train was in the station were prominently displayed.

                                                               (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-280419124140.jpeg)

    But it was the porter who was assigned to a "battleship" that had the time of it.  Thirteen of the fourteen sections were assigned to passengers which gave the car porter twenty-six berths to make up and tear down each evening while his passengers were having dinner. (The fourteenth section was reserved for the porter and one of the men assigned to the dining room staff.)  Pullman's standards on how the berths were to be made were exacting and inspections were frequent.
   The most famous porter on the Atlantic Coast Line was a man named Daddy Joe.  Daddy Joe was one of the only porters from the Orlando area and, in fact, he grew up in Tahope County.  He was nearly seven feet tall and as black as night.  His arms were so long he could stand in the center aisle and open uppers on either side at the same time.  Then he could make up the berths simultaneously.  He was so fast when he walked down the aisle of a battleship that the sound of the uppers being lowered sounded like a kid raking a picket fence with a stick of pine wood.  He would repeat the feat on his way back and accomplish the whole task in less than five minutes. 
    Daddy Joe was always the master of his situation.  Once, in the 1930's a band of robbers tried to board Daddy Joe's train during a water stop.  Daddy Joe got onto the roof of his sleeper and held them off with his oratory until he could placate them with Pullman blankets and a quart of bourbon.  For that he received an extra week's pay and a plaque commemorating his heroic resistance to armed intruders. 
    No one interviewed here had actually met Daddy Joe, but many claimed to have known of him.  He is said to have died in 1943 in an ACL train wreck in North Carolina, in ACL service for over 40 years.
                                                            (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-280419124355.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 27, 2019, 06:48:27 PM
Another great story Bill. I wish I could of made it today.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on April 27, 2019, 07:27:41 PM
Thanks Bill another great Saturday Report from the A&S ...   And a toast this evening to Daddy Joe ...
All the best,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on April 28, 2019, 06:23:26 AM
Thanks for weaving the tale of the Pullman Porters Bill.  Always a treat reading your reports. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 28, 2019, 09:35:55 AM
A good day was had by all.....Bill, I wasn't speeding, the dispatcher said that the reefers had a lot of valuable product that had to get to market without delay.....I did not dawdle.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 28, 2019, 12:57:13 PM
Followers of the Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report -
I am pleased to announce the photos for this week's report have been posted.  Once again it was my fault.  Whatever happened to "copy and paste?"  Sorrry for the inconvenience.

BTW, "Daddy Joe" was as much of a mythological character in the world of Pullman Porters as Paul Bunyon was to the loggers of the Northwest. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 04, 2019, 05:50:11 PM
SATURDAY REPORT DELAYED DUE TO LIGHTNING STORM.  TRY SUNDAY AFTER NOON.  SORRY ABOUT THAT! 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Oldguy on May 04, 2019, 09:24:54 PM
Another round of great stories.
In downtown Kansas City, MO, the waiters at the Savoy Grill were ex-pullman porters.  There service was always perfect.
The old Kansas Model Railroad Club was in the Union Station on the 6th or 7th floor (been awhile ago) and used to be a pullman porter dormitory.  The bathroom walls and showers were all marble.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 05, 2019, 12:43:04 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report May 4, 2019.

Yesterday, your Reporter was preparing this report when one of those Florida summer thunder storms suddenly came upon this location. (Central Florida is the lightning capital of the nation.) A lightning strike was so close it sounded like a howitzer going off.  Loss of internet and the burglar alarm system was the only noticeable damage.  Unfortunately, by the time internet was restored it was time to attend to my wife and her sister, who is visiting for an entire week.  This morning I was able to get my router back in service and am now submitting the Saturday Report.
 
   The Saturday morning meeting of the Board of Directors of the A&S Railroad began on time, but was interrupted by visitors related to the CEO.  After they cleared out, your Reporter marveled at the hand-made 30º crossover manufactured this week.  It is to be installed, hopefully this week, and that will go a long way towards completing the track plan for the Summit. 
   The ACL Champion received major maintenance this past week.  The trucks on each of the cars were disassembled and cleaned and a few inferior couplers were replaced.  Performance was noticeably improved.  However, even with the broad curves provided by the A&S civil engineers, backing 85' passenger cars is still a problem.  The solution may be to switch our couplers for a slightly longer shank.  That will be tried this week.
   An electrical problem occurred when the locomotives exited the reversing loop at the Summit.  This problem was 99% solved by connecting feeder wires and will be completely solved when additional feeders are dropped.
   Lunch was at Smokey Bones and we got to split a free desert because it is the week of your Reporter's birthday.  Many, many calories!  Good thing we wear overalls.
   After lunch, we tried running steam engines.  Overland Models made a brass ACL 4-8-4 back in the 70's and we are unlucky enough to own two of them.  They originally cost $190.00.  They weren't worth that then and they aren't worth that now.  They will probably be assigned to the display case, at least for now.

                                                                                                          THIS WEEK'S STORY

   The story this week is a little different.  It is a history lesson involving the A&S and the war of 1861-1865. 

   I had an old military school buddy from Vicksburg, Mississippi who died recently from complications with diabetes.  Lamar McMillan was a family doctor in Vicksburg, and a Civil War Historian.  He knew more about the 1861-1865 War than anyone I've ever known.  He also had a great sense of humor and knew how to put a spin on historical facts. Lamar would call them "alternative facts," but he didn't invent that term.  Anyway, here is Lamar's version of that war as retold by Tahope Citizens, whose ancestors worked for the A&S in the 1860's. 

                                                                                                               DIXIE DAYS

   The Atlantic & Southern was incorporated by the Florida Legislature in 1859.  Originally, the line ran from the St. Johns River in Mosquito County down to Tahope.  The main source of revenue came from cargo transported by the river boats that traveled up and down the river to and from Jacksonville.  Life was tranquil, considering Florida was still mostly frontier. All of that changed on January 10, 1861, when Florida became the third state to secede from the Union to join the Confederate States of America.  Florida, and the other Confederate States wanted the separation to be amicable, but it was not to be. 
   On April 12, 1861, in response to President Lincoln's claim that the Confederate States were in a state of rebellion, which was untrue, and his call for federal forces to put down the supposed rebellion, the Confederate State of South Carolina, launched a successful "first shot strategy" by clearing federal troops from Fort Sumter, which was located in Charleston Harbor. 
   Lincoln's response was to launch an invasion, designed to attack and destroy a peaceful, neighboring nation that only went to war to defend its independence in the "War of Northern Aggression."  The Confederate States lost their independence and the lives of many southern patriots when they resisted the unprovoked invasion and attack on their property. 
   Lincoln and his cronies called it and "The War Between the States" or "The Civil War," which is all untrue.  The "states" had separated into two separate countries before hostilities began so there were no states to have a war between.  Nor was the war "Civil." Lives and property were ruthlessly and unnecessarily lost.  This war was instigated from day one by the desire of President Lincoln to gain power and control over Dixie and her money. The North wanted to control the tax revenue derived from Southern cotton, which in those days amounted to over two thirds of the federal budget.
   Many sons of farmers and ranchers in Tahope County fought valiantly in Florida's 5th Confederate Volunteer Infantry Regiment, commanded by Brig. Gen. Benjamin Beauregard Benton, until the night they drove Old Dixie down."  Fortunately, the 5th Infantry had no casualties because the soldiers had no bullets due to Quartermaster oversight.  No portraits of General Benton exist, but his statue of was erected in front of the Tahope County Courthouse to memorialize the 5th Infantry Regiment's exploits, and no one seeks to remove it.

                                                      (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-050519123406.jpeg)
                      This is the only known photograph of General Benton.  Unfortunately, he was standing directly behind General Lee and his likeness is not shown.

   Today, the people of Tahope County remain peaceful and dutifully swear allegiance to the United States.  But there are a few who drive pick-up trucks flying the Confederate Battle Flag, chew tobacco, and long for independence from government intrusion in their lives.  These people are tolerated, even though they don't understand that the reason they are tolerated lies in the same freedom we all enjoy.  Yee-Ha! 

P.S.  The following U. S, Army military installations are named after Confederate generals:

Camp Beauregard, La. - Louisiana National Guard
Ft. Benning, Ga. - Home of the Infantry School, Armor School, and Airborne School
Ft. Bragg, N.C. - !8th Airborne Corps and Ft. Bragg
Ft. Gordon, Ga.- Home of the Signal Corps
Ft. A. P. Hill, Va.  - Army Training Center
Ft. Hood, Tx  - Armor
Ft. Lee, Va. - Quartermaster
Ft. Pickett, Va. - Virginia National Guard
Ft. Polk, La. - Army Readiness Training Center
Ft. Rucker, Ala. - Army Aviation

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on May 05, 2019, 02:12:36 PM
Great report judge, as usual.
I attended college in Kentucky. In the history department, there was of courses a class entitled "History of the South". My sophomore year, there was a question on the final exam, "Discuss the largest contribution to the economic recovery of the south during or after the "Civil War". My fraternity brother, Herschel Cave received an A for the semester by answering, that "the greatest contribution to the economic recovery of the South after the war came when General Sherman ran out of matches during his march  to the sea".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 05, 2019, 02:50:27 PM
In Dixie Land where I was born in, early on a frosty mornin',Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land.....
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 05, 2019, 05:03:53 PM
Very nice Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on May 06, 2019, 11:14:21 AM
Notice in the portrait, all are the same height. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on May 06, 2019, 01:18:27 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on May 05, 2019, 02:50:27 PM
In Dixie Land where I was born in, early on a frosty mornin',Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land.....

Every body "look away" when Greg is at the Throttle. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 11, 2019, 05:16:40 PM
Saturday Report - May 11, 2019.
The Directors of the A&S Railroad met at 0830 hours and tested the new hand crafted 30 degree crossover that was installed since the last report. "Smooth as glass," said your reporter as the ACL Champion clattered over the diamond.  Unfortunately, backing the Champ was not as easy as proceeding forward.  Derailments plagued the section foreman, who suggested a change of couplers.  The change was made in short order and there was no more difficulty.  We wondered out loud why we hadn't changed the couplers 10 years ago.  Better late than never I suppose.

Greg DeMayo arrived on the property with a New York Central Hudson.  We hitched it up to a freight and gave it a run.  DeMayo was on his best behavior and allowed his freight to follow at a respectful distance behind the Champion around the Summit.

Lunch at Smokey Bones, as usual.

Expect some track to be laid in the Summit yard this week.

This week's story involves a young man, down on his luck, who doesn't know to appreciate a good thing when he has it.

                                                                                                      Working on the Champ

   The Atlantic & Southern does not run any passenger trains.  It's sole piece of passenger equipment is an ancient Pullman solarium car, which is spotted on a stub track south of Tahope and reserved for the use of politicians, who sometimes gather there for a game of chance and some backroom deals involving the lives and property of local citizens.  Occasionally, the car is attached to a passenger train, so it can be used to transport the same politicians to Jacksonville to watch the annual Florida-Georgia football game in the Gator Bowl. 
   The citizens of Tahope catch the local mixed train to Sanlando if they wish to embark on a journey on one of the many passenger trains that frequent the area at different times of the year, including ACL's Champion, which has luxury accomodations, including fine dining, and is staffed by only the most skilled and seasoned conductors, porters, and dining room personnel.
It is 1950 and "The Champ" is powered by EMD E units, usually in an A-B-A configuration.  The train has a dining car owned by Pullman named Orlando, which seats 36 comfortably.  The car is nearly new, having been purchased after the war.  The staff includes the head steward, Mr. Butler, the head chef, an assistant chef, four waiters and a dishwasher. 
   One day in May, The Champ pulled into Sanlando loaded with passengers headed for Miami and St. Petersburg (The Champ splits in half south of Orlando at Auburndale, with half the train heading to Miami and the other half heading to St. Petersburg). Turns out, Mr. Butler had to put the dishwasher off the train due to illness.  A replacement was needed because it was time for lunch to be served. 
   Mr. Butler checked with the station agent to see if he could recommend a local replacement to wash dishes, but the station agent did not know of anyone who would fit the exacting standards required to work on The Champ.  That is when Mr. Butler noticed a short, unkept soul reclining on a bench near the station entrance, who appeared to be sleeping.
   Mr. Butler tapped him on the foot.  The young man appeared to be quite startled but was together enough to inquire for the reason his sleep was disturbed by a stranger.  "I am Mr. Butler, the head steward of The Champion" the stranger said, "and I need a temporary dishwasher to help with my train.  I can pay $ 20.00 a day plus meals and the use of a berth in a section."  "You got your man," said the benchwarmer. "My name is Donny, but my friends call me Short Stack."   
   With that, Mr. Butler herded Short Stack into the diner and instructed one of the waiters to get him cleaned up and dressed for business.  Now, Short Stack's looks and his general demeanor did not improve with the starched white uniform the waiter provided him, but his self esteem was positively affected. This was the most prestigious job he ever had.
   The Assistant Chef showed Short Stack the side sink and instructed him on his dishwashing duties.  Fortunately, the china selected by Pullman for use on The Champion was heavy duty so no matter how many times Short Stack let a dish or cup slip through his soapy fingers, minimal breakage occurred.
   Short Stack soon learned that he had an hour or two between meals that he could call his own.  He used them to explore the train, especially the cabinet beneath the bar in the club car where the liquor was stored.  The trip to Miami was mostly uneventful and Short Stack enjoyed the soft clean, upper berth he slept in through the night in Miami while awaiting the morning departure back to Sanlando.
   On the way back to Sanlando the next day, Short Stack learned that the compartments in the sleepers did not have locks on the doors.  The car porter was supposed to keep watch but he would sometimes take a smoke break standing in the vestibule between cars. 
   Short Stack saw his chance and entered Compartment C.  He removed a valuable pearl necklace from its hiding place and was about to put it in his pocket when a large hand belonging to the porter grabbed him by the nape of the neck. 
   About that time the train pulled into the station at Sanlando and the porter escorted Short Stack to the doorway.  He disembarked into the custody of Officer Poovey of the Tahope Police Department who charged him with grand theft.
   Short Stack's ma and pa hired Lawyer Marvin Bello to represent him and it was decided that, since he was caught red handed, a guilty plea would be the best strategy.  So, Short Stack entered a plea before Circuit Judge Elvin Thomas.  The prosecutor recommended two to three years in prison as a sentence because Short Stack "is a bum who lives in the Bottoms where he trespasses on railroad property and is constantly misdemeanin." 
   Judge Thomas asked Short Stack if he was entering his plea voluntarily and Short Stack said, "Judge, I didn't steal a damn thing.  I was caught while I was just lookin' at the necklace."  The Judge informed Short Stack that in Florida trying to steal something is the same as stealing it.  Short Stack said, "That don't seem right to me."  The Judge said, "It don't seem right to me neither.  Thirty days."   

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110519170905.jpeg)
Short Stack's Parents,Virgil and Daisey


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110519171202.jpeg)
Florida Chain Gang.  That's Short Stack in the striped outfit




Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on May 12, 2019, 06:18:23 AM
Another great Report Bill.  Always entertaining!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 12, 2019, 10:25:19 AM
Atta Boy Bill.....great yarn.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on May 12, 2019, 12:20:27 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on May 12, 2019, 10:25:19 AM
Atta Boy Bill.....great yarn.  8)

What Greg said..........Excellent Story Bill.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on May 12, 2019, 12:21:25 PM
Keep up the good work Bill.  You've got a following here.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 18, 2019, 09:38:21 AM
May 18, 2019 Saturday Report

There is no Saturday Report today.  Your reporter is otherwise engaged in work activity.  Sorry about that. 

This week's story involves the inner workings of A&S management in the purchase of the acreage to be used for the new yard facility at Summit.

                                                                                                  The Freight Yard at Summit

    Finally, construction has gotten started on the extensive freight yard located on the east side of Summit.  The yard doesn't have a name yet, but names will be considered at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
    The A&S recently acquired the acreage for the new freight yard from the local Seminole Indian Tribe for expansion of its yard and diesel engine service facilities at Summit.  The purchase required extensive negotiations.  The A&S realtor, Ivana Rippemoff, offered Seminole Indian Chief, Micanopy, $1.00 an acre and that offer was rejected. The Chief wanted $1.50. The A&S realtor explained that the land was essentially worthless because it was located in a swamp.  The realtor stated, "Chief, the land is no good to you.  It is a swamp filled with gators and snakes.  You can't grow anything on it and it is too wet to live on.  So why do you think the A&S should pay more than $1.00 an acre for it?"  The Chief thought a minute and said, "It pretty good for railroad." The A&S paid the $1.50.   

                                                                                                (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-180519092936.jpeg)
   
                                                                                           Seminole Indian Chief Micanopy

    The reader should note that Chief Micanopy is a REAL Seminole Indian and does not wear war paint, a war bonnet, or a breast plate.  Nor does he ride a war horse or throw a feathered spear at nothing in particular.  A marked difference from some so-called "Seminoles" in Tallahassee. 


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 18, 2019, 09:46:10 AM
It seems that the A&S doesn't negotiate with the Indians as well as the Dutch.....great story Bill.  :) :) :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on May 18, 2019, 10:46:14 AM
Another fun story Bill
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 18, 2019, 02:49:56 PM
Jim and Greg - Thank you for your continued interest in my little stories and your kind remarks. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on May 18, 2019, 03:53:36 PM
I think there may be a little Truth in this story.  :o :o :o :o

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on May 18, 2019, 04:26:36 PM
Great story Judge. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 18, 2019, 04:47:42 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on May 19, 2019, 08:16:25 AM

Saturday Report as told by the A&S RR CEO.

Yesterday started off with a little work in the East Yard at Summit. Soon after Curt (PRR) came by followed by Reading Bob and then followed by Greg (GPdemayo).

The CEO shared plans for the upper level, demonstrated a new way of throwing turnouts and discussed some ideas for background flats.

Reading Bob brought his Central Railroad of New Jersey switcher. It needed a little program adjustment and after that pulled a local freight of 9 cars plus a caboose in both directions at Summit. The loco performed very well.

The SBG moved the meeting to Smokey Bones for some BBQ and BSing.

After lunch, Greg made a speed run up the Ovalix using his NYC Hudson 4-6-4. He ran it at notch 99 on the Digitrax controller. I think Greg made the 260 foot trip in just over 2 minutes and a couple seconds. He said he decided to try it since the Ticket Agent wasn't on site.

More general BSing followed and Curt inquired if he had yet qualified for membership in the SBG. A vote of those present unanimously agreed to accept Curt as a SBG member. He was advised that he now has to have a SGB meet at his house to view the PRR.

The report is as accurate as this CEO can remember. After all, yesterday was a long time ago.  8)


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 19, 2019, 09:14:32 AM
A good day was had by all.....the official new official record for the "The Great Ovalix Climb To Summit" was set and stands at 2 minutes & 36 seconds.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on May 19, 2019, 09:24:27 AM
I make a motion that the minutes of the Saturday meeting the A&S/SBG be approved as read.   ;)

Special thanks goes out to the engine servicing facility for getting my little ugly duckling CRRNY switcher operating normally again.   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 19, 2019, 10:13:24 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on May 19, 2019, 08:16:25 AM

The report is as accurate as this CEO can remember. After all, yesterday was a long time ago.  8)


Not bad, for a CEO who spent much of his younger years on a golf course getting his brain fried in the Central Florida sun.  ;D

Don't forget the words of my dear ole' Granddad....."If in doubt, make notes."  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: madharry on May 19, 2019, 11:48:18 AM
Congratulations to Curt on your membership. I would like to be a member but unfortunately I live too far way.
Mike :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 22, 2019, 10:20:36 AM
We accept long distance memberships to the SBG so long as the dues are paid in advance.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on May 22, 2019, 10:42:51 AM

Wouldn't want to eat any of that barbecue shipped across the pond.
Might get really ripe in transit.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 26, 2019, 03:18:34 PM
   
    This week's report and story is delayed due to administrator updates.  Photographs won't post so I will wait until tomorrow to post the Saturday Report and this week's story.  Sorry about that!  Not my fault.
   

   
                                                                                                   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 27, 2019, 09:43:51 PM
No Saturday Report this week.  I am having trouble posting photographs! Again!  Something about the new update......Sorry.  Maybe next Saturday.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on May 28, 2019, 06:44:47 AM
Dang!  I was looking forward to your report Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on May 28, 2019, 06:55:52 AM
Quote from: Judge on May 27, 2019, 09:43:51 PM
No Saturday Report this week.  I am having trouble posting photographs! Again!  Something about the new update......Sorry.  Maybe next Saturday.


Bill,

I couldn't post photos either. I reported the issue to JD.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 01, 2019, 04:57:16 PM
I don't know why I can't seem to post anything.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 01, 2019, 05:02:55 PM
I have tried for over two hours to post a Saturday Report on this forum and I give up.  When I copy the report from WORD and paste it to this reply box it copies and pastes without a problem.  Then when I try to post it I get referred to the Administrator and asked to try again.  I give up!  At least for today.  Sorry.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Janbouli on June 02, 2019, 05:09:14 AM
Quote from: Judge on June 01, 2019, 05:02:55 PM
I have tried for over two hours to post a Saturday Report on this forum and I give up.  When I copy the report from WORD and paste it to this reply box it copies and pastes without a problem.  Then when I try to post it I get referred to the Administrator and asked to try again.  I give up!  At least for today.  Sorry.
Try making your report in notepad , sometimes Word adds a lot of stuff that forum software doesn't like too much, it looks like simple text , but it's not.  Just copy paste it to notepad and then copy paste to a forum post.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 02, 2019, 07:08:54 AM
Bill,

I go back to my original suggestion for you in posting. Typing it in word is fine. Once done, print your story and then type it into the "Reply" section.

I never use word with anything on this forum. I type directly to the "Post reply", proofread it and make any changes necessary. I'll then hit "Preview" and proofread once more.

Try just typing directly into the "Post reply". Then you can copy and past photos from the gallery.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 02, 2019, 08:25:19 AM
Tom - I'm going to do it your way and see if I have any better luck.  I need to advise forum members that until the latest update I had no problem copying and pasting from a WORD document.  Since that is the format I use to prepare my reports and stories, I will now have to "retype" my materials. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 02, 2019, 10:00:23 AM
Saturday Report - June 1, 2019.
    The Board of Directors Meeting of the Atlantic & Southern RR started right on time Saturday morning.  The question on the agenda for discussion was whether to purchase a new road switcher from the Central of Georgia RR.  (The Southern RR owns most of the CofG stock).  The decision was unanimous and a new SD9 from BLI should arrive for inspection this week.  A source has been located for Central of Georgia caboose decals so a new freight train should be in business soon.

    There has been much progress towards completing the yard at Summit.  The turn-outs are set to operate manually with a really innovative (at least to your reporter) device which is a wire running from each turn-out to the facia board.  The wire is a "push and pull" arrangement and will be finished with a knob.  The system is quite simple and it really works!  The advantages of the system are (1) the cost savings for the purchase of over 15 switch motors; (2) zero electrical problems or maintenance; and (3) no need to throw switches from the handsets.  Switch motors will operate the turn-outs off the mainline that runs through the yard so the signaling system will work.

    Operations were somewhat limited Saturday.  A run by the Champion from Summit to the Midlands and back was made with two FP7A units providing the power.  The FP7's handled the trip up and down the Ovalix without difficulty.  However, we are still having problems with couplers on the passenger cars and some of them will have to be sent to the shop for adjustment.

    A freight train powered by SAL Citrus Scheme E6's made the trip up and down the Ovalix to the Midlands and back without incident.  No problems with freight cars.

    Friend and member of the SBG Greg DeMayo arrived about 10:00 a.m.  Grreg was on his best behavior, which was appreciated by all.  Greg likes to do little mischievous things like moving a structure from one place to another just to see if we notice the change.  A bit of ballast mysteriously got moved from a track in the engine service area and placed in a pile nearby.  Greg denied that he was responsible for relocating the ballast and we believed him.  Officer Poovey of the Tahope Police Department will investigate further.

    The switchmen were not on the ball Saturday, causing several derailments, but no wrecks.  Brownies were issued. You just can't get good help these days.

    The crew broke for lunch promptly at 11:00 a.m. and traveled to Smokey Bones.  After lunch, there was another short operating session.  A heavyweight passenger train powered by ACL P5A 1516 provided service to the folks in the Midlands and the gang departed A&S property shortly thereafter.

                                                                                                     TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT

    Your reporter would be less than observant if he did not report to his dismay and surprise this month's MR covered a layout from "up Nawth" in Pennsylvania that is called the Atlantic & Southern.  It seems that the modeler was originally going to model the ACL and the Southern RR, but he strayed from that laudable direction and now has a railroad that has steel manufacturing facilities and other smelly stuff that would overpower the scent of orange blossoms and tropical flowers in Florida.  Yet he still calls this pike the Atlantic & Southern.  The Board of Directors considered sending him a cease and desist notice because the Atlantic & Southern located in Tahope County, Florida has common law trademark claims to the name.  After all, the present owners of the A&S inherited the name and all rights to it from the late and great Al Bixbie sometime in the 70's.  However, after consultation with the A&S general counsel, Marvin Bello, the Directors decided to leave well enough alone considering there is no competition between the two railroads. 

    This week's story involves our vagabond friends Newt and Short Stack, who you remember, are cousins and used to live with their parents in the two cracker shacks located at Eaton's Curve.  Since their eviction from those premises, they have taken up residence in The Bottoms, where they live the carefree life of hobos and occasionally get into difficulties.  The piece today relates their activities on that rainy summer evening when they decided to steal a steam locomotive.

                                                                                                  THE LOCOMOTIVE THEFT ADVENTURE

    It gets real dark after the sun goes down during the summer in Central Florida and it is especially dark in the freight yard at Sanlando.  Add 90-degree heat, 98% humidity, and a constant drizzle of rain and not even the freight yard night watchman would venture out of his office shack to check out the going's on in the yard.

  These conditions provided Newt and Short Stack with the perfect opportunity to be up to mischief.  They crept into the freight yard to check out the rolling stock and see if there was anything of value that was loose.  They had a modicum of luck when they found a ventilated box car with the car door unlocked.  Inside were boxes of fresh fruits. 

    After eating their fill, they wandered down the track towards the Pure Oil storeage facility.  It was there they discovered a steam switch engine panting inside the fenced enclosure with two tank cars coupled to it.  It was ACL's 1150, a USRA 0-6-0, and the gate was open. 

    (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-020619095351.jpeg)

     They uncoupled the tank cars from the engine and climbed into the cab.  Short Stack, who had some limited experience as a hostler, shoveled coal into the firebox to bring the steam pressure up.  In a few minutes, there was enough pressure to move the engine, so they decided to go for a ride.  Short Stack put the reverse lever into the back corner and cracked the throttle for a little steam.  The engine responded and slowly backed out into the yard. 

       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-020619095533.jpeg)

    They became more adventurous and added a little more steam as they headed for the mainline.  Soon the amateur railroaders were heading towards Eaton's Curve.  It was there they decided to blow the whistle to attract the attention of their parents who were sitting on the front porch of Daisey's shack drinking beer.  The sound of the whistle attracted the attention of the Tahope Police Department and Officer Poovey gave chase to the switcher.  Our heroes abandoned the engine in the vacinity of Barlow's Bar-B-Que and were arrested and charged with Grand Theft of the locomotive.

    Marvin Bello was once again called upon to defend our two vagabonds and when he appeared before Judge Elvin P. Thomas on the day of trial, he moved to dismiss the charges.  The judge agreed.  "No larceny," said his honor, "the locomotive never left A&S property."  No charges were brought for the stolen fruit because the defendants "et the evidence."
   
    A reporter from the Tahope Daily Blatter interviewed Newt as he left the courtroom.  When asked about his participation in the loco caper, Newt rermarked, "I was tempted to succeed at doing something this week, but I got arrested before anything happened."  And, as they say, "So it goes."

   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 02, 2019, 10:41:30 AM
Love it, the antics of these two vagabonds is gonna git'em kilt one day.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on June 02, 2019, 10:51:53 AM
Quote from: Judge on June 02, 2019, 10:00:23 AM
...
    Marvin Bello was once again called upon to defend our two vagabonds and when he appeared before Judge Elvin P. Thomas on the day of trial, he moved to dismiss the charges.  The judge agreed.  "No larceny," said his honor, "the locomotive never left A&S property."  No charges were brought for the stolen fruit because the defendants "et the evidence."
...

I was thinking, "Maybe prosecutor could go for 'Theft of Service'," but I'm sure Counsel for the Defendants would point out that no one was served by that move.

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 02, 2019, 12:03:02 PM
Good one Bill.....God knows I try to behave, but it's really hard sometimes.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 02, 2019, 12:35:47 PM
Dave - The problem is that traditionally, theft required both manucaption (taking in hand) and asportation (carrying away).  That is why a shoplifter doesn't become a thief until she passes the point of sale.  It is also why our vagabonds did not commit theft.  Unfortunately, in states like Florida, the legislature has done away with both requirements.  Now it is enough for the culprit to try to deprive the owner (or custodian) of a right to the property.  I suppose it would be theft to try to temporarily deprive someone of the use of a document or even an intangible like a stock option.  But today's story takes place in 1950 and at that time the legislature still preferred to limit theft convictions to actual thieves.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on June 03, 2019, 12:54:39 PM
Great update your Honor.  The only part I have trouble believing is that Greg behaved himself.  That seems a little far fetched.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 03, 2019, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: ReadingBob on June 03, 2019, 12:54:39 PM
Great update your Honor.  The only part I have trouble believing is that Greg behaved himself.  That seems a little far fetched.  ;)


It can happen Bob.....not often, but it can happen.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on June 03, 2019, 03:46:34 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on June 03, 2019, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: ReadingBob on June 03, 2019, 12:54:39 PM
Great update your Honor.  The only part I have trouble believing is that Greg behaved himself.  That seems a little far fetched.  ;)


It can happen Bob.....not often, but it can happen.  ;D ;D ;D

I agree that it CAN happen, the question is DID it happen, or is that just hear say.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on June 04, 2019, 07:34:48 AM
Another great Report Bill!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 07, 2019, 11:31:33 AM
ATTENTION followers of the Saturday Report.  I reviewed previous editions of the Report this morning and noted there has been some interference with my prose.  I suspect it has to do with the recent update to the Forum platform.  I will be correcting the problems beginning this weekend, starting with page 1 and moving forward.  Sorry about the inconvenience. 

The Judge
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 08, 2019, 04:32:45 PM
The Saturday  Report will be delayed until Sunday noon ONCE AGAIN!  Sorry.  I seem to have a different problem every week. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on June 08, 2019, 07:13:18 PM
Others have had similar problems cutting-and-pasting from Word. It's probably due to the hidden mark-up characters in Word.  Before copying, try this:  Select your text, go to Format -> Styles.  Change the bottom menu to show "List All Styles"  Now select "Normal (Web)", copy and paste.  See if that fixes the problem.

(Word is an abomination...)

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Janbouli on June 08, 2019, 07:25:08 PM
Or just copy paste to a "plain text"app like Notepad which is on every Windows PC and probably an equivalent on an Apple . Or just write the text in Notepad.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 09, 2019, 06:29:43 AM
Thank you for your kind suggestions.  For now, I am going to simply type my reports here instead of trying to copy and paste.  Thanks again.  I agree WORD is an abomination.  I used Word Perfect during my time on the bench and found it to be a much superior product.  But Microsoft has managed to convince the world that WORD is the platform to use and now we are stuck with it.  Saturday Report follows.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 09, 2019, 07:33:18 AM
    Saturday Report for Saturday, June 8, 2019.

    The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours and immediately went into executive session to discuss the progress report, which was considerable.  The freight yard at Summit continues to be under construction and permanent wiring is expected in the next two weeks.  Appropriate knobs have been purchased from Hobby Lobby to attach to the hand throws for the yard.
    An SD9 loco was received from BLI, painted in Central of Georgia colors.  (Georgia, by the way, is correctly pronounced "Jaw-Ja.")  Beautiful model.  Unfortunately, the decoder was unsatisfactory.  However, a new decoder from TCS WOW Sound is going to be installed anyway so the faulty BLI decoder was a welcome addition to the trash can.
    More importantly, there were major gremlins at work this morning.  The Digitrax system is somewhat complex and for some reason the program track is inoperative.  That was only one of the problems.  Most of them were solved by telephone call to an expert who will arrive on the property Sunday for a complete inspection.  Ah, computers.  You gotta love 'em.
    Before lunch, we did manage to get one train move.  An SAL GP7 picked up a string of freight cars from the Sanlando yard and hauled it up the Ovalix to Summit.  The train orders required the engineer to pick up some cars from the Summit freight yard.  That was accomplished before lunch, which was at Smokey Bones. 
    After lunch, Greg Demayo and wife arrived on the property.  They were mainly on station to meet the new family puppy.  The CEO may post a photo of the vicious creature if he is encouraged to do so by his admiring public. 
    The Saturday Session adjourned around 1:30 p.m., to reconvene on Sunday afternoon.
    No Saturday Report next weekend.  Out of town trip planned from Thursday til Sunday.

    This week's story is one of those railroad legends that have many versions.  The version published here is the most credible.

                                                                                                     ORIGIN OF THE SAND DOME

    Some say the use of sand to give locomotives extra traction was a Pennsy invention.  Others say it came from the B&O.  Tain't so!  The first sanders originated on the Atlantic & Southern in the early 1860's, during the Confederacy. 
    The mosquitos in Florida during the summer are gigantic.  It has been recorded that they are so large and vicious that they can penetrate the bottom of a cast iron cornbread skillet held up for protection.  There was a time, during Reconstruction, when a bill was introduced in the Tallahassee legislature to make them the State Bird.
    In July, of '62, when it was the hottest, the 'skeeters were grasshopper size.  The pesky critters were naturally attracted to the road bed of the A&S and thousands of them swarmed the tracks, causing a slippery mess that seriously interfered with railroad operations.  For a week or two the A&S employed men to walk ahead of the engines with a broom and sweep the tracks, but this solution had little real effect because the 'skeeters would jump back on the track when the train passed.  And it was hard to keep men for more than a day or two due to the number of stinging bites the 'skeeters inflicted upon them.  Besides, the brooms soon wore out and he trains were reduced to crawling speed of merely 2 mph.  Finally, an employee in the Maintenance Department, whose name has been lost to the ages, came up with the idea of attaching sand boxes to the cow catchers on the locomotives in such a way that steams of sand would automatically be deposited on the rails in front of the wheels.  The sand allowed he wheels of the engine to squish the mosquitos without losing traction so the scheme proved to be an unqualified success.  It was soon adopted by other roads.
    Now-a-days, bat houses are strategically placed on railroad right-a-ways in Florida to control the mosquitos. A bat can eat his weight in 'skeeters in a day.  As a result, much less sand is needed by the railroad.  That is a significant cost savings considering sand is a scarce commodity in Florida.  Today, sand is primarily used by the A&S to add traction to the engines when they climb the 1% grade on the Ovalix. 
    And that's the truth, as related by Will Fixer, Director of Maintenance, A&S Railroad.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 09, 2019, 09:00:41 AM
Maddie was three months old when this photo was taken. She is now five months old. She loves visiting the A&S RR and finds everything this CEO drops on the floor.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/24-090619085811.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on June 09, 2019, 10:24:40 AM
Another great story Bill. Enjoy your trip.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 09, 2019, 10:47:59 AM
Good one Bill.....if you think the "skeeters" are bad up here, you ought to visit the Everglades in July or August.....they are so big they make a B-29 look like a toy plane.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on June 09, 2019, 11:04:58 AM
Another great update!   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on June 09, 2019, 12:28:19 PM
Here's a modern bug sweeper :-) 
(http://www.holdenplantrentals.com/uploads/articles/LUAS_RAIL_SWEEPER_JANUARY_2010_007.JPG)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 09, 2019, 01:40:55 PM
Thanks for the photo of the modern bug sweeper.  Just proves there's a prototype for everything! 

And Maddie looks sweet.  Another five months and she'll be too big to fit in your hand.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 15, 2019, 05:11:05 PM
Surprise! Surprise!  There is a Saturday Report after all!  My wife, Cindy, and I canceled our long weekend due to the illness of one of the other couples who were going to travel with us. 

The Atlantic & Southern Board of Directors convened promptly at 0830 hours and opened the meeting with a Coke and a Diet Pepsi.  Then we got down to business.  Your reporter was given a tour of the progress made at the Summit Yard.  All switch machines are installed and wired for the mainline.  Due to one of the ACL E7A units receiving a new decoder in the repair shop, the E6's were called into service to power the Champion.  As has been recently reported, we have been tweaking our passenger equipment to avoid unwanted uncouplings and derailments.  That project continued today.  It is almost necessary to individually tweak each Walthers passenger car in order to get optimum performance.  Today we discovered some of our ACL cars had the wrong couplers on them and almost all of the end diaphragms drooped low enough to foul the Kay Dee couplers.  Adjustments were made and tweaking will probably continue in the future.

The Champion made its run from Summit to the Midlands and back without difficulty.  Those slant nosed E6's really look great pulling a passenger consist. 

Lunch was (guess where) at Smokey Bones.

After lunch, we decided to run one of our strange locomotives - a Seaboard Centipede.  It is not much to look at unless you really,, really like to watch wheels.  The loco still has the original unacceptable sound system in it and we decided to convert it to WOW Sound during the next round of updates.

The track gang plans on completing the wiring on the Yard at Summit this week, hopefully making it fully operational next Saturday.

This week's story is the product of some of my nostalgic recollections of dining on the train in the 1950s and comparing that experience to my recent trip on AMTRAK from Orlando to Savannah.  Let me be plain - There is no comparison.  No wonder AMTRAK is only one step above greyhound travel.

                                                                                               DINING ON THE ATLANTIC & SOUTHERN

    The Atlantic & Southern Railroad does not own any dining cars.  It relies upon the diners from other railroads to provide food services to its passengers.  That does not mean the A&S management is unprepared to purchase a dinner with Atlantic & Southern emblazed upon its road boards when passenger traffic justifies it. 
    There were still a few heavyweight diners on the rails in 1950 and they tended to be part of the consist powered by the few steam engines still working passenger trains at that late date.  Seaboard had several of these diners.  The Coast Line diners had recently been replaced by lightweight Bud built diners, but whichever type of diner was found in the consist, mealtime could be a pleasant and quite nostalgic experience.
    Some of the post war Coast Line diners had interesting table configurations with seating for four on one side of the diner and seating for two on the other side.  The tables for two provided a more private setting and avoided the annoying Pullman practice of seating strangers at your table simply because seats were available.
    The variety of dishes offered during an overnight trip included local specialties such as crab cakes, chicken and dumplings, fresh catfish, and citrus delicacies.  But breakfast in the diner was the meal anticipated by everyone. 
    The Coast Line served the standard breakfast fare served on many railroads that included two poached eggs on toast with ham hash and fried tomatoes. 
    A numbered "instruction book" gave detailed directions to the dining staff.  Each steward, chef, and waiterss-in-charge were required to carry a copy of the book with them at all times while on duty.  Lost instruction books could be replaced with a "replica' at the cost of $.00.
    Instructions for serving breakfast on "All Trains" included the following:

    "Complementary demitasse coffee at breakfast.  This service must be extended to every guest in the dining car at breakfast on all trains.  The guest is not to be asked if coffee is to be brought out by the waiter at the time a glass of ice water is placed on the table for the guest.  Failure of the Steward of waiter to follow these instructions will result in disciplinary action." 

    Some of the instructions were to the point.  For instance, the Superintendent of Dining Cars had this to say about serving bacon:

    "While it is realized that in heavy trains it will be hard to broil bacon to order, the system of duping one or two pounds of bacon in the frying pan,all owing it to fry with the result that 10%to 15% will break, curl up, and look messy when served has got to be stopped.  Hereafter, on heavy trains chefs will place ready sliced bacon on the baking pan, cook partially in the oven to break the grain on the meat and finish in the broiler.  Bacon thus cooked will look more appetizing, will not crumble or curl, will show better on the plate, and will repay you in a better percentage for your effort."

    Chefs were expected to know how to prepare basic menu items, such as an omelet, and were only provided with variation instructions.  Among many variations included an omlet "with fried tomato slices, bacon."  Chefs were instructed to "place omelette (that's how they spelled it) in the center of the hot service plate.  Garnish one side of omelette with three slices of fried tomato, each slice overlapping the other, cross two strips bacon on to of omelette and a sprig of parsley."
    Many railroads were famous for their breakfast French toast. The Coast Line was no exception.  However, the instruction book fails to explain how Coast Line French Toast was out of the ordinary.  Having consulted with the A&S Food Service Superintendent, the following recipe will be used on A&S diners if one is ever acquired:

                                                                                            ATLANTIC & SOUTHERN FRENCH TOAST
                                                                                                              (SERVES TWO)

French toast:

A loaf of French bread cut into four 1" to 1 1'2 " slices.
1 large egg, thoroughly beaten
1/4 cup sugar
Few drops of vanilla extract
Tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped pecan halves (optional)
6 slices bacon, fried
1 banana sliced into 1/4 inch rounds -just before serving

Berry topping:

Package (12 oz.) frozen (or fresh) raspberries or blueberries
1/2 cup water (or less)
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in just enough water to dissolve
Confectioner's sugar

Pour beaten egg into a bowl.  Add sugar and vanilla extract and mix well.  Soak bread slices in the egg mixture and grill them until both sides are toasted.
Saute pecans in butter under low heat, stirring constantly.  Remove from pan when toasted.  Do Not Burn.
Place berries in a pot and add enough water to come up a one-half inch above the berries on the sides.  Heat berries on medium-low heat and add sugar and gently stir.    When berries are hot, add dissolved corn starch and stir.  Remove from heat when the mixture thickens.
Place French Toast on serving plate and sprinkle with sifted Confectioner's sugar.  Add toasted pecans on top.  Serve berry topping in a separate bowl.
Serve with bacon and banana

The complete 1953 Atlantic Coast Line Recipe book can be found at:  http://railroadarchives.org/content/atlantic-coast-line-railroad-recipes-cookbook-1953.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 15, 2019, 05:24:11 PM
The Judge AKA: The Ticket Agent, and I had a very productive day on the A&S. As mentioned most of the ACL Champion cars were tweeked and diaphrams were adjusted as well. After those issues were fixed we enjoyed smooth running for the last half of the day.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on June 15, 2019, 06:14:34 PM
In place of the vanilla extract, my railroad dining service substitutes a little Grand Marnier when appropriate.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on June 15, 2019, 07:17:24 PM
Another interesting story Bill. It was nice seeing you on Friday at Jon's.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 17, 2019, 04:31:25 PM
Deemery -   Do you know why the RR needs a track sweeper??
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 17, 2019, 05:40:05 PM
Always loved having meals in the dining car.....they were the best.  8)


Especially liked the lounge car going to school in the fall and returning home in the spring.....never could tell who you were liable to meet.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 22, 2019, 04:18:13 PM
Once again I am having trouble attaching photos.  Saturday Report delayed until sometime Sunday.  Sorry
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on June 22, 2019, 04:23:19 PM
Quote from: Judge on June 17, 2019, 04:31:25 PM
Deemery -   Do you know why the RR needs a track sweeper??


To remove the slippery bugs from the rails???


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on June 22, 2019, 09:11:56 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on June 17, 2019, 05:40:05 PM
Always loved having meals in the dining car.....they were the best.  8) 
Especially liked the lounge car going to school in the fall and returning home in the spring.....never could tell who you were liable to meet.  :)



Agreed.
On the Louisville section of the eastbound C&O George Washington, the people to meet were the GI's being discharged from Fort Knox who usually had wads of cash with them.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on June 23, 2019, 11:31:29 AM
Hey Tom:

Great picture of Maggie. I always enjoy seeing other's Pets.

karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 23, 2019, 03:35:20 PM
I am having problems.  I may not be able to submit a Saturday Report this week.  I get knocked off line during my preparation of the report and then I lose my data.
I really wish I could find a dependable cable company.  But there is not such thing.

Sorry.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on June 23, 2019, 03:54:17 PM
Quote from: Judge on June 23, 2019, 03:35:20 PM
I am having problems.  I may not be able to submit a Saturday Report this week.  I get knocked off line during my preparation of the report and then I lose my data.
I really wish I could find a dependable cable company.  But there is not such thing.

Sorry.


Judge


Try this:  write at the top of your post draft.  We will all know it's a work in progress.  Then hit the post button every paragraph or so. Then go in an modify your post to continue your wonderful stories.  If you do get kicked off you will only loose the last paragraph or what you have done since the last save.




I just typed this post using the method and it works.  I learned to do this when I was editing the index for my build threads - had the same problem. This is not a problem with the new server but with interment internet service.


The last step is to delete the draft off the top.  Do this  with a modify after you have saved it in the final form.


Full discloser your honor - I also have to go in and modify my posts to correct my spelling errors.  I don't always find all of them.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 23, 2019, 04:18:42 PM
John - Are you able to post photos?  I am following Tom Langford's instructions to the "T" and it has always (or at least most of the time) worked before.  Now I am unable to attach photos.

I will try your suggestion on saving text.  Sounds like a winner. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 23, 2019, 04:31:05 PM
I took John's suggestion and published this week's story piece meal to avoid losing data through loss of internet connection.  Now if I could only attach the photographs that go with the story.

Saturday Report
The Board of Directors convened the Saturday meeting at 0830 hours.  The freight yard at Summit was inspected.  It is completely wired and all switch motors and manual stops are activated.  The trackwork is excellent.  A&S must have skilled gandy dancers.

Jim Miller visited us and stayed until noon. 

   We ran the Champion around Summit and sent it down the ovalix to The Bottoms.  It was replaced by the eleven car C&O George Washington, which was powered by an A-B-A lash-up of Fe3's.  No problem for those diesels to pull that heavy train up the constant 1% grade for all 10 revolutions to Summit.

We adjourned for lunch at Smokey Bones.  The Babe joined us for tea.

After lunch we broke in the new yard at Summit, performing various switching moves and getting used to the numerous tracks and turnouts.

All-all a very happy Saturday. 

No report next Saturday.  The Babe has to make her trip to Mount Dora.

This week's story has as its main character our old friend Newt Fisher, who has decided to seek gainful employment.


                                                                                                        The Engine Watchman

Newt Fisher, you remember him, he''s the son of Luke and Talulla Fisher, who live in one of the cracker shacks on Eaton's Curve (See page eight), decided one day that the life of a hobo living in The Bottoms held no future for him so he decided to "nail a drag" and ride a Pullman boxcar to Jacksonville to seek employment with the Coast Line.  He managed to board an empty reefer, but the hind shack caught him at the yard throat and demanded $2.00 for safe passage to Jax. 

Now Newt ain't about to give in to a shake down by a brakie so he jumped clear of the reefer and walked towards the engine.  He watched the shack walk down the line of cars looking for other itenerant passengers, and when the shack's back was turned, he hopped on the cow catcher and sat perched under the locomotive's head light.  Long about 8:00 p.m. the conductor signaled a high ball and the Pacific eased out of the yard.  As the engine began to pick up speed, Newt started to doubt the wisdom of his decision to ride the cow catcher.  The engine nosed first to the right and then to the left as it gained speed, nearly dislodging him from his seat.  And the headlight attracted every form of flying insect known to Florida, and all of them flew into Newt's face.  Then it rained.  Sheets of water peppered Newt as the engine reached track speed of 55 mph.

Finally,, the train entered the freight yard at Jacksonville and Newt jumped off the cow catcher right into the arms of a police officer, who arrested him for trespass on Coast Line property and booked him into the Duval County Jail.  Newt, who would never turn down free room and board, patiently awaited his court appearance a few weeks later.  He entered a guilty plea, was sentenced to time served, and became a free man again.  The jail was not far from the Coast Line freight yard so Newt high tailed it over to the trainmaster's office for an interview with the yard clerk. 

The yard clerk gave him and employment application to fill out and Newt proudly related his extensive prior employment experience assisting his father to tend to crab traps and handling day jobs with the A&S.  With this impressive resume, he was offered a job as an engine watchman and his name was marked up on the extra board. 

An engine watchman is a member of a freight train crew who comes aboard when a steam engine has to be tied down for the night at a location other than a service facility, such as a roundhouse.  The engine watchman assumes some of the duties of a hostler.  He is responsible to maintain the banked fire overnight, work the injector to keep the water level up in the boiler, and load coal into the tender's coal bunker.  This last duty is usually accomplished by transferring coal from a hopper car spotted next to the tender on an adjacent track.

Newt got called for a local freight that originated at the freight yard at Jacksonville and terminated at the freight yard at Summit.  The train is usually powered by one of the Coast Line's many dual service Pacifics and the trip requires the engine to be tied down overnight at the yard at Sanlando.  The train arrived at Sanlando about 11:00 p.m.

Newt had no difficulty banking the fire and he didn't mind staying up all night to work the injector.  But he did have a problem loading coal in the tender bunker.  He climbed down from the cab and pulled himself up the ladder of the coal hopper and made his way over the coal pile.  He decided the only way he could add coal to the bunker was to do it by hand, so he grabbed a couple of big pieces and heaved them into the bunker.  Progress was slow, but Newt stuck to it and tossed coal until the light of dawn began to show and the bunker was full.  Newt, exhausted, dripping with sweat, and covered with coal dust, collapsed on the fireman's seat in the locomotive cab, waiting for the arrival of the train crew. He began to feel like he was overcoming his fear of accomplishment.

About that time, the conductor arrived at the engine.  He took a look at the coal bunker and asked Newt how he filled it up.  Newt explained that he loaded it by hand and it had taken him seven hours to do it.  With that explanation, the conductor put his hand on Newt's shoulder and said, "Son, why didn't you use the coal loader?"

Lesson learned.

                                                     hou(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240619133130.jpeg)

                                                                                            Newt's engine spotted in Sanlando Yard   

                                                           (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240619133801.jpeg)


                                                                               Coal hopper spotted adjacent to the Pacific's tender


                                                           (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240619133943.jpeg)
                                                                   
                                                                                          The coal loader was located next to the tracks
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on June 23, 2019, 07:44:36 PM
Quote from: Judge on June 23, 2019, 04:18:42 PM
John - Are you able to post photos?  I am following Tom Langford's instructions to the "T" and it has always (or at least most of the time) worked before.  Now I am unable to attach photos.

I will try your suggestion on saving text.  Sounds like a winner.


Judge


I'm glad we solved part of the problem.  Is Tom having you add your pictures to the gallery and then copy the BB code into your post?  This is the way I post pictures and I'm pretty sure Tom is doing the same.  I did have a problem with picture size with the new server but resolved that issue with decreasing the resolution of my pictures before I try to add them to the gallery.  Let me know if Tom has you using the gallery and we will go from there.  Good luck!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on June 24, 2019, 09:57:01 AM
Quote from: Judge on June 17, 2019, 04:31:25 PM
Deemery -   Do you know why the RR needs a track sweeper??


May it please the court, we'd like to offer the following into evidence:  https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/24/asia/japan-high-speed-train-slug-intl-hnk/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/24/asia/japan-high-speed-train-slug-intl-hnk/index.html)


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 24, 2019, 10:49:15 AM
Quote from: S&S RR on June 23, 2019, 07:44:36 PM
Quote from: Judge on June 23, 2019, 04:18:42 PM
John - Are you able to post photos?  I am following Tom Langford's instructions to the "T" and it has always (or at least most of the time) worked before.  Now I am unable to attach photos.

I will try your suggestion on saving text.  Sounds like a winner.


Judge


I'm glad we solved part of the problem.  Is Tom having you add your pictures to the gallery and then copy the BB code into your post?  This is the way I post pictures and I'm pretty sure Tom is doing the same.  I did have a problem with picture size with the new server but resolved that issue with decreasing the resolution of my pictures before I try to add them to the gallery.  Let me know if Tom has you using the gallery and we will go from there.  Good luck!


John,

I've shown the Judge the gallery and the BB code several times. I'm not sure what the problem is.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 24, 2019, 01:47:28 PM
John, Tom, et al.  Happy Days!  I finally got the photos posted with the Engine Watchman story.  I think it was my internet connection that caused the problem.  I've been without cable TV for 4 days and my internet is spotty.  Take a look at the photos and you will understand why Newt was so upset after the conductor suggested using the coal loader.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on June 24, 2019, 01:52:23 PM
Quote from: Judge on June 24, 2019, 01:47:28 PM
John, Tom, et al.  Happy Days!  I finally got the photos posted with the Engine Watchman story.  I think it was my internet connection that caused the problem.  I've been without cable TV for 4 days and my internet is spotty.  Take a look at the photos and you will understand why Newt was so upset after the conductor suggested using the coal loader.


Judge


Great news, great story, and great pictures.  Thanks again for this wonderful thread.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 24, 2019, 02:03:47 PM
John - You are more than welcome.  I really enjoy posting these little stories. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 24, 2019, 02:11:04 PM
John,

Thanks for all your help with the Judge. If you think his railroad stories are great you should hear some of the Vietnam stories.

I get a little hint of what the stories will be but not the whole story until it's posted.



Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 24, 2019, 02:12:58 PM
Bill,

Glad you got the photos up. BTW, my internet went down yesterday and this morning. Bright House said they are upgrading in some areas but didn't say where.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 29, 2019, 10:11:09 AM
    There is no Saturday Report this week due to the Babe's monthly trek to Mt. Dora.  I will be traveling that way this morning also.  My wife, Cindy, wants to have lunch at a restaurant there named The Goblin.  Don't ask me why.

    This week's story has a basis in fact from one of my cases I handled years ago.  Here goes -

                                                                                                        TAHOPE CODE TALKERS

    One of the more disreputable vagabonds living in The Bottoms is a tramp named "Wormy."  Wormy fled the Jenkins County Sheriff in Jaw-Ja several months ago and managed to catch a rattler (freight train)to sunny Florida.  He lives in a hut constructed of cast-off lumber and parts he found in a trash heap.  His hut is located next to Short Stack's lean-to.
    Everybody who claims permanent residence in The Bottoms has a job to perform for the good of the camp.  Wormy is the camp scavenger.  It is his job to scout around the local area looking for tid-bits that he can acquire through begging or theft as a contribution to the Mulligan Stew; or, on good days, some white lightning from the idle folk who have a still in Piney Woods.
    One summer afternoon in 1950, pickins were slim and the Mulligan Stew was wanting for edibles.  Wormy hot-footed it over to the Atlantic & Southern's commissary to see if there was anything useful in the garbage.  No luck there, so he slipped into the back door of the building and grabbed himself a large ham and a chicken.  He tried to exit through the back door but was recognized by one of the employees.  He hid the stolen ham and chicken next to one of the garbage cans near the back door and tried to make his getaway.  He was soon apprehended by Officer Poovey of the Tahope Police Department and given a ride to the Police Station. 
    Short Stack learned of Wormy's detention and traveled to the Police Station for a visit and to find out where Wormy stashed the vittles he stole from the commissary.  One of the police officers stood by in the visiting area while Wormy and Short Stack had their conversation.  The officer made sure he was close enough to overhear what they were saying.  Short Stack whispered a suggestion that they speak to each other in code to avoid detection.  The code they chose was "Pig Latin."  The conversation went as follows:

    Short Stack:  Id-day ou-yay et-gay uff-stay or-fay e-they ew-stay?
    Wormy:  Es-yay.  I-yay id-hay it-yay ear-nay e-they arbage-gay an-cay.
    Jailer:  I-yay eak-spay ig-pay atlin-lay and you are both are going to ail-jay.

    Well, the culprits were booked and when their court date arrived they appeared before Judge Elvin P. Thomas.  Attorney Marvin Bellow was present in the courtroom, but he did not represent the defendants because neither of them had his $10.00 fee. 
    Both defendants pled guilty to the petty therft charges and Judge Thomas sentenced them to 60 days in jail.  As they left the courtroom in handcuffs, Wormy said to Short Stack, "Ext-nay ime-tay ick-pay a-yay etter-bay ode-cay."
    As they say, "ime-cray oesn't-day  a-pay"

                                                                    (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290619140304.jpeg)
                                                                                                                         

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on June 29, 2019, 04:20:10 PM
At-gray ory-stay Udg-jay!


We hit the Goblin Market any time we spend a weekend in Mt. Dora.  We're also fond of the Windsor Rose Tea Room and Cafe Gianni.  :D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on June 29, 2019, 05:55:42 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 29, 2019, 06:24:18 PM
I love the burgers at the Goblin's Market. The ones you can eat and not the ones you can pick.

Well, I guess you could eat both.  ??? ???


Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 29, 2019, 08:32:02 PM
I'll agree with the gang....Goblin Market is one of our favorites in Mt. Dora also..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on July 06, 2019, 10:35:42 AM
This -sounds like- something from the Saturday Report:  https://abovethelaw.com/2019/07/judges-go-drinking-head-to-strip-club-get-involved-in-a-shooting-in-white-castle-parking-lot/


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 06, 2019, 05:53:20 PM
July 5, 2019 Saturday Report

The early morning was taken up with running a freight train powered by 2-8-2 # 835, a USRA PFM model that was originally acquired in May, 1978.  It has lasted longer than the prototype and pulled 12 freight cars and a brass caboose up the ovalix with ease.

We had four visitors in mid-morning, including regulars Greg DeMayo, Curt Webb, and Bob Butts.   A new addition to the mix was Rollin Smith from Zellwood, Florida.  We enjoyed a major bull session while your reporter ran 835 around The Midlands.  We all went to lunch at Smokey Bones and returned to watch Greg play engineer running the C&O's George Washington around the layout at Summit. 

A good time was had by all.

This week's story will be familiar to anyone who has had to put up with a snot nosed kid who has just been hired as the boss.

                                                                                                              The Stolen Donuts

    Anybody who works for the A&S Railroad knows the management hired this Assistant Superintendent from Tahope named Mr. Dyer (a lot of people who live in Tahope have medieval occupations as last names.)  Mr. Dyer was right out of college and a stickler for the rules.  He was the kind of a guy who couldn't handle a little power and authority without it going to his head.  He would drive next to the track beside an engine in downtown Tahope and write up an engineer for going a few miles over the speed limit. 
    There was a brakeman named Wally Weaver (Remember him?  He married the President's daughter).  Wally and Mr. Dyer did not see eye-to-eye on a single thing when it came to running a railroad.  Mr. Dyer went out of his way to call Wally on the carpet for minor infractions.  Here is an example of the trouble Wally had with MR. Dyer as told by Wally himself.

    "Well, one day ACL 835 was heading a drag freight into the Sanlando yard when it derailed with all eight drivers on the ground and the first three freight cars jack knifed accordian-like behind it.  There we were an hour before having to go on the law in drizzling rain and a mess that would take hours to clean up.  I was hind shack on this drag and the wreck caused the crummy quite a jolt. 
    We wuz havin' quite  problem in those days with somebody stealing our donuts.  We took turns bringin' a dozen each morning before the run and ate them with our coffee.  The donuts were stored on a rack next to the cupola.  By the time we tied down each evening there were always two or three donuts missing from the box and we couldn't figure out who was such a low down cuss that would steal them.
    Finally, the conductor, Capt'n Tanner, got the idea to buy some Ex-lax and melt it down to look like chocolate and spread it on top of some of the donuts.
    When the wreck happened, Capt'n Tanner had to walk up to the engine to take charge of the situation until the wrecking crew arrived.  I stayed in the crummy where it was dry.  Soon after the wreck happened, Mr. Dyer climbed into the crummy and proceeded to call me out because I had not walked a half mile behind the crummy to protect the rear of the train.  There was no danger because the yard switcher had cleared the mainline and we were well into the yard. Why do they make these college boys Assistant Superintendents?  They don't know an angle cock from a side rod.
    After he finished chewing my hind parts, Mr. Dyer spotted the box of donuts and calmed down.  He said, "Wally, Do you mind if I have a donut?"  I said, Sure, Mr. Dyer,, take all you want.  He took the three chocolate ones and ate them right then and there.  We walked up to the engine to see if the wrecking crew had arrived.  It wasn't but a few minutes when Mr. Dyer said he must be excused and disappeared, never to be seen again that evening.
    When I told Capt'n Tanner about the incident, he laughed as though his sides would split and said "It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." 
    You know, we never did figure out who was stealing the donuts.  But it never happened again."

                                                                                 
                                                                       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-060719175105.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on July 06, 2019, 07:49:54 PM
LOL. Great story Bill
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 07, 2019, 07:18:47 AM
And that's the truth of the matter.

Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on July 07, 2019, 07:48:28 AM
Beautiful job. Judge........Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 07, 2019, 09:32:15 AM
Dave - Thanks for the link to the Indianapolis Whitecastle fiasco.  It is proof that judges as a group would rather eat cheap burgers than enjoy the calming atmosphere of a "Gentleman's Club." 

    Reminds me of an incident that occurred at a Circuit Court Conference here in Florida many years ago.  The conference is a week long affair that takes place at one of the many fancy resorts in Florida.  The week is devoted to judicial education and it is an opportunity for the more than 500 Circuit Judges in Florida to get to know each other.  (When I attended my first Conference in 1987, one of the judges from Tampa kind of took me around and and introduced me to other judges during one of the cocktail parties.  He said, "You should meet as many of your fellow judges as possible.  There is not a one of them from whom you cannot learn something, even if it is a bad example.")
    Back to my story...  At this particular conference one of our attractive new female judges attended a party given by the other judges in her circuit and it lasted until late in the evening.  Our new judge navigated back to her hotel room, stripped off her clothes, and passed out on her bed.  About 3:00 a.m she had to answer the call of nature and stumbled into her bathroom for relief.  On her way out of the bathroom she took a right instead of a left and walked into the hallway instead of the bedroom.  The door slammed behind her and there she was in her altogether locked out of her room. 
    Some of the judges attending the Conference discovered her and alerted the hotel staff, who let her back into her room. 
    Needless to say, the entire conference knew of the incident by breakfast the next morning.  One of the judges who discovered her naked in the hallway was asked why she didn't have her key with her.  He responded by saying "she didn't have any pockets." 
    Our heroine, by the way, did not last past the next election. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 07, 2019, 09:37:47 AM
It does seem that all large groups have a jerk like Dyer who makes life for all those around him a chore. To bad you can't take unpleasant types out and tie them down to the tracks right before the Limited comes roaring thru.  :)

But, I suppose there are laws about doing that sort of thing and it wouldn't be a good thing to have to appear before Judge Bill for breaking that law.  :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 07, 2019, 02:51:40 PM
Greg - It might be grounds for leniency.  Although I would never say that out loud.  Judges rarely get in trouble if they keep their mouths shut. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on July 08, 2019, 11:21:56 AM
Hey judge:

Great pic but sorry you had a wreck.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 08, 2019, 02:24:03 PM
Quote from: Judge on July 07, 2019, 02:51:40 PM
Greg - It might be grounds for leniency.  Although I would never say that out loud.  Judges rarely get in trouble if they keep their mouths shut.


My ole' granddad always used to give that sage advice and it probably is a good idea for the rest of us not in the judiciary..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 13, 2019, 06:11:29 PM
Saturday Report July 13, 2019

The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours and discussed the current situation over Coke and Diet Pepsi.  It was reported that the Tahope City Council has approved the construction of a beer joint at the outskirts of the city near the citrus processing plant.  More about that another day.  Additionally, work is beginning on the bridge over the Tahope River to allow motor vehicle traffic to cross over into downtown Tahope. 

The mixed train that is the subject of this week's story made a run from Sanlando yard up to Summit.  It is amazing how long it takes to assemble a train and get it up the Ovalix and back to Sanlando.  Barrels of fun! 

After the freight train run we went to lunch at Smokey Bones.  The Babe jointed us for tea.

After lunch we made the George Washington go through its paces on Summit level. 

All-in-all a very successful and fun day.  No rain here, at least not yet.

Today's story is inspired by Lucius Bebee's famous book "Mixed Train Daily."  The A&S has a weekly mixed train.  What else is there to say?

                                                                                                           MIXED TRAIN WEEKLY

    A&S local mixed freight number 3 runs once a week.  The freight originates in the Sanlando yard and makes its way to Piney Woods, where it picks up a long string of pulpwood cars.  Then it is on to Tahope, where it sets out and picks up freight cars and picks up the only passenger car owned by the A&S, a heavy weight Pullman Solarium. The next move is up the 1% grade of the Ovalix all the way to Summit, where freight cars are picked up and set out at the various industries located there.  Passengers load and unload at the station at Summit.  The freight cars are broken up at the yard at Summit and await reassembly for their next destination.  Then the train returns to The Midlands where it spots the Pullman at its place in Tahope and then returns to the Sanlando Yard.
    Usually, Number 3 is powered by a GP7, but steam is still available for regular use on the A&S and today's power is a vintage ACL P3 Pacific, number 451, a 1914 Baldwin product that is hand fired.
    The trainmaster  worried that Old 451 would not make it up the grade of the Ovalix with so heavy a train so he scheduled number 3 ahead of regular freight number 128, with the intention of allowing 128's diesels to act as a helper, if necessary. 
    The conductor, Ralph Tinker, was pleased to see that Randy Bridgeman had drawn the engineer's job  on this trip.  Bridgeman was an experienced steam man and was very familiar with the abilities and quirks of Old 451.  The head shack, Roosevelt Green, was instructed that if Old 451 slowed to a crawl on the grade, he was to walk back down the Ovalix and flag number 128 to warn the crew to slow down and be ready for helper service. 
    Bridgeman backed into his train thirty minutes early, and after the angle cocks were connected, he waited for the air brakes  to be pressurized.  At departure time, the aspect on the signal called for a high ball and Bridgeman opened the throttle so Old 451 could ease out of the yard onto the mainline.  She passed Eaton's Curve and crossed the Great Divide, heading towards Piney Woods.  The crew picked up a long string of pulpwood cars and high balled it towards the Ovalix.  Bridgeman knew he had to be moving at least at 45 mph in order to make it up the grade to Summit and he didn't have far to go.  The fireman shoveled more coal on the fire and Old 451 strutted her stuff, spewing smoke and cinders everywhere.  By the time she reached the Ovalix, Old 451 was making 47 mph.  She was half way to Summit before she began to slow. 
    Meanwhile, the engineer on number 128 stopped his train at the bottom of the grade and asked his flagman, Walter Jackson, to walk forward, past the nose of the diesel, and listen to see if he could hear any of 451's stack talk.  When the flagman returned, he climbed back into the cab of the F3 and exclaimed, " Ain't no need to worry about that little old A&S hog.  She's up the Ovalix and headin' to Summit singin' "Home Sweet Home."
    Just another day on the A&S.

             (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-130719180003.jpeg)
                Past Piney Woods and on to the Ovalix

              (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-130719180247.jpeg)
                 Commin' Atcha!

               (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-130719180522.jpeg)
                    Old 451

               (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-130719180753.jpeg)
                 Pulpwood cars

                (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-130719180934.jpeg)
                Pullman Observation Solarum
                 
               


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on July 13, 2019, 06:52:31 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 14, 2019, 08:33:07 AM
And, that's just how the day went. When a loco on the A&S RR is singing "Home Sweet Home", all is well with the world.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 14, 2019, 11:06:53 AM
Love it!   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on July 14, 2019, 01:23:42 PM
I Agree with Bob............Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 15, 2019, 10:07:13 PM
Bob, Curt, Dennis, Greg, & Carl - Thank you very much for your kind comments.  As you can imagine, I have a lot of fun with this Saturday Report and I appreciate your encouragement.

Next Saturday I am going to start introducing some new citizens of Tahope and will probably revisit a few we already know. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 16, 2019, 07:39:03 AM
Keep them coming Bill..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on July 16, 2019, 09:21:02 AM
Congratulations 451
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on July 16, 2019, 11:25:00 AM
The Saturday Repot is almost as good as being there.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 16, 2019, 10:20:46 PM
Miller and Mueller - Thank you for your kind comments. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 20, 2019, 10:07:51 AM
JUly 20, 2019 - Fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.  Where were you?  The attractive blond on the morning news this morning who was telling us all about it wasn't even born.  Neither were her parents. 

There is no formal Saturday Report today because the A&S CEO is under the weather with a bug that is going around. 

Your reporter did retrieve a re-decodered ACL E7A unit from the shops yesterday as well as the new Central of Georgia SD9.  The E7 had a defective decoder and TCS replaced it gratis with an updated version of WOW Sound.  The update also included one of the TCS new "bass speakers."  it makes a great deal of difference in the quality of the sound and we will probably update more locos with the new speakers.  The downside is that they are a little larger than the regular speakers and will not fit in every loco, including our new SD9.  Speaking of the SD9, some readers may ask how the A&S obtained such a loco in 1950 when EMD did not put them into production until 1954?  The answer is simple.  The C of G obtained the first demonstrator model from EMD in 1950 and used it in conjunction with EMD engineers for testing purposes.   The "on-line models" did not start running off the assembly line until four years later.  Everybody knows that.

This week's story concentrates on some of the "local color" in the City of Tahope, particularly the individuals who frequent the Trackside Tavern, a local beer joint.  We will be meeting Tahope residents of note from time to time, as we develop the saga of the A&S.



                                                                                                              TRACKSIDE TAVERN

    There is a wedge-shaped building located next to the citrus processing plant on the outskirts of Tahope named the Trackside Tavern. 
    In 1950 it was voted the best beer joint in Tahope County, and the competition for that title was fierce.  Not every beer joint was allowed to enter the contest - there were conditions of entry that had to be met.

    First, the joint could only serve beer - no wine, no booze.
    Second, no wives, no girlfriends, no smart-aleck college punks allowed.  MEN ONLY!
    Third, the juke box could only have country music - 78's or the new 45's.
    Fourth, it had to have at least two pool tables with shaded lamps on chains hanging from the ceiling.
    Fifth, outdoor plumbing was allowed, but two extra points were given if indoor plumbing was offered in addition. 
    Sixth, the only lighting allowed was from the lamps over the pool tables, the lights from the beer signs, and a light over the cash register.
    Seventh, the complete food menu could only consist of pickled sausage, pickled eggs, potato chips, and peanuts in shell (roasted or boiled.)

    You can see how the requirements would have narrowed the competition.

    Recently, there was a change in proprietors of the Trackside Tavern, following the trial and conviction of the previous owner.  Our old friend Bruce Bonebreaker returned from Bay County, Florida, where he had worked pulpwood for the St. Joe Paper Company.  (You remember Bruce, he shot and killed Sam Savage outside of Butt's Bar-B-Que and was acquitted of murder. (See the bottom of page eight).  He managed to purchase the joint with a government backed small business loan from Tahope State Bank.  Bruce is a rough neck who is about as mean as they come.  He was born with a tattoo.  Said he inherited it from his mother.

    The regular customer base for the joint is composed mostly of citrus plant workers, pulpwood workers from Piney Woods, and railroaders from the A&S Railroad.

    Sometimes fights break out in the joint and the Tahope City Police Department makes an arrest or two nearly every Friday and Saturday night.

    Bruce claims he has had enough run-ins with the law.  He hung up a sign near the pool tables that says "NO GAMBLIN!  Anybody caught gamblin will be prosuted,"
 
    One of the bartenders who works in the joint is Clovis Butcher, whose father is a fireman on the A&S Railroad.

    One day, as Clovis was tending bar about 3:00 in the afternoon, an old friend from Osceola County came in for a beer and to get reacquainted. 
    "Hello, Clovis," said the newcomer, "Last time I saw you we were both drunk."
    "Believe we were," said Clovis, " we used to go into some really bad places." 
    "Them wuz real dives," said the newcomer.  " I remember one of them places wuz so bad it had blood on the floor."
    "That's nuthin'," said Clovis, "here we got blood on the ceiling!"
    "Be on my way," said the newcomer, "place with blood on the floor don't bother me none, but blood on the ceiling, now that's a tough place."  "Gimme a beer and an egg.  Gonna drink it and git before I have to contribute to the decor."
    Strangers aren't all that welcome at the Trackside Tavern.  The slogan, "A Real Working Man's Bar" plastered on the side of the building means what it says!

                                                                     (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-200719100453.jpeg)

    As anyone can see, the Trackside Tavern has been set temporarily in its location pending completion of scenery on the Tahope Branch Line of the A&S.  We will probably revisit this establishment after it is placed permanently.


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on July 20, 2019, 10:31:40 AM
I think I was in that place in my earlier days. ;D ;D ;D  Back then Tahope was just a sleepy little town.

Jim

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on July 20, 2019, 11:45:29 AM
Quote
JUly 20, 2019 - Fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.  Where were you?

We were at our summer camp, driving home.  We pulled over at a gas station (Jackson Center, PA) to listen to "one small step." 

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on July 20, 2019, 01:45:26 PM

In port Officer of the Deck.
USS Josephus Daniels (DLG-27) at Destroyer & Submarine Piers, US Naval Base, Norfolk, VA.
Watched the event through a porthole in the Officers Mess.
Why the Navy ever named a ship after the SecNav who removed alcohol from Navy vessels is still beyond me.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on July 20, 2019, 09:36:57 PM
Great story Bill. I was 12 and watched the landing at home on the TV.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 21, 2019, 07:15:17 AM
UF Political Science class and waiting for baby #2 (son) to arrived. He did, seven days later.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 21, 2019, 08:11:38 AM
Pegi and I were at our apartment in college watching history on our 12" black and white TV. It was a memorable month as we had just celebrated our 1st anniversary two weeks earlier..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Oldguy on July 21, 2019, 11:34:57 AM
I had recently reported to my duty station, the USS Truxton DLG(N) 35, in Long Beach.  We didn't have a TV on board and I wasn't into reading the newspaper back then.  So I heard about it second hand.  Actually, the biggest news back then was all about the Tate-LaBianca murders, albeit a month later.  I didn't know it at the time, but I had driven by the Tate murder scene about the time it was occurring.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 22, 2019, 03:15:21 PM
I was 11 at the time and watched it at home.

Methinks asking for a 'lite' beer in the Trackside Tavern would be a serious mistake.   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on July 22, 2019, 04:55:43 PM
I was working at the time and did not have access to a TV, but I remember watching the Launch out the window from my desk..

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 22, 2019, 10:42:50 PM
I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C. and awaiting October deployment to Vietnam.   I watched the launch and the landing on my 14" RCA color TV I bought at J. M. Fields. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dave K. on July 23, 2019, 07:39:29 AM
I was 8. Just sayin'.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on July 23, 2019, 09:53:56 AM
Dido......I was 8 also ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 27, 2019, 04:14:37 PM
July 27, 2019 Saturday Report - Atlantic & Southern Railroad

The Board of Director's meeting began promptly at 0830 this morning.  Everyone was in a good mood knowing the air conditioner was working - and for a 26-year old unit it really puts out the negative BTU's. 

There was a celebration over the delivery of the refurbished ACL E7, complete with updated TCS WOW Sound decoder and a new "bass" speaker.  The speaker makes a noticeable difference in the sound.  We may install several of these in our larger locomotives.  The speaker won't fit in GEEP units or steamers with small tenders.

The new Central of Georgia SD9 was also delivered.  It is a great addition to the roster.

We started the morning's operations off by moving the C&O's George Washington from where it was spotted at Summit down to the Bottoms.

Then we ran the ACL Champion with the E7's.  The passenger cars in the consist are among the oldest in our inventory and we had problems with the train breaking in two on the Ovalix.  The A&S Director of Maintenance, Will Fixer, towed the car causing the trouble to the shop and, after a coupler adjustment, it was returned to service.

The new SD9 was put through its paces by pulling a pulpwood train from The Midlands to Summit and dropping the consist at Summit Yard.  There were orders awaiting the engine at Summit and it coupled onto a mixed freight, which it hauled down the Ovalix to The Midlands and through the Taahope Branch Line, returning by way of the reverse loop.

Greg DeMayo graced us with his presence about 10:30 and we all went to lunch at smokey Bones. 

After lunch, there was a general bull session and some more running the SD9.

This week's story takes place in 1862, during the War of Northern Aggression.  It clears up a number of fake news reports at the time, mostly from New York newspapers, concerning the facts of what has become known as "The Great Locomotive Chase."  I promise, this will be the last of these Civil War stories, at least for a while.

                                                                                             The Truth About the Great Locomotive Chase   

Many of the inhabitants of Tahope County have ancestors who fought on the side of the Confederacy during the Civil War. 

For instance, Willard Woodman's great-grandfather Sam "Goat" Woodman "tuck up arms" shortly after Florida succeeded from the Union and joined the C.S.A.'s 44th Railroad Transportation Company, whose motto was "You call, we haul, y'all." 

Goat, who had prior experience, was promoted to sergeant and became a fireman shortly after he enlisted.   The 44th was assigned to the Western & Atlantic RR for duty.  Goat and his engineer ran a little American (4-4-0) type engine named "General" every day from Atlanta to Chattanooga and back, delivering arms, ammunition, and infantry replacements on the way up and delivering the dead and wounded on the return trip. 

On April 12, 1862, the General was "wooded up" and "took on water" at a little place north of Atlanta called Big Shanty, Georgia (pronounced "Jaw-Ja").  Captain W.A.Fuller was the conductor of the mixed passenger train that day and Goat Woodman was the fireman.  Capt. Fuller and the engineer decided to get some "eats" while the General was being serviced and instructed Goat to remain with the engine while they were gone.

Goat looked about and saw no reason to remain in the cab of the General because it was hot in there when the engine wasn't moving, so he decided to wander a ways down the track and find a place to rest in the shade.

About the time he was good and comfortable, he heard a great deal of commotion near the engine. A group of armed men ordered the few passengers aboard off the train and climbed in the General's cab.  The locomotive started off into the direction of Chattanooga, leaving the crew behind. 

We all know the leader of these bandits was a Yankee major named Andrew.  He was later captured and hanged, not for the theft of the General, because it never left W&A property, but for espionage as a Union spy.  The Confederate legal system was a stickler for getting it right.

So, for quitting his post without authority and allowing the Andrews Raiders to capture the General, Sam Woodman was busted to the grade of private and reassigned to the Atlanta locomotive repair facility, where he finished out the war without firing a shot. It was because of the incident at Big Shanty that Sam Woodman acquired the name of Goat, which he carried with him to his grave in 1913.

Few people know the truth of the story of the Andrew's Raid and current renditions of the tale tend to make it out as something it wasn't.  But folks born and raised in Tahope know the truth and speak highly of Goat Woodman, who was one of the few Tahope residents who made a name for himself during the war.


                                                                    (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-270719153431.jpeg)                                                                                                                                       
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on July 27, 2019, 04:29:31 PM
Another great one Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on July 27, 2019, 04:47:38 PM
I hope you never run out of stories Bill

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 27, 2019, 06:37:59 PM
Folks, there's a lot of history involving the Tahope descendents. Some of it believable and some not so much. However, I must say, as I cross my fingers, it's all true.

We have descendents of General Nathan B. Forrest living in and around Tahope. To the south and north of the lubritorium stands the great forest of Bedford Forest.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/24-270719183659.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on July 27, 2019, 08:59:56 PM
Quote from: DennisBourey on July 23, 2019, 09:53:56 AM
Dido......I was 8 also ;)


I was 12 and attending a Boy Scott summer camp.  The only building at the camp with power was the mess hall. The staff brought in TV's and lined them up along the front porch of the building. Some of the biggest TV's I had ever seen. Probably 25 inch. :o ;) ;D  We all sat in front of the TV's for hours watching - we could look up at the moon over the lake and then back at the TV's. A great way to watch the landing.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on July 27, 2019, 09:02:23 PM
Bill


Another great story. Keep them coming.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 28, 2019, 02:05:21 PM
Your reporter failed to provide proof of purchase of the new Central of Georgia SD9.  Here is photographic evidence with the SD9 spotted on A&S track.


                                                        (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-280719135515.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on July 29, 2019, 09:11:20 AM
Judge,

I never tire of your stories or the photos in this thread.  Keep 'em coming!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 03, 2019, 10:49:49 AM
August 3, 2019
   
This is the monthly weekend when "the Babe" gets her hair done in Mount Dora and Tom visits the Pennsy at Bill and Chris Cutler's place.  So there is no report from the A&S today.
    However, the A&S did recently receive two Illinois Central E8A units and they are being converted to WOW sound and should be on line to pull the City of Miami next week.  How do I.C. diesels find their way to a Florida swamp you may ask?  The answer is the Miami to Chicago passenger train found its way onto ACL tracks due to a pooling arrangement with the I.C.  I was privileged to ride the "City" from Chicago to Florida in 1954.  My father was a banker and he attended a banker's convention in Chicago.  We went up to Chicago on the "Dixie Flagler" and came back on the "City."  My father pulled some strings and got us a cab ride on both trains.  We rode in NC&St.L F3 diesels from Chattanooga to Nashville and through Southern Illinois on the way back.  I got to blow the horn a couple of times.

    This week's story continues the adventures of Newt Fisher, whose parents, Tallula and Luke, live in one of the cracker shacks on Eaton's curve. (See p.eight)  Some time ago, Newt decided that life as a bum in the bottoms was not for him so he tried his hand as and engine watchman. Newt has certain limitations, including the fact that he got his intelligence genes from his mother, and his pathological fear of accomplishment. 

                                                                                                   Striking It Rich on a Student Trip

    Newt Fisher managed to learn the ropes on how to be a successful "engine watchman" (See p.eighteen) after only a few weeks of that duty and, since the job was never intended to be a permanent position, Newt was promoted to temporarily try his luck as a student fireman.
    Now, the A&S management knew Newt had certain limitations, so the yardmaster was directed to assign him to A&S #7, , an oil fired 2-6-6-2.  This avoided the distinct possibility that Newt would fail to grasp the complexities of hand firing a coal burner.
    Newt reported for duty the next day only to find the conductor, engineer, and the regular fireman conversing about the day's run, which was to haul a train of pulpwood from Piney Woods up to Summit and return with some empties.  Old #7 was the best choice to pick up pulpwood due to the light rail on the Piney Woods spur.
    George "Crack-a-diamond" Musselwhite was the assigned fireman for the run.  He had been firing steam locomotives for many years and had trained many a student fireman. 
    George "tuck Newt aside" and explained a fireman's duties to him.  The Bunker C fuel oil used on oil fired engines is as thick as sludge when it is not heated and that is why oil burners have a heater in the tender's fuel bunker.  Oil heated properly will liquify and flow through the atomizer more easily when it is injected into the firebox.  Newt was told to turn the heater on and occasionally put his hand on the back of the fuel bunker tank.  "When it feels hot, it's hot enough."  Newt turned the heater on high and promptly forgot all about it.
    The engineer assigned that day, "Fatso" Johnson, gave #7's three chime whistle two short blasts and eased out into the yard with only a caboose in tow.  George, confident that Newt could follow instructions and handle the fireman's job for the short trip to Piney Woods, stepped off the engine at the yard limit, intending to rejoin the crew on the trip to Summit.
    There is a problem when the oil in the fuel bunker gets too hot.  It starts to bubble.
    The temperature in the fuel bunker kept going up and up as #7 chugged its way to Piney Woods and it began to bubble.  It wasn't long before it started bubbling out of the tank onto the deck.  Then a geyser shot out of the dip stick hole and spewed hot oil all over the cab of the engine, much to the discomfort of its occupants.
    Newt, quickly realizing his mistake, shut off the heater, climbed on the tank, and shut the dip stick hole.
    The rest of the trip was unpleasant to say the least.  However, when #7 returned to the roundhouse, the maintenance crew cleaned up the mess using sand, kerosene, and a steam hose.  It took Newt and "Fatso" as long to scrub the oil off of their bodies as it did to clean the engine.
    The yardmaster realized anyone can make mistakes the first day on a job, and, since no permanent harm was done to employees or equipment, Newt received no discipline other than a stern warning.
    The does not mean Newt didn't hear about it from his peers.  "Fatso" Johnson told the roundhouse crew how the incident happened and the word rapidly spread that Newt was the only A&S employee in history who ever struck oil in Florida.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on August 03, 2019, 10:59:18 AM
Great Story Bill.  Hope you have many more stored somewhere.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 03, 2019, 11:09:59 AM
Great story Bill.....I used to take the City of Miami to visit my Mom's relatives in Missouri each summer when I was a kid and then at the beginning and end of the school year when I was at Mizzou for college.....loved it.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 03, 2019, 01:15:22 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on August 03, 2019, 07:02:28 PM
Another enjoyable story Bill.  Always fun reading them!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 10, 2019, 03:12:01 PM
August 10, 2019
Big day today.  The A&S took delivery of the newly repowered Illinois Central E8A's.  We waited over two years for delivery.  They are a thing of beauty and run like a watch.  They will power the City of Miami.  The diesels are in the A-B-A configuration, with the middle B unit pleasing, but unpowered.  (It is certainly no "dummy.")  The plan is to replace the provided speakers with the new TCS WOW Sound enhanced bass speakers. We have already installed one of those speakers in an ACL E7A and it really improves the realism of the sound.  The IC passenger cars are all lighted and loaded with passengers.  Mostly streamlined cars but a few heavyweights thrown in so our passengers can have the option of a 14-section "Battleship."  The prototype City of Miami ran from Chicago to Miami.  It retained the IC diesels until it arrived in Jacksonville.  The FEC provided the power from Jax to Miami.  We will ultimately have a version of the Jax terminal at Summit and will change IC E8's for FEC E7's.  But that will probably be sometime next year.  There is still work to do on the Tahope branch and Tom is very busy building structures to be placed on the south side of the Tahope River.  In keeping with the policy of ignoring environmental concerns, the Tahope City Council has approved construction of a pest control facility on the south bank of the Tahope Rive with runoff directly into the river. 

The SBG (Saturday Buddy Group) met at 10:00. We ran the new City of Miami around the Midlands and up to Summit.  Lunch at Smokey Bones, as usual.

Here is a photo of the lead IC E8A, taken during her maiden voyage through the Midlands.

                                                                       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-100819143700.jpeg)

This week's story follows the adventures of Newt Fisher, who, as you might remember, is cousin to Shortstack and recently decided to leave The Bottoms for gainful employment.  He worked as an engine watchman with mixed success, but managed to get promoted to student fireman.  His first day on the job was a little rocky (Pager ten) but he stuck with it and today he is a man of experience firing an oil burning steamer.

                                                                                                   Oops!  We're Taking on Water

There is an old saying, "the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."  The originator of that saying never spent a winter in sunny Central Florida.  It gets bone chilling cold for a few days each winter.  The thermometer drops down to a few degrees below freezing, but the humidity remains at 80%.  When the wind blows from the north it is like standing in ice water.

One chilly February morning in 1950, the temperature dropped below freezing  when Number 7 pulled out onto the mainline.  She needed water for the run to Piney Woods, so the engineer, "Fatso" Johnson, spotted her under the water tank spout at Sanlando.

                                                                          (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-100819151538.jpeg)
 

Newt climbed up on the tender and opened the man hole that covered the water tank on the tender.  He reached the spout with a tank hook and pulled it down to where he could reach it.  The spout had a little step on it which needed the weight of a man in order to hold it into the tank.  The fireman had to stand on that step or the spout would jump out of the tank and drench the unwary tallow pot.

Newt put his foot on the step, pulled the chain that allowed the water to flow, and began to fill the tank.  But the deck was icy and his foot slipped, causing the spout to rise and ice cold water hit him square in the chest, nearly knocking him off the tender.  By the time he got the contraption under control, he was drenched and chilled to the bone.

"Fatso" saw Newt's predicament and motion him back into the cab.  "Strip naked, Newt," he said, "we have enough water to get to make it to Summit and your clothes can dry on the back head on the way.  So, Newt stripped and fired Number 7 naked all the way to Piney Woods and up the Ovalix to Summit.  By the time they arrived at Summit Newt's clothes were dry and he rode back to the roundhouse in more modest condition. 

"Fatso" Johnson couldn't resist telling the tale to the roundhouse crew and Newt became known as "Nudist Newt," the only fireman to fire an engine completely au naturel.

And that's the truth!


                                                                 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 10, 2019, 03:45:31 PM
Glad there weren't any pictures of Newt working in his birthday suit on this family friendly forum  ;D .....great yarn Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 10, 2019, 04:29:04 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on August 10, 2019, 03:45:31 PM
Glad there weren't any pictures of Newt working in his birthday suit on this family friendly forum  ;D .....great yarn Bill.  8)


Greg,

Yarn, nothing, it's the God awful truth!

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 10, 2019, 05:27:26 PM
Awesome Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on August 10, 2019, 06:36:14 PM
Once again a great entertaining story Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on August 10, 2019, 08:23:38 PM
Great story Bill.  One of the few times on the forum when we love not having pictures.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on August 10, 2019, 11:13:57 PM
Great Story Bill.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on August 10, 2019, 11:19:41 PM
And all along I believed the Florida panhandle was the only really cold part of Florida during the winter.
Silly me.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 11, 2019, 09:07:36 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on August 10, 2019, 04:29:04 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on August 10, 2019, 03:45:31 PM
Glad there weren't any pictures of Newt working in his birthday suit on this family friendly forum  ;D .....great yarn Bill.  8)


Greg,

Yarn, nothing, it's the God awful truth!

Tom  ;D


and you think I didn't believe every work that was written..... :) :) ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on August 11, 2019, 12:48:56 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on August 11, 2019, 09:07:36 AM



and you think I didn't believe every work that was written..... :) :) ;)
[/quote]

Every WORK ??????

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 12, 2019, 08:14:59 AM
Quote from: jimmillho on August 11, 2019, 12:48:56 PM



and you think I didn't believe every work that was written..... :) :) ;)

Every WORK ??? ???

Jim



Okay James.....I was in a hurry.....I'll change it when I gets a minutes.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on August 12, 2019, 01:10:48 PM
Hey:

everything is looking just beautiful. Keep those great pics flowing.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 17, 2019, 05:17:25 PM
August 17, 2019.
The weekly meeting of the A&S Board of Directors started on time at 0830 hours.  The progress on the pest control business was examined and it will soon be placed on the shores of the Tahope River, where it will no doubt make a major contribution to polluting the water.  All of this has been approved by the Tahope City Council, considering the mayor is the owner's cousin. 

We put the new IC diesels through their paces on the Summit level and then decided to bring the Pennsy Coal train up from the Bottoms on its regular run delivering coal to the Tahope Power Company and Hog Exchange.  Those Sharks really sound good with authentic Baldwin prime mover power and real Baldwin horns,  The A-B-A lash-up has no problem climbing the Ovalix with 21 cars and the train tracks very well.  As you might remember, the Pennsy has an agreement with the A&S to provide a regular coal supply to Tahope and, in the winter months, a section of the Pennsy's Broadway Limited swings south over ACL tracks to assist bringing snow birds to sunny Central Florida.
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-170819163824.jpeg)  (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-170819164032.jpeg)
                                                                                                               

Jim and CLaire Miller and Greg DeMayo visited us and a general bull session took place until time for lunch at Smokey Bones. 

The bull session continued after lunch until about 1400 hours, when the day was declared over just prior to the daily afternoon thunderstorm.

This week's story involves a geographic feature of the A&S called "The Great Divide."  It is a bottomless canyon over which bridges are placed on all three levels of the railroad.  The Great Divide is located at the north end of the railroad and separates the east side from the west side.  Failure to put the bridges in place can result in catastrophe.   Hence, the misadventures of Newt and Short Stack continue.

                                                                                                       The Ride to the Great Divide

Newt Fisher continued his assignment on the pulpwood train as a student fireman on into the spring.  He had proven his abilities to the satisfaction of the A&S management and was approved for duty firing a coal burning locomotive. 

Early one morning Newt was called to fire a train of pulpwood cars from Piney Woods to the paper mill in Jacksonville.  The regular engineer, "Fatso" Johnson, was assigned elsewhere and Russel "Ballast Scorcher" Taylor , an engineer from Jacksonville, deadheaded to Tahope the night before on the Florida Special to make this run.  Taylor was familiar with local conditions, because he was born and raised in Tahope and had kin still living there. (Many Tahope natives have last names reflecting midieval occupations.)

The engine assigned to the run, a USRA Pacific, was coupled to a caboose and the train proceeded in reverse from the Sanlando yard for the short trip to Piney Woods.  This configuration meant the view of the bridge around Eaton's curve would be blocked from the engineer's side of the train.  Taylor would have to rely on Newt's vigilance to make sure the bridge was in place across The Great Divide. 

This being Newt's first day firing a coal burning steamer, he felt a little nervous and asked Taylor if he would mind if his cousin Short Stack rode in the cab as far as Piney Woods.  Taylor said he didn't mind and Short Stack climbed into the cab. 

When Taylor whistled off to proceed, he instructed Newt to look out the fireman's side window as the train approached Eaton's Curve. 

Newt hung out the fireman's side window and the cool morning breeze lulled him fast asleep.  Consequently, he did not notice that the bridge was "out" and the caboose was only eight or ten can lengths from the edge of the drop-off. 

Fortunately, Short Stack was alert and observed the approaching peril.  He let out a shriek and Taylor put her into emergency.  The jolt of the sudden brake application woke Newt and the engine screeched to a stop less than three feet from the edge of The Great Divide.

The conductor climbed down from the caboose and demanded an explanation from the engineer.  It was obvious who was at fault and when Newt returned to the roundhouse he lost his student fireman status and went on the extra board as a brakeman.

When asked to explain himself, Newt, who has a pathological fear of accomplishment, said, "I almost did something right today, but I went to sleep."

For his part in the incident, Taylor was given a week's unpaid vacation.  Short Stack was reinstated to his job of "sweeping up" at the roundhouse.

                                                           (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-170819170922.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on August 17, 2019, 05:45:37 PM
Another gem Bill.  Sorry I missed the festivities today.   :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 17, 2019, 05:50:45 PM
Whew, that was close! Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on August 17, 2019, 05:51:27 PM
Judge,

I think the boys on the A&S just proved the world is flat!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on August 17, 2019, 06:47:26 PM
Hey Judge:

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on August 17, 2019, 07:54:24 PM
As a witness to todays story, I can say that "it's the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God"

Trust me, this is a true story, as reported by the Judge.

Jim


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 18, 2019, 07:41:48 AM
Yepper, "shor tis da truff ".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 18, 2019, 08:26:53 AM
What a great time to forget my hip boots..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 18, 2019, 09:16:15 AM
Jerry, Greg, Jim, Curt et al.  - Thanks for taking the time to comment on my little stories.  I am amazed at the number of times the Saturday Report is accessed during the week. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 20, 2019, 02:23:55 PM
The rest of the story.
I ran across this u-tube video this morning and thought I would use it to illustrate just how blind Russel Taylor was backing around Eaton's curve.  This clip involves a railfan who is lucky enough to get to run a GP9 back and forth for a couple of hundred yards.  I'm not impressed with our hero or his camera ability, but I am jealous of his opportunity.  Anyway, notice how poor the vision is in general and how blind the engineer is on a curve.  Having a Pacific size boiler sticking out in front of your view would give the same effect.  No wonder the railroads kept firemen to watch out the left side on these diesels.  Wonder what's going on with all those UP diesels spotted on the side tracks? Is this a scrap line? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doC_tZNxbro
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 24, 2019, 03:45:03 PM
Saturday Report August 24, 2019

The Board of Directors met at 0830 hours.  The meeting was short.  The only business was the question of acquisition of certain equipment including Southern RR passenger cars.  It was agreed that the A&S didn't have a dire need for more Southern equipment but, what the heck, it was on sale and no one knows what will happen to the Chinese market - and even if things work out, these cars will not be priced this low again.  Other miscellaneous purchases were made.  Next week will be a work day.  We are going to reorganize the placement of our freight and passenger trains, which are spotted on the ready on the Bottoms storage tracks.  There are nine tracks of varying lengths on each side so getting our long trains organized will be a fun challenge.

We started out the fun part of the day by running the new City of Miami on the Summit level.  Then we moved the Shark powered coal train to the Bottoms and brought up the tank car unit train.  The new C of G SD9 was put into her paces and she traveled up the Ovalix to Summit to pick up additional freight revenue. Greg DeMayo arrived about 10:30 and, after more running of the SD9, we traveled to Smokey Bones for lunch. 

The Babe made us cup cakes for desert and we ran a steamer through downtown Tahope.  We ran a diesel powered freight on the same route and the trip did not end until after nightfall.  The lights on the railroad are really super at night.

In the the story this week, we will attend the weekly Thursday night poker game that takes place on the A&S Pullman Solarium lounge and sleeping car that is spotted at the freight station in Tahope.  This game is closed to all except prominent local officials.  The car is available for weekend trips to Gainesville during football season to watch the Gators play football.

Readers who keep up with the goings on in Tahope know that Bruce Bonebreaker recently purchased the Trackside Tavern.  That establishment is described on page 21 of this thread.  It is a "rough place."  So rough, it has blood on the ceiling.

The Trackside Tavern was the subject  of discussion at this week's poker game.

                                                                                                     TAHOPE AIN'T LIKE NEW YORK

The Mayor, the Police Chief, the Fire Marshal, the City Attorney, and the President of the Tahope State Bank were playing poker one Thursday night several weeks ago in the Pullman Solarium lounge and sleeper car the A&S owns and makes available for use by such dignataries, when the subject of the Trackside Tavern came up. 

"Tahope's famous beer joint is getting quite a reputation," said the Chief.  "Making money had over fist."  "How's that?" asked the Mayor, "Bonebraker is only selling beer, pickled eggs and sausage.  And he's giving away the peanuts."

"Oh," said the Chief, "I dropped in the place one afternoon a few weeks ago and Bonebreaker set up a stage facing the bar.  He bought me a beer and put a nickel in the juke box and out came this young lady dressed in one of them new bikini outfits and she got on the stage and wiggled to beat all." 

"Bonebreaker asked me if'n I had any problems with that and I said I wouldn't say even if I did." 

"Then he signaled the girl, her name was Tawdry, and darned if she didn't slip the top of her bikini off and commence to wiggling and jiggling.  Then Bonebreaker asked me, "Do you see anything wrong with that?"  "And I said, There's got to be something wrong with that but I cain't say whut it is.  Maybe I better have another beer." 

"Then the girl walked over to where we were sitting and she leans down to me and says," "Table Daintz?"  "Well, I didn't know what to think about that so I said, yes.  With that, doncha know, she got up on our table and tuck off her bikini bottom and went to wiggling and a jiggling right there on the table. 

"What did you say to that? said the bank president?"  "Waal," said the Chief, "after a couple of hours had passed, I said Bonebreaker, Tahope is a far cry from New York and I recon I'll have to get Judge Thomas to put a stop to this improper exhibition."

"By the way," said the Mayor, "Were is Judge Thomas?  He's usually on his third drink of bourbon by this time of night.  Game ain't the same without us taking his money from the pot." 

"He ain't far," said Walter the bartender, " I sees him a-commin' up the road right now."

When the judge arrived and was briefed on the situation he said, "Well, you boys get Marvin here to file a complaint and I'll take testimony with the Tahope Daily Blatter present and make a ruling as soon as the Chief explains exactly what happened." 

"You mean this will all be in open court?" said the Chief.  "Of course, said the judge."  "If that be the case, maybe we ought to forget the whole thing." 

With that, the City Attorney, Marvin Bello, stated, "Chief, if you don't shut him down there's nothing the city can do.  He ain't violating no city ordinances and his licenses are current."

After several weeks went by, the Thursday night poker club members noticed the Trackside Tavern was closed and boarded shut.  "How'd that happen? said the City Attorney. I didn't file suit."

"Foreclosed the mortgage," said the bank president.  And the reputation of Tahope was saved.

                                                   (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-240819155339.jpeg)

                                                          A&S Solarium car conveniently spotted next to the Trackside Tavern
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 24, 2019, 06:38:54 PM
Great story.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on August 25, 2019, 11:52:36 AM
Bill, I really love all these "True" Stories about the citizens of Tahope and surrounding areas. ;) ;) ;)

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 31, 2019, 03:37:54 PM
August 31, 2019

Well, you would think the off-shore hurricane would cause us to pay attention to the weather, and maybe we will on Tuesday/Wednesday.  It was last week when one of Florida's famous summer lightning storms fried the power supply for the A&S Railroad.  As luck would have it, no replacements were available locally so one was ordered from Digitrax.  The lack of power did not rule out a brief meeting of the A&S bored directors and we had salads at Smokey Bones.  Afterwards, the track maintenance crew was installed for the photo accompanying this week's story and, after marveling at the new pest control building and the apiary for the bee keeper, we called it a day.

This week's story is one of a bad first day on the job.  Everybody has had one of those, but our Bottoms dweller, Short Stack, has more than his share.  Recall his mishap backing Number 71 into the turntable pit and his arrest for almost stealing a locomotive.  It seems when time passes, memories fade, so Short Stack was rehired as the jack man on the A&S's track maintenance section.

                                                                                                 Short Stack and the Section Foreman

After Pat O'Malley passed away, his partner, Michael O'Toole was promoted to chief civil engineer.  They sent another great big Irishman named Malone to take the track maintenance section.  The events that took place on Malone's first day on the job are related here by one of the Irish section workers, Brian O'Sullivan.

"Malone whas a fine man.  Being Irish, he liked his whiskey, but he never did ask the section to buy him none.  That summer they hired this fella named Short Stack to be the jack man on the track.  We was removing abandoned rail on the north end of the Midlands and it whas one hot day - temperature in the high 90's. 

"When noon came, we got our lunch pails, and as we wear all used to the hot sun, we sat right doon on the track to eat our lunch.   Malone took his coat and laid it on the track to sit on to keep the rail from burning him, as the sun had heated the rail hotter than a cooking stove.  When he throwed his coat doon it landed on a rail joint which whas opin about an inch, maybe more."

"That mornin' Short Stack had broken the handle on his spike mall and he go to fixin' it while we ate lunch so he would have it when we started back to werk.  He got the new handle in place and needed to test it so he gave a good wack to the end of the rail ware Malone whas sitting.  He never thought the blow would cause the rail joint to close, but it went together with a bang and caught the flesh of Malone's hind parts and took out a slug as big as fifty cents.  We had to pull him off that joint and he hollowed bludy murder and everything else he could hollow."

"We hauled him to Tahope to Doc Staysic and he had a bad time with it.  He showed it to me after it healed up and you would never think it would make the scar that it did."

"Short Stack visited Malone in the hospital and made his peace with him.  Malone knew he didn't mean to do it, but when the conversation ended, Short Stack thought it best to return to life in The Bottoms.

                                                                       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-310819154401.jpeg)

                                                                                That's O'Sullivan in the brown overalls, watching the drama.  Short Stack is wearing
                                                                                                the yellow shirt and Malone is kneeling.  Photo taken before lunch.
                                                                         
                                                                     
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 31, 2019, 04:42:23 PM
Sounds quite painful.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 01, 2019, 08:04:31 AM
Wez gotz sum mighty fine folks work'n for us'n on the A&S RR. Only the finest employees.

That hurt just read'n it.  :'(

Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Rollin on September 01, 2019, 08:56:24 AM
It's just like the butcher who backed into his meat grinder...he got a little behind in his work.  OUCH!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 01, 2019, 09:16:05 AM
That had to hurt..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on September 01, 2019, 11:48:46 AM
OUCH!!!!!!

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on September 01, 2019, 01:20:43 PM
Ouch is right!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 07, 2019, 11:06:49 AM
September 7, 2019

Well, fellow railroaders, there is no Saturday report today for two reasons.  The A&S Railroad is shut down because the new power source has not arrived to replace the one that was fried by a lightning strike some days before the drizzle passed through Central Florida called Hurricane Dorian.   It is on order from Digitrax and hopefully will arrive this week.  Additionally, and more importantly, today is the Babe's hair-do day and so the A&S CEO is off to Mount Dora.

There will be a new story today.  However, it will not be accompanied by photographs.  I got the idea for this story from an old Trains magazine from the 1940's.  The A&S Railroad is dated in the early 1950's and I remember as a little boy seeing brakemen walking on top of moving boxcars.  All freight cars had air brakes then so maybe walking the tops of boxcars was the way to get from the engine to the caboose.

                                                                                                                MIXED SIGNALS

    As the A&S grew in revenue, the need for additional trains became evident.  Freight trains were added between Tampa, Orlando, Tahope, and Jacksonville.  The ACL added a second section to the Champion in the winter season and the SAL added a second section to the Silver Meteor.  Additional trains meant additional employees and a notice was posted at the roundhouse and in City Hall advertising for brakemen trainees.
    One of the veteran engineers on the A&S was a crusty old Irishman named Uncle Henry O'Leary.  Uncle Henry usually was assigned to the local freight that made its way from Tahope to Summit.  Uncle Henry's practice was to head into the wye at Summit and cut off the engine from the freight, finish switching, recouple to the train , and finish the run.
    Well, on this particular day he drew one of the new brakemen, a local boy named Oliver Carpenter, who had only two weeks experience.  He showed up wearing cotton pants and a shirt instead of overalls and he wore a black cowboy hat instead of a railroader's hat.  When Uncle Henry drew near the first leg of the wye, the new apprentice was atop the second boxcar.  To keep the wind from blowing his hat away, he stuffed it into his back pocket.  The hind shack stuck his head up over the roof of the last boxcar and pattted his head to signal that Uncle Henry would pull into the wye engine first.  Carpenter did not know what the signal meant, and thinking the hind shack was worried he had lost his hat, he turned his back to him and patted his right hip pocket. 
    With that, the hind shack exploded with a variety of choice expletives and descriptive adjectives and turning to the conductor said, "Look at that so and so brakeman.  He's broke here only two weeks and when I tell him Uncle Henry's going to head in, he says he's going to back around and run in.  Where do they get these greenhorns?
    Probably from the Bottoms.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 08, 2019, 08:16:37 AM
Another good one Bill.....good help is always hard to find, especially if you have to go to The Bottoms.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on September 08, 2019, 09:49:41 AM
Glad to see we had another great story this week in spite of the RR's downtime.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 14, 2019, 04:32:38 PM
Saturday Report - September 14, 2019

    The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad convened at 0815 for the usual Saturday morning con-fab.  No serious business was conducted but your reporter got to inspect the new building to be erected in Tahope south of the river.  Your reporter also  tried his hand at "speed matching" of the newly acquired E8A units lettered for Illinois Central's City of Miami.  Speed matching can be done through verbal commands without resorting to the program track.  Just another feature of TCS WOW Sound decoders.  The attempt was pretty successful for a first try.  We ran the "City" around Summit and down to the Midlands before spotting it in the Bottoms.  We also moved several passenger cars into their proper locations on the East Side storage tracks.  Next week we will organize some of the freight trains on the West Side.
    We have a 20+ car reffer train powered by ACL F3's and we delivered the goods in the reefers throughout the Midlands, including a trip through downtown Tahope. 
    Greg Demayo arrived about 1030 and the new C of G SD9 was put through its paces.  Then we went to lunch at Smokey Bones.
    After lunch we ran more trains.  With a two week layoff behind us, it sure was good to get our hands on a throttte again.

    This week's story features scary ghosts and strange happenings.  Read on if you are stout of heart and have no fear.

                                                                                                       The Ghost of Bedford Forrest

    The wooded area located just to the north of the Ovalix in the Midlands is known as Bedford Forrest.  It is named after the famous four-star Confederate General of the same name - and, yes, he spelled it with two r's.  Many of the inhabitants of Tahope County in 1950 have ancestors who fought on the side of the Confederacy during the Civil War.  Florida did not become a state until 1845, so it was new to the Union at the time the war formally started in 1861.  While Florida was never invaded by the Union Army, Key West remained occupied as a Union military installation and Ft. Myers was occupied by Union troops from before the war until its end.  The war did "touch" Florida through the loss of many Confederate soldiers, killed and wounded.  And many long time Florida natives see nothing wrong with honoring the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the Confederacy.
    A wye is partially hidden in Bedford Forrest and, because the ground is covered with good old Florida sand, it is the home of small game such as gopher turtles, rabbits, and quail.  Occasionally, a Florida black bear wanders through the forest looking for easy prey and honey bees.  (Recently, the bears have started raiding the hives near the apiary located in South Tahope.)  The forest would be quite tranquil but for the noise the railroad makes.  The sound of locomotives and freight cars almost constantly traveling through the area reduces the wildlife activity.
    Some say the forest is haunted.  An eerie light has reportedly been seen on moonless nights and local residents avoid the area due to the supposed danger.  The origin of the ghost begins with the tragic death of a conductor, Hap Hatter, who lost his life on the south leg of the wye in 1934.  Hatter was decapitated while he was uncoupling a boxcar on a local freight.  His foot slipped and he fell on the track in front of a moving car.  The locals claim the mysterious light that appears at night is Hatter's lantern, which his ghost is carrying to locate his head.
    The light has been blamed on headlights from vehicles on the distant highway, but the light appeared well before the highway was constructed in 1947.  A complaint was recently made to the Tahope Police Department and Officer Poovey was assigned to investigate. 
    Officer Poovey approached the forest on a moonless night with fear and trepidation.  He crept through the thick woods with gun drawn and ready.  He saw a light glowing in the distance and advanced to learn its source.  The light came from close to ground level and showed the faint outline of a boxcar.  Poovey could hear two brakemen discussing the situation but it was too dark to see them.  He could tell that one voice came from ground level and the other came from atop of the boxcar.  When the brakey on the tops told the brakey on the ground to "throw the lantern up to me," Poovey could not understand what was said. 
    Suddenly, Poovey observed the light rapidly rising from the ground and making an arc above the boxcar before going out.  Poovey, who by this time was very frightened, turned and ran back to his patrol car as fast as his legs could carry him.
   The next morning, Poovey reported to the Chief of Police and explained what he saw the night before.  He said, "There's ghosts alright!  Last night I saw a boxcar spotted on the wye and heard the ghosts talking to one another.  One ghost was standing on the ground with a lantern and the other ghost was atop the box car.  The ghost on the ground jumped all the way to the top of the boxcar and put out the light.  That's when I turned tail for town.  Never been so scared in my life!"
    And the legend of the Ghost of Bedford Forrest goes on.
                                                                                                                     
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-140919163017.jpeg)
                                                                                                                     

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-140919162751.jpeg) 

                         
 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 14, 2019, 05:12:24 PM
Judge,

Great, this is another reason even I don't walk the Bedford Forrest Wye at night. Just saying.

Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: bparrish on September 14, 2019, 05:58:33 PM
Fun story ....


Thanx
Bob
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 14, 2019, 06:55:50 PM
Another great yarn Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 15, 2019, 08:20:58 AM
Enjoyed it Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on September 15, 2019, 01:01:52 PM
I consider myself lucky to have never been on the Bedford Forrest Wye at night.  There is a lot more to this than meets the eye.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 21, 2019, 03:42:23 PM
Saturday Report - September 21, 2019
    The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours and began the meeting with a Coke and a diet Pepsi.  A box full of new items were received from various manufacturers, including several Budd passenger cars that will be assigned to our Southern passenger trains.  Additionally, a load of lumber (HO scale) and a number of little people were included.  The most important of the little people were the beekeepers, who will be placed next to the apiary as soon as it is moved into place. 
    The next item on the agenda was our continued efforts to classify and spot trains on the tracks in the Bottoms.  Last week we arranged our passenger fleet and this week the effort was on freight. 
    We received a number of new "bass speakers" from TCS.  The CEO has assigned the installation task for installation of two of the new speakers to Will Fixer's roundhouse foreman and we expect to be able to compare the quality with other, inferior, speakers next Saturday.
    Classifying freight trains gave us the opportunity to run several trains from the Bottoms to Summit and into the Midlands so, absent the usual Saturday morning gremlins, we had few mishaps and much revenue was generated for the A&S in the process.

    This week's story is one of success and sadness.  It was wonderful to live in Central Florida in 1950 and hear the lonesome whistles of ACL's Pacifics as they traveled through Orlando in the night.  But, all good things must come to an end - but wait!  The ACL steamers still pound the rails on the A&S and they have lasted years longer than the originals.  They are just a bit smaller.  Now for the story.

                                                                                                              Wayne Shoemaker

    Tahope County is sparsely populated, like many Florida counties in 1050.  In the winter there are a number of migrants who swell the population to nearly 10,000, but normally the population is much less than that.  For instance, the City of Tahope, the county seat, only has a population of 1504.  It's one of those southern counties where everybody knows everybody.
    Wayne Shoemaker is the son of Walter and Buttercup Shoemaker (Most of the wimmmin folk in Tahope are named after flowers or plants).  Wayne used to enjoy the summers because he could go barefoot and fish in the Tahhope River that runs south of town.  Wayne's dad is the manager of the local orange packing facility located near the banks of the River.   Wayne's mother is an English teacher at Tahope County High School. 
    One Saturday in June 1925, when Wayne was 10 years old, he wandered onto the yard at the A&S roundhouse and engine facility.  He had always been fascinated by the railroad, which was so much the lifeblood of his community, and he dreamed of one day becoming an engineer on a steam locomotive. 
    Anyway, Wayne walked along one of the lead tracks towards the roundhouse and stopped at the coaling tower.  There he saw A&S number 71 spotted under the coal chute.  The fireman pulled the chain to open the chute and a couple of tons of coal fell into the tender.  The fireman saw Wayne watching this performance and said, "Hi, there, young'n.  You like steam engines?"  To which Wayne answered, "Boy! Do I!"  "Well, then, climb up into the cab and I'll show you how she works." 
    Wayne climbed into the cab and the fireman, a local man named Mike Weaver (many of the inhabitants of Tahope have last names that reflect midieval occupations), pointed out all of the valves and gages on the backhead.  Then he let Wayne sit in the engineer's seat.
    About that time, the hogger climbed aboard and Mike asked him if Wayne could ride in the cab while number 71 switched the citrus plant.  Wayne was allowed to ride and he shoveled coal and blew the whistle, a three chimer.
    At the end of the day Wayne was convinced that life as a railroader was for him and he longed for the day he would sit in the engineer's seat in charge of his own freight train. 
    Wayne graduated from Tahope High School in 1933 and hired on with the Atlantic Coast Line as a brakeman.  He broke for that railroad until 1940 when he finally qualified as a fireman.  His name was written up on the extra board and he was called the next day to fie on a local freight.  He climbed into the cab of ACL's number 835, a USRA Mike, and began checking the boiler pressure and water level.  He was a little nervous, beins how this was his first day on the job and he knew some of the engineers had little patience with green firemen. 
    The hogger climbed up the ladder on the right side of the engine and extended his hand to Wayne.  He said, "Don't I know you?  Could you be Wayne Shoemaker, the little boy I gave a ride to back in 1925?  "Well, said Wayne, you must be Mike Weaver, the guy who was the fireman that day."  "Yep," said Mike, now grab that shovel  and bring the pressure up so we can highball out of here on time." 
    Wayne was finally promoted to engineer in 1953, but by that time, number 835 had been scrapped ane Wayne learned how to handle a freight train with a brace of F2's. 
    And I guess they call that progress. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 21, 2019, 03:55:45 PM
A nice feel good story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on September 21, 2019, 05:02:57 PM
Another great story, Judge.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on September 21, 2019, 07:06:17 PM
I agree Judge, Great story..........Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on September 22, 2019, 07:47:44 AM
Thanks for a great story Judge!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on September 22, 2019, 09:17:33 AM
These wonderful stories sure do add another layer of realism to the A&S.  Keep up the great work!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 22, 2019, 10:37:18 AM
It was a very sad day when steam engines were replaced by diesels, better for the bottom line, but no soul.....another good one Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on September 22, 2019, 11:33:55 AM
Wonderful, Wonderful.  Great Story Bill.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 27, 2019, 10:46:16 PM
I want to thank all of my loyal followers who visit my Saturday Reports each weekend.  I have a lot of fun coming up with the stories and I  feel like I am getting to really know some of the characters.  That is probably because some of them are modeled after people I have known, especially the criminal types.  Let me know how I'm doing.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Raymo on September 28, 2019, 07:19:35 AM
It's good that the A&S has some adult supervision to keep everyone inline!😀
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 28, 2019, 07:30:55 AM
I love the stories, but then I live them every Saturday.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on September 28, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on September 28, 2019, 07:30:55 AM
I love the stories, but then I live them every Saturday.

Lucky!!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on September 28, 2019, 01:14:06 PM
More great photos.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 28, 2019, 05:36:57 PM
September 28, 2019 Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report

    Problem with photos solved itself.  Go figure.

    The Board of Directors met this morning at 0830 and, after a Coke and a Diet Pepsi there was a a sad discussion about Bill Cutler's Pennsy being scheduled for dismantling.  Bill is a good friend and we wish him the best, but we will miss his layout.
    There was a discussion about the installation of the newly arrived TCS bass speakers.  We have installed one of them in an ACL E7A and cannot see an appreciable difference between it and the factory-installed speaker.  Tom is going to install another one in one of our PFM USRA Pacifics this week and we will give it a test next Saturday.
    We decided to run some locos that haven't had a recent move so we started out with a Southern Passenger train.  The E6 diesel is really duded up with a fancy paint scheme.  The E6A has an E6B unit but it is a non-functional-but-pleasing-consist-enhancer which is without a prime mover.  The consist had an REA car and nine Budd streamlined passenger cars in tow and it walked up the ovalix to the Midlands and then to Summit without even a hint of a problem.  Then it took "the big trip" back to the bottoms. 
                                                             
                                                                       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290919135619.jpeg)

    Next, we brought the Gulf Breeze Zepher up to Summit and ran it through its paces.  The Gulf Breeze Zepher is a complete train that was purchased from the CB&Q along with an ABA lash-up of F2 CB&Q diesels and an ABA lash-up of D&RGW F3's.  It travels from Jacksonville to New Orleans three times a week during the season and provides needed revenue for the A&S.

                                                                 (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290919142114.jpeg)

                                                                 (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290919141755.jpeg)

                                                                   These Photos were taken at Summit just after the Z exited the Ovalix.

    Lunch was at Smokey Bones as usual.
     The morning train run was a total success.  Not a single derail except for a few switches thrown the wrong way.  We need to get rid of that new brakeman, Newt Fisher. 

   This week's story involves a lesson on firing an old burning steam locomotive. 

                                                                                                            SANDING THE FLUES

    Oil burning locomotives like A&S Number 7, a Sierra type 2-6-6-2, are plagued with problems involving soot clogging up the boiler flues.  Clogged flues tend to reduce the boiler pressure and that is a fireman's nightmare.  The problem is solved through the process of sanding the flues.
    A sandbox containing the same kind of sand used in the sand dome is located on the front side of the tender next to the apron between the tender and the cab of the engine.  A small shovel is provided to facilitate the sanding operation by the fireman.
    When the engine is at track speed and working steam, a significant draft is created.  Every ten miles or so, the fireman inserts a scoop or two of sand through the "peephole" in the firebox door.  The draft sucks the sand into the flues and the soot is blown out the stack, along with a generous amount of black smoke and cinders. 
    Speaking of Number 7, one fine morning in the late summer, just as the oppressive heat and humidity of August in a Florida swamp began to lift, Uncle Henry O'Leary drew the pulpwood run to Piney Woods as the engineer on A&S Number 7.  His fireman that day was John Tanner, who had recently been promoted from being a brakeman and who had scant experience firing an oil-burning locomotive.  When John climbed into the cab, Uncle Henry asked him about his experience and suggested he get acquainted with the sandbox located on the floor in front of the tender.  "She'll need her flues sanded every ten miles or so," he said, and John said he understood. 
    Uncle Henry manhandled the reversing lever and set it in the back corner.  Then he cracked the throttle and Ole Number 7 slowly backed down the service track past the coaling tower, her cylinders making the uneven exhausts articulated engines make along with rod clank and escaping steam. 
    Number 7 coupled onto a caboose and proceeded on the mainline past the Sanlando Station and around Eaton's Curve and over the Great Divide, heading for Piney Woods.  On the way, Uncle Henry turned to his fireman and said, "Boy!  My teeth!"  John turned towards the engineer and saw he was holding his false teeth, covered with tobacco juice, in his outstretched hand.  "Wash them," he demanded.  John took the teeth and washed them with water from the water jug located on a shelf in the front of the tender.  Uncle Henry returned the teeth to his mouth and bit off a new chaw of tobacco.
    Soon, Number 7 approached Piney Woods and John took his shovel and inserted sand through the peephole in the firebox door to sand the flues.  Unfortunately, no one told him that it was a bad idea to sand the flues in a forest area.  The sand dislodged the soot from the flues and soot, cinders, and sparks belched out of the stack.  The sparks set several of the pine trees on fire.  Uncle Henry applied the air and the engine stopped.  John grabbed the water hose and squirted the fire with feed water from the tender, putting it out.  But the fire had done its work and evidence of the fire is still present in Piney Woods. (See Photos)  Lesson learned.

                                                                         (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290919135855.jpeg)
                                   

                                                                             (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290919140058.jpeg)

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 28, 2019, 07:30:56 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 29, 2019, 08:12:34 AM
Enjoyed this weeks installment Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on September 29, 2019, 09:50:43 AM
 :) Another gem Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on September 29, 2019, 12:39:19 PM
Great Story Bill. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 29, 2019, 02:31:35 PM
Well, the photos are up.  I hope this problem, whatever it was, will not happen again. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 29, 2019, 02:50:28 PM
Judge,

Considering Tom's reputation with fire I'm a little surprised the damage wasn't more extensive.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 29, 2019, 04:45:42 PM
Jerry - We don't let him play with matches anymore and may restrict his access to X-acto knives. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on September 29, 2019, 06:59:03 PM
Another great story Judge!  When I visited the A&S this past summer with my son I missed seeing the burned forest!  Dang!  I'll have to make another trip down there to visit the A&S (and my son!) next year.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 29, 2019, 09:52:36 PM
Mark - You are always welcome. 

And thanks to all of you who visited this week's Saturday Report.  I appreciate your comments. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 05, 2019, 04:40:45 PM
Welcome to the October 5, 2019 edition of the Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report

Big Day today!  While we are sorry Bill Cutler decided to pack in model railroading, we are happy to report that a number of Chris's trees and Bills locomotives and rolling stock have been acquired by the A&S, some for sale and others to keep.  We spent most of the morning testing locomotives, many of which are equipped with WOW Sound.  Of course, all are Pennsy so why should A&S care to acquire them?  Well, The A&S and the Pennsy have a long and warm history with each other beginning in the early 1970s when a hobby shop named the Train Depot opened up on Colonial Drive in Orlando.  The owner, Dick DeWitt, was an avid Pennsy fan and Tom and I stayed friends with him even after he retired until he passed away in December 2006.  The A&S has several engines that belonged to Dick and a few items of rolling stock lettered for the Buckeye and Pennensula Railroad, which was the name of his railroad.

We were happy to receive Curt Webb and Bob Butts during the morning session and they accompanied us to Smokey Bones for lunch. 

There was additional testing after lunch with a lash-up of an FP7-F7B-F7A hauling 20 loaded Pennsy coal hoppers down the Ovalix to the Midlands.  Looking Good!

Today's story gives the readers an opportunity to ger reacquainted with Wilie McSlyme, whose friends call him Wormy.  You met Wormy some weeks ago when he and Shortstack got jailed for stealing food from the A&S Commissary. He's back, this time stealing wages from his time card. 

                                                                                                   Roundhouse Monkey Business

"Tater" Cartwright (main squeeze of Peaches Weaver - See pages 10-11) was recently promoted from roundhouse mechanic's helper to Assistant Roundhouse Foeman.  His new responsibilities included supervision of routine engine repairs, equipment maintenance, and safety enforcement within the roundhouse.

Of necessity, Tater had to hire on parttime help during the busy harvesting season in Central Florida which lasts from October until early summer.  The freight traffic from Florida to the North requires a lot of "extra" runs, especially when fruits, vegetables, and citrus are being harvested.  Extra runs of long trains of reefers or open "watermelon cars" crowd the rails on their way past Jacksonville to as far as New York or Boston. 

Scarce labor requires hiring marginal employees and sometimes Tater had to stoop so low as to hire out of the transitory residents of the Bottoms.  Such was the situation when the first cold snap (temperatures in the low 40s) occurred and the citrus crop ripened up a little early.  Tater advertised for part-time roundhouse help and hired a guy from the Bottoms who claimed his name to be Willie McSlyme, but his friends call him Wormy.  Now Worny had no references, although he claimed to have made "Inmate of the Month" at the Tahope County Jail.  Tater put him to work as a "wiper," whose duties were to wipe down the boilers of the engines brought in for repairs, polish their brass, and clean out the cabs. 

Wormy reported for work Monday morning ready to show off his wiping expertise.  He grabbed a box of waste and went to work on the nearest steam loco, a huge ACL 1800 series 4-8-4.  It usually took four wipers to wipe the boiler on these engines in a day, but Wormy wanted to prove his worth so he had the boiler wiped down before noon.  He went for beans at Sweaty Betty's hamburger joint and decided to take a short nap on company time.  There was no place in the roundhouse for him to hide, so he climbed up to the top of the boiler of the big engine.  He had seen the maintenance crew remove the hatch from the steam dome earlier in the day and, since the engine was cold, he decided to slip down into the boiler for his nap.

As luck would have it, shortly after Wormy drifted off to slumberland, the maintenance crew decided to refill the boiler and bring the engine up to steam.  A five-inch firehose was inserted into the boiler through the steam dome hatch and the water began flowing with gusto. 

The hose was directly over Wormy when the water started gushing into the boiler, drenching him.  There he was, sleeping on the job his first day at work and in such a fix.  If he did nothing, he would drown.  If he hollered for help, he'd get fired for sleeping on the job. 

But Wormy, who was not slow in the avoidance of consequences department, hollered for help and, when he was pulled out of the boiler, he produced a wad of wet waste he had used as a pillow during his nap, and bawled out the maintenance crew chief for disturbing him while he was wiping the inside of the boiler. 

Tater looked over the situation and allowed that since Wormy had wiped down the outside of the boiler before lunch, it made sense that he would wipe down the inside afterward.  Wormy got off with a warning to let the maintenance crew know the next time he wiped the inside of a boiler.

And that is how Wormy got the Roundhouse Worker of the Month Award to go with his other one.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 05, 2019, 05:16:17 PM
Amazing how slackers seem to come out on top.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 05, 2019, 05:45:25 PM
"Inmate of the Month"  Seriously, Judge?  I laughed out loud when I read that.  Maybe I could drop that idea into the suggestion box at the county jail.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on October 05, 2019, 07:07:44 PM
Never let a golden opportunity go to "waste".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 06, 2019, 08:55:27 AM
Good one Bill.....sounds like I missed a fun day at the A&S.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on October 06, 2019, 01:06:01 PM
I look forward to your stories every Saturday. Better than reading the newspaper. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on October 06, 2019, 01:07:06 PM
Holy Huckleberry I was able to post!

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on October 06, 2019, 04:19:39 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on October 06, 2019, 08:55:27 AM
Good one Bill.....sounds like I missed a fun day at the A&S.  :)


Greg,

Yepper, everyday here is a fun day.

Tom   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 12, 2019, 10:47:05 AM
Saturday Report - October 12, 2019

There is no official Saturday Report today because it is the monthly treck to Mt. Dora for the Babe to get her hair done.  Meanwhile, the A&S CEO will be visiting Bill Cutler in Tavares and taking custody of the remains of what is left of Bill Cutler's Pennsy layout.  Some of these items will no doubt find their way to E-Bay and others will probably end up being absorbed by the Atlantic & Southern. 

This week's story involves aspects of railroad safety.  Railroaders who take short cuts risk injury and there are no minor injuries on the railroad.

                                                                                                      NEVER TURN YOUR BACK

Regular readers of this Saturday Report will remember that Newt Fisher did not do well as a fireman and was reassigned as a brakeman. 

One windy night in early fall, Newt was brakeing in the Sanlando Transfer Yard.  The yard switcher, Number 1150 (a USRA 0-6-0) was making up the morning local, which usually consisted of 12 to 14 cars, two of which were tank cars from the Pure Oil storage facility.  These cars were delivered to the diesel facility at Summit for refueling diesels spotted there for repairs.


                                                                  (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-121019112006.jpeg)

The switcher had the two tankers coupled to the front coupler, and the engineer, "Fatso" Johnson, was about to make a "flying switch."  This maneuver required two brakemen.  One brakeman had to open the switch to an adjacent track while the other brakeman positioned himself on the footboards at the front of the engine so he could "pull the pin" on the front coupler.  The engine proceeded in reverse towards the open switch and the front brakeman uncoupled the tankers from the engine.  Their momentum carried them slowly down the track and the engine traveled through the open switch.  The brakeman closed the switch and the tankers continued to roll towards the other cars assembled at the end of the track.  This tricky maneuver was not at all unusual in 1950, but bad timing could result in derailments or injuries and most railroads prohibit it today, although some crews still take the risk.

Newt was too green to be part of the flying switch maneuver so he was posted at the end of the yard track in front of the other assembled cars.  His job was to connect the angle cocks on the air hoses once the tankers coupled to the other cars.

Now, any experienced railroader will tell you one of the rules when switching in a freight yard is to never turn your back on moving cars.  Freight cars make a lot of noise when they are coupled to a locomotive.  But cars that are coasting are silent as a mouse.   One wheel, just one wheel, on a freight car weighs nearly 100 pounds.  Get caught under one of those and you can imagine what it would do to your bones. 

Newt was posted at the end of the track standing in front of a boxcar.  He was busy adjusting the knuckle on the boxcar coupler and did not hear the tank cars coasting towards him.  He felt a change in the air as the tankers came within a foot or two from him and he managed to jump out of the way as the tankers slammed into the boxcar.  Another split second and he would have become part of those two cars. 

Newt, who had all of the blood drained from his face, sat down to check and see if he was really alright.   The other brakemen approached him and hollered, "Whatcha sittin' down fer, Newt?" Newt replied, "Sometimes I sits and thinks and other times I just sits.  Right now I'm jus' sittin'."

The incident was never reported.  After all, no one was hurt and no railroad property was damaged.  But Newt learned a lesson he would not forget.


Although the "Flying swtich" maneuver is generally prohibited today, it looks like Conrail didn't get the word.  The link below is an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB7L1ytf47g




Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 12, 2019, 05:27:18 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on October 12, 2019, 07:01:58 PM
Thank you Judge..........Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on October 13, 2019, 12:59:57 AM
Great Story Bill.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 13, 2019, 10:36:58 AM
Enjoyed this one Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 19, 2019, 04:48:14 PM
ATLANTIC & SOUTHERN  Saturday Report October 19, 2019

    It was a rainy Saturday here in Central Florida due to a tropical storm plowing through the panhandle and dumping water in abundance on the Big Bend.  We got a steady rain for several hours this far south of the main storm and our temperature stayed at a comfortable but muggy 73 degrees most of the morning. 
    The Bored Directors of the A&S convened their Saturday meeting a little early this morning and spent some time inventorying new equipment and planning the day.  We decided to add a couple of cars to the Pennsy Broadway Limited to make it prototypical so the train stretched 15 cars behind 3 E7 diesel units.  That train is almost too long for the railroad but it is fun watching it.  There is a storage track on the East side of the Bottoms that is long enough for the train to be spotted when it is not needed.  We were in the Pennsy mood so we also ran a 21-car coal hopper freight with three Pennsy F2's providing the power. 
    After the Pennsy trains returned to the north, we ran the Central of Georgia SD9 with a freight train and switched power to C of G E7's.
    Lunch at Smokey Bones, as usual.
   After lunch, we moved the ACL Champion to the Bottoms to free up some space. 
    All-in-all, it was a really fun Saturday.

    This week's story is a description of the railroads represented on the A&S and an explanation of why some seemingly out-of-place railroads are represented. 
    First, the readers should know that the A&S was originally a "deep South" railroad limited to famous Florida flags like the ACL, Southern, SAL, and FEC.  However,  these railroads had an ownership interest in other "mostly southern" railroads like the L&N, N.C.& St. L, C&O, C of G, Clinchfield, and a few others.  These roads are represented due to their family relationship with the ACL and the Southern.
    The Pennsy and the roads that powered the California Zephyr are represented in a whimsical way because, as to the Zephyr, we liked it, and as to the Pennsy, we had a long relationship with a devoted Pennsy fan who owned Orlando's best RR hobby shop for many years.  When he passes away in 2006, we acquired a number of Pennsy steamers and rolling stock.  We decided the A&S is our railroad and if we want to run Pennsy trains now and then for fun well, it is our railroad.
   
                                                                                    THE RAILROADS ON THE ATLANTIC & SOUTHERN
    The Atlantic & Southern System (ASS) hosts the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL), Seaboard Air Line (SAL) and Southern Ry, all of which have trackage rights over the line.  The Louisville & Nashville, N. C. & St. L, Chesapeake & Ohio and Central of Georgia (C of G) have passenger and freight agreements with either the ACL or the Southern and provide relief during peak seasons as needed. 
    The Illinois Central's City of Miami passenger train occasionally passes through on its way from Chicago to Miami twice a week,  The "City" is operated by a number of railroads, including the ACL and the FEC and each road contributes to the consist.   The "City" usually runs from Jacksonville to Miami on FEC tracks but a section follows ACL trackage through Tahope County to Orlando and down to Miami.  Usually, a sleeper is set out at Sanlando for transfer to Tampa by way of Kissimmee, Holopaw, Hachnehaw, Yehaw Junction, and Thonotosassa by way of ACL's  East Coast Champion. 
    The A&S owns a few steam locomotives outright and leases or "borrows" others.  There are no plans to dieselize the A&S locomotive fleet. 
    The A&S contracts with the larger roads to provide maintenance on locomotives and has a modern roundhouse and two diesel repair facilities to provide that service. 
    The A&S provides local freight and passenger service in the rural Tahope County area.
    Recently, the Board of Directors saw the need for a westward connection, so it leased a section of the California Zephyr, including Burlington and Rio Grande F units.  This train provides weekly service out of Jacksonville to New Orleans and has been named the Gulf Breeze section of the Pensacola Zephyr.  This train is a major revenue producer for the railroad.
    The A&S and the environs of Tahope County have regular need for coal, both for fuel for steam locomotives and for electric power.  Also, coal is vital for heating during the three days each winter when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.  The Pennsylvania Railroad happily provides the motive power for a weekly coal train in exchange for free passes over the A&S for Pennsy brass hats.
    In addition to coal trains, the Pennsy's Broadway Limited swings south occasionally to service Florida bound travelers and it makes stops at Jacksonville and Sanlando when scheduled. 
    President Langford gave the Pennsy president several free passes to travel over the A&S and asked him to reciprocate with free passes over the Pennsy.  When he suggested this arrangement, the Pennsy president wondered how that would be fair, considering the Pennsy had over 10,000 miles of track and the A&S is a local line located in a Central Florida Swamp.  He was won over when President Langford said, "Your railroad may be a mite longer than mine, but mine is just as wide."
    The Pennsy has excess still serviceable steam locomotives and has agreed to loan a number of them to the A&S .  These locomotives were scheduled for the scrap heap due to the Pennsy dieselization program and the A&S needs additional motive power during the busy winter season.  Recently, the A&S made lease arrangements with the Pennsy and acquired several Pennsy diesel locomotives.  These units will be used to augment the busy winter traffic but will not replace steam locomotive power on the A&S.

                                                                      (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-191019163500.jpeg)
                                               Recently acquired C of G E7's in freight duty awaiting assignment to the Atlanta-to-Savanna Nancy Hanks.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 19, 2019, 06:47:42 PM
Great history.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 20, 2019, 09:02:03 AM
Sounds reasonable to me..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on October 20, 2019, 09:23:27 AM
Great story behind a well run railroad.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on October 20, 2019, 09:51:48 AM
There have even been reported sightings of a Reading T1 and Jersey Central HH660 on the A&S.  But the boys who reported that may have been sipping some shine at the time so the sightings are considered unconfirmed.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Bruce Oberleitner on October 20, 2019, 10:07:58 AM
I love the reports.  Keep em coming Judge!

;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on October 20, 2019, 12:34:28 PM
Quote from: ReadingBob on October 20, 2019, 09:51:48 AM
There have even been reported sightings of a Reading T1 and Jersey Central HH660 on the A&S.  But the boys who reported that may have been sipping some shine at the time so the sightings are considered unconfirmed.   ;)

Not entirely implausible.'
The management of the A&S has demonstrated keen judgement in most other areas: the appearance of these two titans is obviously not outside the realm of possibility.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on October 20, 2019, 12:37:39 PM
Yet another!!!!!!!!! Thanks Judge......Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 20, 2019, 10:13:03 PM
Thank all of you for your kind comments.  A description of Atlantic & Southern (at least of the Midlands) will follow one Saturday after the Tahope Branch Line is completed.

Meanwhile, there will be some rats in the home office.  Stay tuned.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on October 21, 2019, 06:38:57 AM
Great historical information on the ASS Bill.  Shows why the RR has been profitable all these years!  And heck, like you said, it's your railroad and can operate it as you see fit.  Looking forward to the next one.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 26, 2019, 03:34:50 PM
AAtlantic & Southern Saturday Report - October 26, 2019

The crew assembled promptly at 0830 hours to marvel at the A&S's newly delivered Southern E8A units by Proto 2000.  They are beauties and that is the good news.  The bad news is they come with LOC Sound - I don't know how you pronounce that, but I really don't care.  The decoders had problems right out of the box and they sound terrible at best.  Best advertisement for TCS WOW Sound your reporter has seen.

                                                                    (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-261019152718.jpeg)

We had trouble early on with a mysterious "short" that bugged us on the Summit.  After much push and pull, including changing out a Digitrax booster, we found the culprit to be an errant Pennsy steam locomotive. Once removed from the track all went well.  In fact, changing out the booster solved other problems.

Greg DeMayo arrived in time for lunch at Smokey Bones.

After lunch we ran the Broadway Limited down from Summit to the Midlands with little difficulty except for an open switch.  The Cof G E7's delivered freight to the Sanlando yard and we called it a day. 

Today's story is a sad tale of a  fallen woman named Magnolia (Maggie) Hussy (Most of the "wimmin" in Tahope are named after flowers or plants.)  A pathetic soul who we will no doubt meet again another Saturday.

                                                                                                         The Tale of a Fallen Woman

After having served his sentence for theft of A&S Commissary meat products (See p. 19 - Tahope Code Talkers) Wormy returned to the Bottoms to resume his normal life, namely plotting another criminal enterprise.  This time it was to be an inside job. 

Wormy gathered several of his fellow vagabonds together around the fire heating the Mulligan Stew one evening and discussed his plan.  The men were joined with a new addition to the Bottoms, a lass of questionable habits and reputation, although not without physical charms, named Magnolia (Maggie) Hussy.  Maggie was expelled from Tahope County High School in 1946 for promiscuous activity.  Now she calls an abandoned boxcar sidetracked on the east side of the Bottoms her home and lives off of what she can catch in the river.  As Wormy later described her, "She looks pretty darn good after a bath in the river and the fish smell is an improvement." 

Wormy explained his plan, which required an accomplice to infiltrate into the A&S Accounting and Disbursement Office with the object of relieving the management of some cash revenue. 

"I need somebody who knows money and will work with me cheap," said Wormy.  Maggie replied, "I'm cheap."  And a partnership was born. 

Maggie made an application to the A&S Financial Office as a bookkeeper.  She told Wormy, "I will use my considerable charms, of which I have many, to wiggle my way into the highest level of financial management."  Or she said something like that.

The A&S Financial Officer, Alex Hamilton, was so impressed with Maggie's "enthusiasm" that he hired her as a trainee bookkeeper in spite of her lack of experience.  Normally, he did not cotton to attractive, inexpensive women, but Maggie was exceptional and he figured his male employees would keep their distance because of the odor. 

Not long after Maggie went to work, little amounts of cash started missing because Wormy and Maggie were making "dry runs" to get their plan down to perfection.  Unbeknownst to our would-be white collar criminals, Hamilton got wind of the plan due to the missing petty cash. 

One day the pay car arrived at the yard at Summit with the payroll from the Tahope State Bank and the thieves put their plan into action.  Wormy, disguised as an engineer from Summit, came into the office with a requisition form to collect the payroll.  Maggie counted out $9,500.00 and put it into Wormy's pay satchel.  She did not know the serial numbers on the bills had been recorded. 

Wormy scampered to the Trackside Tavern with his share of the loot to celebrate his good fortune and paid for his beer with a $50.00 bill that he got from the heist.  The bartender, Clovis Butcher, thought it suspicious for Wormy to have so large a bill so he called the Tahope Police Department as a precaution.  Officer Poovey responded to the call and, after looking at the serial number on the bill, arrested Wormy for the theft.  Further investigation led to the discovery of Maggie, who was also arrested. 

Wormy hired Marvin Bello to represent him, paying his fee with another one of the $50.00 bills.  Bello, who never lost a case, convinced the prosecutor that the caper was all Maggie's fault and Wormy was only the bag man.  The story was credible because Maggie seemed to be the smarter of the two.  Wormy testified against Maggie at the trial and the jury convicted her of embezzlement.  Judge Elvin P. Thomas reviewed the evidence and, before imposing sentence, lectured Maggie for stealing money from the Atlantic & Southern Railroad that belonged to its employees.  He also pointed out that a successful thief never steals more than she can pay back.  He sentenced her to a year and a day in prison.  Wormy got off with 60 days in jail persuant to his plea bargin. 

Justice is meted out fairly in Tahope County, just like everywhere else.

                                                                                                           The Rest of the Story

The Florida Supreme Court considered Maggie's case and reversed her conviction some nine months after she entered prison.  She returned to the Bottoms and her normal life of living off of what she can catch from the Tahope Rvier.  Sweaty Betty cooks what she catches for a share of the turtles, fish and crabs.



                                                                                                 

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 26, 2019, 03:45:35 PM
Great yarn Bill.....a grand day was had by all on the ole' A&S..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on October 26, 2019, 04:13:07 PM
That has got to be true story.  "Only in Florida"

Great report Bill.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 26, 2019, 07:49:57 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 29, 2019, 09:59:37 PM
NOTICE!  THERE WILL BE NO SATURDAY REPORT ON NOVEMBER 2, 2019.  YOUR REPORTER IS TAKING A LONG WEEKEND AT A REUNION WITH HIS OLD MILITARY SCHOOL BUDDIES. 

THE JUDGE
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on October 30, 2019, 08:32:45 AM
We'll notify the MPs to Be On the Look Out!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 30, 2019, 10:03:23 AM
Have fun Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on October 30, 2019, 02:31:48 PM
I will bet there will be some great stories told there.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 08, 2019, 02:38:14 PM
  Saturday Report - November 9, 2019.
  The A&S team management Board met precisely at 0830 hours to discuss matters of major importance.  First on the agenda was the correct name of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad, which has sometimes been referred to as the Atlantic & Southern System (ASS).  This has caused needless confusion.  While the A&S has some interest in other railroads, it has no current ownership interest in any other than the A&S.  Mergers and acquisitions are at least two decades in the future from 1950 and so the A&S cannot be called a "system," at least not at the present.  There is little chance the A&S will ever gobble up railroads like the ACL but, like an ant on an elephant's butt, we can dream.
  Curt Webb arrived on the scene around 10:00.  It is always good to have a visitor who actually contributes to the morning session and Curt "knows stuff" about the  Pennsy.  Since we are awash (Curt knows that's a Navy term) with Pennsy locomotives and rolling stock, his expertise was helpful.  Besides, he's an all 'round good guy.
  The new bridge over the Tahope River is complete and awaiting final touches.  It really makes the scene more interesting. 
  After the meeting, we inspected the new buildings Eric built and marveled at their artistic construction.  Then we took stock of our storage facility at the Bottoms and realized we could rearrange things to accomodate the 19 car Broadway Limited.  Several trains were moved to better use the space and we were satisfied with the new arrangements. 
  Next we ran a 20 car train of loaded coal hoppers, powered by ACL 8000, a Russian Decapod.  The little engine pulled the train without effort on level track and we ran it down the Ovalix to Ths Midlands.  Just before exiting the Ovalix, there was a slight detour that caused the train to have to retrace its path in reverse.  Out of curiosity, we decided to let it back up into the Ovalix to see how far it would go before the wheels slipped.  To our surprise, the engine backed up the Ovalix with ease.  Must be the extra weight installed when it was painted over 10 years ago. 
  We inspected some of the "bone yard" at Summit, which has a number of Pennsy steamers awaiting disposition and then we went to lunch at smokey Bones.
  After lunch we ran a Pennsy passenger train and a C of G freight.  Then we called it a day.

  The idea for this week's story came from an 1893 edition of Harper's Weekly Magazine.  It involves a conversation between a Pullman Porter and a nervous female passenger who has never ridden on a train before.  I have shortened the story considerably, but I have quoted some of the conversation that took place, including the Porter's dialect.  This is the way some people talked in 1050, or earlier, I know because I have heard them, and some people still do.  I think the Porter was from "Jaw-ja."  Probably Savannah.

                                                                                                                  The Big Trip 

  Traveling by rail in 1950 was not nearly as dangerous as before the turn of the century.  Wooden coaches were death traps if they caught fire or collided with another train due to a phenomenon known as telescoping.  It was not unusual for train wrecks to occur due to primitive hand brakes and link-and-pin couplers.  Steel coaches with modern appliances did a lot to make travel safer and train wrecks became a rare occurrence.
  One fine fall day in November 1950, the ACL Champion left on time from Tahope and carried one of Tahope's "high society" women in one of its 14 section Pullmans.  Rose Forrester was the wife of Tahope State Bank President, J. Pierpont Forrester, and she was on her way for a shopping spree in Manhatten.  This was Rose's first train trip and she was a little nervous about traveling overnight at speeds in excess of a mile a minute. 
  As evening approached, Rose spoke with the Porter and asked him to make up her lower berth so she could try to go to sleep. 
  The Porter, trying to be helpful, asked, "Beg yo', pardon ma'am, how does yo' like yo' head?" 
  "Mercy me," thought Rose, "what on earth could he possibly mean?" 
  "Do yo' want yo' feet to'd the enjyne?  Dat's de safes' way ebery time."
  "Oh dear, now I'm scared," said Rose.  Do I need to worry about a train wreck? I'll never get to sleep on this train.  I'll just sit up on this seat and wait until morning." 
  "Now don't feel that way Miz, " said the Porter.  "Havin yo' feet to'd the enjyne - well dar you is.  But if yo're sleepin' wid yo' head to'ds de enjyne, den when dis yer train smashes into some other train, yo' is flung right again yo' head an' yo' heck is broke just like it wuz straw." 
  "Mercy me," said Rose, "Are we going to smash into some other - - - "
  "No ma'am, I didn't say we's goin' to.  All I say is it's best to be prepared.  I've been running on the Champ fo' twenty-two year an' I've seen eleven kerlisions, and every time de folks what's killed is de folks which gets chucked agin their heads.  Only last week there was an accident in Osceola County, a stout lady like you, she - - "
  But the Porter didn't bother to finish his explanation because at that moment Rose Forrester fainted dead away.
 
                                                                                    (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-081119144507.jpeg)

                                                                                      The Porter and Rose Forrester

                                                                                                       THE REST OF THE STORY

  Please refer to the October 26 Saturday Report on Pg. 28 entitled A Tale of a Fallen Woman.  There has been some local enthusiasm to learn more about Magnolia (Maggie) Hussy.  Careful research has revealed a short video of her fishing in the Tahope River just before she entered high school at age 14.  More current photographs have not been discovered, but you can tell she was raised in Tahope by her accent.  Her brother took the video and her cousin, Ray, watched the action.  Everyone in her family has a pick-up truck with Confederate license plates on the front.  Turn up the volume so you can hear the dialog.

                                                                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8puOw0Pqb4
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on November 08, 2019, 04:27:50 PM
For some reason, I'm expecting this will be part of tomorrow's story, too: 
(https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/400x400/ds-img.studiod.com/West_Point_Cadet_walking_the__1.jpg)


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 09, 2019, 04:43:14 PM
Sorry, Dave, I'll have to work in my military career some other time.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on November 09, 2019, 05:05:50 PM
Judge, you didn't have to do tours?  I think I did once (at Norwich University.) 


I figured someone would get "written up" when you were out with your classmates.

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 10, 2019, 10:22:27 AM
Good one Bill.....ole' Maggie was one heck of  fisherman.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 10, 2019, 11:40:12 AM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on November 10, 2019, 12:27:02 PM
That was quite the Video Bill.  Sure looked like it was in the river at Tahope.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on November 11, 2019, 07:51:39 AM
"Gas on it girl, gas on it"

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on November 11, 2019, 08:38:00 AM
Great report and story Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on November 11, 2019, 01:16:43 PM
Hi All:

I agree with everyone. Hope you enjoyed the reunion Judge.


Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 11, 2019, 03:15:08 PM
Curt, Dave, Greg, Jim, John, Karl, Tom, et al. 

Thank you for your kind words.

                                                                                                         Maggie Husssy Update

Maggie tried out for the cheerleader squad at Tahopee County High School in 1946 when she was in the 11th grade, but the local PTA told her mother to withdraw her name because of promiscuous behavior.  She dropped out at the end of the year and drifted towards The Bottoms where she found an abandoned boxcar for shelter.  One thing led to another and she decorated it with stuff she found around the river.  Soon the place was home.  One of her many "friends" cut a hole in the floor for her use and that worked out okay except for the flies.   A large cardboard box and an orange crate completed her furniture ensemble and a packing crate became a closet for her modest wardrobe.  She borrowed an Army surplus air mattress from a hobo who moved on without it and that served for a bed.

Maggie returned to her boxcar after her release from Lowell Correctional Facility for Women and dreamed of bigger things.  Hopefully, she will get a better boyfriend.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 16, 2019, 10:43:27 AM
November 16, 2019 Saturday Report

  There is no formal Saturday Report today because it is the Babe's monthly appointment day to travel to Mount Dora.

  HOWEVER, there is a story.  It is one of courage and daring by an unlikely hero whom we have all gotten to know over the last few months.

                                                                                                       RUNAWAY ON THE OVALIX
                                                                                                                           OR
                                                                                                   HOW SHORTSTACK GOT PROMOTED

  Sometimes railroad tracks get slick with ice.  The humidity and temperature have to be just right.  When they align just so, ice forms on the rails.  This is rare in Central Florida, but it is not unheard of. 
  Ice poses a danger to heavy trains, especially on a downgrade.  Unless the sander is operating and Mr. Westinghouse's invention is providing plenty of air, the drivers on steam locomotives tend to slide out of control.
  One chilly November morning, Shortstack arrived at the yard at Summit to begin his chores, sweeping up the floor of the yard office. 
  Meanwhile, engineer "Patti" Miller was at the ready track raising steam in ACL's Russian decapod, number 8000, for a run down to the Midlands with a load of 21 hoppers, all of which were full of coal.  The steamer would never have been loaded with so many hoppers if the trip was upgrade on the Ovalix, but 8000 was rated to make the downgrade without difficulty so long as a capable crew was handling the engine.

                                                                                                   (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-161119104135.jpeg)


  Once the dispatcher gave the go-ahead, 8000 took up slack and started the trip to the Ovalix.
  Shortstack finished his chores in the yard office prior to 8000's departure and decided to hitch a ride to the Midlands in the caboose, along with the conductor and the hind shack.
  As the little decapod started downgrade, Miller noticed ice on the rails and a look of concern crossed his face.  Standard procedure handling an icy downgrade involved sanding the rails and cautiously applying the air to maintain a slow descent of 5 to 10 miles per hour.
  MIller turned on the sander as the engine began to increase speed and then applied the air, seeking about a 10% reduction.  NO RESPONSE!  MIller moved the airbrake handle back and forth, but no luck.  Now 8000 was sliding down the track on the slick rails and picking up speed.  Train would soon exceed the 25 mph speed limit on the Ovalix and be running out of control.
  Miller called for more steam and his fireman responded with several shovels full of coal into the firebox.  Miller tried to set the reverse lever into the back corner, hoping between the sand and the rotating drivers, the train would get under control.  That might have worked on an 1870 ten-wheeler, but not on a Russian decapod.  Since all else seemed to have failed, Miller decided to make some noise to warn of the impending danger of a runaway train.  So, Miller filled the Ovalix with short whistle blasts from 800's three chime whistle, signaling an emergency.
  Shortstack, who never missed an opportunity for a little shut-eye on company time, was napping in the caboose when Miller began to whistle.  He decided it would be better to face the danger head-on instead of waiting for it in the caboose, so he climbed over the coal hoppers heading for the engine.  The train picked up speed and was approaching "Greg Speed" as Shortstack made his way towards the engine. 
  When he reached the car coupled behind the tender, Shortstack, who had some limited experience railroading, noticed the angle cock connecting the air hose between the tender and the first hopper had been disconnected.  He climbed down the ladder from the top of the hopper to the coupler, which was no mean feat, because the cars were now lurching to and fro and threatening to derail.
  Shortstack reached down and recoupled the hoses.  Then he climbed over the coal pile in the tender and told Miller to try the air.  Miller waited a few seconds to give the air time to build up and then applied a standard reduction.  To the crew's delight, the air began to hold and the train slowed.  By the time it reached the Midlands, it was under control. 
  The Superintendent boarded the train at Sanlando and demanded an explanation of the incident.  He also wanted to know why the likes of Shortstack was in the cab.  Miller explained the situation and suggested the train had been sabotaged by angle cocking hobos who were refused a ride down the Ovalix. 
  "Well, Shortstack," said the Superintendent, "you've earned a heap of thanks from the Atlantic & Southern Railroad and in appreciation, I am promoting you to brakeman.  Report to the roundhouse and get your name on the extra board.
  Needless to say, Shortstack was thrilled with his newfound status.  Imagine, a shiftless skonk like Shortstack getting promoted from sweeper to brakeman.  He began making plans to move out of the Bottoms and maybe even getting a girlfriend.  Anticipating Travis Tritt by forty years, Shortstack composed a poem that later became the basis for a country and western hit, the first line of which went, "A woman warm and willin', that's what I'm lookin' for, cause the whiskey I've been drankin' ain't workin' anymore."
  But the story of Shortstack's girlfriend will have to wait for another day.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on November 16, 2019, 01:24:44 PM
Now that is a real funny story.

Jim (no relation to "Patti") Miller
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on November 16, 2019, 01:31:38 PM
Hope Shortstack didn't take on any airs with his promotion.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 16, 2019, 02:07:44 PM
Great job Shortstack.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on November 17, 2019, 11:07:12 AM
Another terrific story and glad to hear Shortstack was promoted.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 17, 2019, 11:21:20 AM
Loved it Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 23, 2019, 03:44:35 PM
Atlantic & Southern Railroad Saturday Report - November 23, 2019  Temperature in Central Florida - Sunny and mid-80's.  Sorry about that.

The Directors of the A&S met promptly at 0830 hours.  Items of discussion included the purchase and installation of the CEO's new computer and disposition of Pennsy equipment that has been deposited on A&S property for sale or other disposition.  Surplus Pennsy coal hoppers were the focus of the discussion.  A number of them will be made available for other roads in the near future.

The Pennsy Sharks powered a coal train from the Bottoms up the Ovalix to the Midlands and then to Summit.  The A-B-A lash-up had no trouble traveling from the Bottoms to the Midlands and then to Summit with 29 coal hoppers and a caboose.  The Baldwin prime movers really sound realistic with WOW sound, although the "B" unit is an unpowered non-functional, but pleasing, consist enhancer.

Greg Demayo arrived around 10:30 and he ran his Pennsy H10 Consolidation until we departed for Smokey Bones for lunch. The H10 was coupled to the 29 car coal train and it pulled it with ease on the Summit level track.  Many have objections to the "rubber tire" on these engines but we are here as witnesses to say they really do the job. 

After lunch, your reporter ran a Pennsy passenger train, powered by three F2's and Greg ran his H10 as fast as it would run.  True GREG SPEED.  He claimed he was breaking the engine in.  We will see if he runs the engine at a slower speed next time.  The H10's were luggers and not speedsters but that did not matter to Greg.

This week's story is of a discontented Pullman passenger who was probably a regular on the City of Miami.  No one can blame him for being upset.  But to whom do you complain?  Pullman?  Illinois Central?  ACL? Florida East Coast?  NC&StL? C&EI?  All of them have a piece of "The City."



                                                                                                        PUT ME OFF AT SANLANDO

The City of Maimi is the Chicago to Miami streamliner that comes through Tahope County three days a week. 

One day in November, the northbound City departed Miami on time, fully loaded with passengers.  One of the passengers decided to take a nap in his comfortable coach and asked the porter to awaken him when the train reached Sanlando.  The porter agreed and assured him he would be awakened in time to get off the train.

h next thing the passenger knew, the train was backing into the station in Jacksonville.  The passenger became visibly upset and began cursing and hollering, demanding he get his hands on the porter, who had gotten wind of the ruckus and had wisely hidden behind a post in the train station. 

While the passenger was demanding to see a railroad representative so he could file a formal complaint, a brakeman walked over to the porter and asked, "What's the matter with that passenger?  He's running around and hollering to beat all!"  The Porter peered around the post and replied, "Yeh, but that ain't nuthin' compared to the man I put off in Sanlando."

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 23, 2019, 04:01:58 PM
The H-10 does need breaking in.....that's  my story and I'm sticking to it! Fun story Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 23, 2019, 04:04:43 PM
😂 That's great Bill. Sorry to have missed the Pennsy fest today.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on November 23, 2019, 04:32:04 PM
My Atlantic and Southern RR is going to get a bad reputation if all these unsavory peeps keep showing up. Meaning the story peeps Greg, not you!

Just saying.


Tom   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 23, 2019, 05:13:58 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on November 23, 2019, 04:32:04 PM
My Atlantic and Southern RR is going to get a bad reputation if all these unsavory peeps keep showing up. Meaning the story peeps Greg, not you!

Just saying.


Tom   ;D
It never crossed my mind that you were referring to me..... :o ??? ::) :) ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on November 23, 2019, 10:51:25 PM
Both of those passengers better grab a wishbone on Thursday and hope for a positive outcome.
The porter? As we used to say in the brokerage business "$*it happens".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on November 24, 2019, 09:37:46 AM
Another fine story Bill!   ;D   Sorry I couldn't make it down yesterday.  For some reason my Saturday's have been getting spoken for recently.   :'(
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on November 26, 2019, 06:11:48 AM
Great report Bill!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 30, 2019, 03:52:26 PM
Saturday Report - November 30, 2019.  Sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, temperature was 69 early this morning and now it is 83.  Sorry about that.

    The Board of Directors met on time this morning at 0830 hours.  The main topic was a discussion about thinning out or locomotive roster and rolling stock roster - both of which are way out of date - Surly none of my readers would have out of date rosters. . . We are going to spend a Saturday or two (after the first of the year) updating the rosters and, meanwhile, the CEO is going to focus on moving some equipment on Ebay. 
    We decided to run some Southern equipment this morning and pulled two green, white and gold E7's out of the storage drawer.  These beauties were assigned to a 25 car plus caboose mixed freight leaving Sanlando for Summit.  The E7's pulled the train without difficulty and after a thorough tour of the Midlands, we proceeded up the Ovalix to Summit.  No problem there and your reporter got an opportunity to use the manual setting to notch up the prime movers during the climb.  Loads of fun.
    About 10:00 a.m. we adjourned for a trip to the hospital to see our friend Jim Miller, who is recovering from open heart by-pass surgery.  He is recovering as expected and should be shipped to a rehab facility next Tuesday.  Better him than me so they say.
    After our visit, we headed for Smokey Bones for lunch.  The place was deserted except for us but others arrived after 12:00.
    Upon return from lunch, we broke the 25 car freight in two and ran two trains around Summit.  The 4-8-2, ACL 1401, was fired up and proptly blew a decoder.  These things happen with the older run of TCS WOW Sound decoders.  TCS replaces blown decoders with new, updated versions at no charge so 1401 will be in the ruondhouse for repairs for awhile.


                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQhNAv2NxAs

                                                                             Southern RR E7's entering Piney Woods with a short freight train


    This week's story is one involving the A&S track gang.  Working on the railroad in the '50's was back breaking work and, like today, it seemed to attract immigrants who were willing to do it.  A lot of these men were Irish and came to Central Florida from places like Boston, New York, and Chicago.  A number of these men found their way to the A&S railroad.
                                                                                       

                                                                                                          THE SECTION FOREMAN

    The Atlantic & Southern has a section foreman named O'Clannahan.  He is one of those old-time section foremen who knew how to get a day's work out of his men  without being a bully or a loundmouth.  Everybody on the road knew and respected him. 
    On day in late November, with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky, O'Clannahan was walking along a section where track was being replaced and noticed a member of his gang relaxing under an oak tree fast asleep.  Eyeing the man with a smile, he said, " Slape on, ye idle wage skimmer, slape on.  So long as ye slape ye've got a job, but when ye wake up, ye're out of wurrk."
    Later that day, the roadmaster ordered O'Clannahan to build a tool house exactly halfway between the two mileposts located just past the Sanlando passenger dept. 
    To locate the desired spot, O'Clannahan said to one of his gandy dancers, "I'll walk south from the north milepost and you walk north from the south milepost and we'll meet in the middle.
    This plan was carried out and the tool-house was built at the point where the two men met.  The job had hardly been finished when the surveyor, Princeton Penman, said, "O'Clannahan, I've heard how you located the midway point and i want to tell you you're off on your reckoning.  You are a tall man with a long stride and that gandy dancer is a little squirt who barely steps two feet if that.  Now I've measured the distance and find your tool house to be 90 feet nearer the south post than the north post.  You better fix the problem before the roadmaster catches the blunder and calls you down."
    A week later the roadmaster turned up and said, "Well, O'Clannahan, is that tool house exactly halfway between the mileposts?"
    "Yes, sir. precisely," said O'Clannahan. 
    "Buy I hear you first built the tool-house in the wrong spot.  Did you have any bother moving it to the right place?"
     "No bother sir," said O'Clannahan, "I didn't move the house.  I moved the post."

                                                                    (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-301119154730.jpeg)

                                                                                                               O"Clannahan's Track gang - He's on the left in the vest.



                                                                                                                           
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on November 30, 2019, 05:09:18 PM
That's a great story!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 30, 2019, 05:59:22 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on November 30, 2019, 08:25:58 PM
Makes sense to me.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 01, 2019, 09:22:49 AM
Ya just gotta love the ingenuity of the Irish.....good one Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on December 06, 2019, 05:40:54 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on December 01, 2019, 09:22:49 AM
Ya just gotta love the ingenuity of the Irish.....good one Bill.  8)

I will second that

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 07, 2019, 04:40:58 PM
Saturday Report - December 7, 2019 (78the Anniversary of Pearl Harbour.  1550 hours, 74 degrees and sunny.  Sorry about that.

    The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours.  We marveled at the new computer installed in the president's office while your reporter enjoyed a cold Coca-Cola. 
    Today was Seaboard Day and we powered up our SAL E8A units to pull a freight through the Midlands, up to Summit and back down to the Midlands with some set-outs in Tahope.
    Greg Demayo and Bob Butts arrived around 10:00 a.m. and we made a close inspection of Bob's newest construction effort.  Then we adjourned for lunch at Smokey Bones. 
    After lunch, we traveled by automobile to Lucerne Towers in Orlando to visit Jim Miller, who is recovering from open-heart surgery and in rehab there.  Jim appears to be recovering nicely and is expected to go home in about a week.  You can tell he's feeling much better than last week when we visited him because of the level of complaining.  Anyway, since Claire brought him his laptop, he is now back on the forum and can receive well wishes from his friends, if any. 



                                                                           (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-071219162504.jpeg)

                                                                                           SAL E8's in freight service near the work train spur

                                                                            (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-071219162712.jpeg)

                                                                                             SAL E8's spotted near Whalen's Apiary

This week's story is one that covers events that nearly resulted in the economic ruin of the A&S Railroad.  Over its lifetime, the A&S has survived both fire and flood, but a hostile takeover nearly did it in.  Here is the story.

                                                                                                         THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER

In 1948, the Atlantic Coast LIne Railroad, the successor to Henry B. Plant's West Florida railroad empire, decided it would be in its best interest to acquire the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.  ACL began to quietly buy up A&S stock.  When it became obvious that a hostile takeover bid was looming, A&S's President dedicated himself to resist it.

It was a David and Goliath struggle, with the little A&S coming up against the enormous resources of the ACL.  A&S'a lawyer, Marvin Bello, was up against the big-name railroad lawyers from Washington, D.C.

A stockholder's action was filed in the federal court in Orlando and the parties got set for trial.  It was decided that the ACL would settle for trackage rights over the A&S if the A&S could extend its line to Summit and construct a major freight yard there within 90 days.  Failure to extend the line as agreed would forfeit the title of the A&S to the ACL. 

A&S's Superintendent of Maintenance, Will Fixer, was enlisted to supervise construction and he laid into the task.  He marshaled  Patrick O'Clannahan's track gang and hired Joe Steeler, a former Army Supply Sergeant, to scrounge material.  Steeler searched the swampy areas adjacent to the mainline for previously purloined rails and, when added to some second-hand rails acquired by abandoning some seldom-used spurs, there were enough rails to do the job.  Ties were easy to get from Piney Woods.  Spikes and related iron pieces were purchased from the proceeds of a bake sale sponsored by Sweaty Betty and Paula Deen Perkins.

A&S's Number 71, an 0-8-0, was enlisted to push the flat cars up the Ovalix to Summit and on the first day the gang went to work with both speed and daring.  It was late November and they suffered from cold in the 60-degree weather.  (They were Florida boys from Tahope County.)  The construction went on schedule until it was discovered through miscalculation, there lacked about mile of track.

With only a day left to complete the contract, Will Fixer directed O'Clannahan to tear up the rails in Tahope and use them to complete the yard at Summit. 

The ACL lawyers discovered the missing rails when they exited Trackside Tavern that evening.  They promptly filed motions with the court for forfeiture of the A&S to the ACL on the basis of the implied condition that construction of the yard at Summit would not interfere with mainline operations on the A&S.  But Marvin Bello, who never lost a case, argued the agreement was complete as written and parole evidence of some implied condition was inadmissible.

"Judgment in favor of the A&S," said his Honor.

After leaving court, lead counsel for the ACL approached Marvin Bello and said, "You know, Marvin, you don't know squat about running a railroad, but you're one hell of a lawyer."  Then they all retired to Trackside Tavern, along with the Mayor and the City Council to enjoy a cold beer, sausage, and a performance by "Toots" Hussey, Maggie's older sister. (See Story of a Fallen Woman, page 28.)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on December 07, 2019, 05:39:12 PM
Fantastic story Judge.  I can't believe you came up with that story while sitting here.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 08, 2019, 09:07:20 AM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 08, 2019, 09:27:56 AM
Wonderful story Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Bruce Oberleitner on December 08, 2019, 01:47:08 PM
Glad to hear that Jim Miller is doing better.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on December 08, 2019, 04:15:32 PM
Hey Bill:

I agree great story and glad to hear Jim Miller is doing better.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 14, 2019, 05:30:57 PM
Saturday Report - December 14, 2019.

The Board convened at 0830, as usual.  The main topic was the installation of lighting in a Walthers Mainline Southern coach.  The A&S purchased several (11) of these cars of various configurations with the contemplation that a lighting "kit" was available.  So, the finance officer ordered two of the kits with that in mind.  Let me tell you about the installation. 

First, it is necessary to remove the roof from the passenger car.  That is usually a project in itself with a Walthers car, but the Mainline series has a different manufacturing approach.  The "windows" are all one clear plastic strip that is attached to the roof.  The instructions say simply to grab the car on either end and twist and the roof will "pop off."  NOT SO.  The photograph on the instruction sheet pictures a woman's hands doing this job and we can testify that ain't gonna happen.  We wrestled with the car and finally inserted toothpicks between the roof line and the car body to spread the body apart enough to remove the roof.

Once the roof was removed, we disassembled the car completely, but not by following the instructions.  The instructions said to first remove the "force-fitted" vestibule wall.  Ours was glued to the car deck.  No problem.  we unscrewed the floor and removed it.  This allowed the metal contact strips on the floor to fall out.   Then we tried to follow the directions using the photographs provided to install the contact devices against the front bulkhead of the car.  They are designed to be left and right contacts but the instructions leave that out.  in addition, the contacts have a small hole in them that is supposed to fit over a plastic stud in the bulkhead.  Unfortunately, the hole was too small to fit and had to be reemed out.  It was at this point when we determined that you can not test the lighting system unless you fully reassemble the car.  So, we proceeded to do just that.  Naturally, the lights didn't work and we got to practice removing the roof again.  A second assembly/disassembly provided the same results.  So, frustrated at the failure of this supposedly straight forward project, we gave up for the day.  Oh well, only an hour and a half was wasted.  Further adjustments may make the project a success, but that will have to be later in the week. 

Recommendation - Buy the Walthers passenger cars with lighting included.  Walthers has figured out how to make you wish you did.  Let some little Chinese girl install the lighting and don't complain about the extra cost. 

                                                                        (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-141219171018.jpeg)
                                                                                             The car - Just twist and the roof will "pop off." 

                                                                        (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-141219171324.jpeg)
                                                                                                     It takes tooth picks to remove the roof


                                                                        (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-141219171655.jpeg)

                                                                                                     Walthers' version of Fifty-two Pick-up




                                                                                                    THE GREAT PAY CAR ROBBERY

On the 15th of each month, the Atlantic & Southern finance department issues cash payments for employees working "out on the line."  This monthly activity has not gone unnoticed by certain unsavory characters who are temporary residents in The Bottoms.

Two of these vagabonds, Wormey and Michael "Thumbs" Morgan, decided to take advantage of the pay schedule and withdraw a little pay for themselves.   They nailed a drag coming up the ovalix from The Bottoms and snuck into the Sanlando yard.  The pay car was spotted in front of the Depot awaiting the all-clear to move to the main and distribute pay in Piney Woods and then up the Ovalix to Summit. 

Wormey had his "piece" concealed in his ragged coat.  The plan was to advance to the pay car and demand the paymaster "stand and deliver" like days of old.  No one ever gave either of these two would-be robbers credit for having a lot of sense. 

Naturally, the would-be robbers did not contemplate that the railroad knew the pay car made its regular schedule and provided armed guards for security.  When the robbers demanded the paymaster to "stand and deliver, " they were met with the barrels of three double-barreled shotguns and were taken into custody by Officer Poovey of the Tahope Police Department.   

The trial commenced two weeks later with the defendants representing themselves.  The jury was out for less than ten minutes and found them guilty.  Since nobody was hurt and the charge was only attempted robbery, Judge Elvin P. Thomas sentenced them both to five years in Florida's prison, saying "Yer lucky you didn't git any monetary remuneration from this caper.  it could have been life."  A just result for two bad men who only tried to commit a crime and didn't have sense enough to complete it.

                                                                       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-141219172622.jpeg)

                                                                                                                  The Pay Car
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on December 14, 2019, 05:59:53 PM
Judge,

Great train robbery story! The attempt to install lights in one of Walthers economy Budd passenger cars, not so great. :'( Just saying.

Tom  8)

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on December 14, 2019, 07:02:39 PM
Oh well. try, try again (either the lights or the robbery).

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 14, 2019, 08:07:54 PM
Great story Bill. Those darn people from the Bottoms.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 14, 2019, 08:47:14 PM
Let's  hear it for the outstanding A&S security guys.....another winner Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 21, 2019, 04:02:06 PM
Saturday Report - December 20, 2019  - 72 degrees and partly cloudy

This is the monthly Saturday when the Babe and Tom venture to Mt. Dora for the beauty treatment.  So, there is no formal Saturday Report.

However, there needs to be some follow-up on my last missive complaining about the Walthers lighting kit for Mainline passenger cars.  My opinion of the kit has not changed.  But my attitude has changed for the better.  Tom never gives up on a project until it is in the state of perfection and he figured out how to install the lighting kits with only a minimum of adjustment to the kit.  He is working his own thread on the subject and there is no need to try to make my comments redundant.  However, once the Langford solution is applied to these cars they work perfectly and the lights are actually constant intensity.  It just takes a little extra effort (on top of the plenty of extra effort already needed to install a simple light bar.)  We should ultimately have a nine-car Southern RR passenger train pulled by green, white, and gold E7's.  At that point we will have to decide if the grab iron kits are worth it.

The basis of this week's story comes from tales my father told me when I was growing up.  Dad lived in Lakeland, Florida, and that city had a large (ACL) roundhouse and repair facility.  in the years before WWI until the end of steam, some of the lucky high school boys got to get up early each morning and wake up (call) the engine crews who were bunked in a hotel near the railroad.  After waking up the crew, they got to hang out in the roundhouse until school time and watch the goings-on.  Naturally, these young lads were called "Call boys." 

Now some of the readers of this Report are familiar with the term "call girls."  Call girls were (and still are) in the business of recreation and not furthering the schedule of the railroad.  Call boys had little in common with call girls unless, during the wake-up process, an out-of-town railroader happened to acquire one for recreational purposes.  In that event, call boys were sworn to secrecy and sometimes given a 50 cent piece for their silence. 

The Lakeland roundhouse could perform all but the most major repairs and I remember tales of changing a tire on a Copperhead ten-wheeler and, while my dad watched, two mechanics loosened a fixture on a locomotive while one of them held a 5' chisel to the fixture and the other one slammed it with a sledgehammer.   It was dirty work and, after school, some of the call boys would return to the roundhouse for more introduction into the world of steam maintenance.  I'm sure their mothers, like my grandmother, had a few things to say when their children came home covered with grease and coal dust. 

Anyway, this week's story has to do with the life and lot of call boys on the Atlantic & Southern RR.

                                                                                                                   CALL BOYS

During the steam era, mostly before WWII, the crews would "tie up" for the evening at the Tahope Roundhouse and spend the night in the Hotel Imperial in downtown Tahope.  Now the A&S was always cost-conscious and the rooms at the Imperial met the standards of the day but were not fancy.  The hotel was a 19th-century structure that had only recently had electricity installed, along with indoor plumbing.  it had no elevators but each floor had a bath and shower at the end of the hall.

In those days, the A&S hired high school boys as call boys.  Their job was to awaken the crews before dawn so they could arrive at the roundhouse on time to make their regular runs. 

These boys usually made 25 cents a day for their efforts, which was a good stipend in the days before the Great War. 

Railroaders are an ornery bunch and call boys learned to be on the alert for angry men who were awakened after a night of drinking at the Trackside Tavern and only a few hours of sleep.  They also learned to be discrete in the event they discovered a railroader from out of town who had managed to find some feminine company for the night.  In such cases, their discretion was handsomely rewarded with a generous contribution for their silence. 

The City of Tahope is a division point on the A&S RR and a number of boys from Tahope County High School were chosen to be call boys.  The school principal made recommendations from the best-behaved students and the railroad picked from the list.  Kids like "Bennie" Cartwright, who was captain of the school football team, and Willie Hunter, whose father was president of the Tahope State Bank, were chosen, while Duffy Doofer and Charlie "Catfish" Baker, both of whom had juvenile records, were not.

"Bennie" would awaken at 4:00 a.m. and report to the yardmaster's office.  By that time the hostlers were well on their way to building up steam in the boilers of the engines scheduled to make a morning run.  The yardmaster gave Bennie his list of crew members to wake up and he began his wake-up calls.  Today's list included a young brakeman from Jacksonville named Jack O'Malley and when Bennie opened the hotel room door to awaken him, he discovered a young lass keeping him warm.  Yes, it was Maggie Hussey, supplementing her income from the Trackside Tavern.  Maggie knew Bennie from 4-H Club activities before she was expelled from school so that cost O'Malley an additional 50 cents to keep Bennie silent about the encounter.

The job of being a call boy was perfect for these boys because they could hang out in the roundhouse after the crews were awakened and snoop around to see what was going on.  They could listen to the tales told by the crews and learn a thing or two about railroading. 

But all good things come to an end, and soon they had to be off to school to learn about things that had nothing to do with being a railroad engineer, which is what they all wanted to do.

                                                                       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-211219154740.jpeg)

                                                                                                             The Hotel Impeerial

                                                                       (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-211219154924.jpeg)

                                                                                            Inside the Roundhouse Early in the Morning
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 21, 2019, 08:09:13 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 22, 2019, 09:14:44 AM
Sounds like a fun job, but the hours kinda suck..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 28, 2019, 04:08:49 PM
Saturday Report - December 27, 2019.  Temp. 75 degrees, partly cloudy.  Drizzle intermittently. 

The Bored Directors convened promptly at 0830 hours.  The main topic was inventory reduction.  We decided to liquidate some locomotives that are duplicates and have been stored in their boxes for over 10 years.  Management will probably use Ebay, but if any of the readers of this report are in the market for ACL or SAL diesels, give Tom a jingle.

The morning was taken up with running a POL train (that's petroleum, oil, and lubricants to you non-military types) powered by two ACL purple and silver Geep 7's from the Bottoms to Summit where the tankers were dropped and a 21-car mixed freight was made up.  This train made its rounds at Summit and returned to Sanlando yard just prior to lunch.  Oh, yes, the session was interrupted by the arrival of Bob Butts and Greg DeMayo.  We all went to lunch at Smokey Bones.

After lunch, a lash-up of two Central of Georgia E7's with a C of G SD9 sandwiched in between made the rounds on the Tahope level. 

Then we called it a day.

This week's story will be familiar to those who remember their first day on a new job.  There are invariably screw-ups that embarrass the new employee, but ususally they are survivable. 

                                                                                                            FIRST DAY ON THE JOB

Those who follow this weekly Report will recall that "shiftless skonk," Shortstack achieved promotion from roundhouse sweeper to brakeman due to his heroic, although self-preserving, efforts to save a runaway coal drag which was speeding down the Ovalix.  You will also recall that Shortstack was instructed to report to the roundhouse and get his name on the Extra Board. 

It was shortly afterward when Shortstack received a "call" to brake train #44, the ACL daily local that originates at Sanlando and meanders through Tahope, switching cars, and then proceeds up the Ovalix to Summit.  Oddly enough, Shortstack was assigned as the head-end brakeman (head shack), which meant he would ride in the cab of the engine during the trip. 

Shortstack arrived at the Sanlando diesel service facility first thing on Monday morning, ready to show his stuff on his first day at work as a paid railroader.  He walked over to the two GP&'s, numbered 313 and 311 that were assigned as power for#44.

Shortstack was the only member of the crew assigned to #44 that day who was not a veteran railroader.  The engineer assigned to #44 that day was a crusty old hogger named "Uncle Henry" O'Leary, who looked at Shortstack with disdain and didn't even bother to say "good morning" to him.  The conductor, Melvin Hatter, greeted Shortstack with a grin and warned him to "stay clear of Uncle Henry."  The fireman, whose name was Jim, busied himself with the engine and took his seat just as Uncle Henry eased the consist out of the service facility into the yard and coupled up to the 20-car train.

It was not necessary for two GP7's to be assigned to the 20-car train, but it was ACL practice to put at least two units to any consist that would travel up the Ovalix, due to recovery difficulties if there were mechanical problems with one of the engines.

Uncle Henry pulled his train out of the yard and onto the mainline, heading across the Great Divide, over the bridge at Mosquito Lagoon, through Piney Woods, and around the Bedford Forrest reverse loop to the spur leading to Tahope. 

A boxcar full of furniture was picked up at Skokill's and an empty one was left in its place.  Other boxcars were switched at industries along the way and two hopper cars were spotted under the coal tipple at the roundhouse. 

Uncle Henry must have forgotten he was running diesels because he jerked a knuckle when he dropped the coal hoppers.  That meant Shortstack, the hind shack, and the conductor got to replace the knuckle, causing much consternation and delay. 

Local ordinance prohibits the sounding of whistles or horns in downtown Tahope, so the engine crew rang the engine's bell while watching the 12-mph speed restriction.  Uncle Henry noticed the bell was not ringing normally.  The clapper would get stuck every so often.

The climb up the Ovalix was without incident and the through cars were dropped at Summit Yard, awaiting transfer to Jacksonville.  It was time for lunch, but Uncle Henry ordered Shortstack to stay with the engine while the rest of the crew walked over to a beanery for eats. 

Uncle Henry thought he could repair the problem with the bell, so he decided to move the diesels to the RIP track where it was spotted over the outdoor repair pit.  He growled at Shortstack, saying "I'm going down to see if I can repair the bell.  Don't move from your seat and don't touch anything." 

Now Shortstack wanted to make a good impression on his first day of the job, but he had been working the train for several hours an, after eight cups of black coffee, the call of nature was beckoning to him. 

The Coast Line ran their Geeps short hood first, with the bell located under the short hood.  The crew's toilet was located down a couple of steps in the short hood and Shortstack decided it would be better to use the toilet instead of the great outdoors.  After all, Shortstack had his dignity.

After Shortstack was completely relieved, he pushed the flush handle, discharging the toilet's contents to the ground below.  That is when he heard Uncle Henry angrily hollering a stream of cuss words.  As Uncle Henry climbed up to the cab, Shortstack could see he was soaking wet.  I mean, how was Shortstack to know the toilet discharge pipe was located next to the bell?  Maybe that is why the sign that said "DO NOT FLUCH WHILE TRAIN IS IN STATION" was posted above the toilet. 

Shortstack made a split-second decision to dismount on the fireman's side just in time to avoid meeting up with Uncle Henry.  He ran as fast as he could to the yardmaster's office.  The yardmaster noticed Shortstack was seriously troubled and, after questioning, learned what had happened.  "Couldn't have happened to a more deserving hogger," said the yardmaster, who offered to hide Shortstack in his tool shed.

Train #444 made it back to Sanlando without Shortstack.  When he was called for another trip the next day, he was relieved (no pun intended) to learn that "Fatso" Johnson would be the engineeer. 

                                                                                (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-281219155641.jpeg)


                                                                                (http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/684-281219155836.jpeg)
                                                                               
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on December 28, 2019, 05:00:21 PM
Another gem of a story.   ;D  I don't know how you do it.  I love following along.   ;D  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on December 28, 2019, 05:24:22 PM
"S**t happens!"


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on December 28, 2019, 06:07:32 PM
 ;D .  Another wonderful tale.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 28, 2019, 08:01:26 PM
Another awesome tale Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 29, 2019, 10:28:47 AM
I guess Shortstack should get points for effort, but he just might not have what is required for this type of employment..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on December 30, 2019, 11:33:07 AM
Many 'dry hopper' toilets I used up through the '80s were simpler - a 6" pipe through which you could see the ties passing (and feel a cold draft in season).  Lightweight passenger cars (though not the B&M's Budd RDCs) had fancier setups with a pan that actually flushed. Amtrak Heritage 10-6s were the last in service AFAIK.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 30, 2019, 03:21:17 PM
James - When I was just a tot (age 9) my mother and I traveled from Millen, Georgia, where her brother and sister lived, to Orlando by train.  The train was powered by one of C O G's beautiful 4700 series 4-8-2's. The C of G took us from Millen to Savannah and we rode in a 1920's ventage 14 section Pullman.  The Pullman was switched to the ACL passenger train (diesel-powered) at night and we woke up in Orlando the next morning.  It was the only time I got to sleep in a Pullman section.  I do remember the toilet flushing directly onto the roadbed and that was the way things were well into the 60's when I took the train from Chattanooga to Orlando.  I know the environmentalists must have been at work to change that sewage disposal system but for the life of me, I cannot remember anyone getting sick from licking ballast or the aquafer being polluted due to the waste.   

What happened?  Maybe I will Google it.

The Judge
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on December 31, 2019, 07:56:33 AM
Hey Judge:

The Brownsville Station looks great. Like the color changes from the ones in the kit. I also really like that tall hotel.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: vinceg on December 31, 2019, 09:59:24 AM
Quote from: postalkarl on December 31, 2019, 07:56:33 AM
Hey Judge:

The Brownsville Station looks great. Like the color changes from the ones in the kit. I also really like that tall hotel.

Karl

Yes, indeed. The Brownsville station looks fantastic. Any chance we could get some close-ups?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on December 31, 2019, 10:12:31 AM
Quote from: vinceg on December 31, 2019, 09:59:24 AM
Quote from: postalkarl on December 31, 2019, 07:56:33 AM
Hey Judge:

The Brownsville Station looks great. Like the color changes from the ones in the kit. I also really like that tall hotel.

Karl

Yes, indeed. The Brownsville station looks fantastic. Any chance we could get some close-ups?


Vince,

I'll get some and post them on the regular Atlantic and Southern build thread.  Appreciate the interest. Reading Bob built this beautiful kit for me.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on January 03, 2020, 08:29:10 AM
B&M employee timetables specified that passenger train crews must lock toilet doors approaching stations and on a couple of line segments near public water supplies.  I don't know how often they actually did that, particularly in the commuter district.  And of course, that didn't affect those who could afford Pullman spaces with private toilets (drawing room, compartment, double bedroom, roomette).  I do know I sometimes encountered waste when walking the track in my hometown. There was only one round-trip a day and its final stop was about a half mile east of where I was walking.  I remember thinking those passengers must have been in a hurry, regardless of whether the train was arriving or departing.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 04, 2020, 04:32:17 PM
Saturday, January 4, 2020.   70 degrees and overcast.

The Board of Directors met this morning promptly at 0830 hours and discussed the pressing question of the day - installation of lighting in the Walthers Mainline passenger cars.  We decided to install lights in two coaches.  Your reporter was given the opportunity to have fun installing the little metal pieces that have to be threaded on the plastic tips that stick out of the forward bulkhead.  Smaller fingers would have helped but after much muttering, the deed was done.  Completed installation on each coach was disappointing.  We got to disassemble the whole thing more than once and determined it was the use of the wrong screws that caused the problem.  Switching the screws around gave us additional confidence in the process of assembly and now we have two more coaches to list on our Southern Roster.  We decided that lights in the RPO/baggage car would be counterproductive so we added it to the fleet sans illumination.

Lunch was at Smokey Bones and back to the layout.  Construction crew has been working on the south end of the A&S (see Tom's thread) and the decision was made to add trees and other scenery in that area instead of more structures, at least on the south side of the Tahope River.  Good decision.  That area is very rural and already has a furniture plant and a pest control business in place.

Happiness and Joy!  Our decoder installer has decided to come out of retirement and two Southrn E8 diesels were delivered to him this afternoon.  This takes much pressure off of the A&S President so he can continue progress on the railroad.

The idea for this week's story came from one of my favorite Mark Twain tales.  I wonder how he would go over on late-night television today.

                                                                                                               THE REA ICEMAN

You may remember Newt Fisher, Luke and Tallula's boy.  Newt lived with his parents in one of the shacks on Eaton's Curve until he moved to the Bottoms at age 32. 

Well, Newt finally managed to get a job with the Railway Express Agency (REA) as a baggage watchman.  His job involved riding in the REA baggage car and protecting the cargo entrusted to his employer.  The job was perfect for Newt because he didn't have to do anything in particular and, while the train was between stations, he could catch some shut-eye.

Some of the REA baggage cars had standard vestibules that allowed access to the rest of the passenger cars.  The car assigned to the Seaboard's Silver Meteor had such a car in January 1950, and Newt was in charge of security for its contents.

Naturally, Newt found it convenient to roam through the train between stations on the trip from Tahope to Jacksonville.

Now, there was a party of salesmen who boarded the Meteor in Tampa who were headed for Washington and they were having a good time playing poker in the club car.  Since none of them were temperance men, they decided to order a drink.  The porter apologized and said, "I'll be happy to git y'all a drink, but there ain't no ice."   

Newt happened to be observing the card game and he offered a solution.  "I've got cargo that has to be iced down and a little won't be missed if I bring it for your convenience."  So Newt disappeared for a few minutes while he retrieved a bucket of ice and the drummers all had a drink.  Newt got free drinks as compensation.
There were refills as the night went on and Newt made several trips to get more ice.

Around midnight, Newt was asked to make another ice run, but he declined.  One of the salesmen offered to pay some cash for more ice but Newt had to politely decline, saying "I sure could use some cash and I could get more ice, but I'm afraid if I take any more off of the corpse it will spoil."

It's good to have a dedicated employee like Newt.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 04, 2020, 05:49:46 PM
Awesome ending Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on January 04, 2020, 05:53:07 PM
Terrific story Bill.  I think I'll start drinking my Jameson neat.   :P
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 04, 2020, 05:56:07 PM
Didn't see that one coming.....great story Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 04, 2020, 09:38:54 PM
No more ice for me!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Bruce Oberleitner on January 05, 2020, 11:54:42 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 04, 2020, 09:38:54 PM
No more ice for me!

Ditto
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 11, 2020, 04:01:28 PM
Atllatic & Sourhern Saturday Report - January 10, 2020 Temperature in Central Florida, Partly cloudy, 81 degrees

The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours and spent considerable time deciding how to "thin out" our passenger car inventory.  Sooo, if any of you are chomping at the bit for Walthers passenger cars of the Pennsy or Southern RR persuasion, we've got 'em and they are going on Ebay unless you speak up. 

Our guests today were the usual suspects , including Curt Webb, Greg DeMayo, and (late arrival) Bob Butts.  Bob was given an all 'round attaboy for his lighting efforts on Sokols Furniture Factory.  Bob, who must have infinate patience, installed forty lights inside and on the exterior of the building.  The A&S electric bill will undoubtedly go up accordingly.   Here is a pic of the finished product.  Much better photo coverage next week after detailing and landscaping has been done.

                                                                             (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110120145752.jpeg)

Our TCS Wow Sound intaller has come out of retirement and he installed new decoders in our new Southern E8's.  We wonder why Walthers thinks LOC Sound is a good system for locomotives.  We are very disappointed in the product and both of the decoders that came with our new E8's were defective.    These units are no longer available and, while it stretched the A&S budget, we were glad to get them.  See page 28 for a photo.  Probably more pics next week. The air tanks on the roof make these models interesting. 

Regular readers of this report will recall the mild complaining about installing lights in Walthers Mainline passenger cars.  Well, we now have six cars on the track and only three to go.

We adjourned to Smokey Bones for lunch and engaged in BS, as usual.

Upon return to "The Shed" we calibrated the new E8's and ran a Southern passenger train.  The lead truck on one car had a wheel out of gage and some other gremlin, causing derailments.  The gage problem was an easy fix and turning the truck the other way around fixed the gremlin. 

This week's story involves a by-gone occupation, the RPO mail clerk. 

                                                                                                         The Origin of "Sack Time"

Almost from the beginning of railroading,until the 1960's, when the airlines stole the business, every passenger train had a Railway Post Office (RPO) car.  The last mail run was in 1977.  The U. S. Mail is the business of the Federal Post Office and the governmnet contracted with the railroads to carry mail to the cities along their ruoutes. 

The mail clerks had to pass a rigoruous examination and they were very skilled and dedicated to the joby of sorting and delivering the mail.  Sometimes the RPO cars also served as baggage cars and sometimes they doubled as crew dormitories, but there was always a crew of clerks who sorted the mail into mail sacks.  Pick-up of mail bags was accomplished by "catching on the fly" through the use of a snagging device called a trackside crane, which was attached to the door of the RPO.  Deliveries were made by simply tossing out the sack of mail from the moving train with enough force to clear the car.  This manual sorting, collecting and delivering was all very low tech, but the government claimed a 99% accuracy rate for delivery. 

THe mail clerks developed a language all their own in order to get the mail sorted, sometimes under great pressure, especially during short trips between stations.  But it was not all work and no play, particularly when the mail stops were many miles apart.

The Atlantic & Southern RR was a government-designated United States Mail Carrier and employed and furnished clerks for all of the railroads that had trackage rights over the A&S.  New employees were called apprentices and were subjected to good-natured hazing until they achieved clerk status. 

Henry Herder was an apprentice on the A&S with a run on ACL's Champion from Tahope to Jacksonville.  He recalled that during the early '50's the mail would be sorted before the train reached Palatka and the clerks could get a little "sack time" from Palatka to Jacksonville.  "Sack time" was literally that.  The RPO had hundreds of mail sacks and those not in immediate use were piled up at the end of the car.  Clerks used to stretch out on the sacks and catch a quick nap. 

Naturally, the clerks who were old-timers liked to have fun with the new apprentices.  One apprentice was told to distribute the mail "nice and evenly" among the sacks without regard to destination.  Another apprentice boasted of the fairest distribution ever made.  Following instructions, he dumped all of the mail on a big table and, when the engineer whistled for a station, he looked to see how big the town was and filled the sack for delivery proportionately before he threw the sack out the door.


                                                                          (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110120154734.jpeg)

                                                                                               RPO Heavyweight at the turn of the Century


                                                                           (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110120155129.jpeg)

                                                                                                            Interrior of RPO in the '20's

The videos below are instructional on how the RPO"s operated during their hay-day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IirDQzgzlQg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnGfWw7Bgu0






Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 11, 2020, 08:27:18 PM
Interesting story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 12, 2020, 08:14:01 AM
RPO workers were also Signal 0, meaning armed.  :-X

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 12, 2020, 08:56:32 AM
That must have been a fun job in its day.....neat story & videos Bill. I bet Jesse and Frank James didn't mess with those Signal 0 feds.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on January 12, 2020, 01:39:00 PM
Thanks for the video links, Judge.  The first is at the Illinois Railway Museum.  The RPO is a restored CB&Q car.  :)

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on January 13, 2020, 08:15:50 AM
Hey judge:

Sokols came out very nicely. Great job.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 13, 2020, 05:26:38 PM
Karl - While I thank you for the compliment, I cannot take credit for Sokol's.  That was the artistic work of Reading Bob Butts.  Forty lights!  I almost can't count that high.  Wouldn't have a reason to except for my age, which is 41.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 17, 2020, 09:28:23 AM
Quote from: Judge on January 13, 2020, 05:26:38 PM
.....Wouldn't have a reason to except for my age, which is 41.


Huh..... ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 18, 2020, 04:01:54 PM
Saturday Report January 18, 2020.  Central Florida Temperature - High 70's and clear.

This week's Saturday Report will not contain a weekly "story" because the Forum is under renovation and photographs cannot be guaranteed for posting.  Unfortunately, this week's story had several photographs.  So, this week's Report will only memorialize today's activities on the A&S Railroad.  Next week's report will be with story, hopefully, but without Report, because it is the Babe's Saturday for travel to Mount Dora to have her hair done.

The weekly meeting of the Board of Directors convened promptly at 0830 hours.  The Board was given an opportunity to view the completed Cresent Limited passenger train, composed of Walthers Mainline cars with lighting installed.  The train consists of two back-to-back Southern E8 A units decked out in green, white and gold, followed by the only brand new, freshly painted REA freight car ever seen on any railroad, a baggage/RPO car, a baggage/lounge car, four coaches, a dinner, two sleepers, and a sleeper/lounge observation car.  The train performed reasonably well on it maiden voyage, except the dinner car had a tendency to derail.  (It seems like therer is one problem car in every passenger train.)  Fortunately, the A&S car maintenance team got right on it and successfully corrected the problem with the defective truck.  All cars are lighted, but, wouldn't you know it, the dinner light doesn't work.  Due to installation difficulties with the car, it will have to be scrapped and replaced wtih one of its identical twins.  Too bad, after all that work (fun) fixing the derail problem.

The Cresent traveled around  Summit and drifted down the Ovalix to the Midlands and back with ease.  It is an impressive train.  However, all readers who are interested in purchasing these Mainline cars should beware!  The installation of the lighting system is more trouble than it is worth.  The instructions are poor and the parts do not always fit.  Besides, the kits will not work reliably unless some soldering is done to make a good electrical connection.  Our car maintenance department recommends spending the extra bucks and buying the regular Walthers cars.  Additionally, some of the cars need paint touch-up and one would expect a better product from Waltthers.

We spent much of the morning admiring the progress on the South end of the railroad.  Beehives have been delivered to the Apiary and it should be a going business soon.  The bees are expected to produce hundreds of pints of Orange Blossom Honey regularly, thereby increasing A&S revenue shipments "up Nawth" during the spring and summer.

                                                                                                         WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT!

  Officer and Mrs. Eldridge Poovey recently announced the marriage of their daughter, Daffodil, to George (Crack-a-Diamond) Musselwhite.  Daffy is a recent graduate of Tahope County High School, where she excelled in shop and auto mechanics.  George is a fireman for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.  The wedding took place at the City of Tahope Police Station under armed guard.  The bride wore her new Levi skirt, jacket and tennis shoes.  The groom, who was handcuffed, wore his "Sunday-go-to-meeting suit, with his fireman's hat and bandana.  The couple will honeymoon at Delwin's Fish Camp.  Their first child is expected in March of this year.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 18, 2020, 09:20:12 PM
Glad to see the Cresent going Bill.....amazing the alarming number of this type of wedding in Tahope.

The city does not seem to be losing their population to the big cities, which is a good thing if the city fathers want to keep it a thriving town.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 25, 2020, 05:03:02 PM
SATURDAY REPORT WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL NOON JAN. 26.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 26, 2020, 09:31:22 AM
Saturday Report January 26, 2020.  Weather in Tahope County - Sunny and 50 degrees.  High expected - 66 degrees.

There is no formal Saturday Report today.  However, there is a story.

                                                                                           SOKOL FURNITURE AND MATTRESS COMPANY
  The Sokol Furniture and Mattress Factory is located on the outskirts of the City of Tahope, just north of the Tahope River Bridge.  It was founded by Marty Sokol in 1887.  It survived the panic of 1893 largely because of its location next to the railroad tracks of the A&S Railroad.  Marty Sokol shipped furniture made from Florida pine and oak to Jacksonville and as far north as Savannah and Charleston.  Because his furniture was of superior quality, his products were brought to the attention of George M. Pulman, who, by that time, was one of the era's famous millionaires.  Pullman contracted with Sokol to furnish some of his private palace cars.  Pullman recommended Sokol to one of his buddies, Henry M. Flagler, who purchased furniture from Sokol to furnish many of his hotels, which were popping up all along Florida's east coast.  Sokol's reputation spread throughout the burgeoning Florida hotel industry and the company's customer base included the finest hotels in the state. 
  Marty Sokol's son, Manny, took over the business after WWI and survived the Great Depression due to the company's hotel customers. 
  By 1950, the City of Tahope was dominated by five industries, including the Atlantic & Southern Railroad, the Florida Citrus and cattle industry, the petroleum distribution center, the honey apiary, and Sokol's Furniture and Mattress Company.  Sokol's employed over 40 skilled craftsmen carpenters, finishers, weavers, and upholsterers on a year-round basis and took on some part-time help during the busy summer season.
  In January 1950, Manny Sokol was looking for a secretary/office assistant.  He advertised in the Tahope Daily Blatter and got a good response from several young women who had just graduated from Tahope High School, including a perky little former cheerleader named Peaches Weaver.  (You remember Peaches, don't you?  She celebrated her 18th birthday in the back seat of a 1950 Buick Roadmaster that belonged to her boyfriend's father.  See pp. 10-11).  Peaches had been an "A" student and could type and file so she was hired on the spot. 
  Marty decided to finance a marketing campaign to increase his market share form the sale of mattresses to the local citizens.  He hired a marketing consultant who recommended that he utilize some of the local talent to kick off the big sale.  He renovated part of the front of the factory building to include a glass window display and installed a fully furnished bedroom for observation of passing customers.  He placed an advertisement on the wall by the front entrance for a mattress tester.

                                                                                                                 WANTED!
                                                LANKY, LAZY LOUT WHO CAN SLEEP AT LEAST 12 HOURS STRAIGHT AS A MATTRESS TESTER.  SALARY, $2.00 A DAY. 
                                                                                             NO PRIOR EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

  Days went by, which turned into weeks, and no applicants responded for the job. 
  Donnie (Shortstack) Turner had just gotten out of jail for molesting a blue crab trap when he stumbled by Sokol's on his way to nail a drag back to the Bottoms.  He happened upon the ad when he stopped at the factory for a handout.  Feeling fully qualified, he decided to put off celebrating his new found freedom and apply for the job, saying, "I cain't go home to the Bottoms, they needs me here."  Shortstack presented himself to the president's office and asked Peaches for a job application.  He told her he had just gotten out of jail and all they gave him there was "three hots and a cot" and this job would be a great improvement. 
  Well, Shortstack was given a shower and a shave and furnished with a brand new pair of pajamas.  Then he was shown to his bed and Peaches instructed him on his duties.  Shortstack, a great admirer of feminine pulchritude, asked her if she would like to help him test the mattress.  That was a mistake.  No sooner than when he got the words out of his mouth two rather large furniture movers, who worked as bouncers at Butts Bar-B-Que on Saturday nights,  showed him the door.  That ended Shortstack's mattress testing career.
  But, as Shortstack said to his fellow bums when he returned to the Bottoms, "At least I got a shower, a shave, and a new pair of pajamas.  Let's hope he got a bowl of Mulligan stew and a drink of "corn squeezins' to quench his thurst.


                                                                            (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-260120091405.jpeg)

                                                                                     Skokol's has 40 lights installed in and around the building


                                                                            (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-260120091659.jpeg)

                                                                                          The loading dock at Sokol's is a busy place.

                                                                               (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-260120092136.jpeg)

                                                                  This is Peaches.  The photo appeared in the "The Swamp Cabbage," her high school yearbook.   


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on January 26, 2020, 10:30:29 AM
Well, in Shortstacks defense ya can't blame a feller for try'in.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 26, 2020, 10:35:04 AM
Some fellas just can't catch a break..... or any feminine pulchritude.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 26, 2020, 01:23:34 PM
Looks like Peaches has a sexy attitude to go with her pulchritude!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on January 26, 2020, 02:44:00 PM
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 26, 2020, 06:50:37 PM
Another great story.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 01, 2020, 04:16:04 PM
                                                                                                     
Saturday Morning Report - February 1, 2020.  Temperature in mid-60's and rainy.
    The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours and discussed the need for diesel switchers.  It was decided to keep two ALCO S-2 switchers (ACL and SAL) for use in the two yards and perhaps keep two EMD switchers as well. 
     The newly acquired Southen passenger train was moved to the Bottoms and the L&N passenger train, which is powered by two E6A units, climbed the 1 percent grade up the Ovalix to the Midlands for a run through Sanlando and Piney Woods.  Then it climbed to Summit and made a run until nearly 11:00 a.m. 
    Gregg Demayo arrived about 10:15 and he accompanied us to Smokey Bones for lunch. 
    After lunch, we changed motive power on the L&N streamliner by coupling an L&N L-1 4-8-2 onto the consist.  The steamer pulled the eight-car mixed smooth side and heavyweight cars without difficulty on level track, although we are sure that helper service will be needed ascending the Ovalix.
    A good time was had by all and the management is particularly proud of the progress made on the south end of the railroad.

   Today's story continues our survey of different railroad occupations.  The words "boomer" and "brakey" sort of go together.

                                                                                                         Vanishing Types

                                                                                                              The Boomer

    The Boomer was an itinerant railroader who traveled light, skipping at short notice from one railroad to another, sometimes just ahead of the law.  A boomer would sign on as a "brakey" on railroads like the A&S after a cursory interview, usually by the yardmaster.  Back in the link and pin days, those applicants with missing fingers were selected because they had "experience."  The new hires would be issued a "Pie Book" which contained a number of "pie cards" that were supposed to hold him over until payday for meals at Sweaty Betty's Diner.  The cost of the "Pie Book" was deducted from the boomer's first paycheck.
    The golden age of the boomers ended after WWI when hiring practices became more formal and by the mid-'20s railroaders would grouse about having to have a college education to heave coal.  Careful screening is the current hiring practice on the A&S, although being related to a current employee seems to give an advantage, much like the hiring practices in the Florida prison system.  Of course, nearly everyone in Tahope County is related in some way or other by blood, marriage, or intermarriage.  In fact, Tahope residents don't cotton to strangers and they find it is hard to fit into Tahope's "sassiety."
    Roger Russel, who was out on parole from Louisiana, wandered into Tahope from Jacksonville one day looking for work.  He tried his hand at one thing or another but he just couldn't fit in.  Finally, he walked into the A&S roundhouse and applied for a position with the A&S Railroad. 
    The Assistant Roundhouse Forman, Tater Cartwright, who had been born and raised in Tahope, hired him on as a car toad on the company RIP track.  Car toads make on the spot repairs to freight cars and perform maintenance on them. 
    Naturally, in 1950, it was customary to subject new hires to a certain amount of good-natured hazing as a form of welcome.  One of Russel's duties was to tote his boss' tool box about so Russel was ordered to bring the box to the car being repaired, only to find the box had been nailed to the wooden platform.  The boss shouted in feigned impatience, expressing his amazement at the delay.  Another incident occurred when six car toads were required to move a heavy wooded sill from one end of the RIP track platform to the other.  The men lifted the sill to their shoulders and, with Russel in the middle, the others suddenly stooped down, putting all of the weight on Russel and causing him to collapse.  Then there was the fireman who "accidentally" drenched Russel with the hose used to clean the coal dust off of the apron deck in front of the locomotive tender. 
    Russel endured the teasing with good humor.  He had learned a few things in the "joint" and he always went the extra mile to please his superiors.  He even volunteered to be a dope puller, the lowest job a car toad could be assigned.  The advantage of being a dope puller was the work was in the yard away from the RIP track platform. 
    A dope puller was assigned to inspect the hubs of freight cars awaiting transfer in the Sanlando freight yard.  It was the dope puller's job t extract "dope," (the greasy waste in the journal box of each wheel) and replace it with clean waste and grease, thus preventing "hot boxes" from friction on the revolving axel inside the journal box.  The dope puller accomplished this task by removing the dope from each journal box with a hook and placing it in a wheelbarrow.  Then he would replace the old dope with new dope.  Needless to say, the wheelbarrow was soon filled with a black greasy substance that gave new meaning to "hot and filthy."  The fact that one of Russel's co-workers gave him a friendly push backwards into the wheelbarrow filled with tar-like dope was the last straw. 
    Russel, who emerged from the wheelbarrow looking like he had been tarred without the feathers, decided to draw his road stake and strike out for the FEC.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 01, 2020, 05:08:27 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on February 01, 2020, 06:02:09 PM
Bill


Another fine report and story.  Thank you, again, for sharing this with us.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 01, 2020, 06:16:52 PM
Good one Bill..... ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 08, 2020, 05:01:53 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report - February 8, 2020.  Weather in Central Florida Sunny, not a cloud in the sky, temperature Mid-70's.

The Board of Directors met at 0830.  The only item on the agenda was the disposition of a Seaboard Air Line Baldwin V1000 switcher.  It was decided to install WOW Sound in it and add it to the roster.  The installation will be a challenge because the body shell is not roomy.  WOW Sound now has a couple of Baldwin prime mover sounds on its decoders and one is the V1000 engine.

Today's story takes us back to the Trackside Tavern.

                                                                                                 Doins at the Trackside Tavern

    The Trackside Tavern's new owner decided to expand the hours of operation and the diversions available to the beer joint's customers.  The back room was converted into a casino with tables for poker, craps, and blackjack.  The gambling was strictly illegal, but the profits were worth the risk.  And the City Council members were regularly in attendance.  The casino operation was managed by a sinister-looking gentleman of Chinese extraction named Charlie Wu.  Charlie had a 21-year-old daughter named Yum Yum Wu, and she ran the blackjack table.  The house rule was if you could beat Yum Yum at blackjack you would win $100.  No one ever beat her.  The customers dubbed the casino operation as "The House of Not-a-Chance." 
    Charlie also supervised the girls who provided entertainment in the bar.  The girls were supposed to provide the house with one-third of their tips for their employment as independent contractors.
    One evening towards closing time, the jukebox lured the crowd away from the backroom to give their attention to the evening's entertainment on stage.  The girls danced and wiggled and collected a considerable remuneration for their efforts.  The favorite dancer was, of course, Magnolia (Maggie) Hussy, who had recently been released from custofdy on matters not pertinent here.
    Charlie accused Maggie of skimming her tips and demanded to see the stash she kept in her garter.  It was obvious that Maggie was not reporting her earnings so Charlie fired her on the spot.
    Maggie decided she would take her act elsewhere and packed her things for a trip on the Champion to Jacksonville, where sinning was more profitable. 
    The next evening, A&S switchmen, Burns and Garbury, happened by the depot on their way to work the midnight shift in Sanlando Yard.  They saw Maggie sitting on a baggage cart waiting for the train.  Upon inquiry, they learned Maggie was out of work so they organized a group of regulars to go discuss the matter with the Tavern's management. 
    Charlie explained that Maggie was a thief and he couldn't abide by her dishonesty.  "Besides," said Charlie, "inexpensive women like Maggie are a dime a dozen." 
    Maggie, as you might imagine, had quite a following with the crowd that gathered to express their concern over the turn of events.  They held a conference and decided to offer a solution.  Burns and Gadbury asked Charlie if he would give Maggie her job back if she paid $50 each night upfront and kept all the rest of her earnings.  That seemed fair to Charlie and Maggie was rehired. 
    Later that night, she returned to her boxcar in The Bottoms for a little turtle soup and a glass of white corn liquor before counting out the $250 she made after paying Charlie $50. 

                                                                                                                     

                                                   (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-080220165503.jpeg)

                                                                                                       Charlie Wu

                                                   (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-080220165647.jpeg)

                                                                   Charlie's daughter, Yum Yum Wu
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 08, 2020, 05:10:14 PM
Now that's some shrewd deal the boys got for Maggie.....another good one Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 08, 2020, 06:33:45 PM
I've hauled Maggie in on three separate occasions.

Last I heard, her record has been sealed and not available to the public. This may be due in part to a "guvment" convention held in Tahope where Maggie made a few friends who want to remain in good standing with their constituents.

Like Sergeant Schultz once said, "I know nothing".
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 08, 2020, 08:06:27 PM
Great tale Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on February 08, 2020, 08:37:22 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on February 08, 2020, 06:33:45 PM
...
Last I heard, her record has been sealed and not available to the public. ...

I guess that's why there was no accompanying photo of Maggie.  Too bad, but then this a G, or at least PG rated forum :-)

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 09, 2020, 06:33:13 AM
Dave - The only likeness we have been able to thus far find of Maggie Hussy is a short video taken when she was fishing in the Tahope River at age 15.  The video is on page 29 under The Rest of the Story.  Look for the link below the Pullman story. 

I am looking for more current photographs that I can publish on this G rated forum. 

The Judge
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 09, 2020, 09:15:45 AM
And you know that we all love pictures Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 15, 2020, 03:58:39 PM
Saturday Report - 2-15-20  Temperature in the mid 70's and sunny here in Central Florida

The weekly meeting of the Board of Directors convened at 0830 hours.  The Board inspected the progress of the past week including installation of the facia on the Tahope Peninsula.  Some new palm trees were delivered for placement as the progress heads towards the Big Tahope River. 

The morning's railroading included a work-out for the ACL Alco S2 and a freight run of SAL F3's, and, with a power change, a GP7.  We are experiencing some problems with old (and I mean old) WOW Sound decoders.  The problems are with decoders that are so old they do not even have "Version 1" on them.  TCS happily replaces these old decoders with new and improved ones. 

Greg DeMayo arrived about 10:00 and participated in the fun until we went to lunch at Smokey Bones. 

After lunch we ran an 0-6-0 switcher and a 2-8-0 so we could hear the sound of steam.  An easy day on the A&S.

    The idea for today's story comes from a 1939 edition of Railroad Magazine, which in those days cost $.15. 

                                                                                                  First Day on the Job as a Fireman

    Willie Mason, a Tahope native, signed onto the Atlantic & Southern Railroad right after he came home from Europe after WWII.  He began working in the roundhouse but was soon promoted to brakeman.  He broke steam freight for three years and found himself on the extra board as a fireman.  Willie fired steam for a year and gained enough seniority to bid on a diesel-powered through freight that originated in Sanlando Yard and terminated in Jacksonville. 
    The first day on the job found Willie at the Sanlando diesel facility boarding a consist of three Seabord E7's.  The engineer that day was Michael O'Sullivan, a serious type, who was a 22-year veteran of the right-side seat.  O'Sullivan pulled the diesels out of the service facility and onto the mainline, heading for the yard lead into Sanlando Yard where the mixed freight consisting of 21 billboard reefers and a caboose had been assembled by the yard crew.  O'Sullivan coupled the E7's to the train. The brakeman connected the air hose to the engines and inspected the first few cars to make sure their brakes were operable.  After twenty minutes or so, the conductor signaled the air was good in the rear of the train and O'Sullivan eased the train out onto the mainline.  Two reefers were dropped at the Piney Woods Freight Station and O'Sullivan turned to his fireman, who was sitting in his chair with nothing to do, and said, "Willie, how would you lie to take her to Summit?"  Willie, who had never run a diesel locomotive in his life, was excited, to say the least.  He moved over to the engineer's seat and gingerly pulled the throttle a notch at a time until the engine speed indicator was at 49 mph, the maximum speed allowed between Piney Woods and the Ovalix. 
    The trip was uneventful until the train rounded a blind curve that hid a rural crossing at the Tahope Highway Intersection. To Willie's horror, there was a yellow 1947 Ford Coupe stopped on the track.  It appeared to be occupied by teenagers.  Willie pulled the knob that turned on the bell and gave repeated short blasts of the diesel's horn, to no avail.  The Ford just sat there.  Wilie panicked and put the brake into emergency, just about the time the driver of the Ford pulled off the track and waived, with his middle finger extended. 
    Unlike our familiar understanding of braking systems in automobiles - where an increase in pressure translates to an increase in braking power - air brakes on a train run in the opposite way.  By default, the air brake system is closed (the brakes are on).  When running, the air is pumped to fill brake cylinders on each car and the brakes are "opened."  When a triain engineer wants to apply brakes, he causes a reduction in the air pressure and that causes the brakes to "close," slowing the train in accordance with the amount of the reduction.  The logic of this system is if there is a pressure failure in the braking system, the brakes will automatically engage, thereby reducing the likelihood that a train would speed out of control. 
    When the emergency brake is applied there is a rapid loss of pressure, draining all of the air out of the brake cylinders, and the brakes slam shut.  As you can guess, this will cause the train to stop.  If the train is moving at speed, the stop will be violent and can result in a derailment.  Additionally, once the brakes are set for emergency, the train must come to a complete stop and the air must come back up to pressure before the train can move.
    The train passed the crossing and came to a stop about a half a mile down the track.  The conductor demanded an explanation as Willie waited for the the air to be recovered.  O'Sullivan addressed him, saying, "Well, Willie, did you learn anything today?"
    Willie, who was shaken up by the near-miss, went off on a tirade about how could those kids be so foolish and how it would have been a tragedy if their car had stalled.  O'Sullivan calmed him down and said, "That's why we never go to emergency until we see the fenders fly.  If we put the train into emergency every time one of these idiots pulls this stunt, either on purpose or through inattention, we would have the train in emergency on nearly every trip.  Eventually, our number would come up and we would have the train in a ditch, which could be devastating."
     It took over thirty minutes for the air to recover and for the dispatcher to give clearance for Willie to proceed to Summit.  On the way, he contemplated the valuable lesson he learned on his first day as a fireman on a diesel.

                                                                              (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-150220155143.jpeg)
                                                                                                         The Scene of the Emergency


                                                                                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dScQpUyTYTs

                                                                                                Crossing the Tahope Highway intersection Safely





                                                                             
   
   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 16, 2020, 10:42:53 AM
Those billboard reefers sure make a great looking train.....good tale Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on February 16, 2020, 11:07:02 AM
Great story your Honor.   :D  Also a really neat train.  Love those billboard reefers.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 16, 2020, 02:07:41 PM
Great tale Bill. Those darn teenagers.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 16, 2020, 02:37:07 PM
                                   THE REST OF THE STORY


If you think teenagers have learned anything since the 1950's, just look at this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyIW0r3-ruA
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 16, 2020, 06:10:19 PM
Hey Bill.....check out this video of choo-choo's and Spanky's first full movie.  ;D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyhd7gSxAC0
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 22, 2020, 05:14:58 PM
Saturday Report - February 22, 2020.  Chilly 48 degrees at dawn, but sunny and mid 60's by noon.  Will warm back into the 80's tomorrow. 
   

The A&S Board met early this morning.  The meeting started at 8:15 a.m.  There was a tour of the progress on the Tahope Pennensula and a discussion bout how the scenery will progress in that area. 
     The CEO was given a round of applause for his determination to begin painting and installing sound in brass engines, hopefully in the Spring.  Delivery was made of a coal hopper lettered for the NC&StL RR.  Those of you who follow this report will remember that the Pennsy provides the motive power for the once a month coal train into  Tahope in exchange for the Pennsy president's free pass over the road.  The coal train is powered by Baldwin Sharks.  The attached video gives testimony to the quality of the sound made by Baldwin diesels.  They are going to outclass EMD you know.  And Baldwin would never consider merging with Lima Locomotive Works.  But these diesels are just a passing fad.  Steam will triumph as soon as the efficiency improves and the cost of maintenance drops. 
    The coal train was the subject of most of the morning running.  The train originated in The Bottoms and negotiated the constant 1% grade of the Ovalix without breaking a sweat.  The train exited on the Midlands and performed a photo run-by before delivering a hopper or two to the Tahope Roundhouse Yard.  The train retuned to The Bottoms to await another delivery day.  At that point, an ACL P-3, Number 451 powered a six-car passenger train around the Midlands with stops at Sanlando and Piney Woods.

                                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojY9BlCQAQo&feature=youtu.be

                                     Here is a short video of the coal drag powered by Sharks.  Hear those Baldwin diesels rumble.

    "Reading Bob" Butts arrived around 10:30 a.m. and the crew departed for lunch at Smashburger's for lunch.  No Smokey Bones today.  We thought we would have a little variety.  Burgers were good.  We are likely to return.

    This week's story is taken from the October 1939 edition of Trains Magazine.  I often wondered where the cap railroaders wore during the steam era came from.  Now I know.  The true story originates with a fireman named George Kromer, whose friends called him "Stormy."  Stormy fired on the Chicago and Northwestern and one windy day the brakeman's cap blew off his head and it was lost.  The rest of the story happened sort of the way it is told below.



                                                                                                           The Railroader's Cap

    Sometimes it gets windy in February in Central Florida.  On one of those windy days, Diamond George Musselwhite, fresh off of his honeymoon with his new bride, Daffy, reported for work as the fireman on the Florida Special.  The Special was powered by one of the dozen R-1 4-8-4's, which were the pride of the ACL steam passenger fleet.  Diamond George climbed into the cab of the big R-1, ready to man the stoker.  The signal switched to a clear board and the Florida Special was on its way to Jacksonville. 
    As the train passed over the Great Divide, the wind blew through the cab with a mighty gust, blowing George's cap off of his head and into the chasm below.  Well, George was fit to be tied and had to fend off sparks and cinders for the rest of the trip. 
    When George returned to the roundhouse that evening, he set himself down at the crew table and said, "Boys, I gotta swell idea." 
    That evening he spoke with Daffy, saying, "I figure that by shaping some cloth and putting a sunshade on it, you could make a good strong cap that's not likely to blow off in the wind." 
    "Waal, maybe I could," said Daffy, who excelled at shop and auto mechanics in high school.  She found some heavy material that looked like mattress tacking and made a floppy cap with a bill and a springy sweatband that would not blow off in the wind.  The cap was big enough to where it could be pulled down over the ears in cold weather.  Diamond George proudly wore it to work the next day.
    The crew at the roundhouse admired the cap.  "Fatso" Johnson, the A&S engineer, said, "Now that is my idea of a cap.  I wunder if you could git your Missus to make me one?"  "Me too," said 'Tater" Cartwright.
    "Well, I'll see if she'll oblige," said George.
    The next day the crew all marveled at the caps Daffy made and all of them wanted one.  "If anybody but Diamond George had that cap, he'd make a million dollars," said the Maintenance Foreman, Will Fixer. 
    George was convinced he had an item that would be in demand, so he went to a garment factory in Orlando that manufactured uniforms for the state prison and asked if they would make the caps.  The owner said, "I don't see how you can sell more than a few dozen, but I'll make as many as you want to pay for at 25 cents each." "Fine," said George, "make a hundred dozen and I'll be back to pick them up next week." 
    George started selling the caps by wearing his in places like Sweaty Betty's Diner and eateries up and down the line from Tampa to Jacksonville.  In no time he had sold the entire order and needed more.  As time went by, the manufacturing site had to be moved to Nooo Yawk and orders of thousands of dozens of caps were manufactured and sold. Sure enough, George made his million dollars and those caps are still selling like hotcakes.
    And Daffy bought a brand new 1949 pick-up truck, complete with a "coon tail" on the aerial. 



                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeO67oX0auU

                                                                                                        The Florida Special

                                                                (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-220220171011.jpeg)

                                                                                                  George "Stormy" Kromer

                                                                    (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-220220171306.jpeg)

                                                                                                       Stormy's Railroader's Cap
                                                                                     
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on February 22, 2020, 09:06:00 PM
I had forgotten to read last week's report during my siege at work.  Both wonderful stories, Bill.  And the videos are great, too.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 23, 2020, 09:27:16 AM
Amazing creation.....and she did it without duct tape & bailing wire.  ;D  Great story Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 23, 2020, 11:19:33 AM
These here stories just get better and better.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on February 23, 2020, 12:14:07 PM
Hats off to another great story Bill!   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 24, 2020, 07:24:57 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 29, 2020, 09:18:40 AM
Saturday Report - February 29, 2020.  Clear, sunny day in Central Florida.  High's in the 70's.

    This is the Saturday that The Babe goes to Mt. Dora for beauty treatment so there will be no formal Saturday Report.
    HOWEVER!  Please let this reporter congratulate Tom on his decision to start working on brass locomotives, even if it is part-time.  No one does it better and no one has more patience to do that tedious bit of true art work. 
    Additionally, this reporter would like to compliment those forum members who have been posting progress on their layouts and builds.  Outsiders do not realize the artistic talent it takes to be, as my Jaw-Ja cousins used to say, "at the top of the heap," in our hobby. 
   
    This week's story comes from the monthly Railroad Magazine, August, 1940 ($.15).  Imagine a railroad magazine without a single picture of a diesel locomotive, not even an advertisement.  Each month there is a section called "True Tales of the Rails," which are short stories that, with further compression, can be adapted to tales about the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.  This week's story is about a close call or two and is a reminder that railroading is a dangerous occupation. 

                                                                                                      BRUSHING THE PEARLY GATES

    it was cold and rainy that February morning back in the '30's when Charlie Miner climbed up into the cab of ACL 835 (a freight hog).  He was a new fireman, just in from a stint down south in Tampa, where he worked as a brakeman.  The engine was running light, backing from the roundhouse onto the mainline, awaiting the yard goat to couple the morning freight to the tender.
    The coal space in the tender of 835 needed about 8 tons from the coal tower in order to make the run to Jacksonville so Bobby Baker, the engineer, backed to the coal tower and gave 8 short blasts on the whistle to signal Ben, the coal tower tender, for 8 tons.  Bobby spotted 835's tender under the coal chute and Ben pulled the chain to release the coal. 
    At the same time, Charlie slipped on the tank's slick deck and fell head over heels into the coal space.  He did a 180 flip and landed on his feet about the time the coal was released.  He tried to pull himself free, but the coal was up to his knees before he knew it and he was held fast.  He hollered at Ben to close the coal chute and by the time Ben responded, he was up to his neck in coal.  The air was mostly coal dust and Charlie could barely breathe, much less move to free himself.
    Ben called to Bobby and said, "Hey! The Fireman's buried nigh up to his neck in the tank and we better dig him out before he smothers!"  Bobby and Ben commenced to digging to free Charlie when they heard a whistle in the distance.  The morning Florida Special was crossing the Grreat Divide and was heading for the rear of 835's tender. 
    "Damn," said Bobby, "I completely forgot about Number 4!" 
    The brakeman grabbed a red flag and hi-tailed it to the rear in an effort to warn the engineer of the oncoming varnish.  "You flag 'em and I'll beat it back to the shops in Tahope, said Bobby.  "You better twist her tail," hollered the brakeman, " or we're goin' to have one hell of a wreck!"
    In two leaps, Bobby made it back to the right-hand seat.  With the quick and sure touch of a born hogger, his hands released the brakes, slammed back the Johnson bar, opened the sanders, and yanked the throttle.  835's Stack and cylinder cocks hissed protest as she leaped forward into motion, but she didn't slip, and within five engine lengths was responding to the wide-open throttle.  She was making nearly 40-miles per by the time she reached the Ovalix and crossed into the Tahope Yard Lead.  Close behind, the Special missed 835's tender by only a few car lengths.
    Ben continued to dig Charlie out of the pile of coal and, by the time 835 regained track speed past the Big Tahope River Bridge, he was almost dug out.  The roundhouse crew carried Charlie into the roundhouse lounge to assess the damage.  Aside from numerous bruises, scratches, sore muscles and a thick coat of grime and coal dust, he was in pretty good shape.  After an examination by the railroad's physician, Dr. Staysic, he took a much-needed shower and spent the evening recounting his adventures with his buddies.
    Charlie continued as a fireman for some ten years and was promoted to the right side, but by then there was no more coal and Charlie came to work wearing a jacket and a white collared shirt to run his F3's.  But he never tired of telling about the day he nearly brushed the Pearly Gates - twice! 

                                                                     (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290220092214.jpeg)

                                                                                            By the time Ben responded, he was up to his neck in coal!



                                                                         (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-290220094453.jpeg)

                                                                                                        The Sanlando Yard Water Tank
   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on February 29, 2020, 10:09:49 AM
Great story Bill!   :D  It also takes some artistic talent to weave terrific tales like this that really help bring a layout alive.   ;) 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 29, 2020, 10:28:36 AM
Enjoyed it Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jimmillho on February 29, 2020, 10:45:29 AM
Outstanding story Bill.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 29, 2020, 03:41:34 PM
Love your stories Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 29, 2020, 05:29:38 PM
Bill,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. By the way, how many brass loco are up for painting?

Oh, great story also.

Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on February 29, 2020, 06:40:26 PM
Bet old 835 would have accelerated in a more timely manner with Greg Speed at the throttle.  :D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 29, 2020, 09:54:42 PM
835 is in fact "old."  She has lasted many years longer than her 1"1 sister, a Light USRA MIke.  We don't allow Greg to run antiques like 835.  We're too afraid she would throw a main rod or jerk a lung.  And she's a hand bomber so speed is hard to attain.  But she can pull anything out of the goat can put together. 

Thank you for the comment.  I appreciate comments because they let me know people think I'm doing with these stories and the goings-on at the Atlantic & Southern.

Bill
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 01, 2020, 10:20:11 AM
Not to worry Bill.....a little TLC and a gentle touch will get ole' 835 to run like a 2 year old thoroughbred.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on March 01, 2020, 11:02:09 AM
Hey Bill:

As all have said above. Great story.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 07, 2020, 04:15:06 PM
Saturday Report -March 7, 2020 - Weather was 59 degrees earlier.  Now (3:00 p.m.) it's nearly 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  A little breeze makes it goof for sailing or kites.

The Board of Directors met at 0830, as usual.  The recently leased Pennsy E units were sent to the shops at Ucita Yard for upgrades from whatever they have now to WOW sound.  Hopefully, they will have the conversion completed before next Saturday.

The POL train (petroleum, oil, and lubricants) that was spotted at the Midlands was returned to the Bottoms.  The ACL Champion, powered by three E7's (A-B-A) was backed out of the yard at the Bottoms for service on its regular schedule.  Unfortunately, backing full-length Walthers passenger cars, even on a 36" radius curve is less than satisfactory due to the physics of the forces involved and derails occur.  This movement was tried because the Champ was spotted behind another train on the storage tracks at the Bottoms.  We decided to try this movement because we thought it would be easier than moving the blocking train.  We will not make that choice again.  The plan for the Jacksonville Union Station at Summit provides for backing into the station, but the curve there is 54" and we have tried it several times with passenger equipment, always with success.

We ran the Camp all the way to Summit before lunch.  There was some minor troubleshooting along the way but the trip was generally a success.  Greg DeMayo arrived about 10:30 and we adjourned for lunch at a new (for us) Italian restaurant located in the same shopping center as Smokey Bones.  The Babe joined us and the food was excellent.  We will probably make this place a regular haunt.  We have eaten at Smokey Bones nearly every Saturday for over 10 years and it is time to branch out and spread the money over a wider variety of cuisine.

Thie week's story begins, I hope, several tales about passenger service in Florida and the Southeast during the 40's and 50's.  Since it has already been mentioned, we will begin with the ACL's Champion.  Things operated differently in the 40's and 50's and this description states it the way it was. 

                                                                                                                                 The CHAMPION

    The Atlantic Coast Line and the Florida East Coast purchased three complete sets of passenger equipment for a new streamlined passenger train in 1939.  The new trains were in response to the dieselized passenger service offered by the Seaboard Air Line's highly successful Silver Meteor that went into service from Florida to New York in 1938.  The ACL owned two of the sets and the FEC owned the other one. 
     The train's name came from names submitted by the public in a naming contest.  (It is claimed the fact that ACL's president at the time was named Champion McDowell Davis had nothing to do with the name's selection.)
    The 1939 version of the Champ was an all coach train with seven streamlined cars, manufactured by Budd, and composed of a baggage/dormitory/coach, a dinner, four coaches, and a tavern/observation car.  The train originated in two sections in Miami and St. Petersburg.  The FEC provided power from Miami to Jacksonville and the ACL provided power from St. Pete all the way to Richmond.  The train was powered from Florida to Richmond with a single ACL E3A unit.  The RF&P took over at Richmond and the Pennsy piloted the train from Washington, DC, to New York. The three sets of equipment allowed daily service.
    During the days of racial segregation, the baggage/dormitory/coach (22 revenue seats) were "reserved exclusively for colored passengers."  The two tables located close to the kitchen in the dining car were also reserved for colored passengers, separated from the rest of the diner by a curtain.  Colored passengers were not allowed in the observation/lounge car.  Segregation in train travel continued well into the 6o's, if not by law, by custom.  The "good old days" weren't so good for everyone. 
    Three of the coaches were designed to seat 60 passengers and the other coach sat 52 passengers and contained a room for the stewardess.  The tavern/observation car had no revenue seats. 
    The dining car was nationally known for it excellent cuisine and service.  The ACL's official cookbook had 144 different main dishes listed, not all of which were offered on all trains at all times.  Some of the dishes reflected the food available along the route.  Some favorite breakfast selections included poached eggs on corn beef hash with grits and homemade biscuits and omelet with creamed mushrooms and asparagus.  Both of these breakfasts, including coffee or tea, were $1.35 in 1950.  Orange juice was an extra $.15.
    One reason the Champ was an all-coach train was because Pullman refused to provide porters for sleepers not manufactured in the Pullman shops.  Later, after anti-trust litigation, the Pullman Company was broken up into a manufacturing company and an operating company.  By 1948, Budfd delivered sleepers for use on the champion, with Pullman porters, along with blunt-end tavern/observation cars that could operate in mid-train.  At that time the E3's were traded for E6A-B-A units and the train stretched from 7 to 18 and sometimes 21 cars.  The Pennsy and the RF&P chipped in for the purchase of the new equipment.
    Most railroads selected distinctive color schemes for their new diesels, and the Coast Line's president, Champ Davis, selected royal purple and silver for the ACL diesels.  These locomotives were perhaps the most recognized locomotives on the East Coast.  The basic scheme was copied in different colors by the RF&P and the NC&St.L. 
    The Coast Line's Champion had a long and successful career.  Its last run was when AMTRAK took over passenger "service."  Nowadays, there are no diners, no food service to speak of, and precious little of the old courtesy that was the trade-mark of passenger service in the 40's and 50's.   

                                                                                     
                                                                                   (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-070320162848.jpeg)

                                                                                                     The original E3A used to power the Champion


                                                                                       (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-070320163243.jpeg)

                                                                                         E6 504 A-B-A- Lash-up awaiting Champion Service in Richmond


                                                                                          (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-070320163537.jpeg)

                                                                                                     The Champion Departing Winter Park with two E7's.

                                                                                             (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-070320163954.jpeg)

                                                                                                 ACL 504 E6A at the Atlantic & Southern's Sanlando Station




Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on March 07, 2020, 05:29:28 PM
Bill,

Great history of the line. I think we should name one of the A&S RR trains, "The Tom"!

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on March 07, 2020, 05:35:23 PM
Another fine report and interesting story Judge. I enjoy getting caught up each week.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on March 07, 2020, 06:44:11 PM
Bill,
Another wonderful story and history lesson for the ACL and the A&S.
Thanks again for your continued efforts in providing this excellent series of short stories to bring Tom and your efforts on the A&S to life.
Much appreciated,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on March 07, 2020, 07:10:26 PM
"The Tom".  I like it.   ;)  Another great story to help bring the layout to life. 

Really sorry I missed the festivities today but the HOA wanted the driveway and sidewalks pressure washed.  Maybe (hopefully) next Saturday.  Now that the pressure washing is behind me I can treat myself to a good long workbench session tomorrow without feeling guilty about not doing anything around the house.   :D  The workbench is currently occupied by a background structure (Bar Mills Seckler's Cold Storage) destined for the Summit on the A&S so it does relate to this thread.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 08, 2020, 10:12:31 AM
That story brought back great memories Bill. I was on that train almost every summer, and a few Xmas holidays, from the early 50's till the mid 60's.

The food was terrific, especially breakfast, and I spent most of my time in between cars with the top half of the dutch door open and my head hanging out in the wind.

One of the reasons for my love of "Greg Speed" came from when the PRR GG-1's that were attached to the cars outside D.C.. When we were flying down a long straight section in MD or NJ, I was between cars and the conductor came by. I asked him how fast we were going and he said that the engines were limited, by the PRR rules, to 100 mph, but were capable of a good bit more. I said it looked to me that we were doing well over 110 mph and he just smiled and said "we may be a wee bit behind schedule".

Amazing that trains were going well over 100 mph over 60 years ago and today they are building a line from Miami to Orlando that they claim will be "high speed" as it will be doing 120 mph.....not much progress in all those years.....go figure. ???
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on March 08, 2020, 10:47:37 AM
Nice history lesson, Bill.  Interesting how the number boards changed from the E3 small nearly unreadable loco number to the large painted one on the E6, finally the large lighted ones on the E7.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 08, 2020, 11:50:39 AM
Jeff - The early FT's and the E3's and E6's had small number boards.  They painted the numbers on the nose of these engines so the numbers could be seen.  Another interesting bit of trivia is that the E6's did not have dynamic brakes because the height of the engine prohibited the installation of the equipment.  All of the E units had boilers for passenger operation.  That was not true with all of the F units, except, of course, with the FP7's.

Speaking of boilers, the NC&StL basically ran from Atlanta to Nashville.  The route was over the Tennessee Cumberland mountains.  As a result, the NC&StL bought no E units and relied upon F3's geared for freight duty to power passenger trains.  The F3A's did not have boilers, so there had to be a B unit in the consist to provide steam for heat and airconditioning.

And here is an interesting pic of a diesel boneyard.  Reminds me of the pics of steam locos awaiting scrap.  Whatever happened to the bells and whistles?

                                                                             (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-080320114831.jpeg)

                                                              What is this?  Well over 100 locomotives in a bone yard?  I wonder how much fuel is left in those tanks?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 14, 2020, 05:24:21 PM
The Saturday Report - March 14, 2020 - Clear day, high in the high 80's.

The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours. 
The stockholders awarded the CEO and the Ticket Agent railroader's caps for service above and beyond the call for keeping the A&S solvent for another year.  (Photo below).

                                                                    (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-150320091045.jpeg)



The scratch building project of the South Tahope junkyard was inspected.  It is coming along nicely.  The newly repowered E7 A-B-A Pennsy diesels were tested and calibrated as per WOW Sound standards.  These units made a caboose hop from Summit to the Midlands where they picked up a mixed freight and were put through their paces.  Meanwhile, the Champion was returned to the Bottoms and the City of Miami (the subject of this week's story) was brought up to the Midlands for trial run.
Curt Webb and Greg DeMayo arrived and the crew adjourned for lunch.

After lunch, the City of Miami made a video run-by over the Suwanee River Bridge, but just as it came into sight a Florida thunderstorm passed through. 

This week's story is a description of the Illinois Central's City of Mimi passenger train.

                                                                                                             THE City OF MIAMI

The post-war demand for luxury passenger service from the mid-west (Chicago) to Florida (Miami) resulted in three streamlined passenger trains:  The City of Miami (), the Southwind, and the Dixie Flagler.  The latter two trains ran copies of the Budd equipment found on the ACL's Champion, while the equipment on the "City" was all Pullman Standard.  All three triains were originally all coach.  Only the "City" was dieselized all the way from Chicago to Miami.  The "City" was an Illinois Central train, but it had passenger cars pooled from the ACL and the FEC, all painted in the IC"s famous color scheme.


(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-140320172810.jpeg) 
                                                                                                             (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-150320091854.jpeg)

The "City" began service in 1940 after being christened with water from Biscayne Bay and was a seven-car streamliner powered by a singel E6A.  An FEC engine powered the train from Miami to Jacksonville adn the IC took over from there to Chicago.  The consist included a baggage/dormitory car (Bougainvillea), four coaches (camellia, Jamponica, Hibiscus, and Poinsetta), a diner (Palm Garden) and a taver/observation lounge (Bamboo Grove).  Sleepers were added in 1949 as was an additional diner, an additional lounge car, and additional E units for motive power.

The original train could seat 254 passengers and operated a 30-hour schedule from Chacago to Champaign,IL, to Birmingham, AL, to Albany, GA, to Jacksonville.  A section was taken by the Coast Line from Jacksonville down through Gainesville to Orlando, Tampa, and St.Petersburg.  The train maintained an average speed of 50 MPH. 

The original "City" had one of the most flamboyant color schemes of any streamlined train.  The locomotive featured a large green wave with yellow pinstripes, separated from the orange-yellow body by a red pinstripe. The observation car, Bamboo Grove, had a large green stripe curving over the tail.  Each of the cars had a different color scheme of blue, coral, green, tan, copper, and yellow.  They were decorated with native wood.


                                                                        (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-140320163750.jpeg)


By 1950, the IC had gone through at least two more color schemes involving the familiar chocolate, orange and yellow colors.  The final scheme lasted until the train was discontinued by AMTRAK in 1971.  Today, there are no through passenger trains from Chicago to Florida.

                                                                    (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-140320173530.jpeg)

The Atlantic & Southern maintains a version of the City of Miami since it had a section that followed ACL tracks from Jacksonville through Orlando to St. Petersburg.  The two latest paint schemes are represented on the "City" as it passes through Tahope County.



                                                                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja_N019jMGo 
                                                           The shows the "City" coming through Piney Woods in the next to last paint scheme                                               

                                                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtEJ_EcqteQ&feature=youtu.be
                                                 This shows the "City" crossing the Suwanee River in a thunderstorm wearing the most familiar paint scheme.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: madharry on March 15, 2020, 05:30:54 AM
I love the videos and especially the thunder and lightning. The lighted cars are brill as well. Well done!
Mike
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 15, 2020, 10:39:16 AM
Great story about a great train Bill. I used to take the City of Miami from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Louis at the beginning and end of the school year at Mizzou.....what fun. All the coeds going and coming from school made for quite an interesting trip.  ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on March 16, 2020, 09:37:24 AM
Another epic Saturday with some of the SBG. We all had a wonderful time with the video.

Great friends, great food, great fun and lots more BSing.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 16, 2020, 10:47:38 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on March 16, 2020, 09:37:24 AM
Another epic Saturday with some of the SBG. We all had a wonderful time with the video.

Great friends, great food, great fun and lots more BSing.

Tom  ;D


You betcha.....and the food was first rate....still wondering about the guys running around in funny hats. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on March 16, 2020, 10:48:53 AM
Dang.  I missed it.

Another fine story Bill!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on March 16, 2020, 10:01:29 PM
Love the story and the video's - fine work my friends.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: sdrees on March 16, 2020, 10:33:40 PM
YOu are quite the videotographer Tom.  Always love your videos
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 21, 2020, 05:27:09 PM
Saturday Report - March 20, 2020 - Temperature in Central Florida - high 80's.  Not a cloud in the sky.

The Board of Directors declined to cancel the Saturday meeting due to the "the virus."   The meeting started on time and much time was taken up locating the passenger cars that the Pennsy K4s (which is in the shop for major overhaul) will eventually use for a train.  The mission was to prepare the cars for passengers and lighting.  Once the cars were located, the process of removing interior walls so the Walthers light bar will fit began and it took until after 10:00 to complete.  However, we now have six fine passenger cars and a reefer ready for service.  Yes, the Atlantic & Southern has Pennsy equipment.  It is a long story but the down and dirty version is the A&S leased a bunch of Pennsy equipment and locomotives to augment A&S power and we are going to run it occasionally to show it off.

We adjourned for a trip to the hobby shop and had lunch at our new hang out, which is a small Italian joint whose owner has decided to stay open in spite of the Governor's orders for all restaurants to close.  The crowd was scant and take-out is booming.  We decided to have our pic-nic inside instead of out in the heat.

                                                                                                          THIS WEEK'S STORY- RAILSPEAK
    Railroaders, like members of other trades and professions, have their own distinct terminology.  An article entitled "Lingo of the Rails" was published in the April, 1940, Railroad Magazine.  The article included a list of over 100 words and phrases in use during the steam era, along with a few examples of how the terms were used.  Some of the terms are familiar to model railroaders, others are not.  But since the readers of these stories are steam fans, or want to be, a few of the terms are listed for reader information and edification.
    There are entirely too many terms listed in the article to include here so the list has been "selectively compressed" to fit the reader's attention span.  All of the terms listed here are in common use by the employees of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad, although a few of them are usually preceded by descriptive adjectives not included.
    Before we embark on the journey through definitions, an example of railroad lingo was used in the 1940's comes to us by way of transcript of a jury trial that took place in the Tahope County Courthourse before Judge Elwin Thomas.  The event that gave rise to the litigation was a crossing accident on Eaton's Curve that involved car vs. train.  The issue was whether the engineer gave proper warning signal at the crossing.
    When asked to relate what happened, the brakeman testified as follows:
    "We wuz ordered for a train of diamonds, mostly high tents Summit to Sanlando.  The hog came through the hole ten minutes late, and the car knocker tied him on.  He tied him in the rubber, and then we tried the wind.  We got a high sign from the tent to get out of town, with the advice to whale them down the hill.  When we got down the hill we only hit the high spots until we got to the Piney Woods Station, where we sawed her off and gave her a drink. 
    Then we went down on sort time and the whistle pig sounded two longs, a short, and a long before we humped a man at Eaton's Curve."
    "Whoa," said the Judge.  "Just what language are you speaking?"  "Railroad," said the brakeman, "Everybody in Tahope speaks it."  "Well, get somebody to translate," said the Judge. 
    Sweaty Betty, the owner of the diner located south of the A&S steam service facility, offered to explain.  "The brakeman said, 'We were ordered to take a train of coal, mostly in big steel gondola cars from Summit to Sanlando.  The engine came through the passing track late and the car inspector coupled the engine to the cars and we tried the air brakes.  We got the go-ahead signal from the caboose and proceeded as rapidly as we could down the Ovalix to the Midlands.  When we got to Piney Woods, We uncoupled the locomotive and filled the tank with water. 
    'Then we made good time and the engineer sounded the crossing signal just before we hit the car on Eaton's Curve.'

    Here are a few of the words and phrases listed in the Lingo of the Rails article:
Ballast Scorcher - Speedy engineer
Bedbug - Pullman Porter
Bee Hive - Yard office
Big hole - emergency position of air brake
Bird cage - brakeman's lantern
Caboose - crummy, brain box, van, wagon, cage, buggy, chariot, crib, hack, hearse, palace parlor car, way car
Car catcher - rear brakeman (hind shack)
Conductor - Captain, skipper, brains, brainless wonder, swellhead
Dinky - Switch engine
Drag - Heavy freight train
Engineer - Big O, Big Ox, eagle eye , whistle pig, throttle jerker
Fireman - Ashcat, bakehead, tallow pot, bell-ringer, blackie, stoker, coal heaver, dust raiser, fireboy
Gate - Switch
Grease the pig - Oil around the engine
Hand bomber - Steam engine without a stoker
Jay rod - clinker hook
Jerk-by - a flying switch
Lightning slinger - telegraph operator
Lizzard scorcher - dinning car chef
Pull the pin - Uncouple a car or leave a job
Scrap pile - An old, worn out locomotive
Seashore - Sand used in the sand dome
Shack - Brakeman
Short time - Crew on overtime but not in violation of the limit of the hour law.
Spot - To place an engine or car in a particular place - a railroader would never uset the word "park" to describe the same thing
Skin your eye - Engineer's warning to the fireman on left side of the engine when approaching a curve.
Tie on - to couple to a car
Tin Lizzard - streamlined train
Whale, whale belly - a steel car
White ribbons - Extra train
Whiskers - A railroader with seniority
Widen her up - increase speed (also, pour on the coal).
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on March 22, 2020, 03:53:09 AM
Hey Judge:

WOW what a beautiful RR room. Layout looks just beautidful.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 22, 2020, 04:15:16 PM
Another great one Bill.....so let's widen her up and wander into ballast scorcher territory.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on March 23, 2020, 06:09:51 AM
Great story Bill.  Always enjoy reading them!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 23, 2020, 06:34:14 AM
Karl, Greg, Mark - Thank you for your interest and your comments.  I appreciate knowing how my readers react to my stories.  Stay safe.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Oldguy on March 23, 2020, 08:46:51 AM
Another good one.  Kinda like the Saturday movie matinee serials as a kid.  They always left you with wanting to know what is next.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on March 23, 2020, 10:20:47 AM
Bill - I too always look forward to your Saturday stories. Stay safe. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 28, 2020, 10:16:30 AM
Saturday, March 28, 2020.  Sunny day, the temperature will go up to 90 today.

There is no formal Saturday Report today.  The Coronavirus has kept the A&S directors hunkered down in their respective homes until further notice.

However, that does not mean the Atlantic & Southern Railroad has not been active.  If you have been following Tom's thread on the reconditioning and repainting of our Pennsy K4s you will see he is busy.  Meanwhile, your reporter is installing passengers in the Pennsy heavyweights the K4s will eventually pull over A&S trackage. 

There is a story this week.  it has to do with skullduggery on the railroad by a would-be professional thief of 1950 vintage.  I got the idea from a story in the February, 1941 Railroad Magazine.

                                                                                                      THE CASE OF THE LITTLE BLACK BAG

    One spring day in 1950, Officer Poovey of the City of Tahope Police Department received a complaint from a passenger, whose name was Joe Thompson, concerning theft of property.  It seems that while riding in a coach on the Champion, a gentleman had struck up a conversation with Mr. Thompson and had offered him a drink from an unopened bottle of whiskey.  The two men spoke about the events of the day and, suddenly, Mr. Thompson became quite drowsy.  He drifted off to sleep as the train pulled out of Union Station in Jacksonville and did not awaken until the conductor tapped him on the shoulder at the station in Sanlando.
    Officer Poovey immediately notified ACL's railroad detective, Sam Diamond, who, upon further investigation, found this kind of incident was happening all over the ACL system.  The M.O. was always the same.  A well-dressed gentleman wearing a homburg hat would embark on the train and find a seat in a coach.  HE would place his hat on the rack above the seat and place his little black bag beside him.
    About an hour before the train would arrive at a station in a major city, he would retrieve a cloth cap from his little black bag and move about the train wearing it.  He would look for a mark who appeared to be well dressed and sit next to him.  The two would strike up a conversation and soon the thief would remove a bottle of whiskey from his little black bag.  He would also produce an empty cup, into which he would pour a couple of fo fingers of whiskey.  he would then offer the cup to the unsuspecting passenger, claiming he preferred to drink out of the bottle.
    The unsuspecting passenger would drink the whiskey and become drowsy in short order.  While the passenger was napping, the thief would pick his coat pocket and return to his original seat.  When the train stopped at the next station, he would put on his bowler hat and disembark.  Thus disguised, he would make his getaway.
    Detectives Diamond enlisted the aid of Detective Smith and they concocted a stake-out plan.  They boarded the train in Richmond and kept their eyes peeled for the mysterious passenger with the bowler hat.  Sure enough, a man fitting the description boarded at Jacksonville and, after placing his bowler hat on the rack above, took a seat with his little black bag beside him.
    The two detectives watched his every move and waited patiently for the action to occur. 
    Soon, the thief retrieved a cloth hat from his little black bag and walked to the next car, looking for a mark.  The detectives followed at a safe distance and conversed in low whispers.  Diamond asked Smith, "How do you think he gets the mark to go to sleep?"  "Must be a Mickey Finn in the cup," said Smith. 
    The thief, true to form, opened his little black bag and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.  He poured a couple of fingers into his cup and offered it to the mark.  Smith was in favor of making their presence known at that time, but Diamond wanted to wait until the theft was completed. 
    The unfortunate passenger drifted off to slumberland about the time the train crossed the Tahope County line and the mysterious passenger got up and returned to his seat.
    At that point, the detectives put the cuffs on the thief and turned him over to Officer Poovey at the Sanlando Station. 
    A few days later, the thief was hauled before Judge Elvin Thomas.  He stated, "They got me cold, Judge.  I guess I'll plead guilty."  The prosecutor said, "Judge, this varmint done stole over $1000 from Mr. Thompson here and he needs to make res-ti-too-shun."  Scowling at the defendant, Judge Thomas said, "You got the money to make res-ti-too-shun?"  "Ain't got a cent, your honor." "Well," said the judge, " the first rule of how to be a successful thief is not to steal more than you can pay back.  Thirty months in prison." 
    And the case of the little black bag caper was solved.
                                                                   (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-280320104439.jpeg)
                                                                         
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 28, 2020, 10:49:40 AM
Great story Bill. Stay healthy butty.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 28, 2020, 11:01:32 AM
Thank you, Curt.  WOW! You read today's story before I got finished writing it.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on March 28, 2020, 11:03:28 AM
Wonderful story Bill!  Keep 'em coming and stay healthy!

The A&S has some activity going on up in Lake Mary as well.  My workbench is currently home to a structure that's destined for the Summit level of the A&S someday.  ;)

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-280320105622-4366577.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on March 28, 2020, 11:03:43 AM
Thanks judge for keeping us smiling through all of this and what you personally must be going through now.
Your ever grateful fans.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 28, 2020, 11:22:56 AM
Loved this weeks story Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 28, 2020, 11:23:54 AM
The storage building is looking good Bob..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on March 28, 2020, 12:25:16 PM
Another winner by His Honor. It reminds me of the ice caper when the porter was taking ice from the cadaver casket.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: bparrish on March 28, 2020, 01:09:28 PM
A question for you southeastern boys.

I grew up in Chicago and my dad worked the tariff offices for the Q from 35 to 81. In the early fifties, 53-55-57, we would take the train to Atlanta to visit my mom's older brother and my cousins.  Usually in the summer at the early end of July.

We took a coach out of Chicago and connected up to something going south at Cincinnati.  My recollection was that it was called the Royal Palm.  Who ran that train? Southern or ACL?

We always took coach as my dad didn't have a Pullman pass until he made management in the early 60's. 


Thanx
Bob
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 28, 2020, 02:34:47 PM
Bob,


This is the info  found:

From Cincinnati to Chattanooga - Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway

From Chattanooga to Atlanta - Southern's former East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia

From Atlanta to Jacksonville - Georgia Southern & Florida
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on March 28, 2020, 02:41:47 PM
Quote from: bparrish on March 28, 2020, 01:09:28 PM
A question for you southeastern boys.

I grew up in Chicago and my dad worked the tariff offices for the Q from 35 to 81. In the early fifties, 53-55-57, we would take the train to Atlanta to visit my mom's older brother and my cousins.  Usually in the summer at the early end of July.

We took a coach out of Chicago and connected up to something going south at Cincinnati.  My recollection was that it was called the Royal Palm.  Who ran that train? Southern or ACL?

We always took coach as my dad didn't have a Pullman pass until he made management in the early 60's. 


Thanx
Bob

Bob, 

In more modern times the Southern ran the Royal Palm from Cincinnati to Jacksonville with one of the stops in Atlanta. From Jax. south, the FEC ran it to Miami.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 04, 2020, 04:53:23 PM
Saturday Report - April 4, 2020

The fires are out and the roundhouse is dark today.  While the A&S is not running, the CEO is busy bossing the maintenance department in the matter of refurbishing steam engines.

    Your reporter had a weak story to tell today and, being a perfectionist, decided to take a chance and find a better topic. 

    He reached out and found the March 1940 edition of Railroad Magazine and, lo and behold, the story of the ACL Champion's first-run popped out from the middle of the issue.  The author was a writer for the magazine and managed to ride in the cab of the diesel from Washington, D.C. to some point south of Alexandria, Va.  A first-hand account of the whole trip is too long for this report, but the highlights can be "selectively compressed." 

                                                                                         The Champion's First Run - New York to Miami - 1939

                                                                                   (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-040420154948.jpeg)

   The Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company built four practically identical sets of seven-passenger cars, two of which went to the Atlantic Coast Line for use on the Champion, and two of which went to the FEC.  One of the FEC sets was assigned to the Miami to Jacksonville Henry M. Flagler.  The other set, including motive power, went to pool service on the Champion.
    The original train's consist included a combination car, a dinner, four full-size coaches, and a tavarn-observation car.  The latter car was described as "possessing one of the most striking, and at the same time, tastefully arranged interiors as yeat achieved by any coach designer.  Since the entire rear end of the car is devoted to unrestricted lounging space, it is definitely a goodwill proposition as far as seat revenue is concerned." 

                                                              (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-040420164304.jpeg)

                                                                                     This must have been a publicity photograph. 
 
    The author described the motive power as a single diesel unit manufactured by GM's Electro-Motive Corporation.  "They are standard 2000 horsepower machines, similar to previous GM engines, but featuring the new Mars headlight.  As is more or less generally known, this device supplements the regular headlight, tracing a repetitious figure eight in advance of the locomotive as an arrestive warning to motorists adn pedestrians.  It may also be controlled by hand, and directed, for instance, to the inside of a curve, where normal headlight visibility is inadequate."  The ACL and the FEC pooled motive power and one of the FEC's red and yellow E-units provided power for the first trip from Washington to Miami. 
    The Champion's name was selected after a nation-wide contest won by Miss Bettsy Creighton, a Pittsburgh secretary.  Miss Creighton received a prize of $300.00 and two tickets on the Champion's first run to Miami. She also christened the train at Washington Union Station.  (This must have been sort of the 1939 version of "five minutes of fame.") 
    The Champ's December 1 "memorable first run" began at New York's Penn Station, pulling away from "a synthetic, but attractive setting of potted palms and drooping Spanish moss."  Passenger managers from the various railroads over which the Champion would travel attended the first-run ceremony, along with Edward G. Budd, himself, who beamed with pride at his company's latest masterpiece.  The departure was somewhat anti-climatical in that a Pennsylvania GG1 Electric hauled the train to Washington, where, for its formal dedication, the "FEC power coupled on for publicity photos."
    The ceremonies at Washington delayed the Champ's departure by six minutes, but ACL's Road Foreman of Engines, John Lewis, accompanied by N. J. Wash, the oldest in-service engineer on the RF&P eased her out of Union Station.  Wash had 48 years of service behind him and he bid on this run to make his first inspection run in a diesel cab. 
    The trip to Florida was somewhat eventful in that south of Alexandria, one of the two diesel prime movers "cut out for a matter of some moments while a slight operating adjustment was made.  (This was not unusual.  There were mechanical problems with the engines until the bugs were worked out.  A retired ACL engineer from Sanford told your reporter years ago that they used to couple up three E-units together, hoping at least two of them would remain operational.)   
    Miss Creighton was called upon to perform another christening on the Champ's first-run out of Miami.  The FEC handled the train on that trip too, but an ACL herald was pasted over the FEC herald on the red and yellow E-3 for the publicity photos.  (See photograph.)  ACL's purple and silver E unit took over at Jacksonville.

                                                                          (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-040420164118.jpeg)
                                                             Here is Betty Creighton christening the Champ in Miami.  Notice the FEC striping and the ACL herald.


    As time went by, the Champion added Pullman Standard sleepers and the train was divided at Jacksonville into the East Coast and West Coast sections.   Eventually, the FEC got out of the passenger business and the ACL brought the train from Jacksonville to south of Orlando, where it split into East and West sections at Auburndale.  Your reporter remembers the Champ, powered by three E-6's and 18 to 21 cars, coming through Orlando in the 1950s as numbers 91 and 92.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on April 04, 2020, 06:00:00 PM
Our first 7 months of marriage in 1972 were spent in an apartment in Springfield. VA backing onto the Southern Railroad's mainline. Southern didn't joint Amtrak, so each evening we'd get to see the Southern Crescent heading south and shortly before breakfast, the northbound train would pass. You could set timepieces on these schedules. I know this isn't ACL/FEC, but the memories of those trains is still great.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 04, 2020, 07:02:23 PM
Great history story Bill. Stay safe butty.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 05, 2020, 10:55:20 AM
Great history Bill.....I used to take the Champ from Ft. Lauderdale to New Jersey every summer and a few Christmases in the 50's and 60's.....great fun.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 11, 2020, 09:06:02 AM
Saturday, April 10, 2020

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad did not meet today due to the pestilence among us. Besides, after being confined to my residence for two weeks like a criminal on community control, I need a break from storytelling. 

I see from today's missive by Mad Harry that Pussy Galore has passed away at age 94.  She was the gorgeous blond adversary to Sean Connery's James Bond in the 1960's movie Goldfinger.  We should all mourn her passing.  I wonder if she ever got over that name?

Some of my followers (not from this forum) continue to send me humorous cartoons and videos, many of which I dare not share on this platform.  HOWEVER, humor can be found in even the direst adversity and I hope you will enjoy these examples in lieu of a story this week.

Stay safe - And stay home! 


                                                           (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110420084754.jpeg) Bribe?


                                                            (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110420083937.jpeg) 4 hoursemen


                                                                    (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110420084407.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 11, 2020, 09:31:28 AM
Stay safe Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 11, 2020, 02:09:48 PM
Great humor Bill.....wonder if Tom was ever tempted to give a miscreant a pass for some TP?  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on April 12, 2020, 11:20:04 AM
Thanks for the laugh Bill!  Eileen and I both enjoyed them.  Our favorite was the four horsemen.   ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on April 12, 2020, 11:43:01 AM
Reruns of Goldfinger have been on for the past week.

Honor Blackman was a beauty to the end.

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-120420114241.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on April 12, 2020, 02:12:41 PM
We saw her on a British mystery TV show (Midsomer Murders?), very striking.  I don't remember if she was the bad guy.  :-)


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 18, 2020, 10:43:26 AM
Saturday, April 18, 2020.

There is no Saturday Report today due to the persistence of the pestilence.  That has not stopped progress on the Atlantic & Southern Railroad as can be seen by the photographs posted showing major maintenance on brass steam locomotives by President Langford.  If art is to be judged by both talent and experience, Tom ranks at the top when it comes to our hobby.

There is a story this week.  I have recently received a Kendle addition of a book written by a retired engineer who served 45 years on the SP.  The book has a wealth of tales about that railroad, many of which are not useful due to the lack of mountains, avalanches, and snow sheds on the A&S.  However, a few of the stories in the book gave me ideas to adapt to this platform.  Here is one of them.

                                                                                                               COLD STORAGE

    The City of Tahope has a two-man police department and a city jail composed of three cells, with an office for the jailer on the ground floor, and a residence on the second floor for the use of the jailer and his wife, who also doubles as the cook for the few prisoners who are ever guests of the management.
    The locks on the cell doors in the city jail are not functional and, like many small southern towns where everybody knows everybody, prisoners are on their honor to remain confined.  The prisoners are usually quite satisfied with this arrangement because they get "three hots and a cot," and the food is better than the Mulligan Stew served in The Bottoms.
    Newt Fisher (Luke and Tullula's boy)and his cousin Shortstack, were arrested for pilfering the A&S supply room of material they wanted to use to improve their lean-to located next to the Tahope River.  They found themselves spending the weekend in the city jail. 
    Newt had recently become unemployed after being fired from the job of baggage car watchman with the REA due to the unfortunate decomposition of a corpse after the ice was removed from the casket (Page 33- REA Iceman).  Shortstack, who is a "shiftless skonk,"was relieved from his duties as a brakeman after a "toilet situation" caused engineer "Uncle Henry" O'Leary to demand his termination from employment (Page 32 - First Day on the Job.)
    These two characters decided that another appearance before Judge Elvin Thomas would not be beneficial, so they planned their escape.  Both of these hardened misdemeanants had basic knowledge of railroad operations, so they decided to return to The Bottoms to collect their bindles and "nail a drag" to Jacksonville. 
    Long about dusk, they heard the sounds of a steam engine and, sure enough, a train of empty reefers crept towards the yard throat.  The train stopped so the brakeman could throw the king switch and our heroes took the opportunity to climb atop one of the reefers.
    In 1950, there were still a lot of reefers in service that did not have mechanical refrigeration.  These reefers had ice compartments located at each end of the car.  The ice kept the interior of the car cold so perishable freight, such as vegetables and citrus, could be shipped to points "up Nawth."  The doors on thee cars were always locked, but the ice hatches on the roof were propped open when the cars were empty to allow air circulation. 
    Newt and Shortstack crawled into the open hatches on their selected reefer and prepared for a ride to Jacksonville.  They stuck their heads out of the hatch openings and enjoyed the spring air while the train climbed the Ovalix to the yard at Summit.  Once in the yard, they ducked down to avoid detection. 
    The train stopped in the yard and our two vagabonds heard disturbing noises and accompanying activity.  The train had stopped next to the icing platform and workers began to shove 50 lb. blocks of ice into the reefer hatches.
    Luke and Shortstack made a quick exit from their hiding place right into the arms of the A&S Police, who escorted them back to the city jail. 
    The next day, Judge Thomas took the bench and bit off a chaw of terbacky before addressing the two defendants.  "Waal," said the judge, "boys, my patience with you two is a-growin' mighty short.  You best not come back to my court again.  Sixty days."
    Luke said, "Thank you, your honor. we'uns won't be back, ah kin guarantee."
    Shortstack, who didn't know any better, said, "Hey, Judge, how about a suspended sentence?"
    The judge, who could make a spittoon ring almost 100% of the time, told the bailiff, "Take these two to the Pokey before I change my mind."

                                                                                   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLk50mPWfbU&feature=youtu.be

                                                                                                        835 at speed with reefers
               
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on April 18, 2020, 11:59:45 AM
Great to hear from you your Honor!  Great story too.  ;) 

Stay safe while we wait out this pestilence.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on April 18, 2020, 12:44:42 PM
Great story Judge!  I could use a good book to read - can you pass along the title and author of the book you referred too?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 18, 2020, 07:03:56 PM
Great story.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: madharry on April 19, 2020, 04:44:47 AM
I agree great story Judge.

Quote from: deemery on April 12, 2020, 02:12:41 PMWe saw her on a British mystery TV show (Midsomer Murders?), very striking.  I don't remember if she was the bad guy.  :-)


dave
Dave she was the villian. Heads up. It is always the biggest star who is the bad guy in Midsomer Murders............
Mike
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 19, 2020, 06:25:54 AM
John et al.  The book I referred to in this week's story is entitled 45 Years of True Railroad Stories by John Cockrell.  I bought it on Amazon as a Kindle edition.  Good stories by a guy who started with steam and worked up to second-generation diesels.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 19, 2020, 09:21:21 AM
Another good one Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 25, 2020, 04:31:19 PM
Saturday Report - April 25, 2020

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad decided that the Governor of the State of Jaw-Ja and certain evangelical preachers are right and everyone else is wrong, so the Board met this morning at 8:30 a.m., always exercising social distancing and bathing our hands in (but not drinking) hand sanitizer. 

The morning was exciting.  The repainted and reworked Pennsylvania K4s and the B&O E-23 2-8-0 were debuted and they are beautiful things to watch.  Naturally, good things don't always act like they are "ready-to-run" so a couple of glitches prevent the showing of the planned videos.  Maybe next week. 

We ran the E-23 around the track at Summit and then sent it down the Ovalix to the Midlands.  The engine performs well and runs with no glitches in its get-along.  There may be a problem with the "Keep-Alive" capacitor and that will be investigated this week.  The K4s may have a defective decoder.  That issue will also be investigated this week.  In this day of computer technology, nothing runs right out of the box.

We had a pic-nick lunch in the roundhouse and then tested the recently acquired Pennsy Brunswick Green E7's on a heavy freight train.  Man, those babies do growl!

This week's story was derived from a tale told in a book named With the Slack, That will Do, and Other Railroad Stories.  The book is writtent by a former railroader on the Grand Trunk and Western who saw service on a number of roads due to mergers and transfers.

                                                                                                           Sanlando Oil Disaster

    It was a typical early predawn summer day in Central Florida, not a cloud in the skies, and by 6:00 a.m. the temperature was already approaching 80 degrees.  Ethan Douglas, an engineer recently hired on by the A&S from the B&O, fireman Wayne Shoemaker, Conductor Melvin Hatter, and head shack Bud Millstone, were called  for 5:59 a.m. to take the switcher assignment in Sanlando Yard.  This assignment usually meant making up the local freight train and servicing the Pure Oil facility and nearby industries.  It was an easy way to make a full day because there was a tree-hour interval between the morning activities and the arrival of the afternoon freights from Tampa and Jacksonville.
    The Pure Oil facility had two full tank cars spotted next to the fuel rack that needed to be moved and replaced with two empties.  Engineer Douglas eased switcher 1150 into the two full tankers and Millstone climbed down to connect the air hoses. 
    None of the crew noticed a fuel truck, driven by Lou Paul "Wormy" Thrasher, parked next to the first loaded tank car.  Wormy, who had just gotten the job as a driver for Tahope Oil and Gas Company, had been told by his boss to park his truck next to the fuel rack and fill up his truck with fuel oil.  Wormy's boss assumed he had the good sense to wait until the tank cars were moved before attempting to transfer the fuel.  Wormy, who has a few cubes short of a full tray, ran the hose from the fuel spigot under the lead tank car instead of from the fuel rack and began filling the tank on his truck.
    About that time, Engineer Douglas backed 1150 up to clear that spur for empty tank cars.  As the tank cars moved back, the force pulled Wormy's hose from the intake valve on his truck and flammable fuel spewed out all over Wormy and Millstone.  Conductor Hatter saw the emergency and skedaddled to the yard office to call for medical assistance. 
    An ambulance arrived on the scene within minutes and loaded the oil-soaked men onto gurneys for transport to the hospital.  On the way, Wormy said to Hatter, "Do yuh think we's gonna die?"  "I dun think so, but we might," said Millstone.  "Waal," said Wormy, why don't we get the driver to stop by the Trackside Tavern so we can have a last cool one and watch Maggie Hussy wiggle and jiggle?  Then we can die happy."  "Maybe after we've been cleaned up," said Millstone. 
  Our heroes arrived and the hospital without further incident, and underwent a thorough cleaning, followed by an examination by Dr. Minnie Staysic, who pronounced them fit for duty. 
    MIllstone retuned to Sanlando Yard to finish his daily assignment.  Wormy returned to the Tahope Oil and Gas Company and was asked for an explanation of the morning events.  The boss decided the problem should be chalked up to inexperience and let Wormy off with a strong warning.  Wormy, who was still shook up over the whole thing, took the rest of the day off and, before returning to The Bottoms, stopped by the Trackside Tavern for a cool one.

                                                                         
                                                                           (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-260420093204.jpeg)


                                                                            (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-250420162446.jpeg)



                                                                           
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 25, 2020, 05:14:58 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 25, 2020, 07:02:01 PM
Those Bottom's boys strike again.....fun story Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 26, 2020, 09:13:04 AM
Curt and Greg - Thank you for your kind comments.  My fan club consists of less than ten patient souls who follow my missives enough to comment.  We could all meet and have dinner without violating the virus guideline.  Of course, we could always travel to Jaw-ja and exercise our right to get infected. . . . .

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 26, 2020, 09:30:41 AM
Hey Bill.....how about Savannah? Pegi and I really like the town.....great restaurants, fun nightlife and Gulfstream Aerospace....what's not to like.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 26, 2020, 09:55:05 AM
Mike (Mad Harry):  Being British and all, you might not get the irony of having an industry known as "Valley Supply" located next to Sanlando Yard. (See photograph above.) The industry is named after Florida's famous St. Johns River Valley, which is located in Central Florida at the point where Seminole, Volusia, and Brevard Counties connect.  Of course, being Florida, the St. Johns River flows north and the sides of the St Johns River Valley are at sea level.  Some people from outside the state, mostly Yankees, mistake the valley for a swamp.

Just thought you'd like to know.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on April 26, 2020, 11:03:04 AM
Another great story Bill!  Keep 'em coming.  Glad to see that the A&S is pushing through this pestilence and the Bored of Directors haven't lost their sense of humor.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on April 26, 2020, 01:25:50 PM
Great story but then I had a little preview knowledge of w\hat was coming.

The issue with the PRR K4s was the fact the WOW decoder has a intermittent sound. It may be one that got past quality control.  I'll call TCS Monday and talk to Dan about it. I'm hoping they will answer.

Tom   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on April 26, 2020, 02:48:12 PM
Hey Judge:

Looks just great.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 26, 2020, 02:57:28 PM
Thank you, Karl. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 26, 2020, 03:15:15 PM
Bob - Thank you for noticing we haven't lost our sense of "humor."  I have always tried to keep it light.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 26, 2020, 03:57:20 PM
Atta Boy Bill..... :) :) :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 02, 2020, 03:48:08 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report May 2, 2020.

The Board of Directors, every one of them fearless and unafraid of the pestilence in Tahope County, met promptly at 0830 hours.  Your reporter took note of the progress of the out shopping of the new 2-6-6-2 and both directors discussed the aches and pains of climbing over the 70-year mark.  Your reporter will turn 77 this week and the CEO (Tom) is much younger. 

Speaking of the C&O H-5, we had to do a little searching for decals for the engine.  Microscale has C&O decals so buying a set from them was an option.  However, it turns out that Tom had a set hidden away in one of his drawers and, although they appear to be more than 30 years old, they seem to be in good shape. 

We decided to give the K4s another run to see if we could adjust our way out of what we thought was a faulty decoder.  To our amazement, the Pennsy pacific improved over time and, once the chuff rate was adjusted, it performed fairly well.   The TCS capacitor that is called "keep-Alive" may be faulty.  Tom is going to replace it this week if he has a chance to get to it and we will retest the K4s next Saturday. 

Meanwhile, the K4s was coupled onto a reefer, a baggage/RPO, and four coaches for a test run.  It climbed up the constant one-degree grade of the Ovalix from the Midlands to Summit without difficulty.  Beautiful train.  We need to figure out a name for it. The train is scheduled to make a daily run from St. Petersburg to Jacksonville and back - sort of a daylight express.  The entire train was leased from the Pennsy due to increased traffic on the A&S.  As regular readers know, the A&S has a "special relationship" with the Pennsy and that road has leased or made gratuitous transfers of several still serviceable steam locomotives and a number of E and F units.  The A&S has granted trackage rights for a winter section of the Broadway Limited and that train makes regular trips down South to Central Florida.  All readers are invited to submit a suggested name of names for the train.  First prize will be a complimentary ticket to ride on the inaugural run, which is set for a week from today.

Lunch was take-out from our new Italian restaurant.  Pizza for your reporter and salad for Tom. 

Afer lunch, we reset the CV's on all four of the recently acquired Pennsy E-7 diesels and lashed them up with a fifteen-car freight.  That may have been a little overkill since all four units are powered, but they sounded great and looked even better.  There will be photos of all this next week unless the Tahope River rises.  And that is unlikely this time of year.  It doesn't start raining every afternoon here until late May, in time for the tourists to visit "Diddy Wurld." (Or not, this year.)

This week's story has military implications.  Ever wonder what happened to army supply sergeants when they retired?

                                                                                                     Property Management on the A&S

Billy O'Donnell was an army supply sergeant during the war and knew a thing or two about keeping track of equipment.  He is the A&S property manager.  He has a large wooden storage shack full of property located near the water tower at Sanlando Yard, and he carefully guards the contents.  Each section foreman is supposed to have two acetylene torches.  O'Donnell had an inventory of three. 

Benny O'Toole is the section foreman for the Sanlando Division and he was short a torch.  So, he asked O'Donnell for one of his.  O'Donnell said, "Billy, me darlin', it's a torch ya need?  Do ya only need th' one?"  "Yes, Benny me boy, the one is all I needs."  O'Donnell replied, "Ya can't have one."  "Why not, said O'Toole, yu've got three."  "Because then I'd only have two."  "But ya don need three," said O'Toole.  "And what if one of them wore out or got stole," said O'Donnell, " then I'd only have two and I'm not about to be taking that kind of a chance with railroad equipment." 

Only retired army supply sergeants (and it doesn't matter which army) could appreciate that logic.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 02, 2020, 05:18:13 PM
Sounds like military supply to me.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: cuse on May 02, 2020, 05:22:37 PM
Nice one Judge. Sgt. O'Donnell sounds a bit like my father's WWII experience. He came home as a Master Sgt. but spent a good part of his time running the show as a Supply Boss. Now that I think about it, they probably had to promote him out of there to restore equilibrium...I have no doubts his inventories were suspect and the back door was probably open to his buddies. Entrepreneurial.  ;)


I'll get down there one of these days when they blow the all clear...the real one!


John
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on May 02, 2020, 05:38:00 PM
Only I would notice this (at 78, I can legally be a DOM), but about those C&O decals? I hope they weren't really stored for all this time in Tom's drawers. That could have been awkward in a lot of situations.  ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 03, 2020, 09:03:09 AM
Sounds like a good time was had by all.....good tale Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 03, 2020, 11:21:26 AM
The story about the supply sergeant has been told in a number of books and other media.  I first heard it on a segment of MASH when a quartermaster major refused to give Hawkeye an incubator because then he would only have two.  This guy was sending home an army jeep a piece at a time. 

I spent a miserable six weeks at ROTC summer camp at Ft. Bragg, NC in 1964 and I remember the inspection of the company areas.  The supply sergeants were transferring food trays and other items from one company storeroom to another, just ahead of the inspectors. 

Just my luck, my first duty station was back at Ft. Bragg.  I was assigned to be officer of the day one weekend for the Eighteenth Airborne Corps and Fr. Bragg.  Elements of the 82nd Airborne Division made a jump that morning and went to downtown Fayetteville that evening to let off steam.  They invaded a bar, tore up all of the tables and chairs, and set the place on fire.  I made the report, the army paid for all of the damage, and no disciplinary action was taken.  Boys will be boys.

While I was in Vietnam, the only beer available for several months was Carlings Black Label.  It seems that a group of sergeants had figured out how to make a bunch of money by giving Carlings a monopoly.   

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on May 03, 2020, 11:35:12 AM
Thanks for another pleasurable read.   ;) 

Someday we'll be able to resume more normal activities on the A&S.  I'd like to try out the new Italian joint you two have found.  Meanwhile I'll have to contribute remotely.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on May 03, 2020, 01:03:55 PM
Ah, Fayette-nam, I heard lots of stories about that place in the late '60s/early '70s.  By the time I got to ROTC Summer Camp in summer of '77 it had calmed down a bit.

I'm generally not a fan of domestic lager, but Carling has a spot in my heart.  I was on the Bicentennial reenactment of the Arnold invasion of Canada (fall of '75).  One of the sponsors was Carling/Labatte.  For a week, our routine was:  break camp, throw our stuff in the back of Maine National Guard 2 1/2 t trucks, they'd throw in a couple of cases of Carling to help us on the trip.  (You didn't want to get too close to the back of the truck, that was recycled beer that was getting dumped out the back of the truck...)  We'd arrive at the next town, set up camp, change into our colonial clothes, march and fire off some blank rounds from those of us who had muskets (mine was an 1816 Springfield).  Then it was free food at the Elks Lodge and open bar at the VFW.  When we got to Quebec City, there were double-decker busses to take people to the Labatte brewery, where this one woman would demonstrate how she poured 3 beers with one hand.  We all gave her plenty of chances to practice....

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 03, 2020, 04:58:45 PM
Ah, the pleasures of youth! 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on May 04, 2020, 08:41:42 AM
I need to share this fact about the Judge and his story.

We have three NWSL brass USRA 0-6-0 locos. Two are sounded and painted. I suggested we sell the unpainted one.

Yepper, he said, "But then we will only have two".

True story and facts.

Tom 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 04, 2020, 08:45:27 AM
And I thought I was bad when it came to steam engines..... :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 09, 2020, 03:05:46 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report - May 9, 2020

The business meeting of the Board of Directors started on time at 0830 hours.  Weather - beautiful.  Too bad our visitors aren't here to enjoy it.  But the traffic is much better because of it.  Y'all come, ya heah!  We need the revenue.

The meeting started with gawking at the disassembled C&O H-5, which should be operational next Saturday.  Happy Days!  It needs to go into revenue service as soon as possible.

There were odds and ends to talk about.  The CEO has decided to refurbish our newly acquired 4-6-0 after the H-5 is finished.  That little engine will be a good match to the B&O Consolidation already in service.  Today we put the 2-8-0 through the Ovalix test and she pulled 12 cars and a caboose up the steady one percent grade with no difficulty.  At speed step 35, she takes 2 minutes and 2 seconds to make a revolution on the ovalix.  About 13 minutes from the Midlands to Summit.

A curved turn-out at the south end of the railroad near the diesel service facility is faulty.  It will be replaced within the next few weeks.  That is quite a project, but the results will be worth it.

We ran a freight behind the four Pennsay E-7's.  Those four units could probably pull well over 100 cars without difficulty.  Later we reduced the consist to an A-B-A lash-up.  Still overkill, but it looks better.

Bob Butts and Greg DeMayo showed up for fun and lunch.  Always good to see those guys.

Last week your reporter challenged all who follow this report to name the train to be powered by a Pennsy K4s with five passenger cars and an express reefer on its daily run from St.Petersburg to Jacksonville and back.  Many suggestions were expected and exactly zero were received.  i guess the virus is getting to imaginations.  We settled on calling it The Jacksonian, after President Andrew Jackson, who was, after all, the first territorial governor of Florida and the dude for whom Jacksonville is named.  Poor Andy, they are talking about taking his likeness off of the $20.00 bill.  But he will be remembered on the A&S!  Shouldn't only former presidents have their likeness on U.S. currency? 

There will be no story this week or next.  Your reporter is taking some time off.  There is a photo!  Below is the H-5 in its disassembled condition.


                                                                             i(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-090520151042.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 09, 2020, 03:56:42 PM
Wish I could of been there today. Hopefully next week.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on May 10, 2020, 03:45:48 AM
Hey Judge:

Always looking forward to your reports.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Raymo on May 10, 2020, 07:49:58 AM
Glad you boys could at least get together for a little face to face time.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 10, 2020, 08:44:24 AM
It was great fun.....greatly missed with the government mandated separation baloney.  :( :) ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on May 10, 2020, 11:00:51 AM
I was glad to have the opportunity to drop in and catch up on the progress on the A&S.  A good time was had by all I believe.   :D 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 10, 2020, 11:09:55 AM
Bob, Curt, Greg, Karl, and Raymo - Thanks for following my reports and for stopping by on this beautiful, sunny, Sunday morning.  My goal for today is to do nothing and rest afterwards.

OHE
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on May 10, 2020, 03:58:09 PM
Judge


Good report and it's good to hear you guys got together and run the railroad. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on May 10, 2020, 04:08:50 PM
We had a great time Saturday morning. We kept our distance but then again we didn't. Bob delivered Seckler's Cold Storage and it looks fantastic. Really, the picture doesn't capture the very fine details and the stucco is the best I've ever seen.

The Judge mentioned a problem area with a turnout. For several op sessions we have had issues with it. The offending turnout is a Walthers Shinohara #8 left curved turnout and is one I used on the old layout. It will be replaced and the track rerouted for smoother running.  More on this on my A&S build thread.

Tom  ;D

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-100520160202.jpeg)


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tct855 on May 10, 2020, 04:45:52 PM
What an awesome structure! Many cool angles and time additions, can't wait to see it someday in person? or in some really cool videos?  :o   Thanx Thom...
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 10, 2020, 08:09:45 PM
Beautiful structure. Bob really outdid himself. I hope to see it in person soon.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Bruce Oberleitner on May 10, 2020, 10:14:40 PM
Wow!  That sure looks beautiful!  I hope you have a great place on the layout to put that baby.

The Diet Pepsi Kid

;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: sdrees on May 10, 2020, 10:51:13 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Bob did a great job on this structure.  It is a very interesting building.  Tom, you are one luck man.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on May 11, 2020, 01:34:25 PM
Thank you all for the kind comments on the Seckler's build.  Much of the credit goes to the gang at Bar Mills for creating such an interesting structure.  All I did was slap a little paint on it and glue it together.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 16, 2020, 04:59:09 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report May 16, 2020

Beautiful day in Central Florida.  Traffic has picked up now that staying in place has been somewhat relaxed.  I guess the citizens are exercising their freedom to get infected, Orange County being the most infected county in Central Florida.  To each his own.  Your reporter et ux (wife mate) are staying in place except to attend Saturday sessions of the A&S and grocery shopping. 

The Board of Directors met a little early at 0820 hours.  The agenda included the procurement of new A&S decals to replenish our fading stock.  Fortunately, a source has been found and contact will be made at the first of the week.
 
The new curve at the South End of the railroad next to the Ovalix was inspected and tested.  It is a beauty and is a needed improvement over the old track plan. 
We decided to run the Jacksonian (Powered by a Pennsy K4s with five passenger cars and two front end cars.  This engine and equipment were leased from the Pennsy in "still serviceable" condition for $1.00 a year to provide daily local service between Jacksonville and St.Petersburg and back.)  The A&S video team decided to memorialize the run and, after a glitch or two, a successful run-by was captured as the train pulled into the Tahope spur.  The video is attached to this report. 

Just prior to the video run-by, Greg and Curt stopped by and stayed for lunch.  Greg took the throttle to the ACL ten-wheeler and played catch-up to the B&O consolidation freight that was ahead of it.  This conduct has got to stop.  While it is true that a passenger ten-wheeler can outrun a consolidation, it is not true that tailgating and blowing the whistle will make the consolidation "pull over" on a one-track mainline. 

Lunch was at our new Italian venue, which is named Del-Dio's, I think. 

After lunch, a brace of E-7's pulled freight at Summit and we brought out our ACL 2-10-2 for a test run around the new curve.  No problem there.  The 2-10-2 was acquired during a stop at Howard Zane's house on our way to Scranton for a model railroad convention. several years ago.  The engine was completely refurbished in the A&S shops and repowered with WOW Sound.  The ACL only had a few of these USRA-copied beasts and these engines were the only Coast Line steamers equipped with Vanderbilt tenders.  I am told that these engines were true drag freights that seldom exceeded 35 mph.   

There will be no Saturday Report next Saturday.  The Babe is going to get a hairdo in Mount Dora.  Hopefully, a new story will accompany the Saturday Report two weeks from today. 


                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWfk5ePkqs0&t=15s
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on May 16, 2020, 05:24:49 PM
Bill,

Very nicely reported and we did have a lot of fun this fine day.

Thank you for your efforts on the Saturday Report.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 16, 2020, 06:02:45 PM
I'll second that.....a good time was had by all.....except for the persnickety movie director.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on May 16, 2020, 06:53:25 PM
Quote from: Judge on May 16, 2020, 04:59:09 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report May 16, 2020

Beautiful day in Central Florida.  Traffic has picked up now that staying in place has been somewhat relaxed.  I guess the citizens are exercising their freedom to get infected, Orange County being the most infected county in Central Florida.  To each his own.  Your reporter et ux (wife mate) are staying in place except to attend Saturday sessions of the A&S and grocery shopping. 

The Board of Directors met a little early at 0820 hours.  The agenda included the procurement of new A&S decals to replenish our fading stock.  Fortunately, a source has been found and contact will be made at the first of the week.
 
The new curve at the South End of the railroad next to the Ovalix was inspected and tested.  It is a beauty and is a needed improvement over the old track plan. 
We decided to run the Jacksonian (Powered by a Pennsy K4s with five passenger cars and two front end cars.  This engine and equipment were leased from the Pennsy in "still serviceable" condition for $1.00 a year to provide daily local daily service between Jacksonville and St.Petersburg and back.)  The A&S video team decided to memorialize the run and, after a glitch or two, a successful run-by was captured as the train pulled into the Tahope spur.  The video is attached to this report. 

Just prior to the video run-by, Greg and Curt stopped by and stayed for lunch.  Greg took the throttle to the ACL ten-wheeler and played catch-up to the B&O consolidation freight that was ahead of it.  This conduct has got to stop.  While it is true that a passenger ten-wheeler can outrun a consolidation, it is not true that tailgating and blowing the whistle will make the consolidation "pull over" on a one-track mainline. 

Lunch was at our new Italian venue, which is named Del-Dio's, I think. 

After lunch, a brace of E-7's pulled freight at Summit and we brought out our ACL 2-10-2 for a test run around the new curve.  No problem there.  The 2-10-2 was acquired during a stop at Howard Zane's house on our way to Scranton for a model railroad convention. several years ago.  The engine was completely refurbished in the A&S shops and repowered with WOW Sound.  The ACL only had a few of these USRA-copied beasts and these engines were the only Coast Line steamers equipped with Vanderbilt tenders.  I am told that these engines were true drag freights that seldom exceeded 35 mph.   

There will be no Saturday Report next Saturday.  The Babe is going to get a hairdo in Mount Dora.  Hopefully, a new story will accompany the Saturday Report two weeks from today. 


                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWfk5ePkqs0&t=15s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWfk5ePkqs0&t=15s)


Say it isn't so!
And the packies in the Keystone State won't be opened within the next 2 weeks. What's a faithful reader to do after 8 weeks of quarantine?
PS: Neither the missus nor I have had our hair done in the last 8 weeks. Just sayin'.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 16, 2020, 06:54:17 PM
Had a great time today. I think Greg was driving that loco like a snowbird. Just saying....
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on May 17, 2020, 03:17:29 AM
Hey Tom:

WOW!!!! Bob did A beautiful job on Seckler's cold storage.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 17, 2020, 09:17:47 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on May 16, 2020, 06:54:17 PM
Had a great time today. I think Greg was driving that loco like a snowbird. Just saying....


Et tu Webb..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 17, 2020, 09:56:59 AM
Karl - Bob Butts is not a modeler.  He is an artist!  His work is always beautiful and the A&S is fortunate to have several of his builds.

BandOGuy - My wife (Cindy) went to CVS and purchased an electric hair trimmer (like the ones barbers use that go buzzzzzz).  My hair does not need scissors and Cindy has become my barber.  Should have done that years ago.  My hairstyle reminds me of the haircut I got my first day in military school.  Everyone should join in and end the barbershop conspiracy. 



   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 17, 2020, 12:00:01 PM
Greg :) :) ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 31, 2020, 03:56:07 PM
Atlantic & Southern Railroad - Belated Saturday Report for May 30, 2020.

My apologies to all three of my readers for submitting this week's report a day late.  My wife, Cindy, bless her heart, she's as sweet as South Jaw-ja tea, had some other ideas for my Saturday afternoon.

The Board of Directors met on time at 0830 hours.  Much was discussed.  The CEO has found a source for custom decals and we decided that the logo should be a diamond shape with A&S inside it just like the AB&C diamond.  We will also need decals reading "Atlantic & Southern" for boxcars and other rolling stock.  Most railroads have slogans or company sayings on their equipment.  Your reporter was tasked with the responsibility to make recommendations.  At first, cutesy slogans having a reference to swamps were considered, including some character like Pogo, but that idea was scrapped due to the seriousness of the management and staff of the A&S.  Next, the idea of a description of Central Florida was considered.  Since we are both former Gators, a line from the University of Florida's Alma Mater invoking Palm and Pine was discussed.  Later it was decided that referring to a Florida sounding passenger train would be less subtle and The Palmland Route was put on the  agenda next week for further discussion.  Any suggestions would be duly considered.

The post-meeting session was quite exciting.  The C&O H5 2-6-6-2 was given a maiden voyage and the A&LM 4-6-0 was also tested.  The H5 "had a screw loose" on the main crank, but it was a quick fix.  It pulled a string of 28 coal hppers and a caboose without any problem on level track, but needed a helper to climb the Ovalix to Summit.   This engine is not a speedster.  It took over 15 minutes for it to make six 26' rotations up the Ovalix.

The 4-6-0, number 35, is more of a horse than expected.  The mayor of the City of Tahope, the sheriff, and Judge Thomas decided to take a day trip to Sanlando and A&S's only passenger car was coupled to number 35, along with seven freight cars and a brass caboose.  The engine handled this consist with ease and returned in time for the passengers to get a beer and shoot pool at Trackside Tavern.

One disappointment was the videos taken.  For various reasons, including equipment malfunction, the videos will be postponed until next week. 

There is no story this week.  Your reporter has been otherwise occupied and hopes to remedy that situation tomorrow.  However, pics of 1534 and number 35 are attached for your viewing pleasure.

                                                                        (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-310520155148.jpeg)

                                                                        (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-310520155401.jpeg)
                                   
                                                                        (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-310520154941.jpeg)







Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on May 31, 2020, 04:49:08 PM
Thanks for keeping us informed Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 31, 2020, 06:16:06 PM
A fun time was had by all..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: sdrees on May 31, 2020, 06:24:08 PM
what is the source for custom decals?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 01, 2020, 10:38:45 AM
Quote from: sdrees on May 31, 2020, 06:24:08 PM
what is the source for custom decals?


Steve,

I'm having Jim at Highball Graphics do the Atlantic and Southern decals.

https://www.highballgraphics.com/index.php/custom-decals/custom-waterslide-decals (https://www.highballgraphics.com/index.php/custom-decals/custom-waterslide-decals)


Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: madharry on June 01, 2020, 12:42:26 PM
Thanks Judge for the update.
Mike
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on June 02, 2020, 08:11:43 AM
Judge


Thank you for the update, it sounds like all is well in the South.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on June 03, 2020, 10:58:25 AM
Hey Judge:

Sound good. Betty's is a great kit built it when it first came out.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 07, 2020, 10:44:31 AM
Saturday Report, Atlantic & Southern Railroad, "The Southern Route."  June 6, 2020

Apologies are in order for my late posting of the promised Saturday Report.  My excuse is technological in that the video attached to the report was unavailable until late Saturday evening and I was busy with other things by that time.

The Board of Directors met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The "slogan" that will be emblazoned on S&S rolling stock at some future time was decided and decals have been ordered for both freight and passenger equipment.  The A&S will be marketed as "The Southern Route."  Suggestions such as "Empire of The Great Swamp" and "The Envy of the World" were rejected as not adequately describing the pike.   

It was a mixed day of railroading.  We started out with a run of the newly acquired H5 2-6-6-2.  The engine was located at Summit and it crawled around that level before heading down the Ovalix for the Midlands.  It takes a good 15 minutes for the trip.  The H5 is a slow hog with only 55-inch drivers so a scale 10-15 mph is about right for it. The fun is watching all those drivers and moving parts and listening to the two steam engines go in and out of sync.  A Southern RR single chime whistle was selected from the over 40 available choices.

Once 1534 managed to arrive at the Midlands level, it slowly rounded the wye at Bedford Forrest and emerged on the mainline.  The A&S official photographer, I. Ken Snappem, was there to video the arrival.  See below.

Lunch was at our Italian joint and passed without incident. 

After lunch, we ran the Pennsy K4 and the A&LM ten-wheeler.    A good time was had by everyone except the A&S Director of Maintenance, Will Fixer, who has some minor mechanical repairs to do before the next session.

This week's story is a true story of the adventures of the dedicated personnel who make the A&S the glorious pike it is.

                                                                                            ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR, ON THE A&S

Every railroad has its challenges and its limits.  The Atlantic & Southern Railroad is no exception.  The A&S has the majority of its trackage located in Central Florida, where the land is flat and is no more than a few inches above sea level.  Hills, such as they are, are few and far between.  The challenge crews have negotiating the railroad is climbing (or descending") the Ovalix.  The Ovalix, which is a marvel of engineering, is composed of a total of ten revolutions to raise or lower rail traffic from one of the levels of the railroad to either of the other two.  Each revolution is 26' in length with a constant grade of 1 degree.  A one-degree grade is perfectly acceptable, and rarely obtainable, for a model railroad, but it puts limits on the length of trains pulled by steam locomotives.  That is one reason why the sides of the Ovalix have been flattened.  And that is why the structure is called an Ovalix and not a helix.  Helper service is often needed to pull long trains up the grade.

The A&S has a number of veteran engineers who have years of experience both locally and from as far away as Chicago and California. 

The number one veteran engineer of the A&S rails is Uncle Henry O'Leary, who drifted down to Florida in the '20's before the Florida Boom went bust.  Uncle Henry came from the B&O, where he signed on as a signalman and was on the fireman's extra board before he pulled the pin and headed south.  He fired many a mallet while in service with the B&O, whose practice was to load as many cars as the engine could move and then add a few more. 

Ethan Douglas came from East Texas and wound up on the Espee.  He ran freight over the mountains and high varnish down the coast of California.  The lack of seniority finally got him in the '30's and he migrated from the dust bowl to the lush forests and rivers of Central Florida.

One summer morning Uncle Henry found himself assigned to a coal drag so he caught the local peddler freight from Sanlando to The Bottoms and located his train.  The engine was a newly shopped 2-6-6-2, recently acquired by a very favorable lease from the C&O.  Uncle Henry climbed into the cab, grunted a greeting to the fireman and the head shack, and proudly gripped the throttle to get a "feel" for the engine.  Number 1534 was not as big or as powerful as the 2-8-8-2's on the B&O but she was of proven USRA design and could run a few miles per hour faster than the lower drivered Em1's. 

Uncle Henry tried the air and warned the fireman that there was hard work ahead.  The orders required 1534 to move from The Bottoms to Summit, a long, hard trip in the summer at between 5 and 10 mph.  Firing 1534 up the Ovalix was back-breaking work, even with a recently installed stoker. 

Uncle Henry pulled on the throttle and gave the engine a little steam.  The slack was taken up on the 30-odd coal hoppers coupled to the tender and 1534 started moving with sharp, barking exhaust.  By the time Uncle Henry passed the king switch at the end of the yard and pulled onto the mainline, 1534 was doing 10 mph and the earth vibrated as she passed. 

Soon the big engine came to the Ovalix and began the climb to Summit.  Only engineers with Uncle Henry's experience could handle a heavy drag like the one he was pulling without the front engine slipping. 

Summertime weather in Florida usually finds temperatures in the 90's by 10:00 a.m. and railroad crews were drenched with sweat due to the high humidity.  Smoke, coal dust, and cinders add to the miserable conditions found in the cab of a big freight hog climbing up from The Bottoms to Summit.

After nearly 3 hours of sweat and toil, 1534 finally reached the flatlands of The MIdlands, where the crew stopped for water and beans.  They climbed down from the cab and walked the short distance to Sweaty Betty's Diner for lunch.  Betty's cook, Bo, who is a tall, skinny drink of water, laid on the hamburgers and fries, along with a generous glass of cold sweet tea.  Price per meal, $1.25.  Betty's diner has a pretty extensive menu, but the only thing on it that isn't fried is the iced tea. 

After lunch, the crew mounted the cab and brought the train around Eaton's Curve and over the bridge at Mosquitto Lagoon on the way back to the Ovalix for another three hour battle up the grade to Summit. 

The big mallet arrived at the yardmaster's shack just in time for the crew to go on the law and turn over 1534 to Ethan Douglas and his crew for the trip back down the Ovalix.

Uncle Henry piled into his bed in the bunkhouse and thought to himself, "another day, another dollar, on the A&S."



                                                                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0hjJvH4zEA&t=8s
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 07, 2020, 10:58:16 AM
Great looking steamer in the video.....another gem Bill - thanks.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Rollin on June 07, 2020, 12:09:21 PM
That steamer truly sounds excellent, but what I love is the variety in the coal loads, really looks authentic!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on June 07, 2020, 12:20:44 PM
Another wonderful report!   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 07, 2020, 12:32:07 PM
Greg and Rollin - Thanks for the comments.  I thought I had lost my readers due to a three-week absence from the forum. 

The coal loads are just storebought plastic inserts.  Probably from a variety of manufacturers.  Many of them are between 30 and 40 years old. 

For some reason, coal loads, pulpwood loads, and other products of that sort are unavailable from sources such as Walthers.   I wonder what is causing the shortage? 

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 07, 2020, 12:34:21 PM
Thank you, Bob.  Now all three of my readers have reported.  Happy Days!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on June 07, 2020, 12:41:32 PM
Another great story and video. I forgot to post earlier.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 07, 2020, 12:41:56 PM
Hey, I read it as well.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 07, 2020, 12:44:56 PM
Gangbusters!  My readers have increased by 25%!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on June 07, 2020, 05:04:37 PM
Great video and story, Judge.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 07, 2020, 10:30:52 PM
Thanks, Jeff, for taking the time to read my little stories and for your kind remarks.  OHE
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on June 08, 2020, 06:52:59 AM

Judge,


I'll echo everyone's comments.  Great story as usual and the video is the icing on the proverbial cake.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on June 08, 2020, 05:51:19 PM
C'mon, this forum software does report 'Views'.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 20, 2020, 12:53:30 PM
Saturday Report - June 20, 2020.  Beautiful weather in Central Florida this first day of summer.  The temperature is 82 degrees at 11:00 a.m. and the blue sky has a few clouds.  It may rain a little later in the afternoon. 

The Board of Directors meeting was scheduled for Friday this week.  An unusual, but necessary, move due to the scheduled memorial service for our good friend and model railroader, Jim Miller.

The Board reviewed the disappointing performance of the recently shopped Pennsy K4s.  The engine would run normally for a while and then lose sound.  Tom installed three different decoders and performance was not improved.  Either we had three defective decoders or something else was causing the problem.  We contacted the A&S Director of Maintenance, Will Fixer, and he focused our attention on the Sagami can motor.  This motor has served with distinction for over 40 years, having been installed in the 70s.  It has now passed its expiration date and may be placed on display for celebration of its longevity.  Readers should be reminded that the K4s was acquired from the collection of Richard N. DeWitt, who passed away on Christmas Eve, 2006.  Dick was the owner of DeWitt's Railroads, Orlando's premiere train hobby shop.Dick bought the K4s in the early 1970s and it ran almost continuously on the hobby shop layout for many years.  Fortunately, Northwest Short Line can provide a replacement motor.

The main activity of the day was to video a scene to go with this week's story.  The video link is provided at the end of this week's story.  In addition to the video, your reporter ran an A-B-A consist of E-7 Pennsy diesels pulling a mixed freight while the K4s decoders were being detached and attached.

The roundhouse crew is going to (hopefully) complete the shopping of the C&O K-3 this week.  This engine will be put into heavy freight service.

The idea for this week's story came from the October 1938 edition of Trains magazine.   

                                                                                                                  The Spotter

    Railroads like to keep tabs on the performance of their crews, especially on passenger trains.  Sometimes, the railroad will hire an ex-employee from another road, usually a boomer, to be a "spotter."  This individual receives a free ticket from one point on the road to another and sits and observes the quality of service and the conduct of the crew on the trip.  A report of any rule violations is later rendered to the management and action is taken where necessary to correct faulty service or the conduct of the crew during the trip. 
    The Atlantic Coast Line has a passenger train (Number 42) that makes a daily trip run from Sanlando to St. Petersburg back each weekday, with a number of local stops on the way.  The train, consisting of two ACL FP7 locomotives, four headend cars, and three coaches, is typical of local passenger service on the ACL.  The ACL had 44 of the FP7s.  They were basically F7s that had been stretched four feet to accommodate a boiler to provide steam to heat and cool the passenger cars.  Nineteen of these units had their boilers removed in later years and were used exclusively in freight servicel
    One summer afternoon, Number 42 pulled out of the St. Petersburg Station and eased out on the mainline on its way back to Sanlando.  The conductor, "Hap" Hatter and the head brakeman, Bud Millstone, who both hailed from Tahope, stood in the vestibule of the last coach, chatting.  While Hap chewed a plug and Bud had a smoke, a scruffy looking passenger came through on his way forward to the next coach. Hap remarked, "Bud, I ain't seen that passenger before on this run, and I know all the regulars.  "I ain't seed him neither," said Bud.
    The next day a report was received by the superintendent that the crew was violating the rules by using tobacco during the trip.  Both Hap and Bud were called on the carpet for it and they promised it would never happen again.
    A few days later, while the train was heading north from St. Pete, Hap and Bud saw the same scruffy passenger sitting in the last coach.  The cleaning crew had not cleaned the train after it arrived in St. Pete and there were candy wrappers, newspapers, and other trash scattered around in the cars.  Hap and Bud were too busy to police up the trash so it did not cause them concern.
    The next day another report was filed and Hap and Bud were called on the carpet once again.  This time the warning was more serious.  "If you want to keep on as the crew on Number 42, there better not be any more complaints," said the superintendent. 
    Hap and Bud put their heads together and decided there must be a spotter on the train.  That didn't sit right because the ACL never used spotters on local passenger runs.  Hap got up close to Bud's ear and whispered, "Bud, I think there is someone trying to get us bumped off this run."  "Who would do such a thing?" asked Bud.  "I suspect it may be that shiftless skonk Short Stack, who just got promoted to brakeman.  He's had his eyes on this run ever since he got promoted."  "Well," said Bud, "that stranger shore ain't Short Stack.  Must be one of his friends or maybe even one of his kin."
    Bud kept an eye on the new passenger the next time he boarded the train.  When he took off his coat and hat to put them in the luggage rack, Bud saw an ACL Rule Book sticking out of his hip pocket.  Bud reported this fact to Hap, who suggested they needed to discourage further spotter activity.  They decided not to approach the passenger directly just in case he was a real spotter and not one of Short Stack's agents. 
    When the train arrived in Orlando, Hap made a quick telephone call from the ticket agent's office and returned to the train.  "Don't worry, Bud, everything is under control," he said. 
    About that time, another stranger boarded the train.  He was a tall, muscular type with a scar on his cheek and a brakeman's club in his right hand.  He approached the unsuspecting passenger and bodily removed him from his seat.  He escorted him to the nearest vestibule where Hap and Bud were waiting and removed the rule book from his pocket.  "Where'd you git this," Hap demanded from the terrified passenger?  "Short Stack give it to me," he said, "he's my cousin."  "Whuts yore name, you slimy worm, Bud demanded?  "Newt Fisher" came the reply.  "Newt, meet Bruce Bonebreaker, a friend of mine who was just released from state prison.  He's gonna put you off in Sanlando and we better never see you on this train again."  "Don't worry none," said Newt, "just don't put me off until the train stops."
  "Waal, Bruce, its good to see you again old friend," said Hap.  "I heared you'd been released after that prison stint you got in ORange County and I'm glad I could get in touch with ya."  "My pleasure," said Bruce, "I don't reckon you'll be seein' Short Stack's cousin any more on this train.  Happy to have been of service to ya."

There is a link below to a video depicting Numer 42 on its way through the cut near Perkins Farm.  The engineer, Uncle Henry O'Leary, provides some diesel horn music for the photographer.
     

                                                                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7rD6at8IXo
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 20, 2020, 02:35:52 PM
Judge,

Great story.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 20, 2020, 03:24:11 PM
Great story with a happy ending.....can't beat that Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on June 20, 2020, 03:24:28 PM
Great RR story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on June 20, 2020, 07:31:05 PM
Judge


I enjoyed the report, the story, and the video. Very nice work. Please keep them coming.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on June 20, 2020, 07:59:08 PM
Very well done!!!!Judge....Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 21, 2020, 10:42:02 AM
Dennis, Curt, Greg and John - Thank you for the kind words.  I appreciate comments and suggestions.

                                                                                                       THE REST OF THE STORY

This week's story about the Spotter was conceived by me after I read a rather long tale in the October 1938 issue of Railroad Magazine.  Several days after I read the tale, I picked up one of the many Atlantic Coast Line books in my library and opened it up to the first page.  I looked at a photograph of an ACL local passenger train powered by a pair of FP7s trailed by several headend cars and a few heavyweight coaches.  I suddenly remembered that Tom Langford used the photo to visualize the cut passing through Perkins Farm on the mainline of the Atlantic & Southern.  That is when I thought to make the ACL part of the story about the Spotter and to ask Tom to make the video.  (Actually, we made two videos. Tom posted one on his thread and I posted the other at the end of this week's story.)

Regular readers of the Saturday Report will recognize Bruce Bonebreaker.  He appeared as the defendant in the Butts Bar-B-Q shootout (page eight) and later as the owner of the Trackside Tavern (page twenty-one).   

I have attached the photo I saw in the ACL book.  I have included it so my loyal readers can compare the photo with the video and see just how close Tom came to capturing the essence of this rural Florida scene. 


                                                                   (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-210620102752.jpeg)


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on June 21, 2020, 11:21:30 AM
Great story as well as background information as to the inspiration for the cut through Perkin's farm.  :D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on June 21, 2020, 11:44:45 AM
Excellent as always Bill.  And thanks for the back story on this weeks report and article.
Amazing work by Tom after seeing the inspiration that he worked from and how close he got to the look and feel of the picture you provided.


Great work guys on all accounts !!!   And though I don't always comment, I am always following along the exploits of the A&S, the activities of the Butty Group, and the weekly 'Saturday Evening Post' ...
Thanks Bill and Tom for allowing us along on your A&S journey !!
AND a Happy Father's Day to all,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 21, 2020, 03:39:13 PM
Thank you for the kind comment Paul. 

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 27, 2020, 04:42:26 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report, June 27, 2020  - It's summer in Florida.  The temperature is over 95 degrees and the humidity is over 85%.  You get drenched with sweat just walking from your house to your garage.  Not a good time for y'all to visit, especially with the pestilence among us. 

The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours this morning.  The C&O K-3 is nearly ready to be put into service, but the test run revealed some mechanical problems that the A&S Maintenance Director, Will Fixer, must attend to this week.  There were some other minor problems, derails due to turn-outs not being correctly thrown, etc.  Some minor adjustments also had to be made to the new ACL ten-wheeler.  That engine also had a close call, which will be further explained by Tom after this report is posted.  We need to hire a bridge tender for the Great Divide.  Bridgett, who watches over the bridge that spans the Sewanee River Lagoon, can only do so much.

Greg deMayo and Curt Webb arrived after 10:00 a.m.  Greg's recently acquited 2-8-0 is out of the paint shop and needs a coal load before being placed in service.  Curt brought some recently acquired Athearn Genisis Pennsy F-3's to test run.   His models have high fans on the roof.  I thought F-2's were the diesels with the high fans.  But then, I can't tell the difference between a GP-7 and a GP-9 and wouldn't know a Uboat if it slipped up on me.  Any engine manufactured much after 1950 can't hold my attention.

We adjourned for lunch at 11:00 and journeyed to Del-Dio's Italian Restaurant.  There were only two customers there beside us so we waived masks and chowed down on salad, pizza, and other goodies.

After lunch we ran the Pennsy F-3's leased by the A&S and gave the ten-wheeler another run - more about that later.

The meeting broke up about 1:30 and will reconvene next weekend. 

This week's story has its origins from the August 1938 Railroad Magazine.  The facts have been changed and the names are different, but so is the story so enjoy it.

                                                                                       BRAKING AT THE ROUNDHOUSE COALING TOWER

    The steam locomotive service facility at Tahope has a coaling tower.  The tower has a loading track that passes under the tower and has a pit below where coal hoppers are emptied.  The coal is lifted from the pit by the coaling tower elevator.  The empties are switched onto an adjacent track for later pick-up. 
    Ralph Clark had been braking for the A&S for over a year since he graduated from Tahope County High School and he had gotten really good at his job, which was to brake cars in and around the steam service facility. 
    Ralph had an admirer, a sweet young thing named Lily Packer, (most of the "wimmins" raised in Tahope are named after flowers or plants) who was a senior at Tahope High that year and whose father owned the grocery store in Tahope.  Lily liked to watch switching operations when Ralph was braking and admire his "skills." 
    There were daily deliveries of coal to the coaling tower.  Shifter Number 71 would back up two or three hoppers down the loading track and release them on the fly.  Ralph would position himself on the lead hopper and ride it to a stop over the coal pit.
    Now, it takes teamwork to successfully accomplish spotting the hoppers over the pit.  The speed of the loco must be just right.  If the hopper is uncoupled from the loco too early, it will stop before making the spot.  If the loco is going too fast when the hopper is uncoupled, it will pass the spot and run into the wheel stops at the end of the loading track.  Engineer Ethan Douglas had made this move numerous times and Ralph would ride atop of the hopper to the spot without having to manually work the hand brake.
    One afternoon, Lily came to watch the action (and to watch Ralph) as the hoppers were being shoved into position under the coaling tower.  Ethan Douglas called in sick that day and was replaced by Steve Carpenter, who had never worked the coaling tower tracks.  Ralph positioned himself on the coal pile of the lead hopper.  Steve backed into the loading track and kicked three hoppers at over 20 mph.  Ralph was relaxing and watching Lily Parker when he realized the cut of hoppers was moving too fast to stop before running into the wheel stops.
    At first, Lily cheered Ralph on as he sat nonchalantly atop the hopper's coal pile, but the cheer turned into a squeal when she realized the hopper was not stopping.  Just as the hopper passed under the coaling tower, Ralph jumped for his life while the hoppers continued on their way and ran into the wheel stops with a loud crash.
    Seeing Ralph was uninjured, Lily ran to his side, grabbed him by the ears, and planted a big, wet kiss on him. 
    Later, in the roundhouse, Steve apologized for misjudging the speed of the cut of hoppers.  Ralph, who was still recovering from Lily's enthusiastic shower of affection, said, "Steve, do you think you could bid for that roundhouse switching job?"

                           (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-270620163633.jpeg)
                             No. 71, Steve Carpenter, Engineer                         
                                                       
                           (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-270620163419.jpeg)
                                                         Backing up to the pit               


                             (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-270620163846.jpeg)
                                                     Ralph on his perch on the lead hopper




Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on June 27, 2020, 06:34:19 PM
Judge,


FWIW, early production F3's were almost identical carbodies to the F2's including the chicken wire side panels and high fans.  Late F3's had the stainless side grills and low fans, and looked like F7's.


I think the moral of your story is sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.  Or, maybe unintended consequences that put a smile on your face can pop up where least expected. ;D 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 27, 2020, 06:45:40 PM
Fun story Bill.....and a good time was had by all.  :)

Great paint job on the St.L&D 2-8-0 Tom.....thanks for all the time and effort you put in on this little gem.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 27, 2020, 06:48:07 PM
There are three bridges on the Atlantic and Southern RR. This is the Paul Harvey version of today's story.

It's the A&S policy to loudly announce "The bridge is OUT, or the bridge is IN." when trains are running. This means all trains must STOP! During this time, the Babe came into the train shed and was talking to Greg and Curt. I previously announced, "The bridge is OUT" and then joined in on the conversation.

The Engineer didn't hear "The bridge is out" and continued his run across the Suwannee River Lagoon. He made the normal Toot Toot, to Bridgett on the way to the Great Divide. We all heard a thump and turned to look. The Midlands bridge over the Great Divide was OUT and this is what we all saw.

I really can't tell ya'll what can happen to a brass loco that falls from the track some 38.5 inches to the bottom of the Great Divide.

Tom  :-X

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-270620145651.jpeg)

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on June 27, 2020, 07:16:31 PM
Tom,


I'm thinking you need a microswitch that cuts power to the last three feet or so of track when the bridge is out.  I'm not a DCC guy but it seems to me like that wouldn't be particularly difficult to install.  I'm just guessing that any engine that takes a dive would be more than a little worse for wear.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on June 27, 2020, 07:17:33 PM
Great story, Judge.  Lucky save on the loco.  :o   Looks like you need to install a track deadening switch when it's open.  Tougher to do with the "Keep Alives". 


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on June 27, 2020, 09:33:57 PM
Great story Bill. It was a lucky save with the steamer.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 28, 2020, 08:36:06 AM
Lesson learned?.....A hung up loco fends off a geezer stroke-out.  ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on June 28, 2020, 10:20:35 AM
I'll add to Jerry's note about F-3s, there was also a Phase II or 'chicken wire' version.

Regarding the bridge, stopping sections are OK until an engineer is looking the wrong way when operating a new, fancy DCC loco with keep-alive tech.  Then you need a mechanical positive stop.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on June 28, 2020, 11:06:53 AM
Sounds like everyone had a good time yesterday in spite of the close call.  Another great story Bill!  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 01, 2020, 05:56:28 AM
Bob, Curt, Greg, James, Jeff, and Jerry -  Thank y'all for taking the time to comment on this week's Saturday Report.  The A&S management uses the Report in lieu of corporate minutes, so we try to make them accurate.  You never know when the ICC or the State Railroad Commission might poke around.

 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on July 01, 2020, 07:41:54 AM
Bill


I'm late to the party this week but great report and that was way to close with that locomotive. I have a couple locomotives in boxes,  "labeled to be fixed",  that didn't get stopped in time during testing runs on my layout.  :-[ 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 03, 2020, 11:27:26 AM
John - We have dumped several locomotives into the Great Divide.  Fortunately, they were diesels (who cares about them?) and no permanent damage was suffered.   I think the idea of installing some sort of fail-safe device is a good idea.  I will take it up with the board tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on July 03, 2020, 11:49:50 AM
I remember seeing some clever engineering using cams.  When the bridge was installed, the cams pushed down "normally in place" pins at the end of the track.  When the bridge was up, those pins would pop up at the end of the track to block the train from taking the deep dive down.


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 04, 2020, 03:31:52 PM
Thank everyone for commenting on this thread.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 04, 2020, 04:18:50 PM
Saturday Report - Independence Day, 2020.  Hot and humid today with temperature in the 90's and thundershowers in the afternoon.

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The motive power department was given a cheer for repairing the Pennsy K4s and the C&O K3 Mikado.  Both engines had to have the "chuff" adjusted so there would be four beats to the revolution of the drivers.  This takes some doing.  It is not hard to time the "chuffs" but patience is needed.  Locomotives have different size drivers and sometimes it takes a few minutes to get it right. 

Speaking of drivers, the roundhouse crew replaced the drivers on the K4s with brand new ones.  (The "new" drivers are actually about 40 years old, but they have never touched a railhead.)  This engine was the property of Richard (Dick) DeWitt, who owned the hobby shop in Orlando.  When he passed, the A&S inherited several Pennsy locomotives, including some spare drivers.  Who would have known?  Anyway, this particular engine must have run several thousand actual miles on Dick's store layout and it was time to switch out drivers as long as the boiler was lifted off the frame for installation of a new motor.  The motor that was mounted in the engine was the original motor and it was shot, to say the least.

We ran the K4s and the K-3 to test them and made a video that is posted on Tom's K-3 thread.  Next week we will produce at least two more videos of Pennsy passenger trains on the A&S.  It is hard to believe the Pennsy would meander south to a Central Florida Swamp, but the blame goes to Dick DeWitt, who was an avid Pennsy fan.  Anyway, its our railroad.  Your reporter has explained the unusual relationship the A&S has with the Pennsy in prior reports and, for those interested, they are still part of this thread.

Lunch was at Smokey Bones because Del Dio's was closed for the 4th.  We were the only customers in the place - a Covid moment.

After lunch we made two more videos (see below) and called it a day.

The idea for this week's story comes from one of the 1938 Railroad Magazines.  Coal is something Floridians have forgotten about since he passing of steam engines.  Few, if any, Floridians used coal for heat in the "winter."  So, your reporter was facinated twith the problems that come with lignite.


                                                                                  THE LIGNITE EXPERIMENT - INDEPENDENCE DAY 1950.

In Central Florida each summer, between late June and early October, it rains nearly every afternoon.  Many of these cloudbursts are accompanied with thunder and lightning.  Orlando has been designated as the country's lightning capital.

The City of Jacksonville is famous for its fireworks displays on Independence Day every year so the president of the A&S Railroad scheduled a special train for a trip from Tahope to Jacksonville on July 4, 1050, so his family and friends could watch the show.

Ethan Douglas drew the right-side job for the trip and a new fireman named Wayne Shoemaker was assigned  to handle the firing duties.  The motive power for the trip was a ACL 1401, a mountain type of USRA design.

The Pennsy delivered daily to the A&S at the coaling tower near the Tahopy roundhouse.  The coal salesman convinced Assistant Roundhouse Forman Tater Cartwright to accept several hoppers of lignite coal, which was considerably less expensive than the regular bituminous shipment.

Twenty hoppers of lignite were delivered on the morning the president's special train was scheduled to make the trip from Tahope to Jacksonville.  A hostler moved 1401 to the coaling tower and filled the tender's coal space with lignite. 

Engineer Douglas ran 1401 light the short distance from the coaling tower to the ready track and Steve Carpenter coupled switcher Number 71 to the eight-car passenger consist and shoved it into 1401. 

The Special left Tahope on time at 1:00 p.m. and steamed towards Sanlando.  Wayne began firing the engine as they pulled out of the ready track and over the Tahope River Bridge.  He had never seen lignite before and wondered at the smallness of the coal.  He managed to keep the fire hot enough to steam fro the first few miles, but then a Florida couldburst came and the lignite in the coal bunker turned into so much mud.  The engine began to lose steam pressure and Ethan Douglas hollered for more steam as the train crossed the St. Johns River Bridge.  The pressure continued to drop as Wayne shoveled fine grain mud into the firebox. 

The engineer brought 1401 to a halt at the station in Deland.  By that time steam pressure was so low the engine could make no headway.  Douglas put his hand to the water glass and it was cold to the touch.  He shouted, "Dadgummit, what the heck happened to this fire?"  Or he said something like that.

About that time Conductor Melvin Hatter climbed into the cab and surveyed the situation.  "Better call for another engine," he said.  But all the available engines had been fueled with the recently delivered lignite.  The SAL came to the rescue and provided a GP-7 to haul the Special to Jacksonville and back.

The president returned to Tahope the next day.  He went to the roundhouse and had a set-to with Tater Cartwright.  He said, "Tater, you bonehead, don't you ever order another load of lignite for the A&S!"  And Tater became known as "Bonehead Cartwright" from that day until this.  Except his girlfriend, Peaches, still calls him "Sweetie Pie."  And nineteen hoppers of lignite were shipped back to Pennsylvania.


                                                                                         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcAgX8DcjME

                                                                                          Independence Day Special leaves for Jacksonville


                                                                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avjvqzEkUdk

                                                                                                Independence Day Special Returns to Tahope
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on July 04, 2020, 04:47:51 PM
Great story Bill. You know you can't trust a Yankee salesman. Great videos.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on July 04, 2020, 07:16:14 PM
Bill,


If those hoppers were caught in the same rainstorm weren't nineteen hoppers full of mud shipped back to the Pennsy? Just wondering...


Great videos, and the story sets them up perfectly. 



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 04, 2020, 07:57:56 PM
Great story Bill.  Even though I'm from coal country (my grandfather and my better half's grandfather were both coal miners) I had to look up lignite coal.  We come from the anthracite regions of PA.  Bituminous coal comes from Slim's neck of the woods.  Speaking of which, it looks to me like the tenders on the A&S are loaded with anthracite coal.  You better get Will E. Fixer to swap them out with bituminous coal loads if that's what the A&S burns.   ;) 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 05, 2020, 09:13:09 AM
Great story Bill.....I can understand Tater trying to save a buck, but penny pinching can sometimes bite ya in the butt.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 05, 2020, 09:42:39 AM
Jerry -The nineteen other hopper loads were indeed reduced to mud.  I understand there is some sort of use for that stuff.  Can they make coke out of it? 

Bob - I have always assumed the A&S used bituminous coal because that is what all good Southern Railroads used.  But I could be wrong.  All I know is the pop valves on the engines running on the A&S pop regularly. 

Greg & Curt - Thanks for reading and responding. 

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on July 05, 2020, 10:45:36 AM
Your Honor:  Lignite does not come from PA.  A lot from Texas and the Dakotas-Montana.

Larry from PA.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on July 05, 2020, 01:45:07 PM
It's also easy to determine the type of coal being used in Pennsylvania as the anthracite burners had wider fireboxes (check Reading, CNJ and Jersey Central loco photos for examples). And that is not a mis-type. There was a Central Railroad of New Jersey and a Jersey Central Railroad. Even in those days, the government of New Jersey overtaxed its citizens and corporations. CNJ tried to escape this by shifting assets to Pennsylvania, but the dodge failed.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 09, 2020, 05:08:49 PM
Larry - Thank you for pointing out that lignite does not come from Pennsylvania.  The A&S gets its coal exclusively from the Keystone State and we are appreciative of it. We order bituminous coal and that is what is in our coal hoppers, no matter what Butts says.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tom.boyd.125 on July 09, 2020, 06:34:01 PM
Tom,
After reviewing the latest... Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report...did not see any mention of these new checks...
Tommy
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 09, 2020, 09:06:14 PM
Quote from: Judge on July 09, 2020, 05:08:49 PM
Larry - Thank you for pointing out that lignite does not come from Pennsylvania.  The A&S gets its coal exclusively from the Keystone State and we are appreciative of it. We order bituminous coal and that is what is in our coal hoppers, no matter what Butts says.


Objection, lack of foundation.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 11, 2020, 03:19:26 PM
Larry - Where do you get those checks?  I'll change banks if necessary to get them. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 11, 2020, 04:31:34 PM
Saturday Report - July 11, 2020.

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic and Southern Railroad met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The main item on the agenda were decals.  Our decal source sent us samples and we are very pleased.  We will soon have decals for steam engines, freight cars, and passenger cars.  The A&S logo will be in a diamond shape like the AB&C's logo (The AB&C was a railroad that ran up into Alabama from Florida - the ACL acquired it in the early 1900's.)

The Southern MS4 Mikado is ready for the final touches.  Hopefully, it will be ready for its trial run next week. 

We ran the Pennsy K4s in the morning session.  We decided to make a video of the Jacksonian after lunch.  The Jacksonian is a complete train leased from the Pennsy.  Originally, it was to run from St. Petersburg to Jacksonville and back daily.  However, the schedule is a little too tight for that and the train will run from Tahope's Sanlando Depot to Jacksonville with stops in Sanford, Deland, and Palatka before arriving in Jacksonville.  Unfortunately, the video of the K4s did not turn out to our satisfaction.  Why is it that model trains that have never given any trouble, stall on a turnout, derail, and lose sound as soon as a video camera is turned on?  Better luck next week, as they say.

Since we were running Pennsy trains, we brought the Broadway Limited up from the Bottoms and gave it a spin.  Readers might remember the A&S has a historic connection to the Pennsy and, since it is our railroad, we envision the Broadway Limited to make infrequent turns southward in order to take up the slack of the thousands and thousands of orange juice drinking tourists that invade Florida in the summer.  We made a video after lunch.  It is pretty good.  it shows the Broadway making a whistle-stop at Sanlando.  Only one passenger got off.

This week's story has its origins in the October 1938 Trains Magazine.  There used to be a section each month called "True Tales of the Rails."  I don't know how true these tales are, but this edition had some stories about dangerous situations.  The story I have adopted could be a movie if John Wayne were still available to star in it.  Oh, It forgot.  It's 1938 in the story so he would be available.

                                                                                                    WHEN LUCK FOLLOWS THE TRAIN
The Jacksonian is an A&S daily passenger train that was leased from the Pennsy, including the only K4s to have ever graced the A&S rails.  The train runs from Tahope's Sanlando Depot to Jacksonville, with stops in Sanford, Deland, and Palatka.  It returns to Tahope in the afternoon of the same day. 

The regular conductor on the Jacksonian is Ralph Tinker and the head shack is Bud Millstone.  Both of these seasoned employees are prone to a little practical joking at each other's expense every now and then. 

One summer day in 1938, the Jacksonian pulled out of the Sanlando Depot on time and headed for the trip up the Ovalix to Summit and the Jacksonville Union Station.   

The Jacksonian rates a helper up the constant 1% grade on the Ovalix, so ACL's P-3 Pacific, Number 451 coupled onto the observation car at the end of the train.  As the train climbs slowly towards Summit, Tinker and Millstone perched themselves on the observation car platform and enjoyed the ride. 

As the train neared Summit and was making about 10mph, MIllstone grabbed Tinker's hat and waved it over the tracks as if he were going to toss it onto the roadbed.  Tinker reached over the guard rail to recover his hat about the same time Number 451 cut off for the return to the Midlands.  When 451 cut off, the train jerked forward with increased speed.  This caught Tinker off balance and he fell from the platform onto the roadbed below.  Although 451 had cut off from the observation car, it did not lose its forward momentum.  The twenty-foot distance between Tinker and the cowcatcher of 451 began to rapidly close. 

Tinker rolled onto his back and grabbed the front of the cowcatcher as 451 passed over him and the train dragged him along the roadbed for quite some distance until 451 came to a stop.  Fortunately, the engineer on 451, "Fatso Johnson," saw Tinker fall and he set the brakes and opened the sander.  When the engine stopped, "Fatso" and his fireman dropped to the ground to tend to Tinker, whose shirt and pants were pretty much shredded and his backside was skinned up. 

Tinker, happy to have avoided further injury, asked "Fatso" if he would give him a lift to Summit Yard so he could catch up with his train.  "Fatso" was happy to oblige.

The conversation between Tinker and Milstone that occurred when Tinker caught up with his train is not reported.  However, those who knew them say very little practical joking took place thereafter.  Tinker did not bother to report the incident since it caused no delay and the Jacksonian backed into the Union Station on time.

                                                                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vD0uwakaHo

                                                             This here video is of the Broadway Limited as it eased through Sanlando and let off one passenger. 

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 11, 2020, 05:46:48 PM
We had fun today. I'll show the new A&S logos tomorrow on the Atlantic and Southern thread.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on July 11, 2020, 08:32:00 PM
Bill,


Seriously?  You end the story by writing that the train "backed" into Union station.  Seems like there are a lot of rear end jokes in this one.  ;D


Seriously? 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on July 11, 2020, 08:55:37 PM
Another great tall tale Bill. Of course I loved the Broadway Limited video.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 12, 2020, 07:43:16 AM
Enjoyed the yarn today Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on July 12, 2020, 08:05:16 AM
Another wonderful tale this week Bill, adding even more color to a wonderful layout !!
Be well,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 12, 2020, 09:30:20 AM
Jerry - The arrival at Union Station in Jacksonville back in the days before AMTRAK was an experience in itself.  The trains backed into the station, but the lead track was several miles long.  it seemed like it took forever to get the train spotted for demarcation.   The ACL, Seaboard, and Southern all had trains coming and going. 

The reference to "back ends" was inadvertent.  I passed your comments on to Maggie Hussy and she remarked that she always gets compliments about hers. 

Thank all of you who commented on this week's story.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 12, 2020, 09:53:27 AM
Another fun story Bill.  Keep 'em coming.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 12, 2020, 09:55:15 AM
Quote from: Judge on July 12, 2020, 09:30:20 AM
Jerry - The arrival at Union Station in Jacksonville back in the days before AMTRAK was an experience in itself.  The trains backed into the station, but the lead track was several miles long.  it seemed like it took forever to get the train spotted for demarcation.   The ACL, Seaboard, and Southern all had trains coming and going. 

The reference to "back ends" was inadvertent.  I passed your comments on to Maggie Hussy and she remarked that she always gets compliments about hers. 

Thank all of you who commented on this week's story.


Florida East Coast also used Jax Union.

Jacksonville Union Terminal looking south.

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-120720100018.jpeg)

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on July 12, 2020, 11:20:29 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on July 12, 2020, 09:55:15 AM
Quote from: Judge on July 12, 2020, 09:30:20 AM



Florida East Coast also used Jax Union.

Jacksonville Union Terminal looking south.

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-120720100018.jpeg)

Tom  ;D

Looking at the photo, could that be the Broadway Limited cars on the left heading south through Sanlando?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 12, 2020, 02:26:12 PM
Larry,

Exactly. Good eye.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 18, 2020, 01:41:42 PM
Saturday Report - July 18, 2020

The Board of Directors met promptly at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2020, instead of July 18, 2020, because the Babe had her monthly hair appointment in Mount Dora on the 18th.  The discussion centered around the decals being finalized and mailed to the A&S Maintenance Department.  Arrival is expected in a matter of days.  Soon the famous name will be emblazoned on boxcars, steam locomotives, and streamlined passenger cars.

The newly shopped and painted Southern Ms4 2-8-2 looks great!  The mechanism is perfect.  Unfortunately, there is some sort of glitch that causes it to stall frequently.  The A&S maintenance department will look into the problem this week and make adjustments.  Seems like brass engines all have a down-side glitch when they just come out of the shop. 

We are growing more and more concerned about the effectiveness of the "Keep-Alive" feature on WOW Sound decoders.  Your reporter has suggested a call into TCS for an explanation of why some of our locomotives tend to stall on turnouts. 

When the Director's meeting was over, we calibrated and made adjustments on five engines that had new decoders recently installed.  Old 1516, an ACL P-5a Pacific, is back in service.  Two SAL E Units were tested and two ACL FP7's were put through their paces.

Curt Webb arrived in time for an informal bull session and lunch.  We had lunch at the local Red Lobster.  That was the first real restaurant your reporter has entered since March.  Your reporter's apprehensions about social distancing were satisfied when it became apparent that there were only four other people in the joint.

After lunch, we returned to the shed for a short run of the Pennsy K-4s and a ride on the Jacksonian before we called it a day.

This week's story is a little different.  The idea about surplus airplanes came from my childhood when these aircraft were actually being sold.  The rest of the story is a combination of my own imagination and the humor of Al Capp.  Here goes. . . .

                                                                                                         TRANS TAHOPE AIRWAYS

     One day, in the summer of 1951, the feral cousins, Newt Fisher and Shortstack Turner (See Inhabitants of Eaton's Curve, Page. eight), were resting near the river in The Bottoms when Newt suddenly had an idea.  Newt, who had almost done something several times in his life but had always failed, suggested they branch out from their activities as vagabonds and start a business, or as Newt said, "Bid-ness." 
    Shortstack, who was tending the Mulligan Stew, said he read an article in the Tahope Daily Blatter announcing that the federal government was selling war surplus C-47 airplanes at Orlando Air Force Base for $2500 each.  Shortstack thought they could make some money "if'n they bought one of them-thar airplanes" and started up a cargo airline.  They became partners in the venture and decided to call the airline Trans Tahope Airways.  The venture would provide cargo service from Tahope to surrounding cities in competition with the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.
     There were two problems: (1) neither of the partners could fly and (2) they had no money to purchase an aircraft.
    Fortunately, for our would-be entrepreneurs, a recent arrival to The Bottoms was an older gent who identified himself as a WWI German Air Ace named Wilhelm Ludwig Von Outhausen.  He claimed to have been a member of the Red Baron's fighter wing, which was known as "The Flying Circus."  He convinced Newt and Shortstack that his bonafides stretched back to the court of Fredrick the Great of Prussia and assured the two would-be tycoons that he could fly any airplane anywhere and would "join up" as the airline's pilot if he could have an advance of $500. 
    Newt and Shortstack made an appointment with the president of the TAhope State Bank, J. Pierpont Forrest (Great, great grand-nephew of General Bedford Forrest) , who incidentally is the step-father of Peaches Weaver, girlfriend of "Tater" Cartwright, who is the Assistant Roundhouse Forman of the TAhope Steam Service Facility and Roundhouse.
    Mr. Forrest listened to the business plan proposed by Newt and Shortstack and said he would look into it.  He found out that the government had money available to guarantee loans made for war surplus purchases and made arrangements for the loan of $3000.  He delivered a bank check for $500 to Shortstack and said the balance of the government loan would be available as soon as the FAA licensed the enterprise.  Shortack gave Baron Von Outhausen the $500 check to retain his services and awaited approval of their application to the FAA. 
    Upon further inquiry, Mr. Forrest learned there was a catch involving the purchase of the C-47 Aircraft.  The purchase price was $2500 per aircraft, but they had to be bought in groups of ten.  The bank was unwilling to loan that much money to Newt and Shortstack, so the deal fell through.
    About that time, Officer Poovey told  Mr. Forrest that Baron Von Outhausen was a fraud who had a fugitive warrant out of "Jaw-ja." and he had vanished from The Bottoms on a drag freight with the $500.
    "Well," said Newt, "I've almost done something a whole bunch of times and this is one of them."  And Shortstack thought of an alternative plan and said, "Why don't we buy a truck?"  "Naw," said Newt, "you can't compete with the Atlantic & Southern Railroad with a truck."
   

 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: bparrish on July 18, 2020, 03:13:33 PM
Judge......  regarding your comment about stalling in a turnout......

Do this first (maybe you already are)  A locomotive can take a long time to fully charge the capacitor depending on how much is going on with the locomotive.  Sound is only part..... how many lights are running.....


So give the locomotive a minute or two to charge up

Then........... on an easily piece of clear track........ not a turnout.   Rock the locomotive off of one rail and hold it.

If the light goes out immediately the keep alive is not working.  If it goes off in one or two it is trying but not fully charged.  Trying to work is a warrantee issue with TCS.   I have only have steam  locos and some that stay lit for ten to twenty seconds but I don't have a lot going on with them.  Single headlight and no ditch or ground lights as Dismals have.

On the TCS T1 decoders I have with keep alive devises......... I manually solder them on to the board and can be put in backwards.  I'm not sure that this is possible with the WOW decoders.


Let me know how the test goes.

see ya
Bob



We are growing more and more concerned about the effectiveness of the "Keep-Alive" feature on WOW Sound decoders.  Your reporter has suggested a call into TCS for an explanation of why some of our locomotives tend to stall on turnouts. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on July 18, 2020, 04:54:54 PM
Interesting story Bill. Tahope almost had a airport, or at least a airstrip.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 18, 2020, 06:26:55 PM
Enjoyed the story Bill.....that would have be a cargo carrier operation to see, if they ever got it off the ground.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 20, 2020, 09:56:47 AM
Another fun story!  Wish I could have been there for the festivities on Friday. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on July 20, 2020, 04:23:35 PM
Hey Bill:

Look like you are having a great time. Continue to enjoy.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on July 20, 2020, 10:40:24 PM
I love the stories to go along with the fantastic modeling advice. Thanks Tom and The Judge.

PS: If you need pilots for the C-47 Greg and I are in. I see us buying the plane to expand the already mighty reach of the A&S. By offering air service we can start a freight business taking high value items brought to Florida by the A&S, then flying them to Cuba Things like the Zenith Radios and Magnavox TV's everyone is buying. Then we bring back the finest Cigars which the A&S can ship in humidity controlled cars for 10 times what we pay for them.

I know the government is a little corrupt but we can manage the business through a shell company. Greg says he has some good friends out of Chicago that have a Casino in Havana. They will make sure things go smooth, introduce us to the right people and might even help finance the start since they are practically family. For a fee but I am sure it is just a token of respect. Don't worry about so called rebels led by some idiot called Fedel or something. Greg's friends say they have everything under control and the guy won't last six months.

I need to make sure Greg is up for this, he wants to be the chief pilot but I told him he doesn't have his multi-engine rating so I need to be the Chef Pilot. Might need your help on getting this worked out.

So what do you think? Air freight could become big in the future and the A&S needs to stay on the cutting edge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 21, 2020, 09:24:22 AM
Jim - The minutes from the A&S July 21, 1951, Board of Directors Meeting contain the following information:

The Management of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad has determined that competition by the airlines will never amount to anything to worry about.  After all, how much freight can those planes carry?  And the railroads have no worry about serious competition from the trucking industry.   Most of the highways in the United States are two-lane and the trucks have those gasoline engines that cannot compete with diesel engine efficiency.  In Jaw-ja, many of the highway bridges are wooden structures that cannot hold a vehicle with more than 14 wheels.  Citrus products from Tahope County cannot be economically transported over bridges with those weight limitations.   Besides, if the trucking industry does improve its ability to transport goods in sufficient bulk to cause competition with the railroads, Congress will tax the industry to death to pay for the highway improvements needed.  Nothing will seriously interfere with the interstate transportation of goods by railroad for at least the next fifty years.

 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 21, 2020, 09:39:21 AM
I'm in.....but there are some conditions.

First - the radial engines on the plane have to be replaced with turbines.....150 mph is a bit too slow for running cigars back up to Tahope, more power is a must if we ever have to outrun those pesky revenuers at "Greg Speed".

Second - call  NJ and Brooklyn and get cousin Guido "Cadillac" Piscatori, uncle Tony "Four Toes" Demeo and his buddy Guiseppe "Triggerman" Bacchiocchi. They have to be on all the flights, along with their hardware....can't ever tell what those commie pinkos will do.

Third - let's not forget that great Cuban rum.....we could buy cheap down there and sell at competitive prices up here and still make greater profits by not paying the darn government taxes like our competitors. The Judge will have to get the police chief to look the other way for these runs, but I'm sure that if we ply him with a few brass steam engines, he'll be on board in a heart beat.

Fourth - you can get the chief pilots spot, but I fly left seat, PIC, till I get the multi engine ticket, then we can switch off on each run.

Sounds like a plan.....lets fly..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 25, 2020, 02:57:56 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report July 25, 2020.

The Board of Directors met this morning at 0830 hours.  The main topics were receipt of the new A&S decals for freight and passenger cars and locomotives and the acquisition of a new engine through a lease with the C&O.

The decals are excellent.  We have a complete passenger train composed of Walthers Bud cars lettered for Penn Central.  Don't ask me why.  We've had them so long I can't recall their origin.  I do remember they were acquired back in the day when those cars were going for $20 each.  The plan sometime in the future is to re-letter them for Atlantic & Southern.  The A&S logo will go on tenders of larger steam engines, such as Pacifics and Mikes and the words "Atlantic & Southern" will be painted on the tenders of smaller engines, such as switchers, consolidations, and ten-wheelers.

The most exciting part of the morning was taking possession of a new-in-the-box PFM C15A 0-8-0.  This baby is a beauty, although it has a face only a mother could love.  It has a single air pump located on the left side of the smokebox and the somokebox door looks something like the grill of an Edsel.  (How many remember those?  Anybody own one?)  Anyway, there were 15 of these brutes manufactured by Baldwin in 1929 (just in time for the other depression).  They were numbered 110-124.  They stuck around until they were scrapped in 1952-53.  They had 52" drivers, no stokers, 185 lbs. boiler pressure, Baker valve gear and produced 53,950 lbs. of tractive effort.  Seems like there should have been more than one air pump for such a big engine, but the pump looks larger than usual and, since the C15A's were switchers, it is unlikely the air brake hoses were connected very often on cars in tow.  The pic below was taken at the time of delivery and is the artistic creation of Tom Langford.  This model is a relatively rare find and is expected to be busy at Summit Yard after shopping and road testing.

There will be no story this week.  Weekend house guest arriving shortly.


                                                                                (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-250720145413.jpeg)

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on July 25, 2020, 04:31:23 PM
As the Judge mentioned we acquired a new C&O switcher. We purchased this one from the Jim Miller estate. Below is a photo of the front of the smoke box. The loco is one of 500 released and imported by Lambert in 1977.

This will be in the A&S paint shop sometime in late September or early October.


(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-250720161440.jpeg)

The passenger cars are Walthers Seaboard Coast Line and the SCL will need to be removed and the new Atlantic and Southern added.

Also, today we had a bad steam loco day. An AB&C mikado developed a rear driver spring malfunction and need to be dead lined. The Southern mikado developed main driver issue and also was dead lined. On our third, we brought up a pair of Southern F7s. Yepper, the lead unit WOW decoder went bad. At this point I gave up and said a few unrepeatable lines.

Also, Curt came by and then Greg showed up just in time to go to lunch. We had a great time and of course we had some serious BSing going on.

All in all, just another normal Saturday on the Atlantic and Southern.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on July 26, 2020, 08:49:16 AM
Wow what a beautiful engine, and thanks to the Judge and you providing the background. Please make sure to show pictures after you paint it. It is already a headturner, with you painting it, she can only get better.

I'm sorry about the boards reaction to expanding into air freight. A friend of mine has told me about an outfit up in New York region called Mohawk Airlines. They recently changed their name from Robinson since Mohawk provides an image of fierce warrior pride. Great name and logo. They bought a bunch of surplus DC3's. They are looking for investors so I guess I'll go that route. Doubt Greg wants to join since DC3's have been seen being outrun by trains. I myself don't trust those new fangled turbine engines, they might go fast but how reliable can an engine be that uses a fireball to produce energy?

Again, love the engine, it is a beauty.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 26, 2020, 09:56:29 AM
Tom.....the new switcher is a beaut.  8)

Jim.....I.m in.....flying anything, no matter how slow.....is one heck of a lot better than not flying anything.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 26, 2020, 11:53:43 AM
Nice looking acquisition for the A&S.  Should look great working the yard.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 01, 2020, 03:26:22 PM
Saturday Report - August 1, 2020

The Board of Directors met at 0830 hours as usual.  The discussion focused on the structure being finished for use by the boating public on the Tahope River.  There will be no swimming allowed in the area due to large alligators and poisonous runoff from the nearby pest control company.  Hopefully, the structure will be in place this week and the Oklawaha dam will then release enough water to flood the river bed. 

We ran mostly Southern Railroad engines in the morning session.  A brace of E7A's pulled a load of mixed freight from the Midlands up the Ovalix to Summit.  The assent was smooth as glass up the constant one-degree grade.  We fired up the Southern Ms4 2-8-2 and posed it for two glamour shot run-byes.  Then we went to lunch at Del-Dio's. 

After lunch we satisfied our curiosity and tested several WOW Sound decoders that have been on the dieplay shelf for two or three years.  They all worked pretty well.  A couple of them have minor problems like marker lights being out, but that may not be a decoder probem.  Some of our WOW Sound decoders are over six years old adn some problems are expected.

Speaking of problems, we had no serious failures today.  No wrecks.  No electrical failures.  No system failures.  Today is one for the books!.  Of course, those modelers who follow this weekly report never have problems like these and enjoy perfect performance from layouts wherever they are located.

A video of the Southern 2-8-2 passing through the outskirts of Sanlando is attached for your viewing pleasure.  A longer video is available on Tom's layout thread.

                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZINZDTRVCsg

This week's story takes place in 1950-51, but it foretells the trials and tribulations of the company employees in the Dilbert comic strip.

                                                                                               PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT EFFICIENCY

Like every large company, the Atlantic & Southern Railroad has a "Personnel Department." (Years in the future it will be called "Human Resources" and will be dreaded by all of the workers.  Besides hiring and firing, one part of the HR office will be called I.T. and another will be charged with investigating on the job conduct of employees.)  But in 1950-51 it was just called the Personnel Department and a lot of the employees assigned there had little to do on most days.

Naturally, one of the personnel Department employees decided it was her job to make work for others so she became an efficiency expert.  Stopwatches were issued to managers, who crept around the roundhouse, the supply shed, the commissary, and the main office building timing various aspects of the duties of others in order to determine what stepes could be taken to reduce the time each job required.

One day, the head of the efficiency team, Lollie Timer, looked upon the various switching goats in the roundhouse service yard and in the yards at Sanlando and Summit and decided there was considerable lost motion there.  It appeared to her that the switch engines spent a lot of time "on the spot," panting and wating for something to do. 

Now Lollie, a recent graduate of Florida State College for Women, knew little or nothing about railroading, but that did not stop her from moving forward with her efficiency project.  She convinced the A&S Financial Officer, Bucks Denaro, to purchase some timing clocks, which she had mounted in boxes attached to the inside roof inside the cab of each switcher.  These devices were attached secretly and none of the crews knew of their existence.  The timers were designed to time the moves the swithchers made and show the amount of time in between moves.

In early August 1950, Engineer Ralph Clark climbed into the cab of 0-8-0 #71 and prepared for his daily switch list.  His fireman, Jim, brought the pressure up to the pop-off point and took his seat on the left-hand side.  As he worked the blower, his eyes wandered up to the roof of the cab and he spied Lollie's box containing the timer.

Jim removed the box and heard it ticking.  He shouted "BOMB!" and threw the box into the tender's water tank.  About that time, the conductor, Cap;n Jack P. Cook, climbed into the cab to see what was causing the commotion.  Upon learning the facts, he sent the head shack to the roundhouse to call the police.

In due time, Officer Poovey of the Tahope Police Department arrived on the scene.  Poovey fished the box out from the tank and, since it was no longer ticking, opened it.  The innards of the box looked like a harmless clocking device so Officer Poovey, Engineer Clark, and Jim walked to the roundhouse and reported the incident to Will Fixer, the Roundhouse Foreman and Director of Maintenance. 

Boy oh Boy!  If Lollie Timer had been there to hear Fixer's opinion about efficiency experts, she would have heard language never uttered in the sorority houses of FSCW and would have crawled into a hole and pulled the hole in after her.  "I'll tell you about efficiency," said Fixer.  "Any fool that has been around a railroad yard for ten minutes can tell you that switch engines have downtime in between assignments.  And nothing can be done about it.  Now we've lost over two hours of time and trians are backing up in Sanlando, all because of a clock in a box."




Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on August 01, 2020, 04:50:17 PM
Hey Tom;

I can see it all now. Here comes another beautiful paint job. Can't wait to see it finished.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 01, 2020, 06:58:29 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 02, 2020, 09:26:22 AM
Sorry I missed a perfect operating session.....good story Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on August 02, 2020, 09:49:13 AM
As always Bill, a wonderful story that easily takes us back to a time and place in a bygone era ...   thanks again for our weekly time travel to perhaps simpler times, much appreciated!


All the best to the Saturday Buddy group with both Isaias and the pandemic.
Be well and stay safe,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on August 02, 2020, 10:04:35 AM
Great story Bill.  That does sound like something a self professed 'efficiency' expert would come up with.  Truly a Dilbert moment.   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 02, 2020, 01:33:55 PM
Greg, Paul, Bob, Karl, and Curt -  Thanks for the kind comments.  The many victims of the evil geniuses in Human Resources will identify with this week's story. 

We are hunkered down for the virus and this small hurricane that is on its way up the East Coast of Florida.  I can't pronounce the name of this particular storm, but, like all the others, it too will pass. If the storm knocks out our power for any lengthy period of time, we plan on checking into one of the area hotels and eating through room service until power is restored.  Social distancing, you know. 

We have a good time making videos.  Our video cameras are just little Sonys and that limits our ability to get creative.  We plan on upgrading our video production capabilities when we get around to it.  We could start with a mini-cam that we can mount on a flatcar for track level viewing, along with a program we can use for editing.  Sometimes we have to reshoot a scene several times because a whistle didn't blow on time, an engine derailed, a train went into the wrong siding, or an engine stalled on a turnout.  This causes laughter and an occasional cuss word.  Fortunately, the expense of videoing is minimal due to digital technology eliminating the cost of film and development. 

I am searching the April, 1938 Railroad Magazine for ideas for next week's story.  Signing off for now.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on August 02, 2020, 01:53:35 PM
Here's a nicely done layout "ride along" video, and some notes on how he did it in the associated blog posts:  http://sandcrr.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-moving-picture-made-on-s.html


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 04, 2020, 04:09:29 PM
Dave - Thanks for the video.  It is much better than most.  I have seen dozens of these videos and most of them are terrible.  I have come up with a few suggestions (Rules?) that will make model RR videos more fun to watch. (Lawyers always like Rules.)

1.  Plan ahead.  Make sure the scene (as seen through the camera) shows railroad and not layout clutter, children's toys, and exposed ceilings.
2.  No full-size people or their voices or noises are allowed in the video.
3.  Add variety.  Include shots other than shots taken from the cowcatcher.  Run-byes, switching, helper service, station stops and the like add interest to what otherwise looks like a home movie.
4.  Use short sentences and phrases to explain what is being viewed - "Big River Crossing," and "the Pacific begins the grade" are examples.
5. Spend the money and get a decent camera.  Download a user-friendly program to edit the video.

Attached is an example of a video taken on the A&S several years ago that should rate no more than a "D."  Admittedly, the video photographer had no chance to edit the video, but there wasn't more than a minute or two worth salvaging.  The trip through the staging area (the Bottoms) was unnecessary and way too much time was taken on the Ovalix.  Additionally, the engineer failed to advance the throttle a notch or two at appropriate times and the whole trip was in notch 1. (I think I was the engineer.) I could go on and on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jdPxNygosE&t=79s

On the other hand, I saw an excellent video yesterday.  It is attached also. It could be improved if the narrator had more of a Southern accent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwx-b-czSSo


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 04, 2020, 04:20:12 PM
NOTE:  This was a video shot by a third party and not by the Atlantic and Southern Video Staff. Just making that clear.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tct855 on August 04, 2020, 07:31:13 PM
Nice video regardless who filmed it.  Great scenery is great scenery.  Very cool!  Thanx Thom...
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 08, 2020, 05:12:28 PM
Saturday Report - August 7, 2020  (Meeting held a day early due to schedule conflict)

The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours and engaged in major discussions.  We discovered the A&S has an undec A-B set of Walthers E7s.  These have been in a stack under the layout for who knows how long.   Such a discovery must be put to good use.  While the A&S has a number of locomotives lettered for the road, it has no diesels.  Since those pesky things appear to be here to stay, the A&S has decided to acquire the aforesaid E7's and paint them for the A&S.  Naturally, the question arose as to just what color(s) should be selected for the diesels.  The tentative agreement reached isfor the A&S management to forecast the future and apply a scheme that will resemble the black and yellow scheme applied to ACL diesels after the road phased out the purple and silver around 1957.  The management thought a silver body with a purple stripe about 30" wide on the lower part would remind all fans of the ACL but would foretell the future of the road.  This project is on hold for further study.

The A&S recently acquired a device called an Accutrack II Speedometer.  This device is powered by two Tripple A batteries and looks like a short tunnel.  As a locomotive passes through it, the device measures the speed and publishes the result on an led display.  This handy gadget is most useful in speed matching locomotives for a consist.  Speed matching has become of great interest to your reporter lately and it is amazing how many videos on the subject can be found on Utube.  The videos by the DCC Guy are the easiest to follow. He uses the Accutrack II to demonstrate.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nVycLtC-pM

The meeting  next week will also be a day early due to the Babe's monthly hair appointment.

There is Covid -19 all around us here in Central Florida, but none of us are infected - at least not yet.  Your reporter and his spouse are basically hunkered down except tor occasional forays out to the grocery store and your reporter's trip to the A&S property.  "If you don't like a mask, you really won't like a ventilator!"

This week's story comes from the same addition of Railroad Magazine as last week's story - April, 1938.  The caboose is possibly the most interesting of all rolling stock.  It was required on the end of freight trians for over 100 years and the definition of a train included an end car with "markers."  The number of stories about these rolling bunk houses abound and here are two of them - One from the NC&StL and the other from the Pennsy.

                                                                                                             Life in The Caboose

    Down on the NC&StL, sometime before the depression, the crews used to have an unpaid member called a "caboose helper."  He was an ambitious colored boy who attached himself to the crew.  He cleaned lamps, cleaned windows, polished the markers, and generally kept the crummy spotless.  He became a first class cook who could make a meal as good as in any restaurant in Chattanooga on top of a pot-bellied stove.  He washed dishes after each meal and polished the conductor's shoes before a drag pulled into a terminal.  Then he departed until the next morning's run.  For all of this he got his meals free when on the road and usually picked up a dollar or two from the rest of the crew for his efforts.
    Signing on as a "caboose helper" may seem like a menial job, but in those days railroads paid better wages than laborers received.  Lots of railroads in the South hired Negro brakemen, but they had to learn the job while they worked it.  Competition for brakeman's jobs was fierce and, since the "caboose helpers" were a known quantity who had experience working with the train crews, they had an advantage.  After a "caboose helper" had been on the job for five or six months, his conductor woudl give him a letter "to whom it may concern" stating the bearer was a "qualified brakeman," and you could bet all the cotton in Jaw-ja he was.  Some of these men made the railroad a career and a few were promoted to firemen. 
    On the Pennsy, there was a crew of boomers who decided to stick around long enough to get a stake before moving on.  Most of the cabooses on the Pennsy had their interiors painted a sickly cream color.  This particular crew decided to make their crummy home and mooched paint from the shop foreman.  They painted the ceiling a dark green.  Then thry sanded down the walls and applied a coat of varnish to them.  They somehow found comfortable mattress cushions for the bunks in the cabin and took up residence there to avoid paying boarding house prices for a place to stay.  Their crummy was the envy of the division.  They even got the RIP track crew to jack her up and grease the springs until the crummy rode like a Pullman.  The trainmaster heard about the accomodations and regularly rode with the crew  when his schedule required his movement along the division. 
    But it wasn't to last.  One of the boomers did a job of short flagging and an extra piled into the caboose, which went up in smoke from the fire in the stove.  The flagman was fired and his partner quit.  They ended up in North Carolina working a shay on a logging pike. 
    The caboose is gone from the rails nowadays, but old-timers remember the red car at the end of the train fondly.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 08, 2020, 06:10:31 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 09, 2020, 09:20:12 AM
Good one Bill..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on August 10, 2020, 06:51:12 AM
Good one Bill.  I sure miss seeing a caboose at the end of a train.  A flashing rear end device doesn't hold any appeal at all.    :'(
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on August 10, 2020, 11:22:30 AM
Loved the story, like going back in time.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 15, 2020, 04:59:55 PM
Saturday Report - August 15, 2020 - Temperature 98 degrees and rain expected in the late afternoon.

The weekly meeting of the Board of Directors started on time at 0830 hours.  Topics of discussion included speed matching and consisting.  Your reporter has been watching videos produced by the DCC Guy and has become fascinated with these topics. 

We applied the DCC Guy's method of speed matching to a couple of SAL GP7's and were very pleased with the results.  Both engines were Proto 2000's and decoders were TCS Wow Sound, so that made it much easier.  Our attempt at Universal Consisting did not work out as well.  We need to go back and watch the video again.  Making addresses identical solves most of the consist problems and results in a "Basic Consist."  The main disadvantage to basic consisting is being unable to break up the consist easily and having to mute the horn and bell by following the directions of the bi#ch in the boiler. (She comes gratis with all Wow Sound decoders.)

The URLs for the DCC Guy videos are provided without charge for anyone who is interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=WuWAtJ91Nxw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcTl9CD1TsM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nVycLtC-pM

BTW. we bought one of the speedometers the DCC Guy uses for speed matching and it works great and is a lot of fun.

This week's story is one of safety.  I got the idea for the story in the March, 1938 edition of Railroad magazine.  I've had to cut it short due to my self-imposed limit on word count, but you will get the idea.  My grandfather was a conductor on the ACL from before 1900 until he died in 1936.  He is supposed to have said, "There is no such thing as a minor injury on the railroad."  I guess he got that right.

                                                                                                      SAFETY FIRST ON THE A&S

Back in the early '20s when the A&S was still a local line limited to intrastate travel and not subject to federal regulations, the observance of the standard Rules of the Road were often ignored, including Rule G.

One day a boomer conductor named Pat Tilden found his way to A&S headquarters after having spent a couple of months on the Live Oak Perry & Gulf narrow gage up in north Florida.  He wandered over to the yard office in search of the Superintendent to ask him for a job.  The Super, a tall, slender man in his 60s, shook Pat's hand and, being in need of a freight conductor, hired Pat on the spot.  That seemed a little odd to Pat since he had not taken an examination or received a physical by the company doctor, Dr. I. B. Staysic.  The Super said, "Pat, can you take out a train tonight? We've got watermelons that need to go to Jacksonville."  Pat replied, "I guess you folks do things kind of informal here.  I haven't even gotten familiar with the road."  To that the Super replied, " Don't worry none, Pat, you've got an experienced crew who have been with the A&S a long time and they know the way.  The train leaves in thirty minutes and it is going to be powered by Number 835, one of our new Mikes." 

Pat grabbed his gear and headed to the yard to hitch a ride on 835 to Sanlando Yard where the watermelon train was waiting.  As he approached the engine, the hogger gave two shorts and as Pat climbed into the cab, the engine started to move.  Pat introduced himself to the engineer, whose name was Buck Maben, and said to the head shack, "Don't y'all wait for a feller to climb aboard before pulling out?"  The shack replied, "When Buck whistles off, you better be in the cab." 

As Number 835 backed into her train at Sanlando yard, the hind shack, Willie Williams, climbed over the coal pile and lowered himself onto the tank's coupler.  As the engine backed into the lead watermelon car, he jumped to the ground and positioned himself between the the engine and the lead car.  He adjusted the knuckle on the tank and jumped out of the way just as the the engine slammed into the lead car.

Once the engine pumped up the air, Buck cracked the throttle and eased down the ready track headed towards the main.  Willie lowered himself to the ground while the engine was making about 5 mph and threw the king switch to the main.  Then he grabbed the ladder on the back of the tank as it passed and climbed back to the top of the coal pile. 

"Hey, Buck," said Pat, " that was a dangerous chance Willie took to throw that switch."  "Not to worry," said Buck, "we follow our own rules on the A&S."  "Well, what happened to the conductor I replaced?"  "Oh, he grabbed for the caboose when we pulled out of Jacksonville and missed.  He fell and broke his shoulder.  Should be out for several weeks." 

By this time the melon train was making time on the mainline.  A meet with the Florida Special was scheduled at the Piney Woods station and Buck's train was supposed to go into the hole there and wait until it passed.  The rule says ther must be at least fivce minutes vetween trains, but Buck announced he would pass Piney  Woods and meet the Special at Bedford Forest.  "Bad idea," said Pat, "there ain't time to make it."  "Don't worry," said Willie, " we do this all the time." 

It was a good thing Numer 835 was new because the fireman shoveled more than a ton of coal into the firebox before the train approached the siding that would detour the train around the Ovalix and miss the Special.  It was a wonder that the caboose cleared the switch, but the Special missed it by mere feet. 

As Number 835 headed into the yard at Summit, Buck slowed her down to about 5 mph and Willie hit the cinders and ran ahead of the train to throw the switch at the yard throat.  He bent the iron and ran back between the rails towards the engine.  He attempted to mount the pilot on the moving train and slipped.  The pilot caught him on the chin as he fell and the engine ran over him. 

Buck, seeing the mishap, hit the brakes and brought the engine to a stop.  " I shore hope the boy isn't hurt," said Buck, "he's done that trick hundreds of times." 

Unfortunately, Wille became a fatality.

With that, Pat went back to the yard office and told the Super he was quitting.  "What's the matter," said the Super?  "I've been on many a railroad, but this is the ost unsafe place to work I've ever seen." 

Pat drew his time and walked to the main office, where he reported the situation to the President of the railroad.  The President immediately rehired Pat and put him in charge as the safety engineer for the road.  Soon, the rules were followed more closely and the number of accidents were significantly reduced.  And Pat put signs on the crummies and other places on railroad property  that said things like, "Hold tight until the footing's right," Watch for slack and save a smack," and Take a tip and have a safe trip."  The SAL took up the idea and made the slogans famous.  Pat, not to be outdone, resigned from railroading and went to work for Burma Shave.



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on August 15, 2020, 05:08:43 PM
What a great ending to that story!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 15, 2020, 05:42:20 PM
We did in fact have a lot of fun today. I'll let The Judge tell the rest of the story next week or add to this one is he wants. It does however, speak to our never ending quest to "Muck it all up"! He was going to report it in this weeks info but I declined to approve it.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 15, 2020, 06:54:57 PM
Another great story Bill. Hope to see you guys next week.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on August 15, 2020, 09:21:57 PM
Thanks to the entire crew for posting a great wrap up for the week.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 16, 2020, 10:08:12 AM
Enjoyed it Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on August 16, 2020, 10:53:13 AM
Good story Bill! 

I'm going to have to get my A&S news through the Saturday Reports for awhile I'm afraid.  Starting tomorrow the kids are back in school and my wife works at a K thru 6 school (aka petri dish).  I can't risk exposing the SBG to this <insert explicative here> bug.   :(   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on August 19, 2020, 10:18:57 AM
Judge


I always look forward to your updates and stories. I'm glad you guys are having fun.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 19, 2020, 04:55:18 PM
Curt, John, Greg et al.  -Thanks for your interest in my stories.  You keep reading and I'll keep writing. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 22, 2020, 03:36:59 PM
Saturday Report - August 23, 2020.

The weekly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad was held on Friday instead of Saturday due to the Babe's hair appointment in the great city of Mount Dora.

The main contribution to the venture was to speed match two Proto 2000 Southern RR E7s. They were within less than a mile per hour of each other without adjustment.  We had fun with the speedometer anyway.   BTW, if any faithful readers of this report decide to purchase an Accutrak II speedometer after watching the video by the DCC guy, you should know that the factory default on the device is set to cut off within minutes after being turned on - apparently to save battery life.  However, the device can be kept on for longer periods of time by simply following these instructions:  1.  cut the device "off."  2.  with a paper clip, push the little "set up" button on the front of the panel and it will allow you to increase the time before the automatic cut-off.

We had a successful day of operations with only an uncoupling or two to interrupt the smooth flow of traffic on the midlands and up to Summit.  We even got to make a couple of videos, one of which is on Tom's thread and the other is below this week's story.

                                       This week's story has its origin from "The Sunny Side of the Track" section of the January 1938 Railroad Magazine ($.15).

                                                                                                     The Brakeman and the Farmer

    Now, in the summer in Central Florida, a lot of crops are ready to be hauled to market by railroad.  There are celery, tomatoes, peas, corn, and carrots, among other vegetables.  Watermelons fill a string of ventilated box cars daily during the months of July and August.  Not many folks know it but north of Tahope County, around Hastings, they grow darn near as many potatoes as they grow in the whole state of Idaho.
     It was the summer of 1948 when a boomer brakeman blew into Sanlando and walked to the A&S roundhouse looking for a job.  "Is the A&S looking for a brakeman," said the boomer to Tater Cartwright, the Assistant Roundhouse Foreman?  "It's produce season," said Tater, "if'n you can walk without crutches and sign your name for your rule book, you can come aboard."
    The boomer brakie drew the hind shack job on the Kissimmee to Jacksonville produce mixed train that afternoon.  Braking on a through mixed train meant the brakeman would spend the trip seated comfortably in the passenger car for the whole trip.
    On this particular day, the brakie sat beside Farmer Perkins of Tahope County, who had just marketed a couple of boxcars full of watermelons and twenty head of cattle.  The brakie introduced himself and the two of them started talking about the cattle business.  Every time the train whizzed by a cow pasture the brakeie would write down a different number on a pad.
    After an hour or so, Farmer Perkins' curiosity got the best of him and he asked, "What the heck are those numbers for?"{  The brakie replied, "Every time we pass a pasture, I put down the number of cows on it.  I'm good with numbers and I just do it to pass the time."
    Farmer Perkins smiled skeptically, "The next farm we come to is mine.  all the cows will be out in the pasture.  If you're so good with numbers, you'll be able to give me an exact count."
     As the train flashed by Famer Perkins' farm, the brakie wrote down 217, which was correct.  Farmer Perkins was astounded and asked how he did it.
    "The thing is really very simple," explained the brakie, "I just count the number of legs and then divide by four."

                                                                                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcX96_770V4
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 22, 2020, 04:21:44 PM
Great story about brake man with superb vision and math skills. ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 23, 2020, 10:13:45 AM
Great story! Had lots of fun Friday as well.  8)

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on August 23, 2020, 11:08:03 AM
Keep the stories coming Bill!

What a great tribute to our friend Jim.  Gone but not forgotten.   :'(
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 29, 2020, 03:18:01 PM
Saturday Report - August 29, 2020

The Board of Directors met promptly at 0830 hours.  Construction of the Tahope River fishing dock is coming along nicely. Hopefully, it will be in place this week or next.  The "River Liver's," like Luke, Newt, and Shortstack, need a place to fuel up and buy beer.

One of our leased Southern RR F3A units is in the shop.  Will Fixer says the frame has expanded, which causes difficulty removing the body to work on the engine.  This problem has been temporarily solved and the entire saga may appear in video format sometime this week.  But no promises.

We speed matched two SAL F3A units.  These are Athearn Genesis engines of venerable age.  Surprisingly, afer we set the CV's to our default settings, the units performed amazingly well with the slowest speed at .4 mph.  Who would have thought we could get that kind of performance from an HO scale locomotive 20 years ago?

We removed the Southern E7 A-B set with the fancy paint scheme from the drawer and coupled it to the Cresent LImited for a run around Summit.  This is a fantastic train and it may be featured on video next Saturday.

We broke for lunch at Del Dio's at 1100 hours and ordered Caesar Salad. 

After lunch, we fired up the Pennsy K4s and put the Jacksonian through its paces.  Speaking of the Jacksonian, this week's story takes place on that streak of varnish.  I am indebted to the February, 1938, Railroad Magizine for the idea.  I guess this was a real knee-slapper in 1938. 

                                                                                                                  PASSENGERS

One summer morning a well-dressed middle aged woman boarded the Jacksonian at Sanlando en route to Jacksonville for a little shopping.  She had her litttle dog with her, tucked under her arm.  She asked the conductor, "If I pay my little Fluffy's fare, will he be treated the same just like other passengers and will he be allowed to occupy a sear?"

"Of course," said the conducctor, "He will be treatedt the same as the other passengers and can occupy a seat, provided he don't put his feet on it."

Later that same day, at Union Station in Jacksonville, the same lady come aboard and she was severely intoxicated.  The conductor guided her to a seat adn asked where she was headed.  She replied, "I'm going home to Tahope."  "How are you going to get there from the Sanlando Station," the conductor asked.  "Well, I'm going to drive," said the lady.  "Well, I don't doubt it," said the conductor.  "You are in no condition to walk."

The conductor went on to the next car to take up tickets.  He noticed the lady was following him and annoying other passengers as she made her way through the car. 

"What's going on here," said the conductor?  "Why are you annoying these passengers?"  "Oh," she said, "I'm asking for advice on what I should tell my husband when I get home."  "Waal," he said, "there's only one thing to do."  "What's that," she said?  "When you get off at Sanlando, check into the hotel across the street from the depot and spend the night.  Then you'll really have something to tell your husband tomorrow morning."

Finally, a passenger volunteered to help.  "I'll drive her home," he said.  The conductor grabbed him by the arm and warned, "When you get her to the front door, ring the bell and scram.  You don't want her husband, Officer Poovey, to arrest you for getting her drunk."
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on August 29, 2020, 03:25:09 PM
That's a good one!  The ending surprised me, I wasn't expecting that!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 29, 2020, 07:07:16 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 30, 2020, 11:01:29 AM
Good one Bill.....thanks.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on August 30, 2020, 11:10:30 AM
Keep 'em coming Bill!  Run a train for me next week.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on August 31, 2020, 08:37:06 AM
Another great story and report Bill. Keep them coming.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 31, 2020, 03:38:35 PM
Bob, Curt, Dave, Greg, and John: 

Thank you for your kind comments and story review.  I really enjoy posting these Reports and plan on continuing to do so for at least the rest of this year.  I have years and years of 1930's - 1940's Railroad Magazines that belonged to my father and there are a lot of good ideas in them. 

Some of the advertising is priceless.  What to do about hair loss (guaranteed) and an ad touting "how to make a living" with a correspondence course on becoming an expert on diesel engines caught my eye in a 1938 edition. And the ad warning "Beware Kidney Germs if Tired, Nervous, Aching" hawked a product called Cystex, which starts fighting kidney germs within 3 hours.  It must have been effective since that ailment is no longer known today.  Then there is a complete kit for you to start your own potato chip business and another correspondence course on "Training You at Home (in your spare time) for a Good Radio Job." 

Ah, those were the good old days.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on September 02, 2020, 09:09:27 AM
Don't forget the crystal radio kits you bought from Boy's Life magazine. I built mine in the far future 1960's. Love the stories. Actually look forward to the weekly update.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on September 02, 2020, 09:34:01 AM
And don't forget Carter's Little Liver Pills...


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 05, 2020, 04:48:45 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report - September 5, 2020.  Cloudless sky, temperature a little cooler than last week.  Maybe a hint of fall.

    The Board of Directors met on time at 0830 hours and your reporter marveled at the completed bait and tackle/ gas station that will soon be in place in the Tahope River. 
    There has been a major development involving BLI diesel locomotives.  The A&S has some 25 of these engines and, while none of them have given us any real trouble up until now, we cannot say that anymore.  The A&S has an A-B set of F3's painted in the green/white/gold Southern RR scheme.  The A unit needed o be worked on and Will Fixer, of the A&S maintenance department had trouble removing the outer shell to get to the innards of the beast.  It turns out that, so far as we know, all diesel frames are made of a material called Zamac, which we used to refer to as "pot metal."  Zamac quality varies with the manufacturer and over the years it had "bowed out" so it was difficult to remove the shell.  It also "bowed up" and interferred with the flywheel.  Tom has posted a video on his thread explaining the situation.  We were disappointed in the response from BLI about their faulty product and Tom says we are through with BLI.  I might add, we have had no similar problems with our other BLI diesels - at least not yet.
    We made a video of the Crescent Limited leaving the Station to go with this week's story and left for lunch at Del Dio's. 
    Greg Demayo and his wife joined us for lunch and followed us back to the railroad for a BS session. 
    No major problems today, although we have a pasenger car that misteriously uncouples for no discernable reason and that will be resolved next Saturday.
    A good time was had today.

    This week's story picks up the adventures of Peaches Weaver and her quest to find a suitable institution of higher education.  You remember Peaches?  See pages 10 and 11 of these reports.

                                                                                   THE TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS ON THE CRESCENT LIMITED
                                                                                   
    Regular readers of this report will recall that Peaches Weaver, daughter of Rose Weaver and step daughter of J. Pierpont Forrest, who is president of the Tahope State Bank, recently graduated from Tahope High School, where she was a cheerleader.  She met her boyfriend, Terrell ('Tater) Cartwright shortly before she graduated and celebrated the event with Tater in the back seat of Tater's father's 1950 Buick Roadmaster while parked in Piney Woods.
    Well, since that time, Peaches has taken a job as the owner's secretary at Sokol's Furniture Company and Tater has become the Assistant Forman at the Tahope Roundhouse and Steam Service Facility. 
    Recently, Rose Weaver has been encouraging Peaches do seek admission to an institution of higher learning.  Peaches is not keen on the idea of leaving Tater and going to college but she is an obedient child and, at age 19, "figgers she might give college a try."  Peaches' daddy has already taken her to Gainesville for a tour of the University of Florida (praise be its name) and her mother, being originally from Lousiana, suggested a look at Tulane would be nice.  "Besides," thought Rose, "it is further away from Tater Cartwright's place than Gainesville."
     Rose made a reservation for Peaches to take the Champion to Jacksonville and change to the Crescent Limited for the overnight trip to New Orleans.  Peaches had a single compartment on the Crescent instead of a lower berth in a Pullman section.
    Now Peaches, although a respectable sort of girl, could not pass up the opportunity to invite Tater to come along for their first overnight stay together.  She boarded the Champ at Sanlando Station and Tater caught the train at the first stop north so he would not be spotted by Rose or her father. 
    The attractive young couple decided to have a late lunch when they passed over the St. Johns River and were seated in a brand new dining car named "Moultrie," after the South Jaw-ja town of the same name. 
    Dining in the Moultrie was a unique experience.  The meal was enhanced by the matched china, crystal, silverware, and table linen supplied with the meal.  The Moultrie's full-size kitchen featured an all-electric ten-burner (Vulcan) range with 2 large ovens along with a griddle, a 60-inch steam table, 7 refrigeration units and 3 freezers, 3 large sinks, and a Hobart dishwasher.  Almost any menu could be prepared in this 1950 example of Budd's finest art.
    Tater ordered the 8 oz sirloin steak with baked potato and chef's salad ($3.50) and Peaches ordered roast lamb with rice, gravy, and okra and tomatoes.  ($3.00). 
    They changed trains in jacksonville and boarded the Crescent Limited, powered by an A-B lash-up of new E6 diesel locomotives.  AFter a light supper, they relaxed in the club car for an hour or so, while Tater drank a glass of Schlitz beer and Peaches drank a Coke. 
    Soon, the happy couple adjourned do Peaches' compartment, where they somehow managed to sleep soundly until morning.
    They stayed overnight the next night in a hotel in the French Quarter and enjoyed the sights and smells of New Orleans.  The tour of Tulane was okay too.
    Peaches was met by her mother at Sanlando on her way home.  She told her mother how much she loved New Orleans and that she had made her decision about where she wanted to go to school.  She announced, "My mind is made up!  I'm going to be a Gator!"  The question wasn't even close.

                                                                                           https://youtu.be/UFNePqLmB3I

                                                                               Here is a video of the Crescent pulling out of a station. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 05, 2020, 04:53:05 PM
Here is the video The Judge was referring to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQOn04e-b9o






Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 05, 2020, 06:05:33 PM
Lousy customer service. I've always heard that BLI had great customer service.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 05, 2020, 07:17:37 PM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on September 05, 2020, 06:05:33 PM
Lousy customer service. I've always heard that BLI had great customer service.

Curt,

They were very polite and willing to help. I just didn't feel like I should have to pay for the replacement part. Since they knew it was a problem. I'm working on getting it free + shipping.

Interestingly, they never sent out info that this was or could potentially be a problem.

I'll keep you posted.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on September 06, 2020, 08:09:19 AM
Wow, I thought Zamac wasn't used any more because it broke down like this.  I had some old Varney stuff where the stuff just crumbles after many years.  Thanks for the info.  And another great story, Bill.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 06, 2020, 08:48:51 AM
Enjoyed the story.....thanks Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: RWL on September 06, 2020, 11:36:05 AM
Bill,


Another great story of your conjured characters, with the supply of material you base the stories on you could go well into the next century. As everyone has noted, keep them coming.


Stay safe
Bob
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on September 06, 2020, 12:17:28 PM
Every 'die cast' locomotive or car frame I've ever put a file to turns out to be a zinc alloy.  But none of my old Hobbytown, Athearn etc. equipment has deteriorated.  So I looked it up, turns out lead impurities cause 'zinc pest' ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_pest ) and Zamak ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamak ), if the genuine New Jersey Zinc article, shouldn't suffer from it.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on September 06, 2020, 12:44:22 PM
Unfortunately, the old Central Valley line of trucks was very much susceptible to this.  About 1/2 of mine have failed.


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 06, 2020, 02:03:18 PM
UPDATE:

I've removed the video and made it private. I'll call Melanie @ BLI  Parts and Service on Tuesday and see what we can work out.

Tom   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 08, 2020, 03:36:20 PM
                                                                                                    The Rest of the Story
Here is a (poor) photo of the ACL's Moultrie dining car.  Note the kitchen access door is in the middle of the car.  Moultrie was one of four diners built by Pullman (plan 7592) for the ACL in 1950.  The other cars were named Tarboro, Plant City, and Atlanta.
 
                                                                    (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-080920151942.jpeg)

This is a shot of the interior of the Moultrie.  Notice the four-top tables on the right and the two-tops on the left.  Southen passengers liked the two-tops because they avoided the sometimes uncomfortable habit dining stewards had of placing strangers at the table.

                                                                      (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-080920152021.jpeg)

Peaches, by the way, immediately adapted to college life.  She pledged a sorority and learned to drink beer.  More of her adventures later.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 08, 2020, 03:58:57 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on September 06, 2020, 02:03:18 PM
UPDATE:

I've removed the video and made it private. I'll call Melanie @ BLI  Parts and Service on Tuesday and see what we can work out.

Tom   ;D


I spoke to Melanie at BLI this afternoon. She is sending the replacement frame for 00.00, I only paid for shipping.

Great customer service as advertised. I've deleted the YouTube video.

Tom
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 08, 2020, 04:00:37 PM
Atta girl Peaches..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 08, 2020, 05:11:45 PM
Good news Tom.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 12, 2020, 05:45:23 PM
Saturday Report - September 12, 2020

Traffic lights were unintentionally in sinc this morning so your reporter arrived on location a few minutes early. 

The Board examined the new GN ten-wheeler and it is a beauty.  Belpaire firebox, high drivers, tall stack, and beautifully proportioned.  It is a PFM product but the original probably came from ALCO.  These engines were replaced in mainline service on most railroads around 1914 with heavier Pacifics.  The ACL bought a few Pacifics from GN, and the A&S acquired one many moons ago.  Both of these engines will retain their GN looks as if they were just delivered.  The Glacier paint scheme - green boiler with black trim and silver cylinder heads is quite an eye-catcher and the two engines will be welcome additions to the A&S roster.

We continued to "speed match" diesels this morning.  The C&O's George Washington was brought up from The Bottoms for a video run.  (See Tom's thread.)  The C&O F3's were surprisingly well-matched, but then it's hard to beat the mechanism in Athearn Genesis.  We also turned our attention to some of our SAL diesels. 

Speaking of ten-wheelers, we fired up ACL #35 for a run out of Tahope before lunch.  She developed a side rod issue, but the mechanic department solved the problem in short order.

Lunch at Del Dio's in the rain.  It rains in Central Florida nearly every day this time of year.  No hurricanes thus far. 

This week's story has its basis in several publications, including the February 1938, edition of Railroad Magazine and maybe a sitcom or two.  Naturally, your reporter embellished the story.  It would be a lot better story if this forum weren't G-rated.

                                                                                                  THE MARRIAGE OF MAGGIE HUSSEY

    One day, the Southern's Crescent Limited came through Tahope and deposited a boomer brakeman named Billy Bob Blake at the Sanlando Depot.  Billy Bob had been out west working the Espee and he made his way back east via the Southern, taking his pay monthly from division to division. 
    Billy Bob walked over to Sweaty Betty's for a sandwich and then went to the roundhouse to apply for a job braking on the A&S.  Tater Cartwright interviewed Billy Bob  to see if he had any experience.  He asked Billy Bob how to wield a brake club on a hand brake.
    Billy Bob drew back and proudly stated, "The best way to get a brake club is to cut about two foot off the end of a pic handle.  With your left hand, you engage the club near the end of the spokes of the brake wheel and grasp the wheel with your right hand.  After the slack is taken up, you lunge with your full weight clockwise.  This will eventually put a couple of inches of callous under your right wrist, like the callous on mine."  "You're hired, said Tater," and Billy Bob put his name up on the extera board. 
    After Billy Bob checked into the Imperial Hotel, he made his way over to the Trackside Tavern for a cool one and to gander at the local entertainment.  He was ready for a night out, having just drawn his monthly wage of $200 when he "drug up" from the Southern. 
    Billy Bob perched himself on a barstool and ordered a draft PBR to quench his thirst and a pickled sausage to curb his appetite.  The jukebox was blaring with the latest wax and one of the strippers on stage, Maggie Hussey, caught his eye.  Maggie came over to talk about things and next you know Billy Bob was sitting at a table  and Maggie was doing a "table daintz" on top of it. 
    "She ain't bad," thought Billy Bob, "if'n you can get past the fish smell." 
  One thing led to another and Billy Bob and Maggie started a-talking about their personal lives.  Maggie allowed as how she was getting married tomorrow, but she couldn't find a preacher in Tahope who would perform the ceremony on account of her sinful reputation.
    Billy Bob said that "wouldn't be no problem, seeing's how he was a registered notary public and authorized to perform weddins."  They agreed on $20.00 for Billy Bob's service, along with other good and valuable consideration,  and set the nuptials to take place in the Trackside Tavern the next day at noon. 
  Now there's two things you neeed o know about this story.  Fust is that Billy Bob warn't no notary.  Second is that Maggie's fiance was that no good scoundrel Lou Paul (Wormy) Thrasher.  (See, The Tale of a Fallen Woman on page 28).
    Now, Wormy is basically a criminal, and since he didn't have the money to get married in the style Maggie would expect, he broke into  the A&S Freight Station at Piney Woods and raided the cash register of $150. 
    The theft was discovered the next morning and Wormy's fingerprints were all over the cash register.  Officer Poovey of the Tahope Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Wormy and commenced to look for him.  It didn't take long for Poovey to decide to drift over to the Trackside Tavern to see if Wormy was there.  Sho' nuff, Poovey arrived just as Billy Bob pronounced Maggie and Wormy man and wife.  Poovey, who apologized for putting Maggie's new husband asunder, made the arrest and took Wormy to jail. 
    The next day Wormy appeared in court.  His attorney, Marvin Bello, who pocketed the stolen $150 as his fee, listened as the prosecutor presented the evidence to Judge Elwin P. Thomas, who asked if anyone wanted to speak in Wormy's behalf.  Maggie came forward and said, "Your honor, Wormy is a good man.  He just made a mistake.  He won't be no more trouble now that he's married." 
    Judge Thomas said, "Wormy, your record stinks, but it looks like you've never been to prison before.  You understand, don't you, I've got to send you off to Raiford this time?"  Wormy said, "i understand, Judge, just make it a short trip."  "Naw," said the judge, "I gotta give you enough time so's Maggie will find a better husband.  Three years, hard labor." 
    On the way out of the courtroom, Billy Bob approached the weeping Maggie and said, "Well, Maggie, it's a good thing I ain't a real notary."  With that, Maggie grabbed him by the ears and gave him a big wet one right in the mouth.  "I didn't wanna get married anyway.  Wormy just wanted my money."  And she departed for her boxcar in The Bottoms.


.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 12, 2020, 07:11:22 PM
Great story Bill. I hope you didn't jinx us with the hurricane comment.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 13, 2020, 09:38:25 AM
                                                                                                           The Rest of the Story

    I should give credit to a real boomer named E. I. "Doc" Carry of Houston, Texas, who provided the expertise on how to twist a brake wheel in an article written for Railroad Magazine, February 1938.  His "true tale" involved his experience as a brakeman on the Espee in 1881. 

The part of where Judge Thomas explains the length of Wormy's sentence was to give Maggie time to find a better husband, has a basis in fact, although no judge nowadays would say that out loud.  I know I didn't.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 13, 2020, 09:58:43 AM
I'm a sucker for a happy ending.....good one Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on September 13, 2020, 11:17:25 AM
HA!  Great story Bill.   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 13, 2020, 12:07:19 PM
Quote from: Judge on September 13, 2020, 09:38:25 AM
                                                                                                           

The part of where Judge Thomas explains the length of Wormy's sentence was to give Maggie time to find a better husband, has a basis in fact, although no judge nowadays would say that out loud. I know I didn't.


Yea, and I never told a suspect if he told the truth, he wouldn't be arrested. Just saying of course.

Tom
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 14, 2020, 01:53:17 PM
Bob, Greg, and Tom - Thanks for the positive feedback. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 19, 2020, 05:16:49 PM
Saturday Report September 19, 2020

    The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern RR met promptly at 0830.  The president showed off his recently acquired PFM Longbell Lumber Co. 2-6-2, which will complement Old #7, the 2-6-6-2, formerly Sierra RR # 38.  The new loco will be the smallest on the A&S roster, but its diminutive size is needed for the light rail running through the Piney Woods pulpwood operation.  Number 7 has been turning over track in that area, making hard work for the gandy dancers. 
    The A&S liquidation committee is still trying to liquidate items from two defunct railroads, but time limitations are creeping up on the project due to changes in the way E-Bay operates.  It is getting into the tax-collecting business, raising prices, and becoming less seller-friendly.
    After a serious discussion on the E-Bay situation, it was resolved that liquidation efforts will become more informal after mid-October.
     The operating department continued to "speed match" diesel lashups.  SAL E7's, and CB&Q F2's were speed matched.  Surprisingly few adjustments were needed.
     Lunch at Del Dio's was routine.  We were the only "sit down" customers other than a husband and wife team that attends regularly on Saturday.  We arrive at 11:00 a.m. and leave before noon, so we beat the lunch crowd and maintain our distance socially.   
    After lunch, we ran the Southern MS4 on its daily local mixed freight haul and called it a day.

     This week, your Reporter is going to digress and present the railroad news from 70 years ago, as reported in the October, 1950, Trains Magazine.

                                                                                                   Seventy Years Ago Seems Like Yesterday
    The railroad industry and Wall Street were caught off base in August by the announcement that two locomotive builders, Lima-Hamilton and Baldwin Locomotive will merge.  Except for the board members who arranged the deal, everyone from stockholders to design engineers in the two companies was taken by complete surprise.
    The merger, if stockholders approve, will work like this:  Baldwin will take over the assets of Lima-Hamilton and issue a share of Baldwin common stock for each of the 1,940,208 outstanding shares of LIma-Hamilton stock.  Lima-Hamilton's George H. Rentschuler will become chairman of the new corporation.  Baldwin's president, Marvin W. Smith, will become the new president. 
     The consolidation of Lima-Hamilton and Baldwin will place the company above Fairbanks Morse in the lineup of diesel builders according to production but still behind Aloco-GE and league-leading EMD.  In 1949 the builders put these diesel horsepower figures in the railroad's paddocks:  Lima-Hamilton, 43,000; FM, 83,000; BLW 204,000; Alco-GE 369060; and EMD 1,589,800.
    Speculation abounds as to what the Balwin-Lima-Hamilton directors will do with two shops and two personnel departments.  The answer probably is known only to Westinghouse Electric. which owns 22% of Baldwin's stock (a solid controlling interest.)

    Well, with perfect hindsight, we all know how that worked out.
    BTW, over 40 years of Trains Magazine are (or recently were) available on CD through the internet. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 21, 2020, 03:05:34 PM
History always come full circle it seems like.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on September 21, 2020, 05:44:35 PM
Hey Judge:

great looking diner photos.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 21, 2020, 09:44:58 PM
Thanks Curt and Karl for your kind comments.  The Moultrie was a regular diner on the Champion when I was a boy.  I used to ride from Orlando to Tampa sometimes to visit my godparents and the Champ left Orlando just in time for a late lunch.  I wish I could remember the name of the conductor.  He had that run for many, many years, and was always kind to me.  I guess I was about 9 or 10 when I started training by myself.  No one would allow a kid that age to travel alone nowadays.  But back then we didn't lock the door to our house and my parents left the key in the car's ignition. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 22, 2020, 08:46:12 AM
Good report Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on September 22, 2020, 12:17:00 PM
B-L-H didn't last very long.  Wal-Mart occupies a portion of the property.  The distinctive shaped office building remains in that function, space leased to tenants.  Decades ago, Boeing built a wind tunnel on a parcel adjoining Industrial Highway (HUEY and V-Stol testing).

Back in the day, Baldwin, General Steel Castings, Belmont Iron, Westinghouse, Sun Ship, and a Phila Electric generating station fronted on aptly named Industrial Highway running from Chester to the Philadelphia airport.  Reading had their Darby Creek facility and roundhouse along with a rolling bridge.  Quite a lot of railfanning was done going back and forth to grandmom's.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 26, 2020, 04:42:50 PM
Sorry, no Saturday Report this week.  Stay tuned next week.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 26, 2020, 06:23:51 PM
 :'(
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on September 26, 2020, 06:38:11 PM
Quote from: Judge on September 26, 2020, 04:42:50 PM
Sorry, no Saturday Report this week.  Stay tuned next week.


2020 strikes again.
Be gone damn  pestilence!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on September 27, 2020, 08:37:26 AM
Tom and Bill Judge;

Just caught up on the thread, I truly enjoy the stories, they bring the A&S to life. As for hoping, given time, common sense would strike a woman who picks men like Wormy, well I'm sure it has happened, stranger things have occured in the universe, not many, but some.

And even the good book says, 'The Truth Will Set You Free'. It just does not say when.

Keep the stories coming as the A&S thrives in its glory.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on September 28, 2020, 02:30:34 PM
Hey Judge:

You are quite welcome. You deserve it.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 03, 2020, 04:40:38 PM
Saturday Report - October 3, 2020.

The Board of Directors of the A&S RR met this morning at 0830 to discuss the current situation.  Progress on the railroad has been minimal in the past week due to asset liquidation of Jim Miller's Estate.  Jim, as most of you know, passed away recently and the president of the A&S has been selling off assets from Jim's HO collection.  However, the president is P.O.'d at Ebay and claims he will no longer use it beginning October 7.  Changes in policy, mostly in favor of buyers, have finally caused the disconnect. 

We have been speed matching diesel locomotives during the last few Saturdays, but today we opted to run the L&N Sportsman passenger train.  The train was spotted in The Bottoms on the track close to the wall so bending over to see the number board was an inconvenience.  But once the number was determined, those E7A's performed perfectly.  They had been sitting idle for several months and it was good to see that no gremlins had invaded the decoder during that time.  So, up the Ovalix the Sportsman went at speed step 25 and she strutted her stuff all around the Midlands for the rest of the morning.  We had a change of power mid-morning and the diesels were cut off at the Lubritorium in favor of #415, an L&N mountain type designated as L-1. 

We broke for lunch and traveled to Del Dio's for salad.  The session ended after lunch so the directors could watch the Gators playSouth Carolina.

This week's story has its origin in the February 1940 edition of Railroad Magazine.  I am an amateur when it comes to how pony trucks are attached to real locomotives so I cannot swear this tale is true.  But it looked like the author was telling a True Tale of the Rails when I read his version of these events, so here goes

                                                                                                         THE MISSING WHEEL

    Early October in Central Florida is the beginning of fall, if you can call it that.  At least the temperature moderates to highs in the low to mid-'80s and the lower humidity gives working stiffs who make a living pushing freight on the A&S Railroad a little break from the sweltering heat of the summer.
    It was such a day in 1949 when Ethan Douglas, engineer; Wayne Shoemaker, fireman; and Bud Millstone, head shack, were assigned to a freight run from Sanlando up the Ovalix to Summit, hauling a string of hoppers full of coal.  The power drawn for that trip was 1534, a huge 2-6-6-2 Mallet, recently acquired from the C&O.
    Ethan Douglas coupled onto his train and proceeded through Bedford Forrest and began to attack the one-degree grade on the Ovalix at 12 mph.  As the hoppers drew onto the grade, 1534 slowed to a steady 4 mph.  It was a long trip up the Ovalix at that speed and Shoemaker had his hands full working the stoker and the injector to keep up steam.
    As the train came within a mile of the Summit cut-off, the crew heard a tremendous "crack" and the big Mallet came to a complete stop. 
    The crew dropped to earth and inspected the front of the engine.  Wonder of wonders, the front axle had broken slap in two and the wheel on the fireman's side was missing. 
     Douglas sent Millstone back to the crummy to notify the brains of their predicament.  The conductor was already on his way towards the engine.  The entire crew discussed the situation and decided to see if 1534 could limp up the short distance to Summit, cut off the engine, and tie-down there awaiting rescue. 
    Douglas and Shoemaker climbed back into the cab and Douglas cut-off the hoppers and cracked the throttle.  The engine creeped forward at about 2 mph and arrived at the Summit cut-off in about 20 minutes. 
    Douglas contacted the section foreman, Ralph Miller, and explained, "Ralph, we've lost a wheel and I need your speeder to cruise the track down the Ovalix until we find it."  Miller loaded the speeder with a gang of gandy dancers and proceeded down the Ovalix, searching for the missing wheel.  Sure enough, they soon found it off to the side of the mainline.  The gandy dancers loaded the wheel onto the speeder and returned to Summit.  By that time, Will Fixer had summoned his repair crew and they used the big hook to drag 1534 back to the Tahope Roundhouse for repairs. 
    "Good thing we found that wheel," said Douglas, " I was worried the mishap would be chalked up as my fault."  "No problem," said Tater Cartwright, "that axle broke from lack of maintenance." 
    "Waal, she shore looked funny a-struggling up that last mile to the Summit cut-off," said Millstone, "only time I've ever seed a 1-6-6-2 in action." 

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 03, 2020, 05:07:06 PM
Great story Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 03, 2020, 06:26:54 PM
Another good one Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on October 03, 2020, 06:54:02 PM
Bill


Another great report and fine story. Keep them coming.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on October 04, 2020, 11:03:48 AM
Thanks for another great story yer Honor!   :D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on October 04, 2020, 03:46:20 PM
LOVED IT!

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on October 05, 2020, 08:07:09 AM
No disrespect, your honor, but I believe those Gators played South Carolina.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on October 05, 2020, 12:21:55 PM
Quote from: Blazeman on October 05, 2020, 08:07:09 AM
No disrespect, your honor, but I believe those Gators played South Carolina.

Larry,

He was a week behind in the report and neglected to change it. They did in fact play SC.

Tom  ;D 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 06, 2020, 05:51:43 AM
Correction made.  Gators wiped out South Carolina, AGAIN!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 10, 2020, 02:57:15 PM
Saturday Report - October 10, 2020

The Board of Directors met a few minutes early (0825 hours) and discussed the liquidation of Jim Miller's railroad.  That project is winding down.  Tom is ready to get back to work on the railroad and scant progress has been made in the last month or so due to Jim's passing.  One item of interst that was discovered was a brass chess piece that depicts General Robert E. Lee.  The monument stands 13 Scale feeet tall and will be placed prominently in front of the Tahope City Hall and County Courthouse.  As Prussian King Fredrick William III once said, "You can't commemorate a war without monuments!"

The project for the day was to speed match two Central of Ga. E-7s with a C of G SD9.  We used the new speedometer.  This project was a little different because the locos were of different types.  Fortunately, they were built by the same manufacturer.  The resulting adjustments are quite satisfactory and may result in a video next week.

Tom has his eye on a brass 2-8-2 on Ebay.  It looks like a pile of junk, but Tom sees it as a challenge.  If anyone can turn this dog into a diamond, it's Tom. 

We went to lunch at Del Dio's again and then moved a Southern Passenger train from Summit to The Bottoms in order to make room.  We tried running a USRA Mike, but it needs some roundhouse time.

                                                                          (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-101020150156.jpeg)

This week's story has its origin in the November 1940 edition of Railroad Magazine, although your reporter has taken significant license to shorten the tale to fit the stories presented into this report. 

                                                                                                              Link and Pin Days

One evening, the crew was "sittin' around" in the roundhouse telling tales, when the most senior among them, Capt. Randy Tinker, took up the tale of his experience on the Atlantic & Southern in the early days. 

"Waal," said Tinker, "I started as the greenest brakeman on the road in 1903.  My family had seven children and when I got to 18, I struck out on my own to be a railroader.  Tinker said he went to the roundhouse in Tahope and asked the foreman if he could get a job.  "Sure, you can get a job, " said the foreman, "just show me your hands;  I gotta see if you have enough fingers to be a brakeman."  Next, Tinker went to the trainmaster for a quick interview.  "There was no exam or nothin", said Tinker.  The next day, Tinker was on the run to Jacksonville as a brakeman with a ten-wheeler and 25 freight cars. 

The engine had a big kerosene headlamp, gold stripes on the drivers, and brass rails on the boiler the fireboy had to polish.  The headlamp was no good, but the hogger had couldn't run slow because the engine would stall on a hill.  Those engines were weak in the braking department.  Nobody knew the tractive effort on these locomotives.  They were rated by the number of cars they could pull.

Brakemen had to hury during trips.  They needed to scramble over the tops of the cars and "unwind 'eim" whent the train started to move to avoid flat wheels and a ten-day furlough with no pay.  And when the hogger called for brakes, the brakemen had to twist the brake wheels with Armstrong precision.

They paid firemen $2.90 a day, conductors $3.90, and engineers $4.00.  Brakemen were rated a little better than firemen, most of whom were colored, and were paid $3.92. 

Tinker's typical freight consist included cars packed with vegetables headed for market "up Nawth" and mixed freight, along with several cars of cattle brought up from Osceola County. 

"There's nothin' you can say that's good about them link and pin couplers, said Tiinker, "and it was only a couple of months before one bit me.  I was coupling on the Sanlando Yard outbound track and before I could get my hands clear, the hogger pulled out without a signal and the slack ran out.  The pin ripped the flesh off of two of my fingers. The head shack growled at me and suggested I should go back to the farm where I belonged."  The conductor came by and told the shack to take me to the doc and get my fingers fixed up.  The doc examined the injury and said cheerfully, "Come back tomorrow, I'll have to cut one of them fingers off."  Tinker was too scared to go back and his fingers healed without amputation. 

Most of the cars had Janey automatic couplers by 1910.  They had a slot in the middle of the coupler for a link to fit and when a link and pin were used, the railroaders called it a Jack and Janey. 

One summer day in 1916, Tinker was head shack braking for a ballast scorcher named Lewis Baker, when they tried to make it from Summit to Sanlando on half a tank of water, because that was all they could get.  The water went out of sight in the glass and they were only half-way down the Ovalix.  TInker moved to the top of a boxcar six cars back from the engine and thought, "Water is still coming up from the bottom of the tank because the steam pulls it while the throttle is open.  When Baker closes the throttle, she'll blow to pieces." 

The hogger and the fireboy dumped the fire on the tracks and we made it to Sanlando without blowing up.  But Baker burnt that engine something scandalous and that got him fired.

"Yep," said Tinker, " them were the days.  Back then a brakeman really broke."

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 10, 2020, 05:26:01 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 11, 2020, 10:31:02 AM
Thanks Bill.....enjoyed the story.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 17, 2020, 04:05:06 PM
Saturday Report - October 17, 2020. 
    The Board of Directors met at 0830 hours.  The Reverend XXX has ordered final window materials for the Chapel in the Ovalix Junction and he is awaiting delivery.  The Board discussed the scheduled mixed freight coming down from Atlanta and decided to video its arrival in Tahope County.  The link for the video is provided below.  Another freight, a unit train with a tank car consist made its run from The Bottoms up the Ovalix to the Midlands.  Some of the cars in the consist have seen over 40 years of service.  The CEO will post related videos on his thread.

                                                                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUQV-z7Ui0s
                                   
    Lunch was at Del Dio's and more videos were taken after we returned.  All-in-all, it was a good day.   

Your Reporter has always been fascinated by traveling vagabonds who chose the railroads for transportation from after the Civil War up until dieselization and better security made "nailing a drag" less attractive.  No doubt, some of the hobo types were of the tough criminal element, on the lamb with outstanding warrants.  Others may have been merely down-on-their-luck looking for an opportunity.  This week's story is of a hobo of the female persuasion, and I understand there were a number of them during the age of steam.  I should thank the November 1940 Railroad magazine for my version of this tale.

                                                                                                               BOXCAR BONNIE
    Back during the depression, things were pretty bleak in northern industrial cities.  There was a daily trek of down-on-their-luck types from New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio heading south looking for jobs and better weather.  Both men and women rode the rails and some of the women became quite famous. 
    Boxcar Bonnie hailed from Columbus, Ohio, and by the time of our story she had traveled the length and breadth of the United States.  She picked up a job or two on the way, mostly farm work, and one fall day in 1940 she jumped from a Pullman Boxcar in the Bottoms of Tahope County, Florida.
    Bonnie walked over to where a number of Bottoms dwellers were huddled around a cauldron of Mulligan Stew.  "Hi, I'm Boxcar Bonnie," she said.  Shortstack, who was tending to the stew, asked, "Are you really THE Boxcar Bonnie?"  "You betcha," she replied.  "i just came in from Jax and let me tell you, I had a helluva time getting out of there.  Them railroad bulls are really mean in Jax.  I nearly got pinched just because I wanted a ride out of their town."
    She seated herself comfortably on the ground, her back against a convenient stump and, with a complete lack of table manners consumed some Mulligan right out of a vegetable can. 
    "How'd you get outa Jax," asked Shortstack. 
    "Well, it was this-a-way," she began.  Them #%&!! railroad bulls wouldn't let me get within a mile of the freight yard without threatening me and I didn't want to get run into the jug if I tried to grab a train, so I went to the southern end of the yard where the train has to slow down due to the new track they're a-laying there.  And when a drag came along I hopped the blind, clum onto the tender deck, took the manhole cover off, an' dropped right on down inta the tender.  The water was tolerable warm and I needed a bath anyway so when I crawled out in Deland, I looked like a drowned rat."
    She paused with a "What do you think about that" expression.  "Well, Bonnie," said Shortstack, "that's one of the biggest lies I dun ever been told.  Nobody could have treaded water all the way from Jax to Deland without getting drown."
     At that, Bonnie became uncoiled and got into Shortstack's face to discuss the truth of the matter.  Things would have gotten out of hand, except at that moment Bonnie nailed a drag as it passed by heading south for Tampa where she planned to pick strawberries.
    "Glad that drag passed by," said Shortstack, "She might be small, but I'll bet she can pack quite a wallop!  What a gal!"


                                                                   (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-171020150653.jpeg)

                                                                                                                Boxcar Bonnie

                                                                           At that moment she nailed a drag as it passed heading south for Tampa

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 17, 2020, 06:14:43 PM
That Bonnie is some kind of great broad..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 17, 2020, 07:40:34 PM
I think Shortstack might have a future as a judge after he caught Bonnie telling a whopper.  Great video, too.  Kudos to the reporter and the videographer.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 17, 2020, 08:13:21 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on October 17, 2020, 08:17:37 PM
It must have been Shortstack's experience with police investigations....


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on October 18, 2020, 06:58:14 AM
Another great Story Bill !!
Thanks as always for your Saturday report ....
All the best,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on October 18, 2020, 11:46:51 AM
Once again a great story Bill!   :D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 18, 2020, 09:57:58 PM
Bob, Curt. Dave.Greg. Jerry, Paul et al.  Thanks for taking the time to comment.   I like to introduce new characters to my stories every now and then. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 24, 2020, 02:49:20 PM
Atlantic & Southern Railroad Saturday Report - October 24, 2020.

The Board of Directors met with stockholders at 0830 hours.  The Roll call revealed both stockholders to be present.

The first order of business was to congratulate the President on his birthday!  He and the Babe will be going out for dinner this evening to celebrate their birthdays.  Yes, they have the same birthday, although they were not born the same year.

The second order of business was to evaluate the financial condition of the corporation.  The financial situation is sound.  The Board declared a $.01 dividend to the loud huzzahs of stockholders present, while at the same time increasing management's salary and compensation package by  200%.

Operations commenced after the Board Meeting and the POL train was returned to the Bottoms.  The ACL Champion ran up the Ovalix to the Midlands, where videos were produced by the P.R. Department.  The Champ, powered by an A-B-A lash-up of E6 diesels, performed well, considering their age.  The trailing unit tends to intermittently derail on switches so the mechanical department will have to give the offending truck a look-see.  Not to be discouraged, the Champ ran up the Ovalix to Summit and paraded around that location until she was returned to the Midlands.  Operations ceased at that time and the crew took a lunch break.


                                                                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdD3z_r9VLs

                                                                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssBCu2Wy_s

No Report next Saturday.  It's the Babe's Saturday to travel to Mt. Dora for her monthly re-do.

This week's story idea came from the August, 1939 edidtion of Railroad Magazine.  When that magazine was published, the ACL had just taken delivery of an even dozen 4-8-4's.  No need to order diesels, Baldwin could take care of that fad.

                                                                                                    The St. Johns River Bridge -Part II

The St. Johns River has a tributary that runs West through Tahope County just north of the Tahope City limits.  The old railroad bridge crossing the river was replaced with another wooden structure in 1948, but it was too low to allow the Jacksonville Steamship Company's boats to pass under it so a steamboat "accidentally" collided with the bridge causing its destruction.  (See p. 11 for details.)

On the same day as the bridge disaster, Russell "Ballast Scorcher" Taylor was assigned as engineer on the Tahope Local #4 which was the night train into the city.  The night was dark and when Taylor leaned out of the cab window he felt the sting of raindrops on his face from a Florida thunderstorm. 

The Local was powered by P-5-A Pacific 1516, which had five passenger cars in the consist.  Taylor was running late, so he was making 60 mph when he made the turn into the Tahope cut-off.  As he slowed approaching the bridge, he saw with horror that the bridge was out.  He hollered to his fireman, "Jim!," his fireman's name was Jim, "look and see if you kin see the bridge."  Jim replied, "They ain't no bridge!"  Taylor "throwed" the brakes into emergency and said, "Jim, you better hit the cinders for we may be goners!"  With that, Jim jumped from the cab to save himself.

The big Pacific threw sparks every whichaway when the brakes locked down tight on the 73" drivers as the engine skidded dangerously close to the washout.  Fortunately, the engine came to a stop within 50' of the river.

Taylor, who was worried about traffic coming south from Tahope, stripped off his shoes, pants, and jacket, grabbed a fusee, jumped into the river, and swam to the opposite side.  He set the fusee and returned to his train. 

The passengers aboard the Local streamed from their cars and rushed forward to express their appreciation for averting what could have been a disaster.  "You're a hero," they told Taylor. 

And the dining car chef, Sam Fuller, who drifted down to the engine, flashed an enormous smile and sang:

We all got to rocking along the track,
But we git where we're goin',
And we always git back!

"This time," said Cap'n Cook, the conductor, "we almost didn't."

It wasn't long before help came to transport the passengers and crew across the river into the city.  Some of them, maybe most of them, took the opportunity to grab a cold one at the Trackside Tavern to celebrate their good fortune.

And all of this is true.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 24, 2020, 03:15:55 PM
Judge,


This account begs the question, "Why would Russell have called his fireman 'Jim" if his name wasn't Jim?"  Inquiring minds and all that...
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 24, 2020, 04:20:55 PM
Awesome story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on October 24, 2020, 06:17:49 PM
Can't wait for the next edition of the Report. You'll have two weeks to try and top this one.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 24, 2020, 09:51:26 PM
Jerry,

I am sorry I have to explain the reason why Taylor called out the name "Jim."  I'm sure other readers picked up on the obvious answer.  You see, Taylor's regular fireman's name is Billy Bob Fisher.  Billy Bob is the cousin of Newt Fisher (see page 8 - The Inhabitants of Eaton's Curve), but he had the day off so Jim took his place.  You wouldn't expect Taylor to call out "Billy Bob" when Jim was there, now would you?

I feel I must comment that your analysis failed to recognize the major question in the story.  The question left unanswered is why Taylor risked his life swimming across the river when he could have climbed over the river on the wreckage of the bridge?

BTW, Billy Bob's mother, Petunia Fisher, helps supplement the family income by picking fruit from the Nit trees that grow near the river bank.  This fruit can be ordered from Petunia by the two-pound box. (It takes a lot of Nits to make two pounds.)  Or, like most of us when the occasion arises, you can pick them yourself.

Stay safe and keep the comments coming.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on October 25, 2020, 10:21:38 AM
Always look forward to your stories Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on October 25, 2020, 08:32:12 PM
Another good one, Judge.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 26, 2020, 08:33:45 AM
Close call for all.....great yarn Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on October 27, 2020, 07:20:19 PM
Great story Bill but I want to know if Jim survived unscathed after he jumped and hit the cinders.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 28, 2020, 08:14:15 AM
Quote from: Judge on October 24, 2020, 09:51:26 PM
Jerry,

I am sorry I have to explain the reason why Taylor called out the name "Jim."  I'm sure other readers picked up on the obvious answer.  You see, Taylor's regular fireman's name is Billy Bob Fisher.  Billy Bob is the cousin of Newt Fisher (see page 8 - The Inhabitants of Eaton's Curve), but he had the day off so Jim took his place.  You wouldn't expect Taylor to call out "Billy Bob" when Jim was there, now would you?

I feel I must comment that your analysis failed to recognize the major question in the story.  The question left unanswered is why Taylor risked his life swimming across the river when he could have climbed over the river on the wreckage of the bridge?

BTW, Billy Bob's mother, Petunia Fisher, helps supplement the family income by picking fruit from the Nit trees that grow near the river bank.  This fruit can be ordered from Petunia by the two-pound box. (It takes a lot o Nits to make two pounds.)  Or, like most of us when the occasion arises, you can pick them yourself.

Stay safe and keep the comments coming.   


Your Honor,


No question but what I was guilty of picking a nit out of season.  It wasn't the first time and, quite honestly, may not be the last.  In my defense I would like to say that it was definitely a low hanging nit fruit and I simply couldn't resist the temptation.  I recently saw a T shirt that said, "In my defense I was unsupervised at the time".  I think that says it all and I throw myself on the mercy of the court.


Do you happen to have any idea what the shipping would be if I should be tempted to order a box of Nits from Petunia Fisher?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 04, 2020, 01:38:34 PM
Jerry - When you order Nits from Petunia, you have to pick them (no pun intended) up from her place, which is located on the river near where the bridge was burned.  Petunia serves swamp cabbage, turtle soup, freshwater mussels, grits, blue crabs, fried catfish, and hush puppies on Sunday nights for supper to all comers at $2.00 a plate.  She doesn't have a crab trap so she catches the crabs by dangling a chicken neck on a string into the river next to the channel buoy.  The crabs latch onto the chicken neck and Petunia hauls them up and puts them in a bucket.  Most folks pick up their Nits on Sundays after supper.  It takes a pick-up truck to haul away two pounds of NIts.  Nits are like soap, they smell good but taste bad.  Just sayin'.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on November 04, 2020, 04:20:45 PM
This DamnYankee asks, "What's a nit?"


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on November 04, 2020, 07:14:39 PM
Hey Judge:

It's looking really great. Keep the photos coming.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 05, 2020, 11:02:15 AM
Dave - I knew someone would have to inquire as to just what a "nit" is.  A "nit" is a small, almost weightless fruit that tends to be harvested by similarly small and weightless critics of insignificant defects in otherwise authentic replicas of model railroad construction, rolling stock, motive power, or scenery effects.  (The list is not conclusive.)  Those who participate in this abomination are referred to as "Nit-pickers."  They are shunned, despised, and rightly subject to the opprobrium of other model railroaders.  These slimy worms point out defects like the absence of nail holes on a wooden structure or the presence of a D&RGW diesel cruising through a Florida swamp when there is ample justification for such a prototypical anomaly.     
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on November 05, 2020, 01:02:55 PM
OK.  I'm just glad you weren't harvesting the eggs of lice and selling them to unsuspecting DamnYankees!!!     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louse


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 07, 2020, 03:41:28 PM
Saturday Report - November 7, 2020

The Board of Directors met at 0830 hours.  Progress has been delayed on the completion of the country church and cemetery, mostly due to transporting more of Jim Miller's rolling stock and equipment to the A&S liquidation center.

We swapped out the E6 lash-up for an E7 lash-up to power the ACL Champion, but the speaker in the lead unit appears to have gone bad and produces static.  Fortunately, all three units are powered, so we sent the lead unit to the shop and proceeded in the A-B configuration.  Which reminds me, when I was first elected there was a club in Sanford composed of eight or ten elderly retired railroaders who called themselves the Coastliners.  They met for bar-b-que once a month and one of them, who was a bailiff at the courthouse, invited me to join them.  Some of these guys went back to the steam era and one had been an engineer on ACL's famous 4-8-4's.  They told me that when the ACL first acquired the E6's, they used to connect three units together in the hopes that two of them would run.  I guess things never change.

After the Champion made her run, we sent her to the Bottoms and fired up the K4s, powering the Jacksonian.  Then we went to lunch and called it an early day.  After all, there is the Florida-Georgia game this afternoon and we cannot risk missing that.

This week's story is another installment of the saga of Donny "Shortstack" Turner.

                                                                                                        Shortstack finds a girlfriend

    Donny "Shortstack" Turner, who is the son of Luke and Daisey Turner, grew up in one of the two "cracker shacks" on Eaton's Curve.  Our story begins after Shortstack had "growed up a bit" from his last adventure washing dishes on the Champion and signed on as a brakeman for the ACL.  He was surprised to learn that due to the illness of the regular brakie, he had drawn the job of head shack on the Southwind for its run from Tampa to Jacksonville and back. 
    Now Shortstack isn't the brightest bulb in the box, but his heart is in the right place and he was proud to be braking on a passenger run.  He reported to the Supply Shed and drew his passenger uniform and his brakeman's cap.  Shortstack had never had such a prestigious job in his life, although he had broke for the railroad briefly in freight service.  The ACL passenger crew uniform was the highest quality clothing he had ever worn and his brakeman's cap gave him both authority and prestige.
    He rode dead-head to Tampa on the Jacksonian to catch the Southwind at Tampa Union Station the next morning.  He checked into the railroader's hotel and decided he would see the action in Ybor City before turning in for the night.  after dinner at a Cuban cafe, he wandered into a watering hole, found a stool at the bar, and ordered a beer. 
    In a few minutes, he noticed a strange, but attractive young girl had taken the stool beside him.  The girl, who looked vaguely familiar, said, "Hi Shortstack, remember me?"  Sho' nuff, it was Boxcar Bonnie.  (See p. 54).
    "I been picking strawberries out of Plant City," she said, "and I'm a-heading nawth for potatoes in Hastings."  "How are y'all gonna git there," Shortstack asked?  "I''m hoping a freight around dawn," she said.  "No need to do that," said Shortstack, "I signed onto the ACL and pulled the head shack job on the Southwind.  I'll smuggle you onto the train and take you to Hastings in style." 
    The Southwind is the morning train from Miami/Tampa to Chicago, with the Tampa section leaving Tampa Union Station at 9:45 a.m. and connecting with the Miami section in Jacksonville.  Shortstack smuggled Bonnie onto the last Pullman on the train and bribed the porter to allow her to ride in a vacant compartment.  He joined her in the compartment during the thirty-minute ride from Tampa to Lakeland and they got to know each other better.
    Bonnie asked Shortstack if she could delay her trip to Hastings and make a temporary sojourn in the Bottoms with Shortstack.  He agreed and Bonnie detrained at Sanlando.  The porter defused the compartment with Air-Wick and Shortstack continued on to Jacksonville, returning to Sanlando the next day. 
    Shortstack found his way to the Bottoms in the cab of a drag and eagerly wandered over to his lean-to in search of Bonnie.  She had spent the time waiting for Shortstack to return sprucing up the place and improving its privacy aspects.  Short Stack's cousin Newt Fisher, had been in residence in the lean-to, but Bonnie would not have other roommates.  "Get the hell out," she suggested! 
    Bonnie had built a fire, made girts, and fried up a mess of catfish and hushpuppies by the time Shortstack threw down his duffle bag.  Bonnie was most pleased with her new man; after all, he was not unattractive and he had a good job with the railroad.  What more could she ask for?  She poured him a Ball jar of corn squeezins and they settled under the mosquito netting for the evening. 
    Could Shortstack have actually found a job he can keep longer than a week?
    Could it be true love between Shortstack and Bonnie?
    When Bonnie bathes in the river does it improve the smell?
    Who will win their first fist fight?
 
    To be continued.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on November 07, 2020, 05:56:37 PM
A cliffhanger.   :)  Good story so far, Judge.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on November 07, 2020, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Judge on November 07, 2020, 03:41:28 PM
Saturday Report - November 7, 2020
...
    To be continued.

Cool!  An old fashioned serial, just like they showed at the motion picture show!

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 07, 2020, 07:04:49 PM
Great story. It could be a old time Saturday serial.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: madharry on November 08, 2020, 06:45:57 AM
Love it.
Mike
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on November 08, 2020, 10:31:14 AM
As noted previously, a great serial in the making. Saturdays are always interesting with the Judge's stories. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on November 08, 2020, 11:44:53 AM
Excellent as always Judge !!
Looking forward to next weeks episode ...
--paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on November 08, 2020, 06:50:27 PM
Two thumbs up Bill!  I'm looking forward to the next installment as well.   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on November 09, 2020, 07:42:34 AM
 'Bonnie had built a fire, made girts...'

Easy to explain, but funnier this way.  Not picking nits though. 

When the question was asked if the smell would improve once she bathed in the river, was that for Bonnie, or the river itself?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 14, 2020, 05:06:37 PM
Saturday Report - 11-14-20

    The Board met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The CEO announced that construction on the country chapel and cemetery would be on hold until the bottom of the Tahpoe River is painted and readied for water to be poured.  Progress has been interrupted due to continuing efforts to liquidate railroad assets that belonged to our friend, the late Jim Miller.
    We decided to run the Pensacola Zephyr and brought it from the Bottoms where it has been stored and ran it up the Ovalix to the Midlands.  The trip was uneventful.  Those D&RGW F3's really do the job.  After making a video of the train, we ran it up to Summit and changed power to an A-B-A set of CB&Q F2's.  These engines seemed a bit sluggish so we spotted them at the siding and left for lunch at Del Dio's.

                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm8IfC5KGaU&feature=youtu.be

                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn-rD2rJWNA&feature=youtu.be


    After lunch, we inspected the suspect diesels and separated the three units to see if any of them were not performing properly.  Being experienced model railroaders, we immediately determined that the train would operate more efficiently if all three engines were set to run in the same direction.  Things worked better after an adjustment was made.

    This week's story is a continuation of the amorous adventures of Shortstack and Boxcar Bonnie.

                                                                                                  Shortstack Finds a Girlfriend Part II   

    Last week we related the romance between Shortstack and Boxcar Bonnie.  We left the loving Couple ensconced in Shortstack's lean-to located on the bank of the Tahope Rive in the Bottoms. 
    Today, we find them discussing their future.  Shotstack managed to keep his job as a brakeman for the Atlantic & Southern Railroad for nearly three months and he was rolling in dough.  In 1950, brakemen sometimes made over $400 a month, depending on overtime, and sometimes over $500 a month if they were in passenger service.  Those weren't bad wages, considering the average engineer made less than $600 a month and a fireman made about $450.  The cost of a new Ford in 1950 started at $1400, and that included a radio.
    Bonnie wanted to move into a dwelling with walls and a kitchen that had an electric stove and a refrigerator with a light in it. 
    The couple decided that Bonnie would have to find a job before they looked for a place to rent so Bonnie headed to Tahope to find work.  She tried talking to the yardmaster at the Tahope roundhouse to see if she could get on there but she was turned down because she had not yet turned 18. 
    There were no openings at Sweaty Betty's Diner so Bonnie decided to try the Trackside Tavern.  She spoke to Clovis Butcher, the bartender, and she was hired as a waitress at $5.00 a day plus tips. 
    Bonnie's shift started at 4:00 p.m. before the bar got crowded, and on her first day a boomer named Gus "Bruiser" Czerwonky wandered into the place for a beer and sausage.  Gus was off the L&N from Tennessee and he was a "big'un" as Bonnie described him later in court. 
    Bonnie sashayed over to Gus' table and took his order for a beer.  When she returned, he engaged her into a conversation about his comings and goings as a boomer on the railroads. 
    Now Bonnie may have only been 17, but she had been around railroaders for several years while she was riding the blinds all over creation.  She knew boomers had only three reasons for "dragging up" and moving on from one road to the other.  First, there was the vindictive official who didn't know beans about railroading.  Second, and this one was a little more heartbreaking, there was the little wife who ran off with some scum of a fireman/engineer/ Fuller Brush salesman.  Third, and this one usually came up after the third beer, there was the girl from Kansas/Tennessee/Kentucky who broke his heart when she off and got married to some railroad official. 
    In Gus' case, it was the first reason.  Gus described the incident as a minor infraction of Rule G that caused him to fail to notice the derail set in the yard at Nashville, which resulted in tying up the yard for six hours before the wrecking crew could clear the main.
    Bonnie was willing to listen to Gus' tale of woe as long as his money held out, so she lingered at his table, acting attentive. 
    About the time Gus ordered his fifth beer, Shortstack entered the joint to check up on Bonnie.  He came over to the table where she was standing just in time to hear Gus ask Bonnie for "a little kiss." 
    Shortstack, who was about half the size of Gus, inquired, "Is this guy bothering you, Sweetie?"  With that, Gus got up into Shortstack's face and threatened to do physical harm to his behind parts.  As Gus drew back his fist to strike the first blow, he felt a tap on his shoulder.  He turned around to see Bruce Bonebreaker wielding a small baseball bat that landed with a thud on Gus' jaw, knocking him to the ground face-up towards the ceiling.  Blood was running out of his mouth where a tooth was missing. 
    Clovis Butcher picked up the telephone and called the police.  Officer Poovey arrived and arrested Bruce for the battery. 
    Bruce hired Marvin Bello as his attorney (Bello never lost a case) and, after Judge Elvin P. Thomas heard testimony from Bonnie, Shortstack, Gus, and Bruce, he ruled "Case dismissed!.  Fair a fight as I've evah seed." 
    As the witnesses left the courthouse, Gus apologized to Bonnie and Shortsack and said, "You know, if I'd seen the blood on the ceiling before I looked at it from the floor, I'd have never ordered a beer there.  Blood on the floor is one thing, but blood on the ceiling - that's a bad place. 
    Gus, by the way, was given a job firing on the ACL. 
    To be continued.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 14, 2020, 06:50:46 PM
Great story Judge. I've made that same mistake with the locos several times :).
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on November 14, 2020, 07:03:26 PM
Great story, Judge.  Zephyrs look great as well.  Of course all Zephyrs do.  Just sayin!   ;D


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 15, 2020, 09:44:21 AM
Enjoyed it Bill.....great looking train in the videos.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on November 15, 2020, 02:51:41 PM
"Beautiful". Quoted directly from one of my Navy instructor encounters.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 21, 2020, 11:22:56 AM
Saturday Report November 21, 2020

    There is no Saturday Report today.  The A&S CEO and his wife and mother-in-law are down with some sort of bug that is going around.  Hopefully, that is all that it is.  Your reporter will keep you advised.

    There is a story this week.  It is full of drama and suspense. 1939 was a good year for stories from Railroad Magazine and the idea for this story came from one of them. 

                                                                                                     HOT WHEEL ON THE OVALIX

    It was past midnight in November 1950, when the Imperial Hotel at Summit was burglarized.  The night clerk had closed up around 11:00 p.m. after he counted the cash in the cash drawer and entered the amount of $311.73 in the hotel ledger.  He checked the back door, which led out into an alley, to make sure it was locked and turned in for the night. 
    Subsequent investigation revealed that the thieves managed to remove a window in the rear of the structure and make their way into the business office where the locked cash drawer was located.  One of the thieves had a tool of some sort, perhaps a crowbar, and he jimmied the cash drawer open without difficulty.  All of the money that was in the cash drawer was missing, along with a bottle of whiskey the manager always kept in his desk drawer for medicinal purposes.
    Shortly after the burglary, Lou Paul "Wormy" Thrasher and his new partner in crime and related shenanigans, "Bambi" Crookshanks, slipped through the darkness at Summit Yard and climbed into an empty coal hopper.  They carried a bag with them that looked like it belonged to the Imperial Hotel.  They settled down in the bottom of the coal hopper and drank most of the whiskey awaiting the drag engine that was scheduled for 4:00 a.m. 
    We have met Wormy before.  Wormy is a criminal who steals when he is not in custody.  (p. 19 - the Code Talker Caper).  He convinced Maggie Hussy to participate in a scheme to embezzle A&S funds (p.28) and has recently been released from Florida State Prison for theft from the A&S freight station at Piney Woods. (p. 52) 
    Bambi Crookshanks is new to our stories.  Bambi comes from Jackson, Mississippi.  He was employed by the GM&O for a short time but was fired for serious Rule G violations.  Since that time he has wandered from place to place, often finding lodging for the night at the local jail facility.  He received a hardship discharge from the Army on the grounds that keeping him in the Army would be a hardship.
    But I digress.  Back to the burglary of the Imperial Hotel.  It was exactly at 4:00 a.m. when ACL decapod number 8000 coupled onto the cut of coal hoppers in which Wormy and Bambi were hiding and began the trip to Sanlando Yard by way of the Ovalix.  The consist was composed of fifteen hoppers, fourteen of which were loaded, and a caboose.  Wormy and Bambi were in the empty hopper mid-train. 
    All went well until the train got about halfway down the Ovalix.  It was then that Wormy smelled the smoke of a hot box.  The smell grew stronger and the stowaways realized the hot hub was on the front truck of the hopper in which they were riding.  "Just our luck," said Wormy, " we's a-gonna wreck before we hit the Midlands and we'll be lucky to survive."  "I know," said Bambi, "let's climb over the coal piles  and warn the engineer."  Now Wormy didn't cotton to that idea too much since old 8000 was making 25mph downgrade and since our boys were "in whiskey" those rocking hoppers could cause a man to lose his balance.
    But the smoke smell got stronger and the wheel hub began to glow bright red, so our two burglars started to gingerly climb over the coal piles on their way to the engine.  They climbed into the cab and warned the hog head that he had a hot box.  Uncle Henry O'Leary was running the pig that day and he applied the brakes.  Teh train stopped just in time before the wheel hub broke from the friction. 
    Uncle Henry noticed that Bambi was carrying a bag that looked like a money bag.  He took it from Bambi and noticed it had "Imperial Hotel" stitched on it.   Uncle Henry said, "The ACL owes you boys for saving a wreck that could have cost the railroad a lot of money in wrecking costs, downtime, and repairs.  So I am going to forgive ya for hopping a ride without a ticket.  But it looks like somebody misplaced this here bag of money that belongs to the Imperial Hotel.  Guess I'll turn it over to Officer Poovey when we get to Sanlando and he can return it to its rightful owner.  You boys go on and walk the last mile down the Ovalix and have a nice day."

   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 21, 2020, 12:36:26 PM
Great story Judge. It just goes to show that crime doesn't pay...unless you're a politician.  :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 21, 2020, 03:53:54 PM
Sometimes miscreants can't help themselves.....good yarn Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 28, 2020, 11:05:01 AM
Saturday Report - November 28, 2020

    Regretfully, there is no Saturday Report for today due to the illness of the Atlantic & Southern's CEO.  Your reporter spoke with the CEO yesterday on the telephone and, while he is having quite a time of it, he appears to be on the mend.  I am told that sometimes it takes weeks to fully recover (or recover as fully as you can) from this dammed pestilence. 
    Your reporter has been sticking around the homefront as much as possible and wearing a mask whenever it is absolutely necessary to be in public.  Actually, your reporter has not had any contact with other human beings, except his wife, Cindy, for two weeks   Both of us were tested last Tuesday and the results were negative.  We have had Thanksgiving with retired judge Charlie Holcomb and his wife, Mary, in Cocoa for the last few years and we declined to even do that this year.
    There are positive things about the virus.  I am only using about one tank of gas every month and eating at home all the time does seem to save some money.

    While there is no Saturday Report today, I have opted to include a report taken from the March 1939, Railroad Magazine evaluating the pros and cons of diesel and steam locomotives.  Remember, in March 1939, Diesel locomotives were just making inroads into the railroads.  General Motors had only been in the Diesel business since 1937and the first FT's made their appearance that month.  Many railroad men thought Diesel locomotives would have limited use, such as switchers, due to their ability to handle cars at slow speeds more efficiently than steam.  Railroad Magazine certainly thought so. 
    This review of the article that appeared in the March 1939 edition of Railroad Magazine has necessarily been abridged.  Statistical information has been omitted as well as information your reporter deemed unnecessary for the context of the report.

                                                                                                        Diesel Versus Steam in 1939  (How the Battle is Going After Five Years)

    The article reports that the Diesel/Steam battle really began in 1934 when Burlington's original Zephyr rolled out into the light of day.  The preparations for the battle began in 1925 when Ingersoll-Rand constructed a 300hp switcher for use in the Bronx yard of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.  The loco was ordered because New York City forbade the operation of steam engines due to their smoke.  The Diesel-Electric combination soon included major improvements, such as the lighter two-cycle engine that was simple, cheap to operate, adn three or four times more efficient thermally than the steam locomotive.
    When GM entered the market, road locomotives were envisioned as well as switchers. GM bought the Winton Engine Co., manufacturer of Diesel engines, and were well on their way to success.  However, while railroad men were more than tolerant with Diesel switchers, they were less enthusiastic about internal combustion engines in mainline operations.
    But Diesel-electric power had major advantages:  Diesel-electrics have vastly greater starting power, they do not have to stop for fuel or water so often, and they have no boilers that have to be washed and rebuilt on a regular basis.  Additionally, a number of Diesel-electrics can be coupled together with one crew, much to the annoyance of the Brotherhoods, who were used to separate crews when engines were "double-headed."
    GM started selling new Diesels to the public, using pleasant innovations such as attractive paint schemes, air-conditioned cars, lightweight equipment, and streamliners for passenger service.  The bottom line was enhanced by the Diesel's extremely high ratio of horsepower to train weight, which meant they could run fast on little fuel.
    Meanwhile, steam locomotive manufacturers were building big heavy locomotives for big heavy trains.  Referring to the lightweight trains, one steam designer snorted, "Why, we were doing that forty years ago."  And so they were.  During the 1890s light steamers were pulling light rains at speeds greater on average than the runs in 1939. 
    "Hells bells," complained another manufacturer, "we can make a steamer cheaper to operate, faster running, and just as grotesque looking, and with the same capacity - provided the railroads don't try to hang more cars on her than they would a Diesel of the same capacity."
    But the designers did not follow through, with rare exceptions, and continued to build as usual.
    The main disadvantage of Diesel power was its comparative higher initial cost.  But operating cost savings soon made the initial cost economically advantageous.  Furthermore, GM started renting the engines to the railroads, allowing them to pay for them out of current expenses.  Diesel salesmen said the Diesels would pay for themselves out of the money they saved.  (John Allen hung one of these SOB's from a tree on the Gore and Dephetid.)
     The author of the article states that after five years of noisy attack on the citadel of steam, Diesels can only claim two points of solid superiority.  They are somewhat easier on the rails than steam engines and they do not have to stop as often.  (The author ignores maintenance and labor cost savings, but labor was cheap during the depression and maybe that wasn't such a concern.)  The fact that Diesels can accelerate at a faster rate is somewhat nullified by the fact that a steamer is designed to handle the same train at the same average speed is faster in the higher speed ranges.  Moreover, a steamer with a booster engine is livelier at low speeds than even railroad men are inclined to admit.
    Steam outdoes Diesels on "all other points."  Streamlined steam engines, such as the SP Daylights and Milwaukee Road's Hiawathas, are more attractive to passengers than Diesels (no argument there).  These engines cast $4.63 and $4.34, respectively, per mile to operate, while the Diesel-powered City of San Francisco 14 car streamliner costs $4.19 per mile.  The article touts the fact that the ACL just took possession of 12 modern 4-8-4's that haul as many as 21 standard cars from Richmond to Jacksonville, a distance of 661 miles in 705 minutes. 
     The article closes with the observation that unless the total operating cost of Diesels is drastically reduced, the advantages they possess in passenger service will hardly be sufficient to make them successful.  "The uncontroverted evidence s the record of steam engines in high-speed service does not make ridiculous the conclusion that the Diesel isn't likely to make a clean sweep of passenger trains."  "Perhaps," the author says, " what is most relevant, Diesels provoke speculation as to what would be happening if GM were building steam engines."
    We all know how that worked out. Among other things, a few months later Hitler invaded Poland.

    There will be no Saturday Report next week while Tom is recovering.


   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on November 28, 2020, 11:32:33 AM
Dang those diesel engines.   >:(  They're just plain ugly compared to a steam engine and not nearly as interesting to watch given the lack of side rods and what not.  :P

I'm delighted to hear that you and your wife are well.  I'm certainly looking forward to the day we can safely gather together in Tom's shed and watch the mighty A&S in action.  It's been far too long.   :(
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 28, 2020, 12:04:28 PM
Judge i am really glad that you and Cindy are doing well.

Interesting article.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on November 28, 2020, 02:53:26 PM
I hope everything turns out well for all.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on November 28, 2020, 07:13:13 PM
Your honor,
If it please the court, it would be appreciated by all of your Saturday junkie fans, if instead of skipping next Saturday's highly sought after posting, you would simply repost your personal favorite from the many tales you've regaled all of us with.
Saturday with out The Saturday Report is akin to Saturday night with no bath.
Failing this, I may have to tell my Elf on the Shelf of your grievous dereliction of duty. I know you favor steam, but this is a poor way to get coal for your passion.
Respectfully,
A Fan
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on November 29, 2020, 08:48:59 AM
Bill,

Good story. I think you tell the story when you had very little authority. What was your secretary's name, Ling Tee Toy?

Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 29, 2020, 09:02:06 AM
Good one Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on November 30, 2020, 07:55:42 AM
Hi All:

Yes I've heard of Tom's illness and I am prayer for his complete recovery.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 30, 2020, 11:08:42 AM
In response to my many fans, I will try to provide a Saturday Report next Saturday.  Try tuning in sometime after 4:00 p.m. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 05, 2020, 04:09:49 PM
Saturday Report - December 5, 2020
Another beautiful day in Central Florida.  NOt a cloud in the sky and the temperature is in the low 70s. 
No formal report today because the CEO of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad is still recovering from the Covid virus, bless his heart.

However, due to popular demand, there is a story. 

                                                                                                   Shortstack Finds a Girlfriend, Part III

                                                                                                                      Four Bad Men

    After several months of scrimping and saving, Shortstack and Bonnie found a two-bedroom apartment in an old building in Tahope.  The apartment building was constructed in the 1920's during the Florida Boom and it was habitable, but definitely a fixer-upper. 
    Shortstack was getting along fine as an A&S brakeman and managed to get regular work off of the extra board. 
    One day, Shortstack was called to brake on the Sundowner, an express mixed freight that ran from Tampa to Washington, D.C., and back with a crew change in Waycross, Jaw-ja.  Shortstack rode in the cab of the lead F3 diesel to Waycross and spent the night in the railroad hotel that evening.
    The next morning, Shortstack boarded the Southbound Sunliner and took his seat behind the fireman, who asked him if he would do the favor of inspecting the engines adn perform an equipment check.  Shortstack was excited about being trusted to perform such tasks, which were the duties of the fireman.
    The Sunliner's consist that morning was two F3A units coupled with the cabs facing in the opposite directions.  This made it easy for Shortstack to walk between the units on his inspection tour.
    Shortstack walked from the cab of the lead locomotive and thoroughly inspected the diesel engine.  He checked the equipment and made sure there was a box of fusees, various tools, and an extra knuckle in case there was a problem with a coupler. 
    When he walked back from the lead unit into the trailing unit, he smelled a foul odor that rose over the normal smell of diesel oil and fuel.  As he walked towards the cab, he noticed four men lying on the floor of the locomotive.  These guys were not hobos looking for a ride.  Hobos usually rode in the boxcars.  These men were smelly, dirty, scruffy, and armed with knives and guns.  Cutthroats all!  The meanest looking of the four approached Shortstack and grabbed him by his jacket lapels.  He threatened to cut him to pieces and throw him off of the moving train unless he kept silent about their presence while they rode to their destination.
     Shortstack knew he had no chance to successfully take on these four criminals, so he hot-footed it back to the cab of the lead unit, carefully locking the entrance door behind him.  He reported the men to the engineer, who said, "If'n these guys are as bad as you say they is, we better leave them be until they reach their destination."  And so, the Southbound Sunliner EXpress rumbled on towards Sanlando in Tahope County.
    When the train arrived in Sanlando, Shortsatck climbed down from the cab to inspect the cars before the train moved on to Tampa.  As he started his walk past the engines, he saw the four bad actors standing on the passenger platform speaking friendly like to Bonnie, who was also on the platform.
    Shortstack, being justifiably concerned, approached the group to protect Bonnie from harm.  Bonnie smiled, and said, "Shortstack, come here.  I want you to meet my brother, Billy Ray, and some of his friends.  They are just in town from Tennessee.  I have invited them to stay with us for a couple of weeks.  I hope you don't mind."
    "Dang," said Shortstack, or maybe something stronger, "I wish I had met her kin afore she moved in."  Ain't love wonderful?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on December 05, 2020, 05:15:58 PM
 ;D Good one Bill!

It just occurred to me it'd be funny as all git out if a new forum member chose the handle "Shortstack" (or any one of the names of yer the other 'colorful' characters from the A&S).   ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 05, 2020, 05:35:41 PM
Great story. When you marry a girl you effectively marry her family also.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 06, 2020, 08:59:47 AM
Good one Bill.....wouldn't you think a criminal would have better hygiene so victims couldn't smell him sneaking up on them?  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on December 06, 2020, 10:32:28 PM
I got a feeling we have not heard the last of these four desperados. Love the adventure.

Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on December 07, 2020, 07:11:56 PM
Hey Judge:

Glad to hear Bonnie found an apartment. Hope she enjoys it.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 12, 2020, 02:42:59 PM
Saturday Report - December 12, 2020

There was no meeting of the Atlantic & Southern's Board of Directors this morning due to the CEO's continued recovery from the Covid virus. 

However, there is a short story for today.  Railroaders are creatures of their time schedules.  Being on time is part of their nature.  This is a story about making up lost time.

                                                                                                            HIGH-SPEED RUNNER

    Sometime during the Second World War, one of the high-speed runners on the ACL, Russell "Ballast Scorcher" Taylor, and his fireman, Richard Tanner, were called for the daily mixed freight express that originated in Miami and terminated in Boston.  The train was powered by one of ACL's Pacifics and trailed over forty boxcars.  The consist carried tomatoes from South Florida, Strawberries and avocados from Plant City, and Oranges from Central Florida, as well as mixed freight.  Our crew's run was from Tampa to Waycross, Jaw-ja. 
    Unfortunately, due to wartime troop maneuvers, the express left Tampa thirty minutes late.  To add to the problem, the official business car, "Orlando," carrying the railroad's general manager, was coupled to the end of the train behind the caboose. 
    Engineer Taylor wanted to make up as much time as he could between Tampa and Jacksonville, but the stop in Plant City caused additional delay.  Taylor made up ten minutes by the time he reached Kissimmee, but he was still twenty minutes behind after he picked up ten loads of citrus in Orlando. When the train passed Winter Park, Taylor "opened her up" and Tanner kept the Pacific's fire hot. 
    The speed limit through Sanlando was 45mph but Taylor did not hold back on the engine as she raced through Sanlando heading for Jacksonville.  When the train arrived in Jacksonville to take on coal and water, the GM decided to climb down from his plush business car and walk to the head end.  When he reached the gangway of the locomotive, he climbed into the cab.  He acknowledged fireman Tanner and then turned to the engineer and asked, "Do you know how fast you were running when you went through Sanlando?"  The engineer looked him directly in the eye and said, "I don't know, I guess we were making about forty-five." 
    At that point, the GM's voice got louder and an octave or so higher as he authoritatively stated, "The speedometer on the back wall of the business car said you were making seventy-eight miles per hour!"
    "Well," responded Taylor, "you've got the speedometer at the wrong end of the train."
    The GM didn't say another word.  He just climbed down from the cab and walked back towards the business car.  It was all he could do to keep from laughing.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on December 12, 2020, 03:28:44 PM
Great story, Your Honor!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on December 12, 2020, 03:32:20 PM
Two thumbs up, Your Honor!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 12, 2020, 03:37:59 PM
Thanks, guys, I thought the story was whimsical enough to fit into the A&S folklore. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 12, 2020, 03:41:38 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on December 12, 2020, 09:42:50 PM
Outstanding as usual Bill !!


--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 13, 2020, 09:22:37 AM
One of the funniest ever.....I can appreciate Scorcher's tactics, there are some times when you have to pour on the coal to keep to a schedule.  ;D ;D ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on December 13, 2020, 09:30:46 AM
Bill, I loved it....Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on December 13, 2020, 09:43:05 AM
Two thumbs up!   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 13, 2020, 11:25:04 AM
I'm new to reading your story's, Judge. Wonderfully written and fun to read. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 13, 2020, 02:12:10 PM
"Rusty" -Welcome to the Saturday Report.
 
There are now nearly sixty pages of these stories.  Since you are "new" to the Report, I will explain the Atlantic&Southern Railroad to you.  The railroad is owned by Tom Langford, a retired police lieutenant.  We lived in the same neighborhood when we were growing up in Orlando.  Tom is an amazing modeler and I mainly provide advice and support on Saturdays when we run trains.  The name "Atlantic & Southern" was selected by a character named Bixby who died many years ago. 

The railroad is located in a building in Tom's back yard.  It is a three-level layout.  The bottom layer (the Bottoms) is a storage yard with eighteen storage tracks.  The middle level (the Midlands) is a rural scene that includes the small city of Tahope and the village of Sanlando.  Tahope (the name is a corruption of the Seminole Indian word for fort) has a steam engine repair and maintenance facility, including a roundhouse. The upper level (Summit) has an urban look with a large freight yard and an extensive passenger station.  The different levels are connected by an "ovalix" which is a helix with flattened sides.  The ovalix is an engineering marvel of ten revolutions at 26 feet each and a steady one-degree grade.  The Midlands is about 90% complete and the trackwork is finished all the way from the Bottoms to Summit. The A&S is stuck in the time-frame of 1950-1951, just before steam was eliminated from Florida railroads.

The stories about the railroad are whimsical and sometimes almost funny.  Every railroad has its characters and the A&S is no exception.  While our main interests involve Florida railroading, circumstances have required us to invade our Central Florida swamp with power from foreign roads such as the Pennsy, the NC&ST.L, theL&N, the Central of Georgia (pronounced "jaw-ja"), the D&RGW, and the CB&Q.  IF you read the Reports from the beginning you will see that all of this is perfectly logical.

I hope you continue to follow the reports.  You raised my readership level to almost ten.


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Rollin on December 13, 2020, 04:51:11 PM
Quote from: Judge on December 13, 2020, 02:12:10 PM
  You raised my readership level to almost ten.

Judge, I find that hard to believe. Maybe eight, cause I'm sure most of your readers never got past grade school! ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on December 13, 2020, 05:55:25 PM
Your honor, I have just recently finished reading all of the pages of your excellent stories. They really bring the Atlantic and Southern Railroad to life. I, along with all the others, look forward to future installments of the colorful folks and history of the road.    Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on December 14, 2020, 09:14:25 AM
I think I will try that on my wife sometime when we are driving. Something like 'you are wrong, we are not doing 85, it is your angle of view, we are doing 58.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 19, 2020, 02:28:21 PM
Alas, there is still no Saturday Report due to Tom's slow recovery.  We are shooting for an abreviated board meeting next Saturday, December 26.

There is a story.  This week we will continue to follow the misadventures of Shortstack and his new girlfriend, Boxcar Bonnie.

                                                                                   Shortstack Finds a Girlfriend, Part IV - Bye, bye, Billy Ray

    Recently, we learned that Bonnie's brother, Billy Ray, and his friends from Tennessee, stowed away in the cab of the trailing diesel in the consist of the freight train Shortstack was braking.  Bonnie didn't know that Billy Ray and his buddies had just escaped from the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville.  Billy Ray was serving a twenty-five-year sentence for attempted murder (poor eyesight) and his buddies were serving long sentences for various violent offenses.  Bonnie invited her brother and his friends to stay at the apartment with Shortsack and her for the two weeks they would be in town. 
    Shortstack managed to be home only to change clothes and report back to the roundhouse for duty breaking on overnight freight trains for about a week after Billy Ray and company arrived on the scene. 
    Shortstack's luck ran out on the eighth day, which was a Saturday.  When Shortstack walked into his apartment, he saw a note from Billy Ray which said, "We gonna be a-drankin' at the Trackside Tavern with Bonnie.  Come on over there and join us." 
    This was not good news.  Billy Ray had a short temper and was known to get really mean after two or three beers.
    Shortsack changed out of his overalls and put on his blue jeans and a clean tee-shirt and walked down the street to the Trackside Tavern.  He arrived at about 9:00 p.m.  By then, the tavern was crowded with regulars, including railroaders and lumberjacks from Piney Woods.  Bonnie and her friend Crystal, were on duty as waitresses for the evening.
    Billy Ray and his friends took a table near the stage the dancers used when they entertained.  One of the railroaders said to Bonnie, "Them's the meanest, dirtiest, stinkiness SOB's I've evah seed in heah.  Only an idiot would wait on them."  "I'll wait on them," said Crystal. 
    Well, the music was loud and the girls were dancing.  Everyone was pretty much enjoying the scene until Billy Ray decided to reach over to Chrystal and grab some, which was a mistake.  Billy Ray and his three friends were out-of-towners and were tolerated by the other customers so long as they behaved.  Grabbing Chrysal was not within the conduct expected by her boyfriend, Gus Czerwonky. 
    Gus and two other railroaders approached Billy Ray and his friends to explain the accepted limits of their behavior.  One thing led to another and no one knows who threw the first blow.  One thing for sure, fhe four escaped criminals from Tennessee were no match for those three railroaders.  All four out-of-towners would up flattened on the tavern floor, after having contributed to the decorations on the ceiling. 
    The Tahope Police Department was notified of the disturbance and Officer Poovey took all four escapees into custody.  He discovrered they were escapees from Tennessee when he saw a wanted poster in the Tahope post office.  The local prosecutor decided not to file local charges when the escapees agreed to be returned to Tennessee. 
    As luck would have it, Shortstack was called to brake on Southern's Silver Crescent the next day.  Billy Ray and his buddies were shackled in the baggage car for the trip.  Shortstack ventured into the baggage car and wished them all well.  Billy Ray said, "Shortstack, I'ma gonna guess I won't be a-seein' ya for at least another twenty-five years.  But you know, if'n I had seed the blood on the ceiling in that there bar, I would have minded my manners better.  I can handle blood on the floor, but any bar with blood on the ceiling has gotta be a bad place."
    When the train eventually arrived in Nashville, Billy Ray and his fellow escapees were herded before Judge Thomas P. Chitwood to hear their fate.  Judge Chitwood noted that Billy Ray, age 30, had 20 years to go on his original sentence for attempted murder.  Judge Chitwood looked at Billy Ray's prior record and stated, "Billy Ray, your record stinks.  You've done been to prison twice in Tennessee and once in Texas.  You ain't fit to walk amongst law-abiding folks.  I sentence you to another twenty-five years in prison, the sentence to run consecutive to your other sentence."  When Billy Ray heard the judge pronounce the sentence, he was so shocked that he stepped back a step and said, "Judge, I can't do that much time."  To which Judge Chitwood said, "Just do the best you can.  Next case."


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 19, 2020, 03:25:26 PM
Anothet great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 19, 2020, 04:37:35 PM
The miscreants finally face the full wrath of a civilized society..... ;) 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on December 19, 2020, 04:55:56 PM
Wonderful Bill !
Justice prevails by both the railroaders and the judge.
Happy holidays and all the best in the coming new year with many more Saturday evening posts  ;)  ....
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on December 19, 2020, 05:19:02 PM
Gee, when I built the Trackside Tavern I had no idea it was going to have such a rich and colorful history.   :)  :D

Great story Bill!  Here's wishing a Merry Christmas to you and yours.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on December 19, 2020, 05:34:55 PM
Another great story, Judge.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on December 19, 2020, 05:36:59 PM
Quote from: ReadingBob on December 19, 2020, 05:19:02 PM
Gee, when I built the Trackside Tavern I had no idea it was going to have such a rich and colorful history.   :) :D
...
Did you include the blood on the ceiling?

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on December 21, 2020, 01:02:45 PM
Question for The Judge:

During you bench career, assuming you read these literary treasures over the years, were you inspired to quote any of them when sentencing or otherwise lecturing to the miscreants who were brought your way for justice and adjudication?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 25, 2020, 04:19:46 PM
Blazeman - I have heard countless judge jokes over the years and, believe me, some of my experiences with criminal defendants made it difficult not to laugh.  The line the Nashville judge said, "just do the best you can" is original with me.  I ought to write a book. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on December 25, 2020, 05:46:34 PM
Quote from: Judge on December 25, 2020, 04:19:46 PM
...  I ought to write a book.

You really should!  Start each chapter with a Judge Joke, and then talk about an episode from the courthouse.

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 25, 2020, 08:33:17 PM
Quote from: Judge on December 25, 2020, 04:19:46 PM
Blazeman - I have heard countless judge jokes over the years and, believe me, some of my experiences with criminal defendants made it difficult not to laugh.  The line the Nashville judge said, "just do the best you can" is original with me.  I ought to write a book.


Hey Bill.....how about including one or two in each Saturday Report..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on December 27, 2020, 07:08:54 AM
Great story Bill!  Always fun following along with the stories on the A&S.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 27, 2020, 09:06:29 AM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report - December 26, 2020

The Board of Directors met for the first time in many weeks.  The meeting started promptly at 8:30 a.m. it was a cold (by Florida standards) winter's day with the temperature in the low 50s, but plenty of sunshine.  MId -60s by noon. 

Much of the business of the meeting was the discussion of the CEO's bout with COVID.  If any of you are still in denial about the existence of this horrible pestilence, just listen to the experience of Tom Langford.  It is difficult to speak of the virus without interjecting politics, but politicians are the ones who are deciding who gets vaccinated and when.  In Florida, the governor decided that the retiree base was more important than the health care workers so he has decreed that us old folks should get vaccinated first.  Somehow I suspect the docs and the hospital workers will figure out a way to work that out.  Anyway, the CEO is back nearly clicking at 100% and his work on the Tahope River Crossing is progressing nicely.  Perhaps that phase of adding scenery to the Tahope peninsula will be completed next week and efforts can be focused on the City of Tahope itself.

When the director's meeting ended, we moved the Pensacola Zephr back to The Bottoms for storeage and assembled a freight train of 23 cars and a caboose, powered by two E8 Southern RR locomotives and ran it through The Midlands.  A loose rail joiner appeared to stall progress so the train proceeded up the Ovalix to Summit and Ucita Yard.  There was a power transfer from the diesels to a C&O K3 2-8-2 and the Mike pulled the 24 car frieght without difficulty on Summit's level track.  Next Saturrday we will test the K3's strenght pulling freight cars up the Ovalix.

No lunch today.  Your reporter promised Cindy he would avoid restaurants until after vaccinations.  So we broke early.

This week's story is one of how the young has to learn when trying to get the best of the old. 

                                                                                                            DRINKING WATER

        There was still plenty of steam on the A&S Railroad in 1950, and it wasn't just pulling freight either. 
   Now one day near about Christmas, 1949, Wayne Shoemaker drew the fireman's job on local number 6, a daily set-out freight powered by one of ACL's beautiful, but aging, Pacifics.  Number 1516, a USRA design, was built by ALCO at Richmond Locomotive Works in 1919, she would meet the scrapper's torch on June 15, 1950.  But today her fire was hot because the hostlers had been at it all night, along with a number of other locos in the Tahope Service Facility Roundhouse.  "Tater" Cartwright, the night Forman, had seen to it that the engine was loaded with coal and water and her running gear was lubed for action.
   The hogger who drew this morning's run was none other than Uncle Henry O'Leary, who had over forty years of railroading and remembered well when 1516 was new. 
   The fireman that day was Wayne Shoemaker, a nice young lad who had fired for Uncle Henry before.  Uncle Henry was easy enough to get along with and he certainly had enough experience to provide instruction to newly-promoted firemen, but Wayne had one problem with Uncle Henry that he had figured out how to solve.
   In steam days, running a locomotive was a hot, sweaty job.  One of the duties of the fireman was to fill the glass jug with drinking water and place it in the wooden ice box that the roundhouse crew filled with ice.  The box was mounted on the coal gate of the tender.  The jug of water was used by all members of the crew by drinking directly from the jug and it didn't matter if the drinker smoked, had a cold, or worse of all, chewed tobacco. 
   Now, Uncle Henry would bite off a chaw now and then during the trip.  When he took a long drink, tobacco juice would run out of the corner of his mouth into the freshwater remaining in the open water jug.  This was revolting to Wayne and he vowed to do something about it.
   On that crisp December morning in 1949, he decided to "forget" to load the water jug onto the engine.  The idea was for Uncle Henry to get the hint that the rest of the crew did not appreciate the mixture of H20 and tobacco juice. 
   Well, old 1516 was pulling out of the Sanlando yard heading for the main when Uncle Henry removed his uppers, which were dripping with tobacco juice, and handed them to Wayne, shouting, "Here boy – my teeth!  Wash them."  Wayne replied, "I'm sorry, Uncle Henry, but I clean fergot to load the water jug for the trip this morning."  "You fergot whut," said Uncle Henry," incredulously?  "I fergot the water jug." 
   With that, Uncle Henry said, "Boy!  I'm hot!  And I sure am thirsty."  Then he dropped the reverser handle forward two notches.  This immediately made the engine work harder.  The exhaust was barking up and out the stack, which required more steam and more coal. 
   Wayne started shoveling more and more. 
   After a few more miles, Uncle Henry shouted across the cab, "Boy!  Am I ever thirsty?"  And once again he shoved the reverser handle a little closer down in the corner. 
   Wayne realized he was in big trouble.  He literally worked his tail off shoveling coal all the way back to Tahope.  By the time they spotted the locomotive over the ash pit, Wayne had learned a valuable lesson and he realized he was no match for Uncle Henry. 
   From then on, whenever Wayne fired for Uncle Henry, he brought his army surplus canteen with him and cooled it down with ice from the wooden box.     

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on December 27, 2020, 09:10:27 AM
Very nicely done Judge....Dennis
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on December 27, 2020, 09:16:13 AM
Another good one, Judge.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 27, 2020, 09:16:42 AM
Good one Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on December 27, 2020, 09:31:01 AM
What's that saying?  Age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm?  In other words don't mess with old folk.  :D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 27, 2020, 09:31:53 AM
Great story. It's good to hear that the A&S management is slowly getting back to normal.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 27, 2020, 11:14:15 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on December 27, 2020, 09:31:53 AM
.....the A&S management is slowly getting back to normal.


Is that in the realm of possibilities..... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on December 27, 2020, 01:23:18 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on December 27, 2020, 11:14:15 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on December 27, 2020, 09:31:53 AM
.....the A&S management is slowly getting back to normal.


Is that in the realm of possibilities..... ;D ;D ;D


Greg


Normal is a relative term which is stretched to its limits by model railroading folks. Great to hear you guys got back together.  It gives the rest of us hope.  ;) 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on December 27, 2020, 01:23:53 PM
Great story Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 27, 2020, 02:06:23 PM
Quote from: S&S RR on December 27, 2020, 01:23:18 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on December 27, 2020, 11:14:15 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on December 27, 2020, 09:31:53 AM
.....the A&S management is slowly getting back to normal.

Is that in the realm of possibilities..... ;D ;D ;D

Greg

Normal is a relative term which is stretched to its limits by model railroading folks. Great to hear you guys got back together.  It gives the rest of us hope.  ;)

That's real good news to hear John.....I was beginning to worry, just a bit.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 27, 2020, 02:08:05 PM
Here is one of my many true stories from the bench: 
    I had a criminal case that involved a defendant who was the "bouncer" for a night club located east of downtownSanford near the city limits named the "Club 2 Spot." The 2 Spot was patronized by black patrons exclusively and we used to get a felony or two every week out of the place. It was a rough place but I don't think there was blood on the ceiling.
    The defendant was responsible to take the cash earnings from the club to the bank after closing time every evening and, of course, he carried his "piece" with him for protection considering all the money he was carrying.  Unfortunately, he was a convicted felon and was not allowed to have possession of a firearm.  One thing led to another and he was stopped and searched by the police one night after he made the deposit.  He was charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.  He pled guilty to the charge and he and I had quite a discussion about his situation at sentencing.  I explained to him that although his conviction was over 10 years old, he was not allowed to ever possess a firearm and he needed to find a friend to accompany him to the bank to make his deposits.  This guy was a nice guy with a friendly smile and I could tell he was not a dangerous criminal.  I decided to put him on probation for a short period of time and let it go at that. 
    Just before he left the courtroom, I said, "Oh, by the way, I've driven by the 2 Spot on several occasions and I notice there are little wooden buildings behind the club. What are those for?  The defendant got a big smile on his face and said, "Oh, Judge, thems Happy Huts. We rents them by the minute."  My immediate vision was of filthy old mattresses spread out on the floor with who knows what kind of fluids on them.  Of course, i could have been wrong and the "huts" could have been clean and tidy. 
    The City of Sanford tried to close the 2 Spot down for years, but the owner was careful not to lose his liquor license.  Finally, one day as I was driving out that way, I noticed the 2 Spot was closed.  I mentioned this to one of my fellow judges and found out he had just signed the final judgment d foreclosure on the property. 
    Today, there is a brand new middle school located in place of the 2 Spot - a much better use.
    And Delwin's Fish Camp in Tahope County has built "Happy Huts" for the convenience of short-time guests from Barlow's Bar-B-Q and for weekend guests who fish in the Suwanee River Lagoon.  They are available for occupancy by railroaders who are members of the SBG.  Just ask Delwin for the special rate.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 27, 2020, 04:48:16 PM
Enjoyed this post, Judge. And I like that you took kindly to that man — it was a sound call, in my third party opinion.

I think I may have to model some "Happy Huts" in a future diorama. Wonderfully dirty!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on December 27, 2020, 07:24:39 PM
Both stories were great, thanks for sharing.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Erieman on December 27, 2020, 09:28:13 PM
Bill aka the Judge,


Love your recent story. Was impressed on your judgement and fairness, but most of all loved the "picture" you created by the element of creativity of the "Happy Huts". I can see many modelers creating their own version of them. I for one have a perfect area for such a venue and will keep you advised as to the design and build progress of said "Happy Huts". Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and look forward to a safe new year.


All he best,


Erieman / Frank
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on December 27, 2020, 09:59:11 PM
Good jurisprudence on your part, Your Honor.  Shows how your colleagues hands are tied by mandatory sentencing requirements.

Larry
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 02, 2021, 01:57:46 PM
Saturday Report - January 2, 2021

    The Board of Directors met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  Future builds were discussed and we viewed the progress on the Tahope River project.  The citrus packing plant and the citrus processing plant will be relocated from their temporary home at Summit to their original locations just north of the Tahope River.  This will give us a better siding location at Summit for Butt's Meatpacking Facility.  Stockcars will be spotted there in the near future. 
    We fired up the C&O K3 Mike and ran it down the Ovalix to the Midlands.  The consist included 23 freight cars and a brass caboose.  The Mike handled it easily on the downgrade.  Later we tested the Mike's pulling power on the upgrade and determined that 14 freight cars and a caboose would be the typical load without a helper.  When the Mike arrived back at Summit, we switched power to an A-B-A lashup of Penny E7 freight units.  The train returned to the Midlands and picked up the cars that had been dropped earlier and added a few.  The diesels pulled the entire consist up the Ovalix to Summit without difficulty.
  Lunch was at Del Dio's and we called it a day.
    Today's story is the sad ending of the romance between Shortstack and Boxcar Bonnie.  All good things must come to an end, you know and so it goes with romance
                                                                                   
                                                                                              Shortstack Finds a Girlfriend – Part V

   When we last left Shortstack at the Trackside Tavern, he has just given Bonnie's brother, Billy Ray, a fond farewell. 
   Shortly after Billy Ray returned to Tennessee, Shortstack placed a bid on the Champion, and, to his surprise, he found himself assigned to the West Coast section on December 30, 1950.  He rode deadhead to Tampa the night before and arrived at Tampa Union Station the next morning.  The West Coast Section of the Champ consisted of eight brand new streamlined Bud passenger cars, including coaches, sleepers, and a lounge/snack car. 
        Shortstack checked the angle cocks on each of the cars and inspected the four-wheel trucks carefully, looking for defects.  Then he walked through the train, making sure everything was clean and ready for departure.  He stopped in the snack bar and treated himself to a cup of coffee and one of ACL's famous sweet rolls. 
        The Champ pulled out of Tampa right on time at noon and headed for Jacksonville, where it would be combined with the East Coast Section arriving from Miami at 5:20 p.m.
        Shortstack spent the night in Jacksonville and caught the Southbound Champ the next day at 10:30 a.m.  He arrived back at the Sanlando station at about 1:15.pm.  From there, he headed home for a much-needed rest.  Bonnie would be coming home in between her shifts at the Trackside Tavern later that afternoon, and he eagerly awaited her arrival. 
        Shortstack was up again around 5:00 p.m, but Bonnie had not come home.  Shortstack thought that was strange, but he knew she had a double shift on New Year's Eve, so he got dressed in his best blue jeans, a thousand-mile shirt, and his newest steel-toed boots and proceeded to the Trackside Tavern. 
The owner of the Tavern, Bruce Bonebreaker, had hired Gus Czerwornky to assist as the bouncer that evening on account of it was New Year's Eve.  Gus recognized Shortstack and grabbed him by the shoulders.  He said, "Shortstack, are you sure you want to go in there on New Year's Eve?  Things might get pretty dicey"  Shortstack said, "I never walk into a place I cain't walk out of," and he proceeded inside.
        The Tavern was already crowded when Shortstack came in, but Bonnie was nowhere to be seen.  Shortack asked Clovis Butcher, the bartender if he had seen Bonnie.  Clovis said, "She ain't been in for a day or two, but there's Newt Fisher, he may of seed her." 
Shortstack approached Newt and said, "Cousin, where the hell's Bonnie?"  Newt replied, "Sorry to be the one to tell ya, Shortstack, but she dun
r-u-n-n-o-f-t with "Wormy" McSlyme.  They're heading north to avoid the warrants out for Wormy."
        "Well," said Shortstack, "Don't that beat all.  I guess it's a good thang I didn't pay this month's rent.  I'm moving back to The Bottoms  Never did cotton to a woman who chawed terbacky anyway."


   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 02, 2021, 03:11:07 PM
I never thought Boxcar Bonnie was good enough for the good ole boy Shortstack.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 02, 2021, 03:41:56 PM
Poor Shortstack.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 09, 2021, 06:15:01 AM
Saturday Report 1-9-21

There is no formal Saturday Report today because the board of directors' meeting was not scheduled due to the Babe's hair appointment.

However, there is a story.  The idea for this little gem came from theJanuary, 1938 edition of Railroad Magazine (Newstand price $.15).  Soome of the ads in the front of the magazine include, "Lionel Trains," a "Big Free Book on Crime Cases," "Be a Railway Traffic Inspector" with a "home study course," and "Steady Work, Good Pay - Reliable man wanted to call on farmers.  No experience required.  Pleasant work, home every night, $12.00 a day."  How can you beat them apples?

                                                                                                               Mike in the Mud

One chilly winter morning before dawn in 1938, veteran engineer "Fatso" Johnson was assigned to the morning Sanlando Local, which was to deliver and pick-up cars from various locations in the Tahope area.  Mike number 835 was assigned as the power that day and a student brakeman, Steve Carpenter, was assigned as head shack.  The man in charge of the run was conductor Donald Tinker, who had only been with the railroad a few months. "Fatso" was the only member of the crew who had any real whiskers.
   Just prior to pulling out of Sanlando Yard, "Fatso" said to his fireman, "Ain't that our luck?  We got a student brakie who don't know where to wipe and a rookie conductor who don't look any older than my teenaged daughter.  They will probably promote him to trainmaster after he completes this short run around the Tahope industries." 
   The train order for he run stated, "Do not use Sokol's house track."  This caused a dilemma because a boxcar was scheduled to be set out there. 
   "Fatso" approached the switch at Sokol's and saw no sign that any repairs had been made or any other indication that the warning on the train order could he ignored. 
   Carpenter approached the switch to the house track and noted it was not spiked. Tinker, the rookie conductor, told Carpenter to open the switch.  Carpenter said to Tinker, "Are you aware of the train order forbidding use of Sokol's house track?"  "Don't worry about it," said Tinker, "if there was still a problem, the switch would be spiked.  Signal the engineer to push that boxcar into the house track."  With that, Carpenter signaled "Fatso" to back into the house track.  "Fatso" answered the signal with one short blast from 835's whistle – STOP!  Carpenter signaled again, and "Fatso" answered with one short blast from the whistle.
   Angry, Tinker walked up to the cab and said, "Fatso, why won't you back into the house track?"  "Fatso" answered, "Because the train order says not to use it and I'm not chancing a derail of this big hog." 
   With that, Tinker shouted, "I'm the conductor of this train and I'm telling you to push that boxcar into the house track."
   Somewhat peeved, "Fatso" kicked the reverse into the corner and snatched a few yards of throttle, sending the engine into the house track at about 10 mph. 
   Suddenly, the world caved in as the boxcar left the track and 835's pony truck and frontt driver followed it into the mud.  Tinker and "Fatso" climbed off the hog to view the situation and discovered the track maintenance gang had removed the rails from the spur about 40 yards from the mainline. 
   Try as they might, they could not get 835 to back up onto the end of the rail stubb.  The big hook had to be called and the engine was finally rerailed. 
   That evening, the crew received a stern comeuppance from the superintendent.  Tinker received time off without pay and "Fatso" only received a written warning.  Upon leaving the Super's office, "Fatso" remarked, "All I needed today was a cussing out by the Superintendent because I followed the orders of a green conductor.  Where do they get these college pukes?  They've read books but they don't know nothing about railroading. Nowadays you've gotta have a college education to shovel coal."   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on January 09, 2021, 09:03:39 AM
Love that last line!   ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 09, 2021, 09:19:02 AM
Beware of young guys with college degrees in hand.  ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 09, 2021, 09:48:13 AM
Great story.  Some things never change.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 16, 2021, 10:25:59 AM
Saturday Report - January 15, 2021
    There is no Saturday Report today.  Your reporter is a little under the weather.  Hopefully, normal railroad activities will resume next Saturday.
    There is a story.  The story has its basis from a tale included in the May, 1938 Railroad Magazine.  But that tale involved a mountain lion in the Rockies.

                                                                                        The Cat That Came in From the Cold

      Florida has quite a variety of wild game and wild animals.  Everybody knows about "gators," but Florida has a large population of huge black bears, deer, wild hogs, and other creatures.  But the Florida panther is perhaps the most exotic of Florida's wildlife.  These cats are becoming rare, but in 1950 there were a large number of them.  Florida panthers are members of the cougar family and can weigh in at 160 lbs. or more and measure over 7 feet from nose to tip of the tail.  They can be aggressive and have been known to stalk humans as well as other prey.

   The winter in Florida in 1950 included some rather cold days.  The humidity stays relatively high in the winter and when the temperature dips to close to freezing, it can be bone-chilling cold.
   It was one of those cold days in the winter of 1950 when a local freight powered by an ACL Russian decapod chugged out of the Sanlando Yard on its way to Piney Woods to pick up pulpwood cars for transport to Summit, where they would be coupled to the next freight bound for the paper mill in Jacksonville.
   Engineer Russell Baker and his fireman, Jim, ran the caboose hop to the freight depot at Piney Woods. They climbed down from the cab and went into the freight house to drink a cup of hot coffee.
   After finishing their coffee, Baker started to "grease the pig" while Jim climbed back into the cab to bring the engine back up to steam.  To his astonishment, Jim saw a full-grown Florida panther warming himself in front of the firebox door.  Jim let out a holler and jumped back down the ladder to safety. 
   Engineer Baker and Jim huddled together to decide what to do about the large cat that had decided to make Number 1000 its temporary home.  Since neither man was armed, they had to figure out a way to dislodge the cat without gunfire. 
   Baker thought up a plan.  He told Jim to climb up the end of the tank and reach down for the water hose the fireman used to hose down the deck.  Meanwhile, Baker would climb up the front of the engine, walk down to the cab window, and reach inside for the whistle cord.  At his signal, Jim would squirt the cat with water from the tank and Baker would blow the whistle to frighten the animal. 
   The plan worked.  The cat was startled when the whistle blew and the cold water from the hose caused the same reaction that most cats would have.  The cat leaped from the cab and landed on its feet about ten feet from the engine.  When last seen, the cat was heading into Piney Woods. 
   Baker turned to Jim and said, "See, Jim, he just wanted to get warm, like any other pussycat.  He just picked the wrong hearth."     

                                                                              (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-160121103526.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on January 16, 2021, 11:28:27 AM
You could say the fur went flying.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on January 16, 2021, 12:18:22 PM
Well, if that ain't just the cat's meow.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on January 16, 2021, 01:11:20 PM
Great story for a cold rainy day.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 16, 2021, 01:24:54 PM
Funny story Bill. I hope you feel better soon.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 16, 2021, 02:40:22 PM
I guess the cat didn't want to be the A&S mascot.....good one Bill.....get well and see you next Saturday.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 16, 2021, 02:51:44 PM
The Florida Panther has a rather high pitched scream. I was camping in the Ocala National Forest with my cousin and two of them were calling each other. The high pitched scream sounds very much like a woman screaming. It can be quite unsettling when awakened out of a sound sleep.

It's a sound you don't forget, like the smell of hemp and rotting flesh. Just saying.  ???

Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 23, 2021, 11:42:44 AM
Saturday Report - January 23, 2021.

There is no Saturday Report today.  Your reporter has developed back pain that requires medical attention.  An appointment with an orthopedic physician is scheduled next week.  in addition, one of your Reporter's long-time friends from military school days passed away yesterday from Covid.  That is scary!  Your reporter is scheduled for his second vaccine shot next week and he is going to keep a low profile until the vaccine is effective in February. 

The story this week is in response to the many (2) requests for me to relate stories from my twenty-four years as a trial judge here in beautiful Central Florida.  I must post a disclaimer - I tried to avoid being assigned to any caseload that included divorces.  I found them to be tedious and many, but not all, of the divorce lawyers were under-skilled and grossly overpaid.  Naturally, I could not avoid a divorce caseload every year so I managed to have a number of memorable cases.  The story this week combines a few of them for your entertainment.
   
Remember, before you read this week's story, the Atlantic & Southern Railroad is set in the 1950-51 time frame.  The famous novel, Peyton Place, was not published until 1956, but there were plenty of small towns like Peyton Place all over America and Tahope was one of them.

                                                                                                           SCANDAL IN TAHOPE PART I

   Regular readers of the Saturday Report will recall Peaches Weaver, whose mother, Rose, is married to J. Pierpont Forester, the president of the Tahope State Bank.  (See Law Abiding Citizens and The Rest of the Story, pp. 10-11).  Scandals in a small town are usually generally widely rumored by the locals and sometimes the victim of the scandal is the last to know. 
   Folks around Tahope had their suspicions about Rose Forester and Officer Eldridge Poovey for months.  Poovey's patrol car had been seen parked in the Forester's driveway on several occasions.  Rose's Cadillac and Officer Poovey's patrol car had been seen parked next to the freight house service track where the solarium/sleeper Pullman was spotted on a couple of Thursday evenings during the bank's board of director's meetings.  (The Atlantic & Southern does not own any passenger equipment outright.  It leases the Pullman solarium/sleeper.  The mayor, the city councilmen, the Police Chief, and other local dignitaries, including J. Pierpont Forester, use the car to play poker on Friday nights and the A&S hauls the car with the same dignitaries to Gainesville to attend University of Florida football games each fall.)
   One Friday morning in early 1950, Pierpont Forester came down for breakfast before leaving to go to work at the bank.  Rose seemed quieter than usual.  Pierpont noticed her hair was still in curlers and she was in her bathrobe. 
        "Rose," said Pierpont, "you seem depressed.  Is there something I can do to improve your mood?"
        "No!" said Rose.
         Thinking that doing something nice might help, Pierpont said, "Rose, do you want me to get you that diamond necklace we saw at Tiffany's in New York last summer?  Would that cheer you up?" 
         "No!" said Rose.
         "Well," said Pierpont, "would you want for me to buy that beautiful home we saw in Hawaii?  You know, the one that overlooked the ocean?" 
          "No!" said Rose.
          "Well, Rose, what do you want?"
          "I want a divorce!" said Rose.
          "I dunno, honey," said Pierpont, "I hadn't planned on spending that much money."

          To be continued.



     
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on January 23, 2021, 12:39:11 PM
"Divorce" is such an unpleasant experience, I wouldn't wish it on my ex-wife!   ;)

dave 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on January 23, 2021, 02:00:43 PM

I love how your tales bring the layout to life.


I sure hope the back issue gets alleviated quickly.  Stay safe and healthy my friend.  Still waiting to see when I can even try to get the vaccine.  I'm a couple of years shy of the threshold at the moment.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 23, 2021, 02:32:58 PM
Interesting story Bill, I look forward to part II.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 23, 2021, 03:43:43 PM
A cliffhanger.....come on Bill let's hear the rest of the story.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 23, 2021, 05:05:06 PM
I, on the other hand, had one of the Judges old law partners for my divorce lawyer. I paid $1,500.00 and he easily saved me over $100,00.00 in my divorce.  :-X

Tom  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 24, 2021, 10:49:33 AM
Tom - I think you will be satisfied with Marvin Bello's approach to Pierpont's domestic disaster. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on January 24, 2021, 01:31:24 PM
My divorce notice from wife #1 came during my trip home from 'Nam. That's another story.
When I arrived stateside, I didn't have the cash needed for attorney fees, so I went to Navy Federal Credit Union and filled out the loan application as best I could. I gave it to the loan officer, she looked it over and said "You didn't list the reason for the loan". I looked the form over again, and not seeing Divorce, checked the next most appropriate box. The loan officer looked again and accepted my submission. I had checked the box for "Home Improvement". I got the loan.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on January 24, 2021, 02:21:19 PM
Quote from: BandOGuy on January 24, 2021, 01:31:24 PM
My divorce notice from wife #1 came during my trip home from 'Nam. That's another story.
When I arrived stateside, I didn't have the cash needed for attorney fees, so I went to Navy Federal Credit Union and filled out the loan application as best I could. I gave it to the loan officer, she looked it over and said "You didn't list the reason for the loan". I looked the form over again, and not seeing Divorce, checked the next most appropriate box. The loan officer looked again and accepted my submission. I had checked the box for "Home Improvement". I got the loan.

That's a "Saturday Report" story right there!!!

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 24, 2021, 03:03:57 PM
Yes, it was a home improvement loan.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 30, 2021, 01:28:08 PM
Saturday Report - January 30, 2021. 
    There is no Saturday Report today.  Your reporter is "mobility challenged" due to the development of a condition called spinal stenosis, which has limited his movement.  The orthopedic doctor is going to try to treat the condititon conservatively, but it will probably require surgery.  In any event, you reporter received his second dose of vaccine yesterday and he will do his best to attend the Board of Director's Meeting next Saturday.
    There is a chapter of the story of the Scandal in Tahope printed below for your entertainment.  The basis for this part of the story came from Tom Langford, I think.  If not, thanks for the story whoever told it.

                                                                                                       Scandal in Tahope Part II
   
    Last week we learned that marital tranquility in the Forester home had been disturbed with the news that Rose Forester wanted to divorce her husband, J. Pierpont Forester, who is president of the Tahope State Bank.  He is a clueless man who is the only person in Tahope who is unaware of Rose's trysts with Officer Eldridge Poovey.
    While Pierpont drove his 1950 Lincoln to work that morning, he decided to stop off at the office of the bank's attorney, Marvin Bello, who had never lost a case.  Bello, smelling a large fee in the offing, welcomed Pierpont and suggested that he should immediately protect his assets and prepare for serious litigation.  Bello made a phone call to the courthouse and found out that Rose had hired Larry Lickem to represent her and he had filed for divorce that morning alleging "extreme cruelty" as the grounds.
    When Pierpont arrived at his office at 10:00 a.m., he discovered that Rose had withdrawn all of the funds from their joint bank accounts.  She had also canceled his Standard Oil credit card by telling the card company that Pierpont was deceased. 
    Pierpont was livid and proceeded to drive home to confront Rose with his displeasure.  Upon arriving at his residence, he was surprised to see his belongings strewn on the front lawn and a locksmith pulling out of the driveway.  Rose had successfully evicted Pierpont from his home.  Rose even kept his dog.
    Pierpont returned to his office and called Marvin Bello.  He instructed him to file a counterclaim for divorce with the court immediately.  Then he made arrangements for a hotel suite at the Imperial Hotel at Summit. 
    Meanwhile, Officer Eldridge Poovey moved into the former marital home with Rose. 
    This maneuver caused Rose's daughter, Peaches, much anxiety and she moved her belongings out of the house and into her boyfriend's apartment. 
    Peaches' boyfriend, Terrell "Tater" Cartwright, had by this time been promoted to Roundhouse Foreman and he answered directly to Will Fixer, the Director of Maintenance for the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.  As such, he was able to accommodate the additional expense of a live-in girlfriend, and Peaches was not inexpensive.
    Several weeks went by while the pretrial preparations were being conducted in the divorce case.
One morning, Pierpont was having a conference with Marvin Bello and he reported an incident that Bello found to be of great interest. 
    It seems that when Rose deposited Pierpont's personal belongings on the front lawn, she neglected to include his new blue suit that had just come back from the cleaners. 
    "Well," said Pierpont, "there I was parking my car next to the downtown diner for lunch when up drives Poovey in my MG roadster.  He got out of the car and I noticed he was wearing my blue suit.  Now, Marvin, I don't really mind that Poovey got my wife and my car, both of them were pretty much worn out, but the suit was brand new!"
    Bello responded, "Pierpont, Rose just did the biggest favor she could have ever done for you.  Let me get my investigator on this right away.
    To be continued.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on January 30, 2021, 05:52:40 PM
Judge, your stories are better than anything on tv. Advice from a long suffering spinal stenosis sufferer; avoid surgery as long as possible. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 30, 2021, 05:57:14 PM
Another great story Bill. I wish you the best with the stenosis.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on January 30, 2021, 08:57:36 PM
Loved the story Bill and hope you are able to avoid surgery. I remember my brother said he had hired the best divorce lawyer in Hillsborough County when he went through his first. Unfortunately they lived In Pinellas County and she hired a local lawyer. Turned out Pinellas divorce lawyers were better then the best Hillsborough had to offer based on the settlement.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on January 30, 2021, 09:11:02 PM
I'm no lawyer, but I opine that Pierpoint may have grounds for a suit.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on January 31, 2021, 03:21:12 AM
hey Tom:

Sounds like you made out OK.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on January 31, 2021, 08:16:26 AM
Back in the mid 80's I had an officer who worked for me. He met and married a court reporter. If I remember correctly, she was perfect in every way except one. She apparently liked the process of getting married. When she married CD, it was her fourth marriage. We tried to tell CD  that he was making a very big mistake but he just wouldn't listen. Well, CD and Donna were married and lived a happy life for almost a year.

We were on the midnight shift and one morning when he got home Donna told him she wanted out of the marriage. However, they agreed to a separation while the details were being worked out. CD moved to his own apartment but left many of his belongings.

CD decided to go by the house one day and found a man cutting the grass. He thought at least she was keeping the grass cut. Then CD noticed the man cutting the grass was another officer and one of his friends. He then noticed the officer was wearing his yard clothes to cut the grass. He parked the car down the street to watch when Donna came out of the house only wearing "two band aids and a cork". She gave the officer a glass of something to drink and then they embraced.

That night CD told me he then left and was very upset that Donna was seeing another man, an officer, and one of his friends or so he thought.

He told me, "You know, the house was hers when we got married, she was married three times prior to me and my yard clothes were old. So they were all used. But damn, he was using my new lawnmower."

They got a divorce and Donna made her new officer yard man her fifth husband. Soon after that happy union, Donna left him and moved up north to hook up with an old flame so we were told. We never saw or heard from Donna after that.

As for the officer cutting CD's yard and using his new mower, well he found out the Law Enforcement Code for Officers was alive and well.

It states - You never poop in your own back yard as it will eventually get between your toes.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 31, 2021, 08:54:17 AM
Great Saturday Report Bill and neat follow up story Tom..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Keep It Rusty on January 31, 2021, 09:26:08 AM
Good one, Tom!

A true moral, if I've ever heard one.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 03, 2021, 02:00:14 PM
I have a whole bag of stories from my years on the bench involving names.

One of the more benign ones involved the lady who got married to a Greek merchant marine sailor.  The marriage only lasted for a long weekend before the new husband sailed back to Athens.  The jilted wife filed for divorce.  Since there was no property to divide, the wife only wanted her marriage to be dissolved and her former name to be restored.  She filed her petition "pro se," which means without a lawyer. 

The case showed up on my uncontested docket one morning and I looked at her petition and said it appeared to be in order.  She said she wanted her former name restored and I said, "You know, ma'am, I can give you any name you want."  She said, "My former name will be fine."  I began signing the final judgment and said, "Alright Mrs. Kapsiotis, from now on you will be known as Mrs. Koslowski."  I wish all of my divorce cases ended on such a happy note.

Speaking of names, I was presiding over arraignments one morning at the jail and one of the defendants asked to speak to me.  He said, " Judge, this ain't right.  My name ain't the name on that paper charging me with burglary."  I looked at the court file and said, "Well, what name do you want?  I can change your name to any name you prefer.  But I tell you what, for now, I am going to give you the name that is on the arrest report with your mug shot on it."

I was trying mortgage foreclosures one afternoon and the homeowner took the stand and said the signature on the promissory note and mortgage was not hers.  I looked at the payment record from the bank, which was in evidence, and asked her "If those are not your signatures, why would you make payments on the note for four years before defaulting?"  She said, "That is a good question."  I said, "I know, that is why I asked it.'"   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 03, 2021, 03:07:49 PM
Great stories Bill.....I can read/listen to those yarns all day.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 03, 2021, 04:16:15 PM
Great stories Bill. I hope your back is doing better.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 06, 2021, 03:30:55 PM
Saturday Report – February 6, 2021

The Board of Directors met on time at 8:30 a.m.  Your reporter's wife, Cindy, provided transportation to the meeting and made her exit for the car wash and shopping. 

There has been good progress on the church and cemetery.  We noticed there is a railroad crossing near the church and the A&S engineers make sure to blow loud warning blasts when approaching the crossing, just as the rules require.  The parishioners probably do not appreciate the "train music" during services but rules are rules.

For operations today, we brought a freight, powered by two SAL Geeps, down from Summit to the Midlands.  We have some kind of gremlin that interferes with smooth operations.  Could be dirty track, could be electrical, could be a combination of both.  The length of the train within the reversing track could be suspect.

After a full tour of the Midlands, we decided to change power and swapped the Geeps for an A-B set of ACL F2s.  These units are painted in the post-1957 black and yellow scheme, which took the place of the beautiful purple and silver schemes originally painted on ACL's diesel units.  The purple paint tended to fade in the sun and new orders of the stuff did not always match the last batch, so ACL went to Black with yellow trim.  The good part of the change was the addition of all steel cabooses, painted orange, with black lettering announcing "Thanks for Using Coast Line." 

Greg Demayo and his wife, Peggy, arrived at 10:30.  Greg showed off his Broadway Limited "Big Boy" and we put the engine through its paces.  Reportedly, it can pull 20 or more cars up the Ovalix, but time did not allow such a test due to lunch.

Cindy returned at 11:00 and we all headed for Del Dio's.  It was a fun day and there were no fights or arrests.

Today's story is the final chapter in the tragic break-up of Rose and J. Pierpont Forester.  And a sad story it is. 

                                                                                                 SCANDAL IN TAHOPE – PART III

   Last week we learned that Rose Forester forcibly evicted her husband, J. Pierpont Forester, who is president of the Tahope State Bank, from the marital home and her Paramore, Officer Eldridge Poovey, moved in and took his place. 
   When Pierpont Forester's Attorney, Marvin Bello, learned of this event, he immediately assigned his investigator, Shirley Miniheart, to dig up admissible evidence of the affair. 
       Miniheart snooped around the police station and found that Poovey was not trying to keep his affair with Rose Forester a secret.  In fact, he had bragged about it to the staff.  Armed with her trusty camera, Miniheart snuck up to the window of Rose's bedroom and obtained several photographs of the couple in para delicto.   
Earlier, Rose had obtained the services of Larry Lickem, a plaintiff's lawyer who had recently lost a personal injury case against the railroad (see p. 2).  Lickem sent a letter to Marvin Bello demanding ownership of the marital home, $2,000.00 a month alimony, and $3,000.00 in attorney fees.  Bello found this demand to be unacceptable and suggested the case should be set for trial.
      The courthouse in the City of Tahope is located on the top floor of the City Hall building. 
      The local circuit judge is Judge Elvin P. Thomas, who has been on the bench since 1939 and is a well-respected old-timey Florida Judge.  Judge Thomas keeps a spittoon under his bench and he rarely misses it.  It is rumored that he will be selected to fill the next vacancy on the Florida Supreme Court because the Governor's general counsel is Judge Thomas' son.
      The Forester case was set for trial and Larry Lickem called Rose as his first witness.  He asked Rose to explain her grounds for divorce and she responded, "extreme cruelty."  Lickem asked her to "explain what you mean" and Rose stated, "He spends every Friday night out playing poker and drinking with his friends, leaving me alone and despondent." 
      On cross-examination, Rose admitted that she knew Eldridge Poovey, but claimed he was merely rooming at her house because she needed the rent money since her husband was not paying her any alimony.  She denied romantic involvement with Poovey.  When confronted with the photographs taken by Miniheart she testified, "Oh, yes, I forgot about that."
      Judge Thomas listened to the testimony and stated, "There is no doubt in my mind that the counter-plaintiff husband has proven the wife is guilty of adultery.  These here photographs are explicit.  Her conduct bars her claim for alimony.  The Counterpetition for divorce is granted, alimony is denied and attorney fees are denied. Rose can pay her lawyer with the money she stole from the bank accounts and any money left over is 'go away' money.  The husband is to select a realtor and list the house for sale.  Proceeds to be equally divided.  Next case."
      And so, Marvin Bello maintained his spotless record of never losing a case, and, during the entire course of the litigation, Larry Lickem never thought to inquire about Pierpont Forester's relationship with his twenty-five-year-old secretary, Volupta Busty.  More about her later.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on February 06, 2021, 04:11:12 PM
Quote from: Judge on February 06, 2021, 03:30:55 PM
... Pierpont Forester's relationship with his twenty-five-year-old secretary, Volupta Busty.  More about her later.

As Paul Harvey used to say, "And now for the rest of the story...." 

dave

p.s.  Judge, have you ever presided over a case of legal malpractice/incompetence? 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 06, 2021, 07:03:44 PM
Great story Bill.  I sure miss meeting up with you guys.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 07, 2021, 10:57:45 AM
Twisted ending to a tall tale.....good one Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 07, 2021, 12:54:56 PM
Dave -
I was only involved in one legal malpractice case - it was my own.  I made some ruling (I don't remember what) in a criminal case the first month i was on the bench and the defendant filed a pro se (without a lawyer) complaint against me in Federal Court in Orlando.  A federal marshal served me with a summons.  I called the state attorney general's office and was referred to a lawyer whose name was George Georgaff.  He told me not to worry and to send the complaint to him.  He said he would file a motion for summary judgment and in about six months I would get a dismissal order.  It happened just like George said.  I called him to thank him and he said, "It was nothing.  We get these suits all the time.  But, judge, you need to understand the case is not over.  In about thirty days the defendant will sue me.  There is a lawyer down the hall that doesn't do anything but defend me."  Ah, democracy.  It ain't pretty but it's better than anything else.  BTW, that was the only suit against me in 24 years.

I presided over several medical malpractice suits.  Mostly orthopedic surgeons whose names kept coming up on our dockets.  Some of the cases were truly malpractice and others were close calls.   The typical case involved a "bad result" instead of, say, cutting off the wrong leg.  But in all cases, the defense would insist on having their own doctors perform what is called an IME (Independent Medical Examination.)  There were two doctors in Central Florida who performed these examinations and they always testified that either there was no problem with the standard of care given to the Plaintiff or there was no permanent injury.  And, oh, neither doctor could say how many IME's he performed in a month and they had no idea how much money they made from insurance companies because their staff keeps records like that.  These guys had no medical practice other than doing IME's.  They testified daily in trials all over Florida.

I listened to that crap for a year or more and, finally, one plaintiff's lawyer filed a demand to see the records of one of the IME doctors for the last 3 years in order to see if he ever found that a plaintiff had a permanent injury and to find out just how much money insurance companies were paying him.  The insurance company objected on doctor/patient privilege grounds and I overruled the objection provided the doctor redacted the patient's name from each file.  Then the doctor objected because it would cost a fortune to copy all of the files.  I overruled that objection because the plaintiff's lawyer said he would deposit a reasonable amount of money with the clerk of the court to cover actual expenses.  My order recited that the information requested was relevant to show bias against plaintiffs due to the economic relationship the doctor had with insurance companies.  With that, the insurance company filed an appeal.  The District Court of Appeal affirmed my rulings.  Naturally, the doctor never produced his files because the case was immediately settled for the exact amount demanded by the plaintiff.  I was never told the amount.  But my ruling got statewide attention and iME doctors became less defense oriented. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on February 07, 2021, 01:21:55 PM
The only time I was on a jury was in Virginia.  Insurance company refused to settle in an auto accident, so plaintiff had to sue.  It was clear the actual defendant didn't want to be there and was very sorry for the accident which she admitted she caused.  In VA, plaintiff does not specify desired damages, but the lawyer did a great job laying down the plaintiff's medical costs, out-of-work costs, etc.  In the Jury Room, we agreed quickly the plaintiff made his case, we added up those costs and added $10k because the insurance company was being a real set of a-holes, and everyone made sure they got the name of the plaintiff's attorney, because he did such a good job.  :-)


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 07, 2021, 01:55:20 PM

The beast Bill refers to is shown below, on the left, along with its stable mates #3985 & #9000.....

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/27-070221135039-480051309.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 07, 2021, 02:08:54 PM
Very nice Greg.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Keep It Rusty on February 07, 2021, 02:11:30 PM
That's a nice lineup!  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 08, 2021, 09:15:05 AM
Thanks Curt and Craig.....I've wanted one of these locos since I saw it in a PFM catalog a very long time ago.

It ran perfectly right out of the box and is smooth as silk at speed 1 with Tom's throttle.....and yes, I can run it slowly. It even ran up the Ovelix at speed 2 with a bunch of freight cars without a hiccup. I put it on the scale and it weighed in at close to 3-1/2 lbs.....it will be interesting to see how many cars the thing will pull. :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 13, 2021, 10:51:55 AM
Saturday Report - February 13, 2021 - Rainy day in Central Florida, the temperature at 10:15 a.m. is 73 degrees with a high today of 82 degrees.

Your reporter will not venture out to visit the A&S Railroad for several weeks.  Orthopedic surgery is scheduled for March 2 and recovery will probably take several weeks after that.  (Let me tell you about the "golden years."  They suck.  When I was young, the guys used to sit around talking about automobiles and women.  Now we talk about our medical problems.)

I recently read an article in the January 1969 edition of Railroad Magazine about a railroad town out West.  I thought it would be interesting to write about the railroad town on the Atlantic & Southern Railroad layout, named Tahope.  The name, by the way, is derived from the Seminole Indian name for "Fort."  There were two forts located in Central Florida during the Seminole Indian Wars, Fort Gatlin in Orlando and Fort Mellon in Sanford.  There are over 1000 cities, towns, counties, and geographic locations in Florida named after Seminole Indian words.  Osceola County and Wakulla County come to mind, along with Tallahassee, Kissimmee, and Thonotosassa.  Anyway, here is the whimsical description of Tahope, its economy, and some of its people.

                                                                                                       THE CITY OF TAHOPE

    The Atlantic & Southern Railroad is a three-tier layout.  The tiers area connected by an Ovalix.  The top tier is called "Summit."  The middle tier is called "The Midlands.  The lower tier is called "The Bottoms."   
     The City of Tahope is a railroad town and is located in The Midlands.  Anyone who looks toward the city from as far away as the St. Johns River Bridge would know it is a railroad town.  The dark pall of coal smoke drifting up to the sky, the roundhouse located at the end of the main street, and the steam engines coming and going from their journeys, all point to a town dependent on a railroad. Of course, the City is perpetually stuck in the years 1950-1951, so there are fewer Pacifics and Mikes in the roundhouse than there used to be due to the influx of diesel locomotives. 
   Other families besides railroaders live in Tahope.  Most of the "wimmins" who were born and raised in Tahope have first names derived from flowers or plants and last names of medieval occupations, such as Tanner, Carpenter, Miller, Wright and Tinker. 
   Job opportunities in Tahope, other than railroading are varied.  There are pulpwood workers who earn their living felling pine trees in Piney Woods, agricultural workers who work at the citrus processing plant and tend the orange groves, meat packers who work at Butts Meats, and bankers, merchants, clerks, office workers, and laborers.  There are a few professionals, such as the City's only physician, Dr. Minnie Staysic, and the town's only lawyer, Marvin Bello.
   A number of Tahope residents make their living from the St. Johns River by fishing or catching blue crabs.  They drive pick-up trucks with rebel flag license tags on the front and rifle racks on the rear window.  They hunt deer and rabbits when they are not fishing.
   The incomes of the people who live in Tahope depend largely upon the payroll received by the men in overalls and those in dark blue uniforms with brass buttons who work for the railroad.
   The fortunes of the inhabitants of the city rise and fall with the fortunes of the men of the railroad, from those who run the great steam engines to people like Tater Cartwright, who emerge from the roundhouse every evening with lunch baskets and wearing greasy overalls.
   The citizens of Tahope live in the segregated South in 1950.  But there are plenty of railroad jobs available to the colored residents.  Wille Washington, the roundhouse sweeper, walks out every day with his fellow workers when the quitting time whistle blows, feeling a certain pride at being a part of something of vital importance to his country and his community.  Sam Fuller, the Negro chef, puts his foot on the first step of the diner named Moultrie on the ACL Champion wearing his spic and span white jacket, ready for the trip to South Georgia or Miami.  He is one of many colored workers who ride the trains in as Pullman porters, kitchen help, brakemen, and firemen on the remaining steam locomotives.   
   Railroad towns have a certain feeling about them. In Tahope, the coal smoke that hangs low over the town causes the few visitors coming through town to wonder, when they see Petunia Tanner, wife of conductor Donald Tanner, hanging out her wash, why she washes her sheets so dirty.
   The city government of Tahope is housed in the new City Hall, which also houses the Courthouse.  The funding for building such a grand structure in little Tahope involved some backroom dealing, and eventually resulted in the indictment of the local senator, but Marvin Bello obtained a judgment of acquittal to the corruption charges and the senator was reelected. 
   The city government is not blameless for a certain amount of corruption.  The zoning ordinance is ignored more than it is enforced.  Nepotism is ignored. And the mayor, the members of the City Council, the police chief, and the local circuit judge play poker every Friday night in the Pullman Solarium Car which is spotted next to the freight house on the west side of town.  They conduct city business "out of the sunshine," which is lawful until the 1960s. 
   And, of course, there is an element of lawlessness among some of the railroaders, pulpwood workers, and town toughs, so the Tahope Police Department is responsible for law and order in the city.  The Police Chief, Timothy O'Shea, has been on the job for over 20 years and has a reputation for strict law enforcement. 
His police officer, Eldridge Poovey, has been with the department for 10 years.  Poovey recently moved in with his girlfriend, Rose Forester, who recently divorced her second husband, J. Pierpont Forester, the President of the Tahope State Bank.  That dalliance aside, Poovey is a well-respected LEO and is known by everyone in town.  Most of the criminal activity in Tahope involves thefts of A&S property, but fights and stabbings occur regularly on weekends at the Trackside Tavern.
        A source of irritation for the railroad is the dark, forbidding area known as The Bottoms.  This area is located under the Midlands and is a railroad yard.  The St. Johns River runs close by and hobos and bums are attracted to the area.  They keep the railroad police busy.   
   Some of the residents of Tahope catch the local train each morning and ride to the Sanlando Depot.  There, they either disembark and wait for one of the several passenger trains that come through or they remain seated and travel to work in Winter Park or Orlando. 
   All in all, the City of Tahope is much like any small, southern town in the 1950s.  Everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everybody else's business.  And the local orange blossom honey is in demand as far north as Boston.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on February 13, 2021, 11:21:30 AM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on February 13, 2021, 11:22:09 AM
Great job Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on February 13, 2021, 06:17:31 PM
Hello Your Honor, another great story !  I really look forward to your weekly reports. Thank you for the effort you are putting forth to entertain us. Hope that your back troubles ease up soon.   Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 14, 2021, 06:49:33 AM
Curt, Jim, and Jeff - Thanks for the kind comments.  I enjoy finding material for the stories.  My wife found years and years of Railroad Magazine on the internet and now I have almost endless sources of information I can adapt to the adventures of the Atlantic & Southern.  I hope I won't be out of commission too long after my surgery.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 14, 2021, 10:37:02 AM
Tahope is developing into quite an interesting place to visit.....atta boy Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on February 14, 2021, 12:39:30 PM
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Your Honor!  Maybe you can come up with some medical-related stories.


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on February 17, 2021, 06:36:20 AM
Bill - Your stories are the next best thing to being there.   ;)  Keep weaving those tales!

Hoping for a quick recovery from the surgery and relief for what ails you. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 17, 2021, 09:28:58 AM
Thank everyone for the good wishes on my medical condition.  I have spinal stenosis and the problem is confined to the L4/L5 area.  I consulted with Dr. Minie Staysic in Tahope, but I opted for one of the orthopedic surgeons who pioneered the new minimally invasive (I like that) surgical procedures.  I will keep my readers informed of my situation.  The surgery is scheduled for March 2.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on February 17, 2021, 06:31:36 PM
Hey:

Look at all those nice steam engines.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 20, 2021, 08:35:38 AM
Saturday, February 20, 2021 

Sorry, there will be no Saturday Report this week due to the continued inability of your reporter to attend board meetings of the Atlantic & Southern RR.

There is a short story for the faithful readers of my missives relating the whimsical happenings on the A&S.  This week's story is based upon a tale from a far-western railroad, related in the July, 1938 edition of Railroad Magazine and, according to the story, it occurred back around 1919.   Time has stopped in 1950/1951 on the A&S so the story has been changed to bring it current. 

                                                                                                     
                                                                                            THE TRAIN THAT WAS NOT A TRAIN

       Ralph Bridgeman, engineer on the SAL, was making up an extra freight one evening in the Sanlando yard.  His hind shack discovered a "bad order car" at the end of the cut directly behond the engine. 
   It was necessary to switch out the bad order car so the brakie signaled for Bridgeman to back into the siding to spot the car.  Someone in the engine cab mistook the signal to back up as a signal to go ahead, so Bridgeman highballed out of the yard and onto the main. 
   The train sped over the Cross Creek Bridge and around Eaton's Curve.  It passed over the Great Divide at nearly sixty miles per hour and rattled across the Suwanee River Bridge. 
     Bridgeman brought the engine to an unexpected stop at the Piney Woods Freight Depot, on a signal from the station agent, who waived a red flag as if there was a dire emergency.  The agent, who knew his rule book, maintained that the engine and thirteen freight cars did not constitute a "train" unless it had a caboose and markers on the rear end – which it hadn't. 
     To their chagrin, Bridgemen and the men in the cab discovered they had left Sanlando with only 13 cars of their train. 
      What the superintendent said about the incident was not recorded, but Bridgeman got an unpaid week's vacation out of it.  The rest of the crew got a cussin' they won't ferget.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on February 20, 2021, 08:51:27 AM
Thanks for another great Saturday morning story Judge. From the sick bed no less.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 20, 2021, 03:23:21 PM
I'll be happy when the Board of Directors, all two of us, can meet again.  ???

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 27, 2021, 04:17:55 PM
Saturday, February 27, 2021.
      There is no Saturday Report today because (1) your reporter's lack of mobility pending spinal surgery on March 2 and (2) the CEO working hard to liquidate the late Jim MIller's model railroad rolling stock, motive power, etc. 
       I ran across an article on dining cars in the July, 1941 edition of Trains Magazine and it intrigued me.  There were still some heavyweight diners days just before   Pearl Harbor that still had coal-fired stoves and ovens.  I decided to share some of the information in the article with the readers of this weekly report.  The article is too long to discuss in one week so, if there is interest in 1940's diners, I will stretch the discussion into two weeks. 
      Back in the days before the U.S.'s entry into the war, the railroads still had class and the diners on the different roads served cuisine that even the likes of Lucius Beebe declared to be "superb." 
      MY wife, Cindy, and I took AMTRAK from Winter Park to Savannah for a weekend about three years ago and we had dinner in the diner.  There were only two patrons having dinner beside us and it did not take long to figure out why.  The food was substandard and was way overpriced.  I had the impression that everything on the menu was prepared in a microwave oven. 
      Nowadays, even that level of service has all but disappeared.  Passengers are now limited to such delicacies as frozen pizza in the Cafe/lounge car and are encouraged to bring their own food. 
      But let us go back to 1940, when patrons all wore dresses and suits and ties, as well as hats, and visit how it was and will never be again.

                                                                                                     MEALS IN ROUTE

   Back in the day before air-conditioning and 85' dining cars, passenger trains would stop en route to allow passengers to eat their meals.  The typical stop was a pause of a brief 20 minutes.  When the train came to a stop, a waiter in a white coat and black pants would bang away on a metal serving tray at the door of the  Dinner and passengers would rush into the dining room for a very quick meal.  Naturally, due to time constraints, the meal was limited to whatever the cook had prepared that day. 
   After eighteen minutes, the hogger would blow one long whistle and the fireman would start ringing the bell, warning passengers that the train would pull out directly. Those who were served last often were able to only grab a bite or two.
   All of that changed with the introduction of dining cars.  Railroads lose money by providing dining cars, lunch counter cars, and parlor-café cars, and club cars.  These cars are referred to as "non-revenue cars" because passengers do not pay for their use.  Other associated cars are also classified as non-revenue.  A dining car has a crew including a steward, six waiters, a chef, and two cooks. On some of the busiest trains, there may be a chef, three cooks, and eight waiters. 
   All of these crew members, along with the conductor, porters, and cleaning personnel, have to sleep somewhere so a dormitory car is usually placed behind the head-end cars for their use.
   The useful area of the typical dining car is 9 x 80ft.  The kitchen is about 16ft. long and 71/2 ft. wide.  There is a passageway around the kitchen for the use of the passengers.  The area where passengers sit is about 40 ft long and can seat 36. 
   In the kitchen there is a refrigerator that is larger than you would expect.  There is also a refrigerated locker for vegetables. There are immense water tanks overhead that provide plenty of water for the double sink.  Above the range, there are warming ovens where rolls and pies are kept warm before serving (rolls and pies are baked on board – the day of frozen or ready-made pies and pastry has not come.)  There is a freezer used to keep ice cream and other items.  There are also racks for pots and pans and lockers for tablecloths, napkins, and flatware.  The cooks have over 50 different cooking utensils.  There is space for 700 plates, cups, saucers, and miscellaneous dinnerware, 300 pieces of glassware, and 600 pieces of flatware.
   The waiters are each assigned extra duties according to seniority.  The pantryman and the assistant pantryman have the highest honors.  They actually arrange the servings on the plates.  One of the other waiters is responsible for the linen, another is responsible for the silver and glassware, and one of the waiters is responsible for the cleanliness of the dinner. There is usually no scullery help on the dinner so each waiter is responsible to bus his tables, wash his dishes, and place them in a rack to dry.  Occasionally, on the busiest trains, a "swingman" will be assigned to assist with kitchen duties, such as washing dishes and making sure glasses are filled.  The "swingman" is usually assigned between division points and does not remain on the train for the whole trip.
   When it comes to tips, the steward and the waiters have it down to a science.  The steward steers passengers so they sit at a table that is next up for the assigned waiter.
    The chef and the other cooks do not receive tips unless a passenger specifically asks for it, so they receive additional compensation in their salary to make up for it.
      To be continued.
    

     
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on February 27, 2021, 05:45:17 PM
Bill,
Wonderful insight as always of a bygone time.  Please continue your information on the diner cars when you are able.
In the meantime, all the best with your surgery this week, and do hope for a speedy and full recovery.  The A&S needs you back in service soon !!!
All the best,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on February 27, 2021, 08:17:07 PM
Your Honor, I'm with Paul, please continue with your dining car stories when you are able. I hope your surgery goes well and you are back in good shape in a short time.    Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 28, 2021, 06:47:21 AM
Paul and Jeff - Thank you for the encouragement.  I will continue the dining car story when I am able after I recover from surgery.  You will be surprised at the amount of food passengers consumed in 1940.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on February 28, 2021, 09:44:21 AM
Looking forward to the continuation of the story.  One of the favorite cars to peer into at the PRR Museum in Strasburg is the one with the kitchen.  I also used to peruse the dining car menus that are for sale on ePay.  Alas, the opportunity to enjoy a real meal on a train has long since passed.   :'(
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on February 28, 2021, 10:13:52 AM
I agree with Bob looking forward to the continuation also.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on February 28, 2021, 10:17:15 AM
Once upon a time, long long ago, I had a full steak dinner in the diner while traveling to Illinois with my mother. Of course I had to wear a coat and tie to dinner. Later that night, I got to sleep in the top bunk and mom the bottom.

Bygone days for sure.  :'(

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on February 28, 2021, 10:48:42 AM
Good story Bill.....I loved eating in the diner and having snacks in the club car when I was a kid. The food was always great ((and yes expensive, but as a kid I didn't have to worry about that) and the views, as the train went along, were spectacular. Great memories.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on February 28, 2021, 12:18:36 PM
Please continue the narrative Bill. Good luck with your surgery. As a member of that fraternity, my best advice is to take your pain killers.
In the mid to late 90s my wife and I rode the Amtrak car train to Florida. The change in the quality of the meals went from outstanding to I'd rather go to McDonald's. On one trip the wait staff was giving out bottles of wine and extra desserts. When asked why, they said that Congress decreed that Amtrak was losing to much money and it was to cut out the amenities. The next year we got pot roast instead of sirloin steak and water. Wonder why ridership declined on the only route that historically made money?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on February 28, 2021, 01:40:32 PM
Jim - Ah, the Auto Train.  It began its trek to Virginia from Sanford in 1971 or 72 while I was a prosecutor in Sanford.  I thought the colors of the GE diesels and the cars, red, white, black, and purple, were a bit tacky, but I realized the colors had been picked from people in New York, so I didn't give it much thought.

One day, one of our investigators (Eddie) came into my office and said, "You know, I heard they have a whole bunch of girls working on that Auto Train."  I said, "You're the investigator, go check it out."  Eddie determined that there were about 10 "hostesses" on each run.   The railroad housed the girls in a hotel in Altamonte Springs that had a pretty swinging nightclub.  Eddie found out that the girls rotated in three shifts and that the girls on the A shift and the C shift never worked together.  That meant we could run two girls at once without them knowing it as long as we didn't date a girl in the B shift.  It was like being able to date two girls in the same sorority and being able to get away with it.   Well, it worked out fine for several weeks until Eddie had one too many one evening and let our nocturnal activities slip to one of the girls on the B shift.  Needless to say, that was the end of that.  But it was fun while it lasted.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on March 01, 2021, 08:47:30 AM
My first diner experiences were in 1976, when Amtrak was still using the equipment it had inherited from the now-freight-only RRs.  I recall getting a very nice hamburger plate on the old C&O bound from Chicago to West Virginia.  I think some of the diners Amtrak inherited did still burn coal, but most had been converted to bottled gas.  I rode the Southern Crescent in 1979 when it was still a point of pride for the Southern - beautiful table settings but I can't recall what we ordered.  And in 1993 we were stuck in coach for the Vancouver - Jasper segment of VIA's Canadian and the cafe-observation attendant had a very nice spaghetti sauce.  But every budget cut by the Amtrak- and VIA-haters has diminished the food service first; it was tolerable in 2015 but now I'd seriously consider looking up what's nearby at the "smoking stop" stations or even bringing a cooler....
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on March 01, 2021, 05:35:29 PM
Hey:

I ate I. A diner once. Can't remember what RR it was on. That's how long ago it was. But I can say it was pretty cool.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on March 01, 2021, 10:28:47 PM
Judge


Best of luck with your surgery and recovery.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on March 01, 2021, 11:44:01 PM
Same from me, good luck and get well soon.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on March 02, 2021, 12:00:26 AM
Get well soon.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 02, 2021, 06:03:21 AM
John, Jim, and Karl - Thank you for your best wishes.  I report for surgery at 9:00 a.m. today.  I have great confidence in my surgical team.  My doctor was one of the doctors who developed the minimally invasive surgical technique for this operation.  I'll sign off for now and give you a report when I am able to get back to my computer.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on March 02, 2021, 09:50:27 AM
Judge. Best wishes. You don't want to rely on luck for this procedure. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 20, 2021, 06:03:38 PM
I am slowly recovering from surgery.  I am able to do things this week I could not do last week, such as take a shower without help.  I am trying to ween myself off of my walker and revert to using a cane full time. If my stamina improves sufficiently, I may be able to spend at least some time railroading on the A&S.                                                                                           

This somewhat late edition of the Saturday Report is provided to complete my little essay on railroad diners.  Please remember, the monetary amounts stated are in 1941 dollars.

                                                                                                   Meals in Route - ACL  - Part II

The menu on the typical ACL diner includes both table d'hote or ala carte.  On the typical $1.25 dinner there is a fresh shrimp cocktail as a starter, followed by a choice of two kinds of soup and South Florida mangos.  The entre provides for the choice of panned fresh fish in parsley butter, imperial crab with cole slaw, half a fried chicken prepared Southern style or roast leg of lamb with mint jelly.  A broiled sirloin steak would require an upcharge to $1.75.
The diner's steward is trained carefully in acquiring and storing a variety of meats and vegetables in a limited space.  For example, the salad for the day may be composed of hearts of lettuce with thousand island dressing followed by a choice of Georgia peach pie and ice cream. Potato rolls, baked by the chef are served with the salad.  In addition, there are a variety of cold cuts and sandwiches.  The salad for the day is, of course, only one of the choices on the menu and the menu changes from day-to day.  The logistics of planning and acquiring the food and related items for each trip can be daunting.
Unlike the normal restaurant owner, the dining car steward cannot place an emergency order with a local grocery store when he finds that his customers are making a run on some particular dish on the menu.  Only experience teaches him just how much of a thing he must order in advance so he will not have to tell a person he cannot have something on the menu. 
   The steward places his orders through the dining car commissary.  Every morning at 5:00 a.m. the storekeeper takes all of the requisitions received during the night and assembles the orders for transfer to the trains. 
   The amount of perishables consumed each month is staggering.  In one month, the ACL purchased 3700 lbs. of bacon, 22,000 lbs of beef, 11,200 lbs of poultry, 5400 dozen eggs, 15,000 lbs. of fish, 1300 lbs. of lamb legs, and 1000 lbs. of shrimp.  The total cost of foodstuffs for that month came to about $50,000.  Ice and fuel each month costs about $3,000.  Beer, wine, and liquors cost $3,000. 
   Customers expect to have clean tablecloths, napkins, and to see clean waiter's coats and aprons.  The bill amounts to between $5,000 and $6,000 per month.  Replacement items such as silverware ($600), kitchen utensils ($2200), crockery and glassware ($$1600), and silverware ($650) only begin the replacement cost list.  The bill for linen repairs comes to about $3,000 per month even though much of the repair work is done by ACL employees at the commissary. 
   Service of alcoholic beverages to customers requires the railroad to pay the license fees in each state in which the railroad operates.  These fees amount to thousands of dollars.
   The job of the dining car steward is no bed of roses.  Stewards have special situations brought to their attention, such as the woman with three children who spent her last dollar on rail fare.  Sometimes the steward reaches into his own pocket and buys lunch in such situations. 
   The steward must be a walking storehouse of information.  Passengers expect him to know the arrival times for every stop on the map, the names of good hotels and restaurants, and even how to prepare baby formula and deliver the bottles to the mother on schedule.  Sometimes passengers bring items onto the train that need to be stored during the trip.  A passenger from Miami once brought several large grouper (fish) with him that had been caught offshore from Miami Beach.  The steward made room for the fish in the refrigerated locker and returned it to the passenger once the train reached New York. 
   The dining car crew works well into the night after the last passenger has been served, making up requisitions for the next day and cleaning up the kitchen and dining area in anticipation of breakfast in the morning.  Each member of the crew has duties.  The cooks in the kitchen polishing the pots and getting everything in order; the assistant pantryman will be organizing his area and noting items that need to be restocked; and the waiters will be polishing silver, making up the laundry bag, and thoroughly cleaning the car.  The crew finally rolls into their bunks in the dormitory car around 10:00 p.m., knowing they will be up ag 5:00 a.m. and ready for duty.
   It is no wonder that the Atlantic and Southern owns no passenger equipment except for the single heavyweight solarium car used to transport officials and dignitaries to University of Florida football games each fall.  The cost of dining service would be prohibitive for a local railroad like the A&S, which is located mostly in a Florida swamp and operates on a shoestring budget. 

For those who are interested in this subject, here are two links to videos you may want to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2c83p0I_eo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMi7z4hJxGE


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on March 20, 2021, 06:10:05 PM
Thank you Judge. Very interested.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on March 20, 2021, 08:19:11 PM

Glad to see the Judge recovering and thank him profusely for his efforts during recuperation. I used to ride the C&O George Washington to and from college.
The Judge discussed the liquor problem quite well. Two sections of the George Washington joined at Ashland, KY about 9 PM. We then continued eastward bound for Richmond, VA where it again became two trains. I always traveled at holiday time which, at Christmas, meant discharged soldiers from Ft. Knox at Louisville, flush with cash who had to drink between Ashland at the West Virginia border as the C&O refused to pay tax in West Virginia on alcohol that had all ready been taxed in Kentucky. Made for some VERY interesting trips.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on March 20, 2021, 08:39:08 PM
Glad to have you back at the keyboard, be careful and stay current with the rehab instructions!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on March 20, 2021, 08:43:47 PM
Hurray, the Judge is back.  Glad to hear you're recovering, your Honor.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on March 21, 2021, 07:26:01 AM
Quote from: BandOGuy on March 20, 2021, 08:19:11 PM

Glad to see the Judge recovering and thank him profusely for his efforts during recuperation


I used to ride the C&O George Washington to and from college.
The Judge discussed the liquor problem quite well. Two sections of the George Washington joined at Ashland, KY about 9 PM. We then continued eastward bound for Richmond, VA where it again became two trains. I always traveled at holiday time which, at Christmas, meant discharged soldiers from Ft. Knox at Louisville, flush with cash who had to drink between Ashland at the West Virginia border as the C&O refused to pay tax in West Virginia on alcohol that had all ready been taxed in Kentucky. Made for some VERY interesting trips.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 21, 2021, 10:29:00 AM
Here comes da Judge.....loved the story and videos Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on March 21, 2021, 04:03:47 PM
Your Honor, so glad that you are back telling your stories. I'm so happy for you that the surgery went well. Take your time doing the rehab. We all want you to return at 100%.   Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on March 22, 2021, 01:05:40 AM
Hey judge:

Glad you are feeling better. Keep us informed of your healing progress.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 22, 2021, 06:13:37 AM
Thank all of you for your kind words.  Recovery will be slow but I can see progress every day.  My main concern beginning today is increasing stamina.  That can be accomplished by walking.  Down to the end of the driveway and back will be a start.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on March 22, 2021, 08:37:54 AM
Looking at the costs involved just for supplies, quite an expensive operation.  And labor costs weren't mentioned.  No wonder dining cars were early casualties as trains and crews were cut back in the 50's.  Read many times that dining car service was a loss leader/PR service.  But the limited menu is very appealing, especially the leg of lamb. Nice article, your honor.

Larry
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on March 28, 2021, 06:53:14 AM
March 28, 2021 - Sorry, no Saturday Report this week.  Try back next Saturday.

My wife, Cindy, and I had lunch with Tom and Pam Langford yesterday at Del Dio's.  It was a good opportunity to catch up and for me to consider my current recovery from back surgery.  I am still using a "walker" to walk anywhere, including the short trip to one of four bathrooms.  I will begin a rigorous physical therapy program beginning next Wednesday to try and build up my strength and stamina.  Right now, I am unable to walk up the little grass incline in Tom's yard which is necessary in order to reach the shed housing the Atlantic & Southern RR.  My goal is to remedy that situation within a couple of weeks, but we will see how that goes.

Thank all of you who have expressed sympathy with my situation.  Let me tell you, it could have been much worse.  My surgeon is a leader in the field of less invasive surgery and the operation was a complete success.  The surgery was on March 2 and I have had no pain whatsoever for at least two weeks.  The problem is the slowness of recovering from the whole thing.  I am told that I still suffer from the effects of anesthesia.  I need to get past that before I can work on serious rehab.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on March 28, 2021, 09:11:14 AM
Glad to hear you're doing better Bill.....definitely get to work on the rehab so we can all meet at Tom'f for some fun.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on March 28, 2021, 09:33:34 AM
Quote from: GPdemayo on March 28, 2021, 09:11:14 AM
Glad to hear you're doing better Bill.....definitely get to work on the rehab so we can all meet at Tom'f for some fun.  ;D

Ditto that!  I'm half vaccinated and soon ready to resume visits to the A&S.  Sure would be nice to have you there.  It's been far too long.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on March 28, 2021, 10:14:51 AM
It's great to hear about your progress Bill. I wish they had the non invasive method when I had my operation. Don't push it too hard. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tom.boyd.125 on March 28, 2021, 10:53:27 AM
Bill,
Great news that a speedy recovery is coming soon with those planned PE visits.
Tom can use your help on the RR and he will pick up the tab on the next several dinner outings too...
Tommy
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Rollin on March 28, 2021, 10:56:20 AM
So glad to hear good reports from people! Surgery certainly has changed. When I was in High School, guys who had knee surgery for football injuries would have a scar up their leg 12, 15 inches long or longer. Today, the incisions can be covered with a band-aid.
Ain't progress sump'in?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on March 28, 2021, 11:20:11 AM
Glad to hear things are going well.  Follow the therapist instructions, don't overdo it.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on March 28, 2021, 11:22:11 AM
Different people react differently to anesthesia and related painkillers.  When I had my shoulder done (rotator cuff), I had a nerve block that was supposed to last 12 hours.  It started wearing off after 8.  When I went in for my follow-up, I told the surgeon "your anesthesiologist owes me 4 hours of happy-time."   :D


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on March 29, 2021, 12:16:20 PM
You Honor, so glad to hear that your recovery is going well. We need you to be able to get back into The A and S building so that you can see Tom's latest developments and incorporate them into your great stories.   Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 03, 2021, 06:10:55 AM
   Saturday Report April 3, 2021

       Your reporter is undergoing rehab for the next several weeks and the A&S CEO is taking time off to liquidate items from the late Jim Miller's model railroad collection.  We are tentatively scheduling the next board of director's meeting for May 1, 2021.
 
       This week's story is lifted from the pen of Lucius Beebe, who not only authored over thirty-five books, many of them on the subject of railroad locomotives, but who was also a gourmet, gastronome, oenophile, and who recoiled from the sight or thought of milk, golf, airplanes, Madison Avenue, and packaged breakfast foods.  He was born wealthy in Boston and flourished as a columnist with the New York Herald Tribune and the San Francisco Chronicle.  For a time, he owned his own newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise.  He and his partner, Charles Clegg, owned two of the last private railroad cars, the Gold Coast and Virginia City.  Beebe, who liked to spend several weeks each year in London and Paris, was quoted saying, "All I want is the best of everything and there's very little of that left."
        Being exposed to Beebe's humorous prose is worth the time and effort it takes to read it and enjoy one of the greatest writers since Mark Twain. Sometimes, Beebe invented his own words for his enjoyment.
   Beebe found himself in Chicago upon occasion and he frequented the Pump Room in the Ambassador Hotel while he was there.  The proprietor sometimes sent a gift to Beebe's awaiting train, usually the Super Chief, bound for Los Angeles.

                                                                                                  LaSalle Street Station – Stylish Chaos

   On at least one occasion, the Pump Room's effulgence, when translated to the train shed of LaSalle Street, engendered a contretemps of musical comedy dimensions. It was after the original proprietor had passed but the affairs of the restaurant and the extension of its personality to departing trains and planes were being maintained in the bravura tradition by James Hart.  The author of this mimeograph and his partner, Charles Clegg, were spotted on an adjacent track at the LaSalle Depot on their own private car, the Virginia City, scheduled to depart at the end of a less exalted consist than the Super Chief which, neither then, nor at any other time, accepted special equipment.  Hart had thoughtfully dispatched a jeroboam of Perrier-Jouuet to us in the care of more than usually ornate delegation which included a waiter captain in a morning coat, two Pump Room footmen in the usual knee-breeches and fourrageres, and, to lend additional tone to the pageantry, a colored chauffeur in bright lavender greatcoat and top hat with a cockade.
   None of the emissaries knew about our private car spotted adjacent to (and blocked from view) by the Super Chief.  They had been told to deliver the wine "to Mr. Clegg's and Mr. Beebe's car," which suggested to them its delivery to their space on the Super Chief, a train with which they were familiar and where they had often completed similar missions.  Told at the train gate that no such passengers were listed or expected, the Ambassador's bravos had said loudly that they knew better, they had their orders, and they were going on board.  Our first intimation of trouble was what appeared to be an uncommonly dressy mob scene on the platform being exchanged between railroad police, porters, brakemen, a large Negro in ornate attire, and the decorative flunkies.  In the middle of the turmoil, like a float in a Mardi gras riot, there rose and fell perilously a vast bottle of vintage wine in a silver ice bucket.  It was a scene of indescribably stylish chaos.  It also fulfilled the fondest illusions of the onlookers about the conduct of life among people who owned private railroad cars.  When order was finally restored and the misunderstanding explained to everyone's satisfaction, the Super Chief pulled out on time, but with its staff visibly shaken.   

   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on April 03, 2021, 07:32:31 AM
Wonderful story, Judge.  Keep workin' on the rehab, not the railroad.   :)


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 03, 2021, 09:59:56 AM
Great story Bill.....I sure hope the flower bottle made it thru the chaos in one piece.  ;)

I remember reading and hearing stories about the Pump Room when I was a kid and finally got to eat there when Pegi and I were in Chicago in the late January in 1998. Chicago in January was really interesting for a couple of Florida kids.

We had a great time, the hostess took pity on freezing tourists and sat us at table #1, a wonderful meal and split the worlds smallest hot fudge Sunday for desert. The waitress, who asked "are you going to split it?", probably thought we were nuts.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 10, 2021, 03:16:46 PM



Saturday Report – April 10, 2021

    Lunch at Del Dio's was fun today.  May 1 is the target date for me to resume attendance at the Atlantic & Southern's Board of Director's meetings. I am getting stronger day by day and I hope to be rid of my walker and relying only on a cane by then.
    I think I should take a few lines here to express my appreciation to the A&S president, Thomas E. Langford, for allowing my participation with his railroad for lo these many years – at least fifteen years if I am remembering right.  Tom is a true friend and I am convinced he is one of the finest artists in the hobby. I thoroughly enjoy our Saturday sessions running trains and running interference with the untold number of gremlins that invade a model railroad.   

     This week's story is adapted from a tale told in Railroad Magazine from the late 1930s.   

                                                                                                          THE LEAKY THROTTLE

    All railroads require maintenance and the Atlantic & Southern is no exception.  In 1938, the bridge over Cross Creek was supported by wooden pilings.  These pilings had to be replaced about every ten years or so and the time had come to replace them.
    The Atlantic & Southern's Director of Maintenance, Will Fixer, organized a crew of workers and a work train powered by an ancient ten-wheeler was assembled to deliver the pile driver and the pilings to Cross Creek.  The ten-wheeler pushed the pile driver, which was followed by four flat cars loaded with pilings into position and the driver began to work.  One of the pilings was lowered into place through a gap between the ties.  It stuck up about 20' above the grade.  The pile driver's powerful hammer slammed down on the top of the piling, driving it a few inches at a time into the river bed.
Meanwhile, the ten-wheeler's engineer, Uncle Henry O'Leary, decided to take a little relaxation time, so he left the engine in the hands of his fireman, Richard Tanner, and climbed down the embankment to the creek to do a little fishing.
    By and by, the pile driver crew was in need of another load of pilings, so Uncle Henry told Tanner to take the train back to Sanlando, a distance of only two miles, and bring another four flat cars loaded with pilings to the bridge.  Tanner, who was nearlyt qualified to cross over to the right seat, complied, and soon another load of pilings was pushed into position by the ten-wheeler. 
    With Uncle Henry still fishing and Will Fixer's crew all working, Tanner decided he could afford a little sack time so he closed his eyes and drifted off into slumberland. 
Unfortunately, Tanner did not know his engine had a leaky throttle and although he left the reverse lever on dead center, he failed to kick the cylinder cocks open.  The engine gently began to move towards the bridge, pushing the four flat cars towards the pile driver.
Uncle Henry saw the accident in the making and hollered up to Tanner, who awoke just in time to witness the lead flat car hit the piling and snap it in two right about at grade level. 
    Tanner managed to stop the engine from traveling further, but the damage was done.  The piling had been driven down about ten feet into the river bottom and the only way to remove it was to dig it out with the assistance of the pile driver crane.  This required removing the steam hammer, a time-consuming operation. 
Meanwhile, the A&S mainline was blocked and the southbound Floridan was due in 30 minutes.
Will Fixer had one of his men, who was a lineman, rig into the telegraph line and send a message to the Deland dispatcher to hold the Floridian until the main was cleared. 
     The broken pile was removed in record time and the work train was reassembled and moved back to the yard at Sanlando to await a continuation of the efforts to replace the pilings on the Cross Creek bridge the next day.
     The superintendent, who was Tanner's father-in-law, investigated the incident and decided the cause of the incident was limited to the leaky throttle and issued a warning to Will Fixer to have it repaired. 
    And, by the way, in 1938, 147 railroads operated on the Morse telegraph system.  The largest user of the telegraph was the Southern, followed by the Rock Island and the Soo.  The ACL used telegraph communication up into the 1950s.  Your reporter's uncle was a telegraph operator at Lakeland, Florida.  He had a shack perched up on a pole at the Lakeland yard throat.  His job was eliminated in the 50s and he became a bank executive for the rest of his working career.


                                                                             (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-100421145221.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on April 10, 2021, 03:38:26 PM
Bill,

Thank you my friend. I had a great time today at lunch as well. We may not always agree, but we always have lots of fun and discussions.

We've been railroad modeling off and on for the better part of 40 years. Our friend Warren would have loved to see what we've been doing on the Atlantic and Southern RR.

I think you and I have been doing the Saturday meeting on a regular basis for at least 20+ years.

And, as the A&S Ticket Agent, you sure tell a great story.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on April 10, 2021, 09:33:03 PM
Your Honor, another great story. So glad you're getting better.   Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 11, 2021, 08:27:30 AM
Enjoyed the story Bill.....keep up the hard work with the therapy so we can all get together on May 1..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 11, 2021, 03:16:45 PM
Thank you Tom, Jeff, and Greg - I appreciate the kind words.  I plan on getting up that@#^* hill on May 1 and running some trains - even if I need help doing so.  I am told that I will be weening off of the walker next week and trying to get back to using my cane.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 11, 2021, 04:35:27 PM
Help is at the ready.....see you soon.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 17, 2021, 11:09:10 AM
Saturday Report - April 17, 2021
Beautiful rainy day here in Central Florida.

I ran across a story about the career of a student fireman in the November, 1952, edition of Railroad Magazine.  It was a different time and we will never see the likes of the railroaders of those days again.  Anyway, I thought the story was interesting enough to convert it to an adventure involving the characters we know who live and work in the environs of Tahope County, Florida.  So here goes: 
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                    MOVE TO THE RIGHT SEAT

   Stewart Walter grew up in Tampa during the 30s.  He decided he wanted to be an engineer on a steam locomotive when he was twelve.  By the time he was old enough to hold down a summer job, he became a conductor for the Tampa Transient Company, collecting fares on Tampa's famous streetcars. He viewed this job as being a step towards his goal.
   The Walters moved to Tahope County in 1947 where Stewart's father, "Bud" Walter, became the manager of the Tahope Citrus Processing Plant. 
   Stewart decided to walk over to the local roundhouse and see if he could get on with a railroad job.  He happened to meet the roundhouse foreman, 'Tator Cartwright, and the two of them became friends. 
   One day, while Stewart and 'Tator were having lunch at Sweaty Betty's, 'Tator asked Stewart what he wanted to do.  Stewart said he would like to get on as a fireman on the Atlantic & Southern.
   'Tator explained that the A&S only provided local service, including yard service, a couple of local regular trains, and a few extras.  The main railroad activity around Tahope was from the major carriers, including the Atlantic Coast Line.
   "Local service ain't all that bad," explained 'Tater.  "A man can't eat or rest as well away from home and road crews get called at unreasonable hours.  And hauling sixty or seventy freight cars while riding in the cab of a steam locomotive going eight or ten miles per hour in the hot summertime ain't exactly pleasant." 
   "No matter," said Stewart.  I want to eventually move to the right-hand seat an be an engineer."  "Hold it up," said 'Tator, "You ain't got a fireman's job yet." 
   "Tell you what," said 'Tator, I got a buddy who is the Super for this district on the ACL.  I'll take you over to meet him."
   The two of them walked over to the ACL district office and 'Tator introduced Stewart to the ACL Superintendent, and in his easy southern drawl said, "This here lad wants a job as a fireman.  He's a friend of mine and I'll vouch for him.  I'd take it as a favor if you could see your way to put him on with the ACL."  The Super asked Stewart his age, which was 21.  He asked for his experience, which was "none, but I'm willing to learn."  'Tator took the ball again and said, "He ain't got no letter, but he'll be a good fireman and he don't drink liquor hardly at all.  I'd hire him myself, but he wants to go on the road." 
   That afternoon, Stewart filled out his application and the next morning he presented himself as a student fireman to the engineer on engine 835, the largest steam locomotive he had ever seen.  Fortunately, the engine was stoker-fired.  After two weeks, the engineer, "Pappy" Walker, qualified him and his name went up on the extra board.
   It had not been long since firemen had seniority in name only – firemen were assigned according to the wishes of the engineer.  But those days were over and firemen were assigned by seniority.
   Stewart's first assignment was to a freight bound to Tampa with sixty empties to be switched for a similar number of loads of citrus and strawberries and returned to Orlando. 
   Stewart went on the job at 6:00 a.m. for the 6:30 a.m. departure.  In those days, it was the fireman's responsibility to make sure the engine had all of the necessary supplies and the engine's steam pressure was up to operating level.  The hostlers had done their job overnight and the engine was ready to go by the time the engineer arrived. 
   The engineer, Uncle Henry O'Leary, was in a foul mood.  He grumbled about the fire and told Stewart he expected there were clinkers in the firebox already.  He continued grousing until Stewart had enough of his lip.
   "Look," said Stewart, "I got here at 6:00 a.m. to make sure this engine was ready to go to Tampa and it is up to steam and ready to go.  I don't see your name on the tender of this engine.  Instead, I see the company name, Atlantic Coast Line.  So, why don't you tend to your job and I'll tend to mine."  With that, Uncle Henry sulked on his seat without saying another word until the train approached Thonotosassa for a water stop.  After Stewart filled the tank, Uncle Henry called him over and said, "Hell, boy, I can't stay mad at you for long.  You did a decent job getting us over the line and I'm glad you came on the job.  Just ferget what I said earlier this morning."  So, the rift between the old-timer and the newcomer was mended and they worked as a team thereafter.

TO BE CONTINUED.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on April 17, 2021, 03:53:48 PM
Great to see you back at partial throttle, Your Honor! Hope it's not long before you're all the way to the stops.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 18, 2021, 08:19:03 AM
Another cliff hanger Bill.....fun story.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 24, 2021, 10:01:49 AM
          This week we will continue with the adventures of Stewart Walter, who recently signed on as a fireman for the ACL. Hopefully, next Saturday your reporter will be able to give a full report and update on the progress made on the A&S during my back surgery ordeal. 

                                                                                                MOVE TO THE RIGHT SEAT PART II


   Stewart was lucky to pull the Tampa run his first day on the job.  He was laid off for lack of call his second day.  He was called on the third day for a different engine, but the engineer was Russell "Ballast Scorcher" Taylor.  Taylor was one of the younger engineers, having been with the ACL for only ten years.
   The run that morning was from Tahope to Palatka to drop off thirty empties and pick up as many loaded cars full of potatoes from Hastings.  A hand-fired USRA Mike was assigned to the run.
   Stewart grabbed his lunch pail and high-tailed it to the yard.  As he crossed the yard tracks, he tripped on a railhead and landed on top of his lunch pail.  The fall nearly broke several of Stewart's ribs and bruised his right side.  He limped in pain to the engine and began his duties preparing the engine for the trip. 
   Whoever wrote that song about April showers bringing May flowers must have lived in Central Florida.  Just as Stewart finished his chores it started to rain.  The rain was accompanied by the wind, which blew water into the cab.  Taylor directed Stewart to close the cab curtains to keep the rain out.  That meant Stewart had to partially open the curtains every time he needed a scoop of coal for the firebox and the movement caused him to wince with pain. 
   Stewart dared not tell Taylor of his injury for fear he would be shuffled off the job on the way to Palatka and replaced by another fireman.  So, he starved the fire more than a new man usually does, causing the coal to burn more completely, which gave the Mike plenty of steam.  Better still, the fire was thin and not clinkered and Taylor was greatly pleased the that the grate did not need to be cleaned at noon.  It was Stewart who was the most pleased because cleaning clinkers from the fire would have well-nigh killed him that day.
   Fortunately for Stewart, he was not called to fire for the next five days.  And then the call was not to fire an engine but to be an engine watchman.  That meant Stewart had night duty performing tasks usually performed by hostlers. (See p. 18, The Engine Watchman).  When dawn approached, the engine crew arrived and Stewart returned home, his injuries much improved.

TO BE  CONTINUED
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on April 24, 2021, 10:53:19 AM
"Ballast Scorcher"  I like that.  That's quite a fitting handle for someone we know until you get to the part where "Ballast Scorcher" was one of the younger engineers.   ;D

Love the continuing thread.  Hope to see you next Saturday.  I'll be a late arrival to the festivities that morning but I do plan on attending.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on April 24, 2021, 11:54:18 PM
Your Honor, glad to hear you plan on making it back to the railroad next week. Hope your recovery continues without any setbacks.   Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on April 25, 2021, 06:31:34 AM
Thank you, Jeff.  Progress is slow, but Cindy says she will get me into the train shed Saturday if she has to hold onto me and walk me to the roundhouse.  I think she wants to get rid of me for a couple of hours.  Quite frankly, I don't blame her.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on April 25, 2021, 08:23:42 AM
Hot diggity dog.....SBG fun & BS coming up soon.  ;D ;D ;D  I'm not sure to who Bob is referring..... ::)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 02, 2021, 09:11:58 AM
Saturday Report - May 1, 2021

Your reporter was unable to attend the gathering at the Atlantic & Southern location yesterday.  Recovering from spinal surgery is a slower process than expected.  Some days you feel like you are making progress.  Other days you feel like you have lost whatever progress you have made.

This week's story is the final installment of the adventures of Stewart Walter, who managed to get hired on as a fireman on the A&S due to his connection with "Tater" Cartwright.  He finally progresses to become an engineer and is one of the most respected employees of the A&S.  We may hear more from him in the future.

                                                                                                MOVE TO THE RIGHT SEAT PART III

   Stewart worked as an engine watchman for a week or two and by and by he was assigned as the fireman for the roundhouse engine facility.  Now, that was certainly not an "over-the-road" assignment but it turned out to be more of a hostler's job than a fireman's position.
   The A&S had just been assigned two new switch engines, a 0-6-0 and an 0-8-0.  Both engines were leased and they were in like-new condition.  The 0-8-0 was assigned as the "yard goat" and the 0-6-0 was assigned to switch at the Sanlando Yard.  Stewart got to run the engines on night shifts because there was a shortage of qualified engineers right after WWII. 
   Stewart proved to be an excellent hostler and switchman and was soon, "Tater" Cartwright, Roundhouse Forman, recommended Stewart to the Road Forman of Engines.  Stewart took his rules test and his physical exam and was pronounced fit for duty as an engineer. 
   His first assignment was an industrial run that required him to make a run up the Ovalix with the 0-6-0 switcher.  The steady grade of 1% proved to be a challenge, especially with a green fireman, and the switcher struggled to push ten boxcars up to Summit.
   About that time, the A&S purchased an ancient 2-6-6-2 to haul pulpwood from Piney Woods to the paper mill in Jacksonville.  The mallet was an oil burner and the roundhouse crew was unfamiliar with that type of engine. 
   Stewart studied everything he could find about oil burners because he assumed the engineer with the lowest seniority would be assigned as the mallet's hogger.
   The mallet needed to be overhauled and the pipe fitters and boilermakers thought oil was so combustible that just piping it into the firebox was sufficient.  Nobody took the pains to make all the air that was drawn into the firebox mix thoroughly with the flame before it entered the flues.
   As luck would have it, Stewart drew the mallet for its first run with a fireman who had never seen an oil-burning engine.  Stewart brought the problem to the attention of the Road Forman of Engines and the next day the burner was adjusted, the firebox was sealed except for the damper, and there was no carbon in the way.  With those adjustments, Number 7 was fit to haul a string of pulpwood cars up the ovalix at about 4mph all the way to Summit.
   Stewart became recognized as a first-class engineer and it seemed like no time before he was assigned to passenger varnish, including the Florida Special.  It was during that time that he met and married Peggy Sue Baker from Tahope.  Peggy Sue gave Stewart four head of young 'uns and they all grew up to be railroaders on the L&N.       

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 02, 2021, 09:34:36 AM
You were missed yesterday Bill.....hit the therapy as hard as the doctors will let you so that you can get back as soon as possible.  :) Great story!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on May 02, 2021, 11:53:28 AM
Quote from: GPdemayo on May 02, 2021, 09:34:36 AM
You were missed yesterday Bill.....hit the therapy as hard as the doctors will let you so that you can get back as soon as possible.  :) Great story!

Ditto that.  You were missed.  Keep working at it.  We hope to see you soon!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on May 03, 2021, 12:10:50 AM
Your Honor, sorry to hear that you couldn't make the latest get together, but remember that you are in it for the long haul, don't worry about a minor setback.   Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 03, 2021, 05:51:19 AM
Greg, Bob, Jeff - Thank you for the encouragement.  I plan on making it into the shed Saturday.   My ankle has improved significantly. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 16, 2021, 08:41:02 AM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report - May 16, 2021

My Apologies for the lateness of this report. 

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad met a few minutes late at 8:45 a.m. The river scene and the new salvage yard are nearing completion.  "Quality junk" is needed for the salvage yard, but there are plenty of items available for this purpose in numerous boxes stored under the layout.  The next move is to reconfigure the track scheme in the downtown Tahope area to accommodate Bob Butt's wonderful apartment building.  The plan is a good one and will result in the creation of additional space for urban development, a goal that has always been uppermost in the minds of the Tahope City Council.  The cooperation of the railroad was the key to the success of this project.

The Board ajourned at 9:00 a.m. and fired up old Number 7, a Sierra 2-6-6-2 which is owned by the A&S and serves yoman duty hauling pulpwood and pine logs out of Piney Woods destined for distibution to lumber mills (pine logs) or to the St. Joe Paper Mill in Jacksonville (pulpwod). 

We switched  our focus to the Souhern Railroad's beautiful new E7s, which pulled a long mixed freight around and through the Midlands.  Unfortunately, a pesky short has limited the use of the Bottoms and the Ovalix.  Hopefully, the source of the short will be discovered soon and the railroad will be back in full opearation.

This week's story is a version of an old tale that emerged in railroad folklore before WWI in response to railroad management's effort to punish railroaders who participated in the railroad strike that took place in 1894.  Railroad boomers who participated in the strike would ask their superintendent for a "service letter" as an introduction when they decided to "drag up" and move on to another railroad.  Strikers would receive their service letter printed on stationery that had a watermark showing a crane with its head down, a sign not to hire the bearer of the service letter.   This watermark was known to railroaders as the crane with the broken neck.  Anyway, railroaders always come up with a plan on how to avoid management's attempts to keep them unemployed and here is a short version of one such attempt.

                                                                                   The Alternative Story of the Pocatello Night Yard Master

   Back after the turn of the century, railroads were still licking their wounds after the '94 railroad workers strike caused by Eugene Debbs.
   In those days there was plenty of thieving of property belonging to the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.  Engineers and firemen unloaded coal for nearby residents (at a price),  Roundhouse foremen sold kerosene by the barrel to businessmen,  Passenger conductors kept the lion's share of cash fares, freight conductors sold empty citrus boxcars to fruit growers for $10 each, and brakemen shook down all the 'bo money in sight.
   The Superintendent's night yardmaster, Johnny Ray (Bubba) Fisher, Newt Fisher's grandfather, was unable to reap the benefits of the extra money purloined from the A&S.  He recognized that railroads throughout the country had lost most of their personnel records during the strike and he determined to take advantage of it.  Many of the railroaders who went on strike with Debbs were "blackballed" from working for any railroad.  Boomers who were on strike needed a favorable service letter from a class 1 carrier in order to get a job.  The service letter requirement was designed by the railroads to eliminate the entire genus of boomers.
   Bubba decided to provide service letters to any railroader who paid him $5.00.  The letter, written on official Atlantic & Southern stationery, certified that the "bearer" had been the Night Yardmaster at Sanlando with exemplary service.  In no time, thousands of these letters flooded railroad personnel offices. 
   It was a sweet racket while it lasted.  Inevitably, these yardmaster letters were bought by the kind of characters who were literally incapable of switching a carload of perfume out of a train of manure, and so, Sanford Night Yardmaster letters became a synonym for loud-mouthed incompetence wherever railroaders gathered to switch a cut of boxcars.
   And what happened to Bubba Fisher?  He was asked to hit the cinders and find himself another line of work.  As he wandered off of A&S property, he was heard to say, "Well, I almost did something and got away with it, but I got caught.  He caught the local mixed train and returned to the Bottoms to feast on a supper of fried catfish, grits, hushpuppies and corn squeezins.  Easy come, easy go.     
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on May 16, 2021, 09:40:59 AM
Great story.  Glad to hear you got to visit the A&S again, Judge.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 16, 2021, 10:45:21 AM
Great story Bill.....not able to visit with y'all yesterday, but I hope to see you next time. :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on May 16, 2021, 10:49:28 AM
Love the story!  Glad to hear the Board of Directors of the A&S was able to meet yesterday.  Hope to get down there again for a visit real soon.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on May 18, 2021, 11:12:38 AM
Great story, I look forward to reading them..

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on May 19, 2021, 11:26:20 AM
Your Honor, so glad that you have made it back to the train shed, it's great that you are getting around again.   Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on May 20, 2021, 10:09:10 AM
Judge


Great story and great to hear that you are back attending the Board of Directors meetings.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tom.boyd.125 on May 20, 2021, 11:36:06 AM
Your Honor,
Great story and news that your recovery is progressing...
Tommy
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 21, 2021, 01:35:16 PM
Thank you, Tom.  Glad to hear you liked the story.  Tomorrow's story is one that relates a true experience from my days on the bench. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 22, 2021, 02:09:01 PM
Saturday Report May 22, 2021.

The Board of Directors met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  An inspection of the progress made in the past week was made (See Tom's Atlantic & Southern Build Thread for pix.)  As a member of the board and the official ticket agent of the railroad, your reporter can say that the section of the City of Tahope located south of the St. Johns River is coming along nicely.  The river scene itself is nearly completed.  A final coat is going to be applied atop the river itself and a few Florida "cattails" will be planted at the river's edge.  The salvage yard is very interesting and Tom puts just enough local flavor around it to make it a Central Florida scene.  Who would have thought a salvage yard would become one of many focal points on the railroad?

We decided to run SAL power for the morning.  The first choice was an E7 A/B lashup pulling a heavy freight.  Unfortunately, these engines had not been run for many months and they kept separating due to faulty (cheap) non-Kay Dee couplers.  The RIP track gang will fix that problem before the next meeting.

Next we switched power to a set of GP's and the freight traveled throuhout the Midlands without difficulty.

The jeeps ran low on fuel so they were spotted at the Sanlando diesel refueling tanks and an F3 A-B-A lashup took over the job as head end power. 

About that time, Greg DeMayo arrived on the scene and shortly thereafter we drifted to Del Dio's  for lunch. 

I have decided to occasionallyy relate a few stories that happeaned during my 26 years on the bench.  I will try to somehow fit them into the life and times of the City of Tahope and the Atlantic & Southern Railroad. 

Today's story is the first example of one of my true tales.  The bailiff in the story was assigned to my court for several years.  The lawyers called him "Lurch," behind his back, but he was a really good guy and he was with me so long he knew what I was going to do before i did it. 

                                                                                                    NEW YORK LAWYER IN TAHOPE

   One day, Officer Poovey was patrolling Highway 441 west of downtown Tahope, when he spied a speeding 1949 Cadillac heading towards Orlando.  Beings how Officer Poovey was armed with his ticket pad, he gave chase to the speeding vehicle. 
   Poovey activated his revolving red light and pulled the vehicle over.  As he approached the vehicle, he noticed there were two occupants and the vehicle displayed a New York license plate.  He said to the driver, "May I see your permit to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the State of Florida?"  The driver showed him his driver's license.  It turned out the driver and the passenger were brothers from Brooklyn.   
   The interior of the vehicle smelled like bourbon to Officer Poovey, which justified further investigation.  "Step out of the car, please," said Poovey, and the two occupants of the car complied.  He patted down both individuals "for officer safety" and discovered the passenger had an envelope in his jacket pocket that had marijuana in it. Poovey said to the driver, "Let me smell your breath, boy.  Man, you smell like the inside of Trackside Tavern on Sunday morning.  I'm placing you boys under arrest for possession of that wacky terbacky and for DUI.  I figger the one was drinkin' and drivin' and the other was aiding and abetting by bartending."
   The two arrestees were taken to the Tahope County Jail and booked on the charges.  They posted bond and were scheduled for a court date before Judge Elvin Thomas two weeks later for a pretrial conference.
   Judge Thomas held his pretrials on a "cattle call" docket and his courtroom was crowded with over 100 defendants, all awaiting a trial date.  Judge Thomas called the cases in alphabetical order and soon came to the cases of Joe and Michael Miller.  Judge Thomas figured the cases were related so he called both defendants to the bench. 
         Now, these two guys looked like they were from Brooklyn.  They had dark, straight hair combed back on the sides and their ashen color made them look like they had just gotten out of jail.  You know, the kind of guys with excess body hair who shave in the morning and need another shave by 10:00 a.m.   
   Judge Thomas said, "Well, boys, I see you have felony drug charges here and the docket does not say you have a lawyer.  Are you going to obtain a local attorney to help keep you out of the prison on these charges?"
        The older of the two, Joe, said, "Don't worry about us none, your honor, we're going to hire our lawyer from New York."  Judge Thomas said, "And who might that be?"  Joe replied, loud enough for all of the defendants seated in the courtroom to hear, "My cousin Vinny."
   Naturally, there was considerable snickering from the audience.  Judge Thomas rapped his gavel and called for silence.  And about that time, his bailiff, Deputy Charlie Boatwright, who looked a lot like Boris Karloff, started toward Joe.  Judge Thomas said, "You know, boy, my confidence in your determination to comply with the conditions of your bond has eroded to where there is no confidence at all.  Your bond is revoked, and you are remanded to custody.  Boatwright was right behind Joe by then and he slapped the handcuffs on Joe and whisked him out of the courtroom.  Naturally, the snickering in the courtroom stopped immediately.
   Judge Thomas looked at Michael and asked, "What about you?"  Michael responded, "I'm going to hire a local lawyer."  "Good idea," said Judge Thomas.  I am going to reschedule this here hearing for next month to give you boys time to hire a lawyer.  Now, son, you just step over to the clerk's desk and sign your notice for your new hearing date. 
           As Michel was signing his notice, he turned to Judge Thomas and said, "But judge, my brother has the keys to the car."  "You'll have to take that up with the sheriff," said the judge.  "He has the keys now.  If worse comes to worse, the Atlantic & Southern has a train going as far as Jacksonville tomorrow morning."
   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 23, 2021, 09:24:21 AM
To bad the boys from NYC got caught way back then and not now.....they could have claimed they had the wacky weed for medical purposes and gotten off.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 23, 2021, 10:02:09 AM
Greg - In the real story, the brothers were caught with their medicinal cocaine, not marijuana.  But since the A&S exists in 1950-51, I had to use marijuana for the story since there was little or no cocaine in Florida at that time.  In fact, my little friends and I thought marijuana was a drug that only existed in New York.  How times do change.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on May 29, 2021, 09:23:57 AM

Saturday Report – May 29, 2021

There is no formal Saturday Report today because today is the day for the Babe to make the trip to Mount Dora for the monthly hair-do. 

There is a story.

                                                                                                   Roundhouse Forman of Locomotives

"Tater" Cartwright became the new Forman of Locomotives on the A&S when the Superintendent of Motive Power promoted him.  He replaced a much loved and respected railroader who held the position for over 25 years. 
   Surely everyone remembers "Tater."  He's the young chap whose girlfriend is Peaches Weaver, daughter of Rose Weaver Forester, who recently divorced her second husband, J. Pierpont Forester, so she could become an item with Officer Poovey of the Tahope Police Department. 
   Anyway, "Tater" was very excited about his promotion and all the responsibility it entailed.  Working in a roundhouse requires a variety of skills and can be quite dangerous.  There are machinists, electricians, plumbers, welders, boilermakers, and other trades at work and the Forman of Locomotives has to settle petty disputes that arise when the trades cannot decide who is responsible for a certain job.  He also has to set priorities and sometimes get covered with grease and oil while supervising a job. 
   Roundhouse workers are full of mischief and they tend to pull pranks on new apprentices. 
   Out on the RIP track, the "car toads" are responsible for putting cars needing repair back in order.  The apprentice "car toad" is usually the butt of pranks.  One of the duties of a "car toad" apprentice is to carry his superior's toolbox about and often it is nailed to the floor of a boxcar when the superior orders him to fetch it.  While the apprentice tugs away in vain, the superior hollers for the box with feigned impatience, expressing amazement for the delay.
   An apprentice is frequently sent to the storeroom to obtain a "dogin pin," a "wallakoo brace," or a "dozen rubber reamers."  He receives a stern balling out from the storekeeper for his lack of brainpower. 
   "Car toads" often have to practically rebuild boxcars and replacing the sills under the floor when they are damaged or rot with age is a routine assignment.  It takes about six men to carry a new sill on their shoulders from the lumber yard to the RIP track.  The new apprentice is placed in the middle of the sill and, on signal, the other five "car toads" duck down so the entire weight of the sill falls upon the apprentice. 
   One of the jobs that take special talent is replacing a tire on the wheel of a steam locomotive.  First, as you can imagine, the drivers of a steam engine are heavy and hard to handle no matter the size of the thing.  And changing a tire is not like changing the tire on an automobile.
   For newcomers, and diesel men who weren't around during steam days, a steam locomotive driver has a wheel and a separate tire, which is the part that actually touches the rail.  This tire eventually shows wear from use or misuse.
   The tire of a steam engine's wheel is not an inflatable item.  It is a steel rim that is machined to a specific diameter, slightly less than the diameter of the driver.  It is heated until it is white-hot, which expands the tire enough for it to be removed or installed on the wheel. When the tire cools, it shrinks onto the driver. 
   This tire-changing operation took place in hundreds of roundhouses every day during the days of steam and there are a few places, that keep the skills necessary to change a tire even today.
   "Tater" Cartwright's promotion, and its significant pay increase, will probably motivate him to finally propose to Peaches, who moved in with "Tater" when her mother moved Officer Poovey into the family home.
   Any of the loyal readers of this report who wish to view a video of how a tire is changed on the driver of a steam locomotive can access a video at the sites below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1EpBFebrfo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im7FcwpbO1A
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on May 29, 2021, 10:43:46 AM
Great episode Bill.....love the tool box nailed to the floor & enjoyed the videos, thanks.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 05, 2021, 04:02:52 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report - June 6, 2021

The Board of Directors met at 8:30 a.m.  The Director of Maintenance, Will Fixer, located the elusive short which had been troubling operations.  Turns out, it wasn't a wiring problem after all.  A passenger car spotted on a storage track in the Bottoms had fouled a turn-out.  Simple problems sometimes take a lot of time to resolve.

A progress inspection revealed 99% completion of the project from the Tahope River South past the Cirus Processing Plant.  The newest addition to the area is a Cuban (Spanish) Restaurant named Gusano Loco. It features classic Cuban dishes including Chicken and Yellow rice, Shrimp Valdez, and Trout Russian Style, along with Cuban Coffee and hand-rolled Tampa Cigars.

The directors decided to upgrade the railroad's SAl Baldwin Centipede diesels with WOW Sound.  The units will be delivered to the Ucita Yard for the upgrade next week.  Meanwhile, one of the Baldwins was put through its paces.  These diesels suffer from the same troubles as the prototypes, but the addition of WOW Sound should take care of most objections.  Hopefully, some additional weight can be added.  Fifteen cars is about all they can handle unless double-headed (Yes, we have two of them.  The SAL only had 14 of these monsters, which were obsolete upon delivery.)  At least parts don't fall off while the engines are in operation.

The motive power was switched to the more reliable SAL Geeps and they traveled up the Ovalix to Summit without mishap. 

Greg DeMayo and Curt Webb arrived in time for lunch and off we went to Del Dio's before your reporter called it a day.

This week's story is derived from an article in the February 1951 Railroad Magazine.  it sort of complements last week's story about changing a tire on a steam locomotive.

                                                                                                          Newt Fisher's Close Call

A lot of activity takes place in a roundhouse and locomotive shop.  The Atlantic & Sothern's roundhouse, located in Tahope, Florida, is no exception.  All but the heaviest repairs and boiler work can be scheduled there.  Additionally, there is the car repair shop and the storehouse, which contains a variety of tools and replacement parts.  A RIP (Repair In Place) track located near the roundhouse accommodates minor repairs for both cars and locomotives. 
   As Forman of Locomotives, it is "Tater" Cartwright's job to assign locomotives to the scheduled traffic as well as the extras.  The Director of Maintenance, Will Fixer, is responsible to schedule the work each day while Ralph (Nut Splitter) Turner, the Roundhouse Forman, supervises the work and looks out for safety infractions.  The Chief of Car Repairs (Head Cartoad), Henry Tinker, supervises a gang of car repairmen who work in the car shop and on the RIP track.
   All roundhouse workers are expected to pitch in when needed to keep the motive power and rolling stock in good mechanical condition.
   One day, while helping change a tire on one of the drivers of a big locomotive, Ray Lee (Newt) Fisher, came near getting killed.  Changing a tire requires technique, which Newt sadly lacked, and it takes four skilled men to balance a driver weighing several tons and mount it on the rack used when the tire is heated white-hot so the tire will expand and can be removed. 
   Rolling the driver into place, even with the help of a crane, is dangerous work.  As always, accidents happen quickly and without warning.  While maneuvering the six-foot driver into place, it struck the rack at too great an angle and skidded off of the axel hub, throwing all of the men off-balance.  The driver crashed towards the roundhouse floor and came within an inch of cutting Newt in half.  Fortunately, the most serious injuries were minor cuts and bruises. 
   Newt, visibly shaken up, took the rest of the day off and played some pool at the Trackside Tavern, a watering hole that is on occasion more dangerous than the roundhouse.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 05, 2021, 04:25:42 PM
Well, we didn't have a close call but we did have lots of fun today on the A&S RR.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on June 06, 2021, 09:41:49 AM
We sure did..... ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on June 07, 2021, 10:49:01 AM
Great story with a great ending.  Sorry I missed the festivities on Saturday.  I'll be up North the next two weekends but after that I'll try to get down for a gathering.   ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 12, 2021, 04:01:48 PM
Saturday Report - June 12, 2021.

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad met at 8:30 a.m.  The scenery construction is currently focused on the area north of the Tahope River on the peninsula on the Midlands level.  The photos posted on the Atlantic & Southern Build this past week show the progress being made.  More progress should be made this week.  The construction crew is anxious to move northward towards downtown Tahope.

We decided to clear the mainline at Summit and ran the freight spotted there down to Sanlando Yard.  Then we moved the Champion from the Bottoms to the Midlands for a run before moving it up to Summit.  The Champ is a fine-looking train.  Today's power was an ACL E7 A-B lash-up, pulling nine cars and an ACL reefer. We brought the Champ back down to the Bottoms and spotted her there until next Saturday. 

Lunch was at Del Dio's.  Then we called it a day.

There will be no story this week.  Your reporter is taking a couple of weeks off due to writer's block. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on June 15, 2021, 05:18:18 PM
The Judge forgot to mention we experienced no short circuits on Saturday. I thought it was the end of the world.  8) 8)

Tom ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on June 15, 2021, 07:25:57 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on June 15, 2021, 05:18:18 PM
The Judge forgot to mention we experienced no short circuits on Saturday. I thought it was the end of the world.  8) 8)

Tom ;D

That's because if he wrote it up, someone would think it was a "Saturday Report piece of fiction" :-)

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on June 20, 2021, 09:11:01 AM
Saturday Report - June 19, 2021 (delayed until June 20 due to inattention of the author).

The Board of Directors met at precisely 8:30 a.m.  A Coke and a diet Pepsi provided the morning pick-me-up before serious inspection of the progress on the Midlands Peninsula.  (See Tom's photos on his thread). 

The Board recognized a failure to feature Seaboard steam during our Saturday runs so The Seaboard Q-3 Mike was fired up and coupled to a twelve car freight.  The Mike easily hauled the 12 cars around the Midlands flatlands and climbed the Ovalix to Summit without a struggle.   

On the A&S, the Q-3 is a PFM USRA Pacific, modified to include flying pumps on the front of the smokebox.  Back during the day, railroaders called the Q-3's "ugly," but they really did the job for the Seaboard. In Richard Prince's book on the subject, he writes that construction began on the 118 Q-3's at ALCO's Schenectady works in 1923.  They had Vanderbilt tenders.  Some had Duplex stokers and others had Elvin stokers.  The pumps on the smokebox were cross-compound pumps.  These engines had Delta trailing trucks with Franklin boosters.  Your reporter failed to bring his camera with him to the Saturday meeting so a photograph of the Q-3 is not available at this time.  However, Dr. Google has several photos of the prototype if you inquire at Seaboard Air Line Q-3 Micado steam locomotive.

After the Q-3 was returned to its storage track, we brought up the Shark-powered coal train for a run delivering coal to the Tahope engine servicing facility. We had a bit of a problem with the Sharks derailing near the Ovalix, a problem we have not had before.  The investigation into the cause was deferred after we discovered reversing the B unit temporarily solved the problem.  A link of the video of the Sharks rolling through Sanlando is included below.

Regular readers of this report, and who follow the adventures of the Atlantic & Southern know that the A&S president and the Pennsy's president came to an agreement  whereby the Pennsy would provide a weekly coal train to Tahope County and a Florida edition of the Broadway Limited during "the season." 

Sharks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUGDErWSKV4

Broadway Limited
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vD0uwakaHo&t=19s

The Board adjourned the meeting at 11:00 and traveled by automobile (no AMTRAK service available - but what's new?) to Del Dio's for lunch. 

No story this week and no report next week due to the monthly hair appointment in Mount Dora.

However, your reporter made some remarks on Tom's Atlantic & Southern Build Thread yesterday that are sort of a story. 

Back in two weeks.



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 03, 2021, 02:43:30 PM
Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report – July 3, 2021.
   
   Your reporter is happy to be back at his 1950 Underwood typewriter, providing updated information about the adventures of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad and the many people who make the railroad profitable.
   The Board of Directors convened at 8:30 a.m.
   A tour was taken to inspect the new scenery covering the south end of the Tahope Peninsula (See http://modelersforum.com/index.php?topic=5836.180 pp 13-16. 
   The A&S took delivery of two separate orders of diesel-electric units this morning.
Two FEC F units that had undergone repairs at the Ucita Shops were returned to service. 
        Also, two SAL DR-12-8-1500/2 Baldwin Centipedes were delivered after a motor power conversion to TCS Wow Sound, including two 4-watt high base speakers installed in each unit.  The sound improvement is significant.   
         Baldwin's Centipedes had a checkered history.  They were built between 1945 and 1948.  Originally, Baldwin built two demonstrator units which they sent out to entice the railroads to buy.  The two demonstrators (originally ordered by Union Pacific Railroad as #998 and #999) were never sold and were eventually scrapped. The Centipedes were essentially obsolete during production, unable to compete with the more advanced locomotive design and technology offered by EMD. Reliability was an ongoing problem, and as they were built one at a time (like steam locomotives) each one was a bit different in the placement of wiring and equipment, which complicated even routine maintenance.  These locomotives required almost constant maintenance and were notorious for oil leaks from the engines. 
PRR bought 24 of these locomotives, SAL bought 14, and 14 were sold to Mexico's NdeM.  The Centipedes were originally designed for passenger service.  The PRR units were eventually derated and relegated to helper service. The SAL used them in freight service.  Most PRR and SAL units were scrapped by the early 1960s, while NdeM units lasted slightly longer and were in service until the late 1960s. No Centipedes are known to exist today. The Centipedes were the only diesels Baldwin produced that had two prime movers in each unit.  Each engine generated 1500 hp.  The Centipedes had pneumatic throttles, which precluded MU connections with most other locomotives.  SAL had their units rebuilt with EMD electric throttles.
         Video of Centipedes in action can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi7GXjS0EG0
The two Centipedes leased to the Atlantic & Southern were not placed in service today because they needed maintenance after their long trip deadheaded from the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia.  Hopefully, they will perform a regular run next Saturday.
        For a view of the BLI model (with inferior factory sound) see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW1_y34LxAE
       While there is no "story" this week, information from the June, 1951 Trains Magazine is offered as a substitute.  Of particular note that the average hourly wage for a railroader in 1950 was $1.57 per hour.  Your reporter's first summer job painting Orange County schools in 1960 was $1.03 per hour.  Perhaps signing on with the ACL or SAL would have been a better choice for summer employment.

                                                                                                          Railroading in June, 1951

   The March 1951 edition of Trains Magazine provided the following statistical data covering various aspects of railroading in that day.
   During 1950, the average speed of freight trains increased slightly over 1949 to 17.0 m.p.h.  Passenger trains also had a slight increase to an average of 37.4 m.p.h.
   Freight engines ran an average of 117.5 miles per day while passenger engines averaged 234.5 miles per day.
   Passenger traffic suffered a decrease from 1949 but was over the traffic in 1940 and 1929.  Passenger traffic increase was partially due to military traffic during the Korean War.
   In 1950, there were 25,415 steam locomotives owned by the railroads in the United States.  Eleven new steamers were delivered in 1950 and seventeen were ordered. 
   There were 10,276 diesel-electric locomotives owned by railroads in 1950 and 1640 were on order.  2121 units were delivered in 1950.
   The average "straight time" hourly wage for railroaders in 1950 was $1.569 per hour, up a little over $.12 per hour from 1949.
   Among the "big news" items in 1950 was U.P.'s order of ten gas turbine engines from General Electric.  U.P.'s president, A. E. Stoddard, said, "the gas turbine-electric locomotive looks promising as an addition to steam and diesel power.  Tests to date have been encouraging."  The gas turbines were expected to be delivered in late 1951. 
   1950 was also the year the first GP7s were delivered to railroads across America. 
        The T&P converted a coach into a steam generator car for use on passenger trains when freight diesels are used for power.  The car could also be used as a stationary steam-generating plant.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on July 03, 2021, 06:19:33 PM
To sharpen our historic records, Centipede's would have been built at Eddystone, PA as Baldwin moved out of Philadelphia in 1906. Eddystone is south of Philadelphia near Chester, PA.
Additionally, according to some sources, Baldwin built the first diesel electric locomotives which proved to be maintenance nightmares, perhaps a precursor of the Centipedes future. They were not delivered to the B&O which updates my belief that the B&O was the first user of DE's in the US.
Not nitpicking, trying to add a historical perspective.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 03, 2021, 10:51:32 PM
No offense taken.  I forgot the Baldwin works moved out of Philadelphia in 1906.  I guess the company was trying to foresee the famous W. C. Fields, who once said something like "In the event of my untimely demise, please place upon my marker my name, the date of my passing, and the words 'I'd rather be here than in Philadelphia.'"
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Blazeman on July 04, 2021, 08:51:55 PM
Interesting mix of transportation industry within a mile or so of the Baldwin works in Eddystone.  At the Eddystone-Chester border (Chester Creek), was Sun Shipbuilding. The Manhattan (proved feasibility of navigation over the north pole) and the  Glomar Explorer (commissioned by Howard Hughes to recover a sunken USSR sub) were built there.   Head northeast from Baldwin's about a mile and there is/was the former General Steel Castings operation that later become the site of assembly of Boeing Vertol helicopters.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 10, 2021, 01:43:18 PM
Saturday Report - July 10, 2021.

The Board of Directors met a little before 8:30 a.m. today.  Your reporter managed to swap his walker for a walking cane and made it from the driveway to the shed without much difficulty.  It seems that things improve slowly every day.

The discussion at the meeting centered on replacing the Digitrax command station.  Apparently. a Florida thunderstorm had its way with the old one.  The new command stations have significant improvements and one has been ordered.  A temporary replacement on loan from a friend allowed us to run trains today.

Which brings me to the topic of the two Balwin Centipedes, manufactured by BLI.  First, BLI should be applauded for even taking on the task of producing these unusual locomotives.  The prototypes were designed to have the front and rear trucks swivel on curves.  That does not work too well on 36" curves.  The engines get around them ok but the trucks swing too wide to look realistic.  Otherwise, we have no complaints about the operation, although installation of WOW sound and the TCS super speakers has made a great deal of difference with the sound. The metal devce that keeps the rear truck came off on one of the units and we were unable to find it.  This means a trip to BLI for repairs.  Fortunately, BLI is located a few miles north of Orlando. 

We ran the remaining Centipede coupled to our coal train and it handled it without difficulty.  A video of these engines will be produced after the second unit is repaired.

Greg DeMayo appeared shortly before lunch and, after we ran a Seaboard mixed freight for thirty minutes or so, it was time for lunch.

The January 1953 edition of Railroad Magazine had some interesting statistics provided by the Association of American Railroads, Car Service Division.  May of 1952 was the first month when diesel locomotives outnumbered steam engines as units in service.  Class 1 railroads owned 19,082 diesels and 18,489 steam engines.  (Wouldn't it be wonderful if only a few more of the newest ones had been saved.)  In May, 1952, 689 steamers were retired, which was a monthly record.  The railroads put 1149 new locos into service during the first five months of 1952 - all were diesel except for six steamers and one electric loco.  In August, 1952 212 new locomotives went into service, only two of which were steam.

This week's story also has its origin in the January, 1953 edition of Railroad Magazine, cover price 35 cents.  I have engaged in selective compression and moved the story from the far west to Tahope County but it is a kind of universal railroad story.  A story involving callboys was previously posted on this forum, but callboys were in interesting vanishing type and were unknown in years after WWI.  But the A&S Railroad uses callboys to this day in order to save expenses.  The kids that were callboys in 1950 in Tahope weren't paid much more than kids before the Great War.  My dad was a callboy in Lakeland, Florida, during his high school days.  He said they were paid 50 cents a day, plus "tips" in 1917.

                                                                                          Back in the Day – Callboys Revisited

   During the summer of his junior year in high school, Archie Tinker and his best friend, Randy Miller, applied to be night Callboys for the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.  They were hired because their fathers were well-known and respected employees of the A&S. 
   Things were busy that summer and the A&S had a  contract to provide callers for all of the railroads that serviced the Tahope Division.  The night shift callboys worked from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., seven days a week during the three summer months.  They were paid the handsome sum of $1.00 per day for their service.
   There was more to calling crews than knocking on doors at the local hotel.  A number of railroaders lived locally and the callboys had to know each of their addresses.  Travel was by bicycle.   When a call was made, the crew member had to be awakened and was required to sign the callbook acknowledging the call. 
    Callboys charged an extra dollar to report a crew member as "unable to find" if the crew member was "sick," in violation of Rule G, or otherwise engaged. 
    In the busy fruit season from June through July, it was common to have up to 30 trains depart during the night trick.  This kept the two callboys busy on most nights. 
    In early August of that year, there was a hurricane that made landfall just south of Miami.  It was a big'un and it did serious damage to Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties before it turned northeast and zeroed on the Carolinas. 
    Archie and Randy learned of the hurricane from the night telegraph operator, who warned them of incoming extra passenger traffic.  Sure enough, seven extra passenger trains were assembled in haste and scheduled as sections of the City of Miami, the Champion, and the Dixie Flagler.  The hurricane washed out the FEC mainline south of Palm Beach so the extras were rerouted over ACL tracks through Tahope County. The extra traffic required another 35 crew members to handle the extra varnish.  Both of the boys were "plum tuckered out" by dawn that morning.  They broke their record and made 64 calls that shift.
    A number of the train crew members were "Boomers" with questionable credentials.  However, during the summer season, the railroads took anyone who had railroad experience with few questions asked.  Archie remembered calling a brakeman at the Imperial Hotel one night and noticing his artificial leg standing by his bed.  The brakie signed the call book and told Archie the only thing he couldn't do was dance.
    Sometimes there was a break in the action and Archie and Randy would hang out at the roundhouse.  They rode with the hostlers who were spotting the steam engines for their runs on the ready track.  One thing led to another and soon these would-be hostlers were running engines when "Tater" Cartwright, the Foreman of Engines, was not looking.
    One day while Randy was spotting a steamer on the ready track, his brakeman fell asleep on the pilot and did not throw the yard switch.  The steamer headed for a boxcar full of strawberries and it collided with the boxcar coupler with a bang.  The impact caused twenty boxes of strawberries to fall out of the boxcar's open door and land on the ground with a smushing sound. 
    Foreman Cartwright was fit to be tied and threatened to fire both boys.  However, they convinced him that he could not find and train replacements who knew the crews and where they lived or could usually be found, especially not at $1.00 a day.  So, the boys promised to quit hosteling until they received the necessary training and experience and all was well once again on the A&S.

















Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on July 10, 2021, 03:10:03 PM
Another great story.  Glad to hear your getting better day by day. 


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on July 11, 2021, 09:14:39 AM
Enjoyed another yarn Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on July 11, 2021, 09:35:13 AM
Hey Judge:

Thanks for posting the report.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on July 11, 2021, 10:10:31 AM
Great story Bill.  Glad to hear that you're making progress on your mobility.  Also glad to hear that the A&S is up and running again!  See ya' soon.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on July 11, 2021, 10:16:06 AM
Judge


Another fine story,  as always, thank you for sharing it.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on July 11, 2021, 01:48:08 PM
Another wonderful story Bill,
And very happy to hear that you continue to make progress on your recovery from back surgery !!
All the best and be well,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 11, 2021, 03:01:56 PM
Thank y'all for your kind comments. 

I have mentioned that the A&S acquired (leased) two Baldwin Centipedes from the SAL for heavy freight service.  They have been repowered with WOW sound to enhance the 2 Baldwin 606C prime movers, which develop 1500 hp each.  The engines had the highest tractive effort of any engine produced before 1945, with 205,000 starting and 105,600 continuous tractive effort.  The engines were 91 feet long and weighed in at 593.71 tons.  No wonder they were so hard on the rails.  The engines were basically assembled by hand like steam engines.  Electrical devices and other mechanical details were placed differently in different locomotives, making maintenance a nightmare.  In addition, the engines leaked oil like crazy, which added to their troubles.

The A&S locos were deadheaded from the SAL's major repair facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, and, by the time they made it to Tahope, one of the units developed major problems with the rear truck. (It fell off and the retaining ring is missing.)  The A&S Head of Maintenance, Will Fixer, claims getting parts should not be difficult but the unit will have to be deadheaded to the BLI shop in Ormand Beach for repairs.  The stockholders will be kept informed of repair progress.

One feature of WOW sound that we like is the ability to set the prime movers in locomotives with two engines (E units, Baldwin Centipedes) to respond out of sync so one engine responds a secod or two after the other.  It makes for realistic sound, especially when starting or "notching up." 

I became friends with a bunch of old railroaders who had a club called the Coastliners back in the late 80's.  One of these guys actually was an engineer who ran ACL's famous 4-8-4's.  Most of them had some experience with steam and one guy told me when the EMD E units first arrived the engines ran in sync but soon they ran more independently.  I was told before they worked the bugs out of the E units they used to couple three of them together, hoping two of them would run. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on July 11, 2021, 03:41:22 PM
I never realized early diesels had such reliability problems!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on July 12, 2021, 03:00:52 PM
Hey Judge:

Wow they must have been some engines. Thanks for the report.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on July 13, 2021, 07:28:59 PM
I've read quite a bit about the feats of ATSF Diesel Maintainers assigned to ride FT A-B-B-A sets across the southwest during WWII - fixing all kinds of things on the move, including changing out power assemblies. I expect that experience contributed a lot to EMD's market dominance in the 20 years after WWII.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: nycjeff on July 13, 2021, 11:56:09 PM
Your Honor, I'm so glad that you are doing better getting around. Back surgery is no small thing. Also, great story !  Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 26, 2021, 03:59:25 PM
Missing Saturday Reports. 

Sorry about the misssing Saturday reports for the last two Saturdays.  I have had compooter problems recently and my compooter is in the shop.  I hope to have it back before Saturday this week.  I was able to get an old compooter up and running this mornning and I am using it to compose this missive. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PaulS on July 27, 2021, 08:21:36 AM
Glad to hear it was only compooter issues Judge and nothing more ...
Hope you are back on line soon, and that your back is coming along as planned
be well,
--Paul
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on July 27, 2021, 08:44:41 AM
Phew!
Glad it's the computer(s) acting up or failing and not Your Honor!
Had us worried, sir.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 27, 2021, 03:24:14 PM
I want to thank all of you who thought my absence from the Forum was for health reasons. 

I am told by my many doctors that I am recovering as expected from back surgery and my vitals are better than someone much younger.  My cardiologist said I was good for another decade. 

Thanks for showing concern.  I am using a backup compooter today but I expect my other compooter to be returned today.

Ever wondered how EMD, ALCO, and Baldwin delivered new diesels to railroads and trained crews on how to operate them?  I'll try to cover this subject next Saturday.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on July 27, 2021, 04:12:06 PM
Glad your body is doing better than your compooter!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on July 31, 2021, 05:16:37 PM
Saturday Report - July 31, 2021 - Atlantic & Southern Railroad

The Board of Directors met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The A&S took delivery of the new Walthers Mainline ACL SW7 switcher.  The price is right for this little jewel.  It looks great and easily pulled a freight train consisting of 10 cars and a brass caboose up the one percent grade on the ovalix from the Midlands to Summit.  The downside is the inferior Locsond decoder.  This sound system would be perfect for those who are satisfied with train sets, but it fails to impress the officials of the A&S.  The unit will be sent to the Shops in Tampa for conversion to TCS WOW Sound.  While on the subject of new deliveries, the A&S recently acquired an S-12 Baldwin switcher manufactured by Bowser.  The unit looks great and the WOW Sound decoder picks up the clatter of the Baldwin prime mover perfectly.  The unit is decorated for the C of G and it will pull more cars up the ovalix than the SW7.

Since we were running Central of Georgia engines, we switched to a C of G SD9 and moved our freight train through downtown Tahope.  As the train returned towards the mainline, the crew stopped at sweaty Betty's Diner for lunch.  Bob Butts arrived about that time and we took or lunch break at Del Dio's restaurant. 

This week's story involves the delivery of diesel locomotives to railroads in the days when steam was still king.  The article for which your reporter is indebted for the information contained in the story was published in Trains Magazine, November 1980, by a retired EMD diesel instructor.  That job must have been quite an adventure, at least when deliveries were to railroaders who had never been around a diesel before.

                                                                                                                  DELIVERING EMD'S LOCOMOTIVES

The Atlantic Coast Line took delivery of passenger diesels (E6s) 1940.  They reigned as the power for name trains along with E7s and many of them remained in service right up until AMTRAK took over passenger operations.

The E6s performed well enough but there were problems with reliability until some of the bugs were worked out.  In those days, railroaders used to say they would couple up three E6s to a passenger train and hope that two of them would make it to the end of the run.  Another problem was caused when the locomotive traveled through a rainstorm, which happens regularly in Florida.  The louvers regulating air intake into the engine room were supposed to be automatic but they had the habit of sticking in the open position.  Entering the engine room in the rain while the train was making 70 mph was like standing in a hurricane.  This problem was solved as the engines came in for repairs and maintenance.

E7s began to arrive in 1945.  The E7s had the bulldog nose which allowed nose-to-nose MU connections and their engine room was redesigned to allow dynamic brakes.  Not all of the bugs were worked out of the E7s upon delivery.  Passenger locomotives in those days had to have a steam boiler which drove the heating and air conditioning in the passenger cars.  The generators would work for maybe half an hour before giving trouble.  The system was complicated and difficult to understand.  Boiler failure resulted in the resurrection of ACL's Pacific locomotives during the first six months of E7 operation.

In the early days of diesel delivery, crews used to steam engines had to undergo considerable retraining.  Fortunately, EMD had a plan.  Instructors arrived with the diesel orders and they stayed until the engine crews became proficient in the operation of the new locomotives.  Many of these EMD employees were former railroaders who had been trained on the ins and outs of the diesel's engine and electric system.
 
In the beginning of diesel delivery, the new locomotives arrived deadheaded behind other locomotives, sometimes steam engines.  A baggage car accompanied the diesels, full of parts and equipment that EMD provided to the new owners.  Sometimes, a sleeper was provided for the comfort of the onboard instructional staff and the maintenance instructors.

The first day of instruction involved the orientation of the new locomotives.  Engineers who were used to driving steam engines were taught basic things such as "This is the headlight switch.  This is the throttle – it has eight notches.  When you push the throttle away from you, the engine goes faster.  This is the brake system."  Railroad crews liked some aspects of diesel operation – they could wear street clothes to work instead of greasy overalls and diesels did not burn coal so worrying about cinders became a thing of the past.

One of the problems steam engineers had to overcome was the fact that when the throttle on a diesel was closed so the train could drift into a station, there was considerably less friction working to reduce speed than on a steam locomotive, with its huge drivers, side rods, and other moving parts.  Many a new diesel driver overshot a station by failing to apply brakes sooner than his usual practice.

The job of being an EMD instructor was interesting and, at least at the beginning of dieselization, challenging.  Conversion from steam to diesel-electric had its challenges for many railroaders and some of them groused about the minimal level of skill it took to run an E unit as compared to a steamer.  One of the complaints made by EMD instructors was that deliveries to southern railroads always seemed to be in the summer and deliveries to northern railroads always seemed to be in the winter. However, the job allowed instructors to travel around the country and many of them worked for EMD until retirement.


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on July 31, 2021, 07:52:44 PM
Great to have you back "on the bench" or behind a repaired PC Your Honor.
Saturday's struggling to get back to normal.


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 01, 2021, 09:58:28 AM
Lots of good info about the steam to diesel era Bill, good yarn.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on August 01, 2021, 10:04:38 AM
Judge - Interesting information on the steam diesel transition period. I imagine there was quite a bit of "grousing" amongst the steam guys their lessons.  Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on August 01, 2021, 02:43:47 PM
Hey Judge:

Glad to hear you are doing well.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 07, 2021, 09:23:24 AM
Saturday August 8, 2021.

There was no meeting of the Atlantic & Southern Board of Directors this morning because it is time for the babe's monthly trip to Mount Dora for her hair appointment.

However, there is a story this week and it is an interesting one. Your reporter's wife of nearly 46 years, Cindy, included in her Christmas gifts this year a copy of a Trains Magazine publication entitiled "Real Storries of the Rails."  The book includes a number of stories, some of which directly trace historical matters involving the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.  One of the stories invlove a Coast LIne Pacific locomotive numbered 1516.  That number happens to be the number of one of the engines that regularly runs through the whimsical swamp known as Tahope County, Florida.  I have condensed (selectively compressed) the story to fit within my Saturday Report limits, but I think you will get the idea of what it was like to be a green as green gets fireman in 1947.  Note:  The location of this tale has been changed to fit it into Central Florida.  Much better than on the old AB&C in Alabama.

And, as a special treat, a video of 1516 in action pulling through the station in Sanlando is included courtesy of Langford-Eaton Railway Productions.

                                                                                                                  Firing ACL 1516 on the Southland in 1947.

   The regular fireman called in sick and Franklin Smith's name came up on the extra board for the Southland's run.  Smith, who had just signed on as a fireman, was a green as green gets.  He knew he was entrusted with great responsibility firing on a crack varnish like the Southland.  So, on that foggy night in December, he climbed up into the cab of ACL 1516 and prepared for what would turn out to be a memorable ride. 
   The 205.5-mile trip began in Jacksonville Florida, and terminated in the division point at Lakeland. From there a different crew and a different engine would pull the Southland into St. Petersburg and points south to Ft. Myers.   
   The engineer, Russel Taylor, called to Franklin above the sound of 1516's boiler noise and said he was worried about the engine.  There had been trouble with the blower on the last run.  1516 was a little different from the other USRA 1500's in that during her last shopping her cylinders had been made smaller in an experiment to save fuel.  Engineers found that unless the reverse lever was well forward, a touch of the blower was needed to to maintain 210 lbs. pressure even when the engine was working.   Taylor told Franklin he would "run her light" and instructed hm to keep the blower on enough to maintain pressure. 
   Taylor got the highball and gave the chime whistle a couple of short blasts as the engine began to move down the main towards Palatka. 
   The fire looked nice and level with no clinkers so Franklin gave it a few scoops as Russel increased speed.  About that time, a thick fog closed in.  The headlight provided no visibility as 1516 cleared past the outskirts of the city at 60 mph.  Franklin cut in the stoker and hoped he could see the order board and catch the hoop at Palatka.
   Russel motioned to Franklin that he was about to shut her off for the slow order over the St. Johns River drawbridge.  When the noise of the exhaust died down, Franklin asked Russel how he knew where he was considering they could not see ten feet in front of the engine.  Russel replied "I watch the ground just below the cab and I've been over this route so many times that I know by the way the engine acts just where I am."  Russel explained that there were 38 dips between Jacksonville and Palatka, and he knew every one of them.  Franklin became apprehensive upon hearing what he was going to experience going through dips in the track while trying to fire a bucking steam locomotive. 
   The schedule called for the first meet to be at St. Augustine. ACL freight 210 was supposed to be in the hole awaiting the Southland to pass through.  But when their train arrived at St. Augustine, Franklin could not see 210 because of the fog. 
   When they arrived at St. Augustine, they were doing over 60 mph and ran over some torpedos.  Number 210 was in the hole as expected, but ten or more freight cars were fouling the mainline up ahead.  Russel hit the air and the train gradually slowed.  Russel hoped 210 would clear behind them and allow them not to stop, but that didn't happen.  The engine finally came to a stop a few feet from 210's hind shack, who was waiving his flag with all his might.  Franklin worried that the rapid deceleration may have disturbed some of the passengers, who were by that time enjoying ACL's famous French toast breakfast in the diner.
   The Southland proceeded on to Palatka and things began to happen with 1516.  The pressure began to drop: 205 – then 200 – then 190.  Clinkers were building up in the firebox.  Franklin shook the grates to no avail.  Russel said, "Leave the fire alone or we will be in trouble."  "We're losing steam," Franklin retorted.  "What are we gonna do?" " Let her ride into Deland.  With 150 pounds we are alright and you can clean up the fire when we make the passenger stop.  Shut off the stoker and use the scoop.  Spread the coal around and keep that damn blower on as hard as she'll go."
   The train raced towards Dothan with Franklin staggering all over the cab, occasionally missing the fire door completely and spreading coal all over the place.  Russel made a comment about greenhorn firemen as they finally approached Deland with 180 pounds of pressure. 
   Russel decided to lend a hand with the fire when he realized the pressure had dropped down to 150 pounds.  Franklin had inadvertently left the injector on and cold water was flowing into the boiler.  Russel shut off the feedwater pump and gave Franklin – the questionable fireman – a baleful eye.  By now, there were hot clinkers all over the deck and when Franklin shook the grates again half the fire dropped onto the tracks.  It took both of them to level the fire. 
   By then, the pressure registered 160 pounds and Russel said, "I don't give a damn if you only have 10 pounds, we have to get this train moving."  1516 reluctantly edged off and Franklin worked the fire.  The pressure was climbing and it looked like they were going to make it.
   As the train approached Sanford, the blower pipe broke and steam pressure began to fall again.  Russel said he would try to fix it at the next stop seventeen miles ahead when they stopped for water.  By the time they spotted under the water spout the pressure was down to 180 pounds. 
   Russel crawled out on the boards and attempted to repair the blower.  After ten long minutes, the conductor approached the engine and said, "Just what are you two monkeys doing to my train?  Let's get the hell out of here. We're thirty minutes late already.'  So 1516 shuffled off with Russel and Franklin hoping they could muster up enough steam to make the last 54 miles. 
   When they finally pulled into the Lakeland station, the division superintendent met them and he was not happy.  They were 45 minutes late and had delayed every train on the line.  Fraklin figured the fault would land on his shoulders and he calculated that unemployment compensation would only amount to $53.00 a week. 
   The next morning Franklin was called into the Superintendent's office and he was prepared for the worst.  However, the Superintendent said, "Russel told me you did a good job under the circumstances.  However, I'm going to assign you to the yard goat until you get more experience."   
   Franklin gladly fired the 0-4-0 yard goat for the next six months.  It could only move a few cars at a time but it ran on a teaspoon of coal and the daily run was to tend to the industries in downtown Lakeland and Bartow.  Franklin was finally allowed to go back to firing on the mainline and his memory of that night on the Southwind faded over time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ2l2gXLQ-8         
 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on August 07, 2021, 11:07:29 AM
Thanks Judge for our Saturday story. Exciting!  Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on August 07, 2021, 11:18:45 AM
Great story!  Nice video as well.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on August 07, 2021, 01:13:30 PM
It's good to read a story where the superintendent is not an a-hole.


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 07, 2021, 04:34:29 PM
Fun story Bill..... :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 07, 2021, 04:51:09 PM
Bill,

Great story and did you notice #1516 exhaust is out of sync. We need to send it to the shop for an adjustment.  :-[

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 07, 2021, 07:50:20 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 09, 2021, 06:17:07 AM
Tom - 1516's exhaust wasn't out of sync.  I neglected to mention that while she was in the shop having her cylinders made smaller, the ACL decided to add a third cylinder as part of the experiment.  i suspect the powers that be will decide the extra maintenance isn't worth it and the third cylinder will be removed next Saturday. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: MAP on August 09, 2021, 09:13:07 AM
Excellent story Bill.  Always fun to read!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 09, 2021, 03:45:13 PM
Mark - Thanks for reading my whimsical missives.

Curt- I will see you Saturday.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 14, 2021, 03:43:36 PM
Saturday Report - August 14, 2021. 

The Board of Directors met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The main topic of discussion was ideas on what the passenger station might look like on the Summit level.  We reviewed the station on Cliff Power's Magnolia Route for ideas and, while we were at it, we took a look at Cliff's new layout, Cumberland & Ohio Valley.  Its amazing how much progress Cliff has made in two years.  Fortunately for us, Cliff has published numerous photographs which can be seen at the link below.

                                                                                                https://www.magnoliaroute.com/building-the-cov.html

Your reporter made an inspection tour of the substantial progress that has been made in the past two weeks.  Tom's thread contains the photos.  The next eight-foot section has been constructed at Summit level and, having noticed a certain amount of instability, the civil engineers have devised a solution in the form of additional bracing to solve the problem. 

Below the new extension, the City of Tahope is taking shape.  The courthouse/jail facility is under construction along with a merchant's row.  The bail bondsman has already opened shop in anticipation of new business.  It is all very exciting.  Your reporter's imagination is getting ahead of the game.  He is imagining passenger trains backing around the 50" curve onto one of the six pasenger stubbs, which are covered by passenger platforms (it rains a lot in Florida.)  But that is probably a year off.

The idea for this week's story came from a book entitled"Real Stories of the Rails" published by Trains Magazine.

                                                                                                              Newt Fisher's Ride on the Mount Dora Special

This week's story returns us to the adventures of Newt Fisher.  Newt, you will remember, is the son of Luke Fisher who lives in one of the shacks on Eaton's curve. (Sse Inhabitants of Eaton's Curve on page 8 ).  Luke makes his living catching blue crabs on the St. Johns River during crab season and supplements his income "sweeping up" the station at Sanlando when the crabs are unavailable.  Luke has encouraged his son to try to make something of himself and Newt has only partially succeeded in that endeavor. 

Recently, Newt was hired on as a laborer, working the Sanlando Yard near Tahope.  The diesel facility at Sanlando was designed to serve F units and switch engines.  Before any trains are dispatched from Sanlando, laborers like Newt clean the cabs and engine compartments of the engines.  These laborers grew accustomed to the hostlers moving the engines from the diesel service facility to the yard before the train is assembled by the road crew. 

One early morning, the daily local passenger train, the Mount Dora Special, which ran from Sanlando to Summit with numerous stops along the way, was being assembled and the motive power, two FP7s, were being serviced at the fuel tanks near the diesel facility.  Newt Fisher climbed up into the cab of the lead unit and began his chores, cleaning the crew toilet and sweeping out the engine room.  The hostlers were busy moving the engines towards the main yard and took no notice of Newt.   Since it was early in the morning and since Newt had been out late with his new girlfriend, Mary Lou Stroker, he decided to sit down by the boiler in the trailing unit and rest his weary bones for a minute or two.  Soon, Newt drifted off to sleep.

The road crew took over the operation of the engines and coupled onto the mixed consist that made up the daily Mount Dora Special.  Neither the engineer nor the fireman knew that Newt was snoring in the second unit.  The train pulled out of Sanlando on time and picked up speed as it passed Eaton's Curve.  By the time the train began its assent on the constant 1-degree grade on the Ovalix, Newt had awakened and realized the engines were running faster than they would while puttering around the Sanlando Yard.  He high-tailed it to the cab of the lead engine and surprised the engineer with his presence.  The Special made an unsschuled stop when the train reached Summit and Newt was steered to the stationmaster's office.  Newt caught a freight back to Sanlando before noon.

The next day the shop foreman stenciled "IF FOUND, RETURN TO SANLANDO YARD" on the back of Newt's overalls. Newt, ever the but of freight yard jokes, stated, "I was supposed to sweep up but I laid down." In response, the yardmaster said, "One day's suspension without pay."  And Newt returned to The Bottoms and the arms of Mary Lou Stroker, who had just taken her weekly bath in the St.Johns River. "Wow! said Newt, that fishy smell is an improvement."


                                                                                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7rD6at8IXo


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 15, 2021, 08:22:07 AM
Funny story Bill
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 15, 2021, 10:31:57 AM
You need to be careful where you take a snooze after you party all night.....good one Bill.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 21, 2021, 03:22:14 PM
Saturday Report – August 21, 2021. 

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The president popped a diet Pepsi and your reporter opened his morning Coke. 

The main discussion involved the expansion of the scenery into and north of downtown Tahope.  The highway construction crew has been busy and the Summit level peninsula will be extended another 8 feet in the next two weeks.  Plans are being tentatively made for the placement of buildings along the main street.  Enthusiasm is high.

The A&S took delivery of a new ACL SW7 switcher and a reworked ALCO S12, both of which have TCS WOW Sound.  Surprisingly, the SW7 was able to pull a mixed freight of 17 cars and a caboose on level track.  It had no problem drifting down the Ovalix but was unable to back the train up the 1% grade.  Probably it would be more reliable with three or four fewer cars.  The S12 is much heavier and would probably pull that load up the Ovalix without difficulty.  We may try that during the next session. We also road-tested the new Baldwin C of G switcher and it pulled the mixed freight without a problem.  The A&S fleet of diesel switchers now includes two ACLs, an SAL, and a C of G.  More than a-plenty considering the A&S only has two freight yards.

There will be no Saturday Report next Saturday.

                                                                                                     The Passenger Sales Representative

Your reporter, who is the Ticket Agent for the A&S Railroad, has had a variety of assignments designed to broaden his railroad experience and to cross-train him in the event he is needed for temporary service elsewhere.

One day, in 1951, your reporter was removed from the depot and assigned to temporary service with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to fill in for the Passenger Sales Representative in Tampa.  The Passenger Sales Representative  (PSR) has the job of selling the public on the merits of traveling on the ACL instead of flying those DC6 airliners. 

Clubs, fraternities, business organizations, and labor and trade groups are solicited by the PSR to enjoy travel to their conventions and reunions by rail.  The groups can consist of a few people or up to as many as will fill a 10 or 12 car train. 

Potential customers are delighted to learn that the ACL is rapidly converting passenger traffic to diesel-electric power.  The new lightweight coaches and Pullmans are being rushed into service pulled by E6 and E7 smooth running diesels.  No longer would passengers have to fight cinders from the open windows of unairconditioned cars.  Passengers who get on the train clean get off clean.  And they get a smooth ride.  A comment was heard by one passenger on a trip to Jacksonville one day.  He took his cigar from between his teeth and said, "This town we're coming into is Sanlando.  Close by is where the railroad begins its climb up the Ovalix to Summit.  They put on two steam engines and all night long one 'gees' and the other 'haws' and I can't sleep worth a damn."  "Well," I say, "the railroad's great romance with steam engines is about over, at least with passenger trains, and you won't have to worry about your slumber being disturbed any more." 

In some respects, the loss of steam is a shame.  Your reporter remembers his dad taking him to the Sligh Boulevard Station in Orlando on Saturdays at noon in 1950 to watch three passenger trains come through in quick succession, all powered by ACL's beautiful Pacifics.  The sight of those whirling rods and the smell of coal smoke and grease is of lasting memory.  Fortunately, your reporter had an uncle who manned the switch/telegraph tower at the yard throat in Lakeland.  One Saturday afternoon, while visiting and watching him pound out dots and dashes over the telegraph, he arranged for my dad and me to ride in the cab of a steam engine from the yard throat to the roundhouse, a distance of a couple of miles.  I climbed up the ladder to the cab and was surprised to find my hands filthy with coal dust.  The engineer let me blow the whistle and we started chugging to the roundhouse.  The noise was deafening.  I was alright with the ride until the fireman opened the firebox door to scoop in a shovel of coal.  I was frightened out of my wits at the sight of the hot fire and the fireman kept the firebox door shut for the rest of the trip. Those were the days.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on August 21, 2021, 03:48:19 PM
Quote from: Judge on August 21, 2021, 03:22:14 PM
... I was frightened out of my wits at the sight of the hot fire  ...

Some would claim "A preview of eternity"  :) ;) :D ;D

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 21, 2021, 05:12:54 PM
A wonderful memory Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 21, 2021, 05:13:32 PM
We had a great work session this morning. We made several switching moves in South Tahope. I was the switchman and the Judge, AKA: Bill, Ticket Agent  and mostly the Engineer, hand signals when the switch was thrown.

We also discussed the location of the Judge's Quarters.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 22, 2021, 07:24:34 AM
Good story Bill.....the move to diesels was very good for the financial health of the railroads, but a very sad day for many rail enthusiasts everywhere. I'm just glad the St. L&D is stuck in the early 50's when steam was easily found on the rails.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on August 22, 2021, 09:53:03 AM
Bill - "Those were the days my friend."  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 27, 2021, 02:37:50 PM
Saturday Report August 28, 2021.
The Board of Director's meeting was cancelled today.  The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. next Saturday.
There is some "news."  A couple of years ago, BLI came out with a model of the Baldwin "Centipede" locomotives.  Your reporter remembers the SAL version were like purple cows, he never saw one.  However, he did order one of the beasts and after a few months, he became discouraged about delivery.  A model railroad show was scheduled a few miles north in Volusia County so Tom Langford and your reporter journeyed there for a look-see.  Guess what?  They had Centipedes for sale in SAL colours.  Figgering that the order would never be filled, your reporter purchased one of the engines.  Wouldn't you know it, upon arrival back home, another one was waiting for delivery on the front porch.  Reminds me of the story about the cello player who received an accordion for Christmas from his sister.  She thought he would like it.  One day he drove his hatchback automobile to orchestra practice with the accordion in the rear compartment in full view through the rear window.  When he returned from orchestra practice, he was surprised to see his rear window smashed.  Fearing there had been a theft, he peered into the rear compartment.  And there was a second accordion next to his.  Some things you just can't give away.

Which reminds me, Tom tried to sell some Proto 1000 F units painted in Pennsy's freight scheme. The shells on these units are identical (as far as we can tell) to the Proto 2000 version.  However, both units were repowered with TCS WOW Sound decoders and they did not sell on eBay for the cost of the decoders.  What is the hobby coming to?  Or is the market saturated with Pennsy diesels?  I note that Walthers has just announced new FP7s for sale.  The road names are all of the usual subjects except for a Southern unit.  But the Southern unit is in the black, white, and gold scheme instead of green so that puts the units towards the end of their long career and out of our early 1950s time frame.  But why doesn't Walthers include ACL FP7s in the purple scheme?  ACL had a gaggle of these engines for use on local passenger runs and as stand-ins when the regular power was not available. 

Last week it was mentioned that Newt Fisher, who has managed to remain employed for more than two weeks, has a new girlfriend named Mary Lou Stroker.  Newt and Mary Lou moved into her trailer in The Bottoms and "set up house."  A photograph of Mary Lou's trailer is posted below.  The estate is not exactly tidy but it fits into the rest of the neighborhood.


(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-270821141216.jpeg)

Mary Lou and Maggie Hussy are employed as dancers at the all-new Hokum's House of Burlesque, which was built on the site of the old Trackside Tavern and is owned by several local dignitaries and leased to our old friend Bruce Bonebreaker.    Bruce is currently out of custody and is making a killing at his new joint.  It has been rumored that some of the drunks who had to be removed from the Trackside Tavern when it was demolished returned on opening day and regained their regular seats near the stage.

(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-270821140844.jpeg)

On opening day, Short Stack, Wormy, and Newt arrived just after noon and ordered their first beer of the day.  Mary Lou trotted out onto the stage and commenced to do what she was paid to do.  This took Wormy off balance, for Mary Lou is not unattractive and, at age 19, she still has most of her teeth.  As Mary Lou was a-wiggling and squirming to the latest Boogey-Woogie, Wormy decided to grab a handful.  That did not go well with Newt, who flattened Wormy with one punch to the nose, blood spattering both the floor and the ceiling.  This caused Bruce Bonecrusher to pull out his club and go after Newt.  Soon there were additional blood spatters.  Someone called the police and Officer Poovey arrested the lot of them.  A few days later, the defendant's lawyer, Marvin Bello, explained to Judge Thomas what happened.  The judge banged his gavel, spit into his spitoon, and announced, "Case dismissed.  Fair a fight as I've ever seed!" And Mary Lou and Newt returned to The Bottoms for a dinner of turtle soup and gartor tail. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 27, 2021, 03:55:15 PM
Great story Bill. So tomorrow is canceled at Tom's?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 27, 2021, 03:59:35 PM
Curt - Tomorrow is off.  Tom is otherwise engaged. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on August 27, 2021, 06:12:43 PM
Fun story Bill
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on August 27, 2021, 06:58:23 PM
Thanks Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on August 28, 2021, 08:19:10 AM
A Saturday Report on Friday. Yes, things are normal around here as usual.  :-X

Tom  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on August 28, 2021, 08:43:40 AM
Good one Bill.....Mary Lou's tailor looks about usual, but I don't see any cars up on blocks. ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on August 28, 2021, 10:45:27 AM
Tom - I didn't realize I published the Saturday Report on Friday.  That's what happens when every day is Saturday. 

Sorry, Greg, there are no cars up on blocks. However, you will notice there are old tires (pronounced tars) on the property.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 04, 2021, 11:33:33 AM
Saturday, September 4, 2021.  Sorry - No Saturday Report today.  Your reporter is "all stove up" with a sprained ankle. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on September 04, 2021, 12:16:53 PM
Bummer!  Those are always a Saturday feature.  Hope you're feeling better and back to ass-kicking soon.


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 04, 2021, 01:50:16 PM
Hope your ankle heals quickly Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 04, 2021, 03:06:24 PM
Bill,

Hears hoping you heal soon. The Atlantic and Southern locos need some rail time.  8)

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 05, 2021, 08:18:59 AM
Thank all of you for your concern.  My ankle is much better today, although I am not walking on it.  Cindy found a "like new" wheelchair at a thrift store and bought it for $38.00.  It has been a big help in improving my mobility. I will be consulting with a pediatrist Tuesday and plan on being back in shape next week.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 05, 2021, 09:05:26 AM
That's okay Bill.....the tiny Mustang and other miniature white car are almost as good, but the block fire pit and bare plywood HC ramp are a good touch. Take care of  your ankle so we can all see you soon. :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on September 05, 2021, 10:23:32 AM
Bill maybe you should lay off the dancing on Saturday nights  ;D Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 11, 2021, 01:45:03 PM
There is no Saturday Report today due to the Babe's monthly trek to Mount Dora.  But there is a story.

There has been some (very little) enthusiasm for me to relate a few of my experiences during my 24 years on the bench.  The problem is that most of these experiences are either unpleasant or are only of interest to lawyers.  However, there have been a few humorous moments,    One day I was covering domestic violence injunction cases in Brevard County when this story came to my attention.  I have modified it to become a criminal case in Tahope.  I have wrestled with how to get around the colorful language used by the participants but I think you will get the idea.  The actual case took place in West Melbourne, which is populated by citizens who are very much like those found in Tahope.

                                                                                                              Love in the Bottoms

       Brody Cook woke up one Saturday morning to the sound of the neighborhood roosters announcing the dawn.  Brody lives in a rented 1936 Air Stream "Clipper."  It has need for serious upkeep but Brody isn't worried about tidiness. 
   On the morning in question, Brody washed his face and donned his dirty overalls and his high-tops shoes.  He opened the door to the small refrigerator hidden under the galley sink and pulled himself the first beer of the day.  He opened the can with his "church key" and took a swig. 
   The sun was shining and it was already getting hot so Brody decided to step outside his trailer and see what was what in the neighborhood. 
   Brody's next-door neighbor was a character who has frequented these pages named "Wormy." Wormy was busy polishing up his new Harley so Brody sauntered over to take a look. 
   Brody and Wormy were discussing the merits of the new Harley when events turned for the worse and both Brody and Wormy later found themselves in circuit court, Brody being charged with assault and battery and Wormy under subpoena as an eye witness.
   After Brody's arrest, a preliminary hearing was scheduled in the courthouse annex before   
Judge Elvin Thomas. 
   The first witness, Carrie Ann Crankshaw, testified that she is Brody's former girlfriend.  She came over that Saturday morning to collect her things, which she had stored at Brody's trailer.  While she was inside the trailer, Brody slapped her and pushed her against the wall.  "Wormy" was there and saw it all.
   Judge Thomas listened to Carrie Ann's testimony and addressed Brody as follows:

The Court:   Now Brody this here looks pretty serious.  Do you want to be heard about this?

Brody:   What she says is true as far as it goes but she left out some pretty important facts you should cornsider here. 
   Fust, I was mindin' my own business over at Wormy's house marveling at his new Harley when up she comes raising hell about my new girlfriend, which I have! She starts accusing me of carousing with this woman at Hokum's House of Burlesque.  Now I remember being at Hokum's but I don't remember no carousing.  Anyway, I says to her, "Carrie Ann" let's take this inside off the street and discuss it calmly."
   We went inside my Air Stream tailer and right off she went beer-serk and tried to rip my ba- -s off.  Naturally, I had to defend myself so I did push her out of the way.  She left, still threatening my manhood.
   Judge, my friend "Wormy" saw it all and he took me to Tahope General Hospital for treatment.   

The Court:    Well, that puts a different light on the situation.  I think I want to hear from "Wormy." 

Wormy:   Well, your honor, it all went down like they said.  I took Brody to the hospital in my cousin's 1948 Ford and he was admitted.

The Court:   When you visited him, did he make explanation as to why he was there:  did he say "automobile accident, heart attack, tried to rip his ba--s off," anything like that? 

Wormy:   No sir.

The Court:   How did he look?

Wormy:   Well, he didn't look too good.

The Court:   Well, I've heard enough of this here love triangle.  Case dismissed – self defense.

   With that, Brody and Wormy caught an empty on the next train to The Bottoms and spent the rest of the day fishing for bass in the St. Johns River.

                                                                      (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-110921135057.jpeg)

                                                                            This is what Brody's 1938 Air Stream Clipper looked like when it was new.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on September 11, 2021, 02:57:10 PM
Legal question for Your Honor:  Are rulings of Florida courts available for the public to read (on a website somewhere, without an account/without paying for a copy?) 


thanks in advance!     dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 12, 2021, 08:43:56 AM
Dave - The case reports from the Supreme Court and the five district courts of appeal are published weekly at the Florida Courts website.  There is no ability to acturally perform legal research but you can read the latest opinions.  Trial court orders and opinions are generally not published.  The web site provides information ablout the jurisdiction of the appellate courts.  There is also an ability to watch oral arguments in each of the courts.  Enjoy.

http://www.flcourts.org

P.S. Supreme Court opinions are published on Thursdays around 11:00 a.m.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on September 12, 2021, 09:24:42 AM
Another fine story Judge.  I enjoy your thread.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on September 12, 2021, 09:40:44 AM
Another "true crime" special from The Judge(not to be confused with the Yankees 99).  Thanks Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 12, 2021, 12:32:52 PM
Another good one Bill.....those denizens of the Bottoms make for some interesting tales.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 18, 2021, 03:00:33 PM
   September 18, 2021 - No Saturday Report today.  The weekly meeting of the Board of Directors was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. 

    There is a story this week.  Your reporter has mentioned railroad engineers and train crews numerous times but other worthies on the railroad deserve mentioning as well.  This week we will attend an interview of the A&S track maintenance crew foreman.  Not all track gang work is sweat and toil.                                                                                                     

                                                                                                       Ain't Nature Wonderful?

      Paul Mason had been foreman of the A&S track maintenance crew for nearly 20 years when he was interviewed by a reporter from the Tahope Daily News.  "Just what is it like to be responsible for the track and roadbed of a railroad that meanders mostly through a Florida swamp?"
     "Well." Said Mason, "the job is more complicated than you would think. I start before dawn on most days with a crew of eight men on a 'speeder' to inspect the section designated for that day. 
         I sit on the front of the speeder so's I can look at the track and identify any problems obvious to the eye.  My number 2, Edward (Big Ed) Smith, sits beside me. He looks out for stray cattle and other potential obstructions that could endanger the progress of the speeder.
         Two of my men sit on each side of the speeder.  They are responsible to watch for obstructions to the right of way, such as a fallen tree that has broken down the fence. 
         The two snipes who ride the back of the speeder watch out for oncoming locomotives and for flights of ducks and quail that may have been stirred up by the passing of the speeder.  Sometimes, their sharp eyes cause us to stop the speeder and reduce the duck population for dinner later.
When we see a rail or tie that needs our attention, the crew attends to the problem.  Rails are replaced from the flat car being pushed by the ten-wheeler that follows the speeder. 
       The crew has to be on the lookout for crawly creatures that tend to cross the right-of-way from one pond to another.  Florida has a variety of poisonous snakes, including rattlers, moccasins, copper heads, and coral snakes. The crew carries a shotgun to kill these reptiles. 
       Florida has an abundance of relatively large bobcats.  These felines are not your household Tabby Cat.  They are wild and dangerous.  One day our crew captured a bobcat in a trap and brought it back to the Section House.  They put the cat in a box and loaded it onto a baggage wagon with other baggage scheduled for loading on the Florida Special.  Once loaded, one of the baggage smashers heard movement within the box and decided to open it.  You've never seen a baggage smasher jump from a baggage car faster than that guy. 
       Sometimes the crew is stuck in a siding overnight.  It is then that the night critters come out to entertain us.  Sleeping in a caboose with open doors and windows seems to invite 'possums, armadillos, and other nocturnal creatures to plague us.  Now, an armadillo is a harmless creature, but his hard shell is not what you want to feel when you are awakened with an uninvited bedfellow at 4:00 a.m. 
       Most of us Florida crackers have learned to eat almost anything that doesn't bite us first.  'Possum stew is an example.  So is turtle soup.  Florida snapping turtles are found in almost every stream, river, and swamp in Florida.  It is learning how to clean a turtle that is the challenge.  Eating 'possum stew and turtle soup is a regular delicacy served to track crews while they are out on the road.
       Fish are plentiful in the rivers and streams along the right-of-way.  A 'mess of catfish' and hush puppies cooked over a wood stove in a caboose is mighty good eating.
       The daily work of a track gang is hard and dirty.  But at least it is out of doors and it provides a track gang with the opportunity to enjoy the many opportunities provided by the critters that come upon the right-of-way."
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on September 18, 2021, 03:43:52 PM
I remember seeing a dead coral snake along the road at Ft Bragg (NC)...  I don't mind snakes, but that's one I was glad to see in a "deceased state."


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 18, 2021, 05:23:14 PM
Interesting story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 19, 2021, 08:38:30 AM
Another good one Bill.....but I'm not so sure about the menu.  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on September 19, 2021, 11:39:48 AM
Great story Bill. It is of interest to the readers that I add this bit of Florida wildlife information.

In Florida we have the bobcat and the panther. Most non outdoorsy types think they are one and the same. They are definitely different. The Fl. Panther is larger than the Fl. Bobcat. The panther has a long tail almost as long as the panther body. The tail is curved at the tip to avoid dragging on the ground. The bobcat has a shorter tail and curves up to expose the white underside.

Both are very dangerous and when found as young animals, can't be domesticated as pets.

One point I'd like to mention here is the "night time calls" of Florida's wild animals. We used to camp out often as teenagers and Boy Scouts. The first time you hear these two at night it will scare the crap out of you, it did me. Both cats have a very "high pitch" night time call of the wild. They sound like a woman screaming her head off in some sort of horror film. Of course, the louder the call, the closer they are to your camp. We always kept the fires burning bright to keep them at bay.

The only good part to eat from a gator is the tail and it doesn't taste like chicken, it tastes like wild gator tail.

The heart of the cabbage palm is very good. It tastes very similar to regular cabbage but you get the fun of cutting it out of the wild palm. Takes about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the scrub palm.

And now you you know the rest of the story.

Tom  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA4lNTuWuQM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA4lNTuWuQM)

Florida Panther encounter and is also an endangered species.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlbhWparKJg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlbhWparKJg)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on September 19, 2021, 08:04:28 PM
Hey Tom:

Wow didn't know you had those type of wild animals in Fl. Be careful out thet OK.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 20, 2021, 07:33:38 AM
And then there is the wildlife on Miami Beach..... ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xbxQ9SyzkE
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on September 20, 2021, 09:24:25 AM
 Moving to Miami Beach. ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 21, 2021, 12:16:41 PM
Dennis - You might want to rethink moving to Miami. Consider the following recent report from "The Man on the Street."

One day a Yankee tourist was walking down Collins Avenue in Miami Beach when he saw a man walking towards him who looked like he lived in Miami.  The tourist stopped the man and engaged him in the following conversation:

Yankee:  "Pardon me, but you look like you live here in Miami.  What is it like to live here?"

Local resident: "I've lived here in Miami most of my life and I find it to be a good place to live."

Yankee: "Well, what about the riots and the looting and burning?"

Local:  "Oh, that stuff takes place in another part of Miami and I don't pay much attention to it."

Yankee:  "Well, what about the drug dealers?"

Local:   "I don't do drugs so they don't bother me."

Yankee: "Well, what about all the murders?"

Local:  "The thugs involved in shootings tend to shoot each other and they don't bother me."

Yankee:  Sounds like you have a good life here in Miami.  By the way, what do you do for a living?"

Local:  "Oh, I'm a tail gunner on a bread truck."
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on September 21, 2021, 12:21:04 PM
Good one Judge. I think I'll stay in New Hampshire!!!!!!!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on September 21, 2021, 04:50:29 PM
Here's a story from New Hampshire:

A guy moved to NH from 'down south' to operate a "Gentleman's Farm."  He was complaining to his old Yankee neighbor:

"This field is full of rocks.  Where did they come from?"
"Glacier brought 'em."
"Glacier?  A river of ice?  Here?"
"Ayuh."
"Ok.  So where are those glaciers now?"
"Went back for more rocks."

One thing I learned in my geology courses is we'll eventually cure global warming by a new glacial episode... 

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 22, 2021, 07:42:37 AM
Great one Bill.....especially is you're from Ft. Lauderdale (me) and your wife (Pegi) is from Miami. We always debate about which was a better place to grow up.

I kid her about being from that big nasty city to the south and she hits back about that tiny hick town from the north. Neither party to this difference of opinion has yielded in many a decade. ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Dennis Bourey on September 22, 2021, 08:41:35 AM
Good one Dave.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on September 25, 2021, 11:30:37 AM
Saturday Report -  September 25, 2021

The Board of Directors meeting was canceled today.  The next meeting is not scheduled until October 9, although there may be an informal inspection of progress between now and then.  The current emphasis is on structures for filling in downtown Tahope and the roundhouse area.  Once this phase of the project is finished, we can declare the Midlands to be "good enough."  Naturally, there will be little things that will need to be added here and there, such as completing the wiring for lights in downtown Tahope. 

It is mid-September in Central Florida, which is known as the lightning capital of the world.  It rains hard for an hour or more several times a week.  The rainy season coincides with summer vacation so the school children who visit Disney World get to stay cooped up in their $250/day hotel rooms and throw tantrums because they can't see Micke Mouse.  W. C. Fields would find this situation to be poetic justice.  Fields once said, "Anybody who hates children and dogs can't be all bad." 

Anyway, due to the weather situation, I thought a story involving one of Florida's thunderstorms might be in order.  The idea for this story came from a tale published in the February 1950, Railroad Magazine.  I have also provided a short video that gives you an idea about what a Florida thunderstorm is like.

                                                                                                       Stormy Weather in Florida

   "Sunny Florida" isn't always so sunny.  During the summer months, there are thunderstorms nearly every afternoon and the storms seem to get worse as the summer goes on.  By September the afternoon storms are like South Asia monsoons.  As one A&S fireman said, "It's like standing under a waterfall."  The storms subside as the hurricane season comes to an end and the afternoons are quiet by mid-October.
   One sunny morning in September 1949, Engineer Ethan Douglas and his Negro fireman, Jim, drew the Florida Special on its run from Tampa to Jacksonville.  This streak of varnish was powered by ACL P5A 1559, a USRA Pacific, and the consist included seven heavyweight Pullman cars. 
   Douglas pulled out of the station at Sanlando on time at 1:30 p.m. and headed towards the Ovalix and the steady 1% grade up from the Midlands to Summit and the City of Jacksonville's Union Station.  As fireman Jim said at the time, "Everything was crackers." 
   Long about 2:00 p.m. the thunder boomers began to show and it became obvious the Special was in for it by the time the train would reach its destination. 
   Engineer Douglas was an experienced hogger and had a reputation of being safety conscious.  When the first lightning flash popped close by and the thunder rattled the cab of the locomotive, Douglas slowed the train down from 65 mph to 50 mph. 
   Then the rain came.  It came down in sheets and began to puddle on the mainline.  The Pacific ran across a puddle that was the size of a small pond and a geyser shot up high enough to cover the boiler.  The wind slanted the rain against the right side of the locomotive and Douglas was unable to see anything past the smokebox of the engine.  "Hey, Jim," he hollered to his tallowpot, "can you see anything past the boiler?"  "Naw, suh," came the answer.  "Well we better slow this train down and ride this one out." 
   Douglas grabbed the throttle with his left hand and the air brake with his right and slowed 1559 down to a crawl.  When the train reached Palatka, the storm had passed and the Florida sunshine returned.  The Special arrived in Jax over an hour late but the Super congratulated Douglas on arriving safely.  A freight train that was following the Special was not so lucky and six cars derailed due to a washout near Deland.

The following video gives the viewer an idea about the intensity of Florida's summer thunderstorms.  Careful viewers will note that the motive power shown is a brace of ACL F2 diesel locomotives.  The relatively rare F2's were not so rare on the ACL and a number of them were bought before being augmented by numerous F3's.  It is difficult to see in the video, but the high fans on the diesels identify them as F2's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUDy-pqv4Ak
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on September 25, 2021, 02:29:42 PM
Good story and great video, Judge.  The CB&Q had 10 F2As as well.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on September 26, 2021, 07:41:49 AM
The weather around here is a bit notional during the summer.....fun story and video Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 26, 2021, 07:48:47 AM
Very nice Bill. I remember when I moved to Florida back in 1995 during the summer every day around 2 pm there was a torrential downpour but it seems to get later in the day and not as much rain.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 02, 2021, 09:21:23 AM
Saturday Report - October 2, 2021.

The Board of Directors meeting was cancelled for lack of an agenda.  The next board meeting is scheduled for October 9, 2021.

Your reporter recently read an article on the daily maintenance of steam locomotives in the April, 1941, edition of Railroad Magazine and it brought to mind just how much manual labor was needed to keep a steam locomotive running.  This week's story is adapted from that article along with a little help from Richard E. Prince's fantastic book entitled Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Steam Locomotives, Ships and History, which is out of print but can be found in bookstores and on line.

                                                                                                       Routine Maintenance on the ACL

   At the end of every run, steam locomotives need inspection and maintenance. 
        On a typical day, in 1950, engine number 1516, a USRA Pacific, pulled into the A&S engine service and roundhouse facility after completing a run from Jacksonville to Tahope at the head end of the 13-car Florida Special.  The date doesn't really doesn't matter because nothing changed maintenance-wise from the date 1516 was first steamed under her own power at the ALCO works in 1919 until her fires were dropped in 1951.
   When the engine entered the service yard, the engineer moved her to the water plug.  After the fireman filled the tank, the engine was turned over to the hostlers who ran her through a wash rack that used a high-pressure combination of hot water and kerosene to rid the engine of road grime, grease, and oil.  The wash left the moving parts almost spotlessly clean and that made it easier for the maintenance crew to spot defects.  The engine was then moved under the coaling tower to receive up to 17 tons of coal. 
   Next, the engine was moved into the roundhouse by the hostlers and turned over to the maintenance crew.  The roundhouse foreman, "Tater" Cartwright, reviewed the list of defects and needed repairs left by the engineer on the trip report and marked jobs for the various trades involved in the inspection and maintenance of the locomotive. 
   Chief Inspector A. H."Big Dawg" Smith checked for defects on the trip report and made a general inspection of the engine.  A man called a "tigger" followed "Big Dawg" on the inspection and tightened any loose bolts pointed out to him.  If a nut or bolt needed to be replaced it was marked with chalk.  "Big Dawg" was at the top of his game and he used his" little hammer" to "feel" any defects in the engine's running gear. 
   The boilermaker Inspector, Charlie Householder, checked for steam leaks and defective flues.  He worked quickly.  Fortunately, there were no defects today.  But if there had been any, the fire would have been dropped into the pit and he would thrown a plank or two into the firebox for a platform before climbing into that hell-hot inferno of a firebox to determine what work needed to be done. As you might imagine, Householder has to be leather-skinned to go into that sizzling oven, but he and his crew are tough and they are experts at this dangerous, dirty, demanding work.
   The "plumbers" inspect the feedwater line, the feedwater heater, the water pump, and other water connections.  The trip report indicated that the pump was intermittently sticking.  A close inspection showed a large nut to have rusted, causing the problem.  A "plumber" and his Negro helper attacked the problem with a sledge hammer and a five-foot chisel.  The helper held the chisel against the nut and the inspector swung the sledge hammer against the chisel to loosen it.  This took both skill and guts.  Once the nut was replaced, the pump worked without a problem.
   Two electricians inspected the wires that connect the steam generator to the headlight, cab light and other electrical devices. 
   The airbrake inspector looked over the air pump, the power reverse, and the brake rigging.  At the same time a machinist looked over the stoker while a carpenter inspected the cab for woodwork defects. 
   It took a dozen or more experts to tap, poke, thump, and inspect 1516 from pilot to tender.  After all, this locomotive has nearly 90,000 separate parts, many of which need their attention.  This process costs the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad about $12,000 a year in 1940 dollars.  Considering the ACL has 70 locomotives of the 1500 class alone, maintenance costs are a significant item in the annual budget.  But routine maintenance is only a small part of the normal upkeep of steam locomotives. 
   Brakeshoes are replaced every two weeks and cylinder rings are replaced every 6500 miles.  Additionally, there are regular repairs to cross heads and valves.
   The federal government places rigid demands requiring monthly staybolt inspections and replacement of faulty flues. Pops must be tested every 90 days.  There must be a boiler wash to remove mud and loose scale once a month.  This repetitive work keeps the boiler makers busy and provides fodder for other workers to tease them saying, "Boiler makers don't have a trade, they have a habit."
   The roundhouse at Tahope is a busy place.  There are often between five and ten locomotives serviced during a day.  The roundhouse crew is composed of over 60 men, many of them highly paid experts.  It is no wonder that the bean counters in the front office are carefully comparing the maintenance costs of steam vs. diesel locomotives.
   At the end of a typical day, "Tater" Cartwright calls home to his girlfriend, Peaches, and says, "Shugah, I'm on the way home.  Pull me some poke chops and a cold one from the Frigidaire." To which Peaches replies, "I'm fixin' to boil a mess of collards and potatoes to go with the poke chops."  She has gotten used to "Tater" demanding a full Southern dinner in the evening and no longer throws a hissie fit when he calls.  And that is the way life was in Tahope in 1950. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on October 02, 2021, 12:34:20 PM
Tahope Roundhouse is a very busy place.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 02, 2021, 03:04:06 PM
A great insight into maintaining steamers ready for use Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: BandOGuy on October 02, 2021, 07:56:34 PM
Thanks for the update, Your Honor!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 03, 2021, 09:04:56 AM
Lots of fun facts....thanks Bill.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on October 03, 2021, 09:37:21 AM
Well Written Bill;

Reading it you can hear the constant clamor of men working, metal cooling, and loud talking. The humid air hangs on you while smelling of kerosene, soot and sweat.  Must have been something to see.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 09, 2021, 12:43:53 PM
Saturday Report, October 9, 2021.
   The Board of Directors meeting scheduled today was canceled due to the CEO's recovery from skin cancer surgery.  It was tentatively rescheduled for October 16, 2021.

    Many of the readers of this weekly (?) report do not know that Central Florida has a thriving cattle industry.   That is why the City of Tahope has its own slaughter house and meatpacking plant.  The facility, known as Butts Meats, is named after its builder, Bob Butts, who also owns Barlow's Bar-B-Que (see p. 8).  The combination of owning the slaughterhouse and the only bar-b-que joint in Tahope County guarantees Bob a decent return on his investment.
The current plan for the A&S Railroad is to install a fairly good-sized icing platform at Summit so perishables can be shipped "up Nawth" without spoilage. 
Your reporter thumbed through the September 1940 issue of Railroad Magazine the other night and found an article on privately owned freight cars.  The information provided in the article pertaining to reefers was particularly interesting.  The labor involved in the days before mechanical refrigeration and the amount of ice needed per car to travel across the country must have resulted in staggering costs. 
Anyway, your reporter thought the readers of today's report would find the subject interesting.

                                                                                                               THE ICE AGE

   There were one and three-quarters million freight cars on rails in the United States in 1040.  Nearly 290,000 of them were privately owned.  Nearly 123,600 of those cars were "reefers"- cars designed to transport perishable products such as meats or vegetables.  These cars could be quite colorful and served as moving billboards for the owners. 
   About 95% of the perishable traffic moved from the South, the Southwest, and the West toward the more densely populated regions of the Northeast.
   Those were the days before mechanical refrigeration became common so reefers were equipped with wire mesh basket-type bunkers and outside hatches located on roofs, through which ice was loaded for cooling. 
   The typical reefer was 47feet long with an inside length (between the ice bunkers) of 32feet, 10 inches.  The walls were 14 inches thick and filled with heavy insulation.  Reefers had a double roof with heavy insulation between the upper and lower sections to protect the car top.
   Since the reefers were cooled by ice, icing facilities, including icing platforms were necessary.  Icing the reefers was a labor-intensive job involving many men and a lot of equipment.  The icing platforms were designed so that blocks of ice could be moved by hand from the icing facility to the reefer's ice hatches.  A reefer with a load capacity of 80,000 pounds required 10,000 pounds of ice and it was not uncommon for reefer trains to contain 40 or more cars.
   Faster trains eliminated a number of icing stations.  In 1919, a test shipment in a 40-foot reefer made the 2470-mile trip from California to Chicago over the Santa Fe in nine days and nine hours.  It was iced before and after loading in California and required 5985 pounds of ice to fill the bunkers.  By the time the reefer arrived in Chicago 15,885 pounds of ice had been used. 
   By 1940, California produce was delivered to New York on the ninth morning out.  Faster schedules reduced the time of travel significantly and quicker loading had reduced the time spent at icing stations, as well as their number.
   In spite of the cost of transporting perishables in 1940, it was still cost-effective because the railroads charged by the weight of the lading and a 1000-pound steer, when fully dressed only weighed about 500 pounds.  And the cost of transport of livestock was greater than the cost of transport of dressed beef due to government requirements of feeding, watering, and exercising livestock while in route.

                                                                                                     Icing Facility on the Pennsy

                                                                         (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-091021141259.jpeg)

                                                                                                  Laborers loading ice into reefers

                                                                          (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/684-101021121112.jpeg)
   
                                                                          Here is a video of a reefer train on the Atlantic & Southern Railroad.
                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLk50mPWfbU

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 09, 2021, 12:58:08 PM
Fun facts & info Bill.....thanks.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 09, 2021, 03:30:52 PM
Great info Bill, and great video also.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 10, 2021, 11:58:21 AM
Kirt and Greg - Thanks for the compliments.  The video was produced by Atlantic & Southern Railroad Amalgamated Video Enterprises.  I have added a couple of photos to this week's report.  Check 'em out.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on October 10, 2021, 12:51:29 PM
Great photographs, Judge.  I have an icing platform on my workbench for the S&S RR and I see some opportunities for extra details in your photographs.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 10, 2021, 03:01:14 PM
John -  just found those photos by asking Dr. Google for them.  There are a lot of other similar photos on line   I think I just entered "icing platforms."  My wife wants to know how they made ice in the summer in 1919.  Good question. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on October 10, 2021, 03:42:47 PM
Quote from: Judge on October 10, 2021, 03:01:14 PM
John -  just found those photos by asking Dr. Google for them.  There are a lot of other similar photos on line   I think I just entered "icing platforms."  My wife wants to know how they made ice in the summer in 1919.  Good question.


Bill


I can tell you how it was done in Michigan, but not in Florida.  In Michigan the ice was cut from the lakes in the winter with big hand saws and stored in large buildings covered with sawdust.  The insulation was good enough to keep the ice through the summer months. Somewhere I have pictures of the ice cutting operations on the lake by my house, along with the "ice house" that was used to store it. Chainsaws replaced the big hand saws before Mr. Edison electrified the place and ice boxes were replaced by refrigerators. 


I wonder if the ice was shipped in to Florida from the North?
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 11, 2021, 06:55:23 AM
John - Ice must have been a scarce commodity in Florida in 1919.  My dad was born in 1902 so he would have known what people did (or did without) back in those days.  Like many other things, I never asked him about it. Maybe they just used ventilated boxcars to ship fruit and veggies.  But what about beef and pork?  And I know my dad and my grandparents drank iced tea every day.  This subject requires more research.   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Rollin on October 11, 2021, 03:57:00 PM
For the locals here in central Florida, we have a community theatre in Mt Dora that was known as the Ice House. That is because when the group first organized, they put on shows in an old structure down by Lake Dora next to the railroad tracks. It was indeed an ice house where shipments from up north were warehoused and distributed. They honor their legacy by naming their acting awards 'The Cubies'. Today they are just plaques, but at one time the award was a plastic cube with ice tongs attached.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 11, 2021, 04:33:51 PM
There was an ice house next to the ACL mainline on Lake Ivanhoe and Highland Avenue when I was growing up in the 50's.  They iced down reefers one at a time but they mostly provided ice commercially.  We used to get the "shavings" and make snow cones out of them with Coca-cola, Grapette, or a Big Orange draink.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 16, 2021, 11:56:04 AM
Saturday Report - October 16, 2021.

This week's Saturday Report reports happenings that took place on Thursday.  The Board of Directors convened at 8:50 a.m. but the agenda was blank so the board members talked about their various health problems.  Happily, the CEO's skin cancer surgery is healing nicely. 

We ran an SAL freight on The Midlands  and discovered the decoder in Pacific #1516 is shot so the engine and a Southern MS4 will be taken back to ALCO this afternoon for overhaul. 

Greg DeMayo joined us for lunch at Del Dio's adn we called it a day.

This week's story is an attempt to give some biographical information about one of the characters that make up the A&S. 

                                                                                       Forty-six Years on the Atlantic & Southern

    "Uncle Henry" O'Leary was born on May 12, 1890, in Chicago.  His father, Patrick O'Leary, was a well-to-do livestock broker who made his fortune buying and selling cattle shipped to the stockyards in Chicago. 
    When Henry was six years old his father took him to the stockyards to watch the cattle being unloaded from the stock cars into the pens awaiting slaughter.  While the livestock initially held Henry's attention, he was fascinated by the smoke and noise from the little consolidations moving the stockcars around the stockyards. 
    Henry started school that September, but he was an indifferent student whose mind wandered to the railroad and the smell of grease and coal smoke.  By the time he was 12 years old, he had managed to work his way into the LaSalle Street yard office for a part-time job of "sweeping up" and running errands around the yard.  Much to his father's disappointment, Henry never developed an interest in brokering cattle so he quit school when he was 15 and began a career as a railroader.
     In the summer of 1904, Henry's family took time off from the hustle and bustle of Chicago and traveled by train to sunny Florida.  In those days, Henry Flagler's vision of development of the east coast of Florida was just coming into shape and there was increased interest in an area called Miami. 
    Henry B. Plant had begun developing the west coast of the state and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's tracks meandered down from Jacksonville to Tampa-St. Petersburg.  Henry's father's attention was drawn to a sleepy town in the center of the state named Tahope.  The little village was served by a railroad that was developed during reconstruction after the War of Northern Aggression called the Atlantic & Southern. (See p.14 -Dixie Days). The railroad had been financed by none other than Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.  (See p.1). The main attraction Patrick O'Leary saw with the A&S was its proximity to thousands of acres of orange groves.  Patrick bought 10,000 acres of in Orange County and installed his brother, Sean O'Leary, to manage the groves.
    Henry decided to stay in Florida with his uncle.  One day he caught the local A&S passenger train to Tahope to see what he could see.  The round trip ticket to Tahope and back was $.25 and that left Henry with just enough money for lunch at Betty's. 
Henry wandered into the yardmaster's office at the Sanlando Yard and struck up a conversation with the yardmaster, Clarence Mason.  In no time Henry was offered a job.  He was given the day shift at the roundhouse so he could commute back and forth from his uncle's place.  Salary was a dollar a day, which left Henry with just about enough money to get to and from work and eat lunch. 
     In those days, the yardmaster hired their own brakemen and Henry was soon wielding a brake club on top of the freight cars.  A brakeman's pay was considerably better than that of an entry-level laborer and Henry moved into a rooming house in downtown Tahope. 
     Henry was a natural-born railroader and in no time he was allowed to work as a student fireman.  In those days a student fireman's training was "on the job" and Henry learned what it was like to shovel several tons of coal on a run.
     There was more to a fireman's job than shoveling coal.  Henry learned a great deal about how a steam locomotive runs and how to keep one in good repair from the engineers he fired for.  He also learned about the ins and outs of locomotive repairs by spending time with the skilled workers in the roundhouse.
     Henry was promoted to the righthand seat in 1917, just 12 years after he signed onto the A&S. 
One of the main challenges facing locomotive engineers in the days before dieselization was pounding up the steady 1% grade on the ovalix to move trains from as far as The Bottoms to Summit.  Fortunately, the east and west sides of the ovalix are flattened with straight track, which reduces the strain on the engine and allows more cars to be in each consist.  Henry became a master at moving steam engines up the ovalix.  It was said that railroaders could tell Henry was running up the ovalix by the bark of his engine.
     Sometime during Henry's career, the younger railroaders started calling Henry "Uncle Henry" due to his seniority.  By 1951, Uncle Henry had been on the A&S payroll for forty-six years.  His seniority put him at the top of the board and he had moved from steam to diesels.  His favorite run was the through freight from Tampa to Jacksonville hauling perishable vegetables from Tampa and citrus products from Central Florida.  This train was so long and so heavy that it always required three "F" units to pull it up the ovalix. 
    Uncle Henry may be in his 60's but he is not ready for retirement.  The union contract with the A&S will allow him to continue working until the company doctors say he is no longer capable of running an engine.  Until that time he will spend his off days with his wife of 40 years and his grandchildren.  And he does not regret escaping from the stockyards of Chicago.     

 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on October 16, 2021, 02:15:28 PM
Mal Houck talks about meeting an engineer on the old O&W who worked -for the railroad- for 65 years... 


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on October 17, 2021, 10:37:58 AM
Another interesting story Judge. Keep 'em comin.  Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 17, 2021, 11:38:00 AM
Great yarn Bill.....thanks.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on October 17, 2021, 11:16:06 PM
Hey Judge:

Great prototype pics. Thanks. I love icing stations.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 18, 2021, 08:30:28 AM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 23, 2021, 01:57:10 PM
Saturday Report - October 23, 2021

The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad met at 8:30 and discussed progress on the structures being built for placement in downtown Tahope.  Then we ran a freight train powered by an A-B lash-up of Seaboard E4s.  The train made its run around Summit and down the ovalix to the Midlands.  Meanwhile, another SAL freight powered by two Geeps delivered goods to industries within the Tahope city limits.  Trains really look good as they snake through the middle of the street heading towards the engine facility and roundhouse. 

Invited guests began arriving including Bob Butts, Greg DeMayo, and Curt Webb.  A general bull session consumed the remaining time, except for the attempt to get Greg's steam engine running.  Seems like there is always a problem with guest motive power.  Surely it is not the guests.

We foldied our tent and repaired to Del Dio's for lunch promptly at 11:00 a.m.

Sorry, there is no story this week.  Your reporter has a weekend guest arriving soon and, besides, he needs a break. 

The A&S CEO turns 75 tomorrow.  Cards and gifts are not requested, although money is allowed.

Happy Halloween!  Boo!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 23, 2021, 03:06:08 PM
A great time was had by all.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on October 23, 2021, 04:03:51 PM
Quote from: Judge on October 23, 2021, 01:57:10 PM
...
The A&S CEO turns 75 tomorrow.  Cards and gifts are not requested, although money is allowed.
...


Everyone, send Tom your $.02 worth!!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on October 23, 2021, 05:34:49 PM
Great to hear you guys all got together.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 24, 2021, 04:02:12 PM
Thank you, John.  It's always good to know you are watching and reading the Saturday  Report!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 30, 2021, 03:59:34 PM
Saturday Report – October 30, 2021.
   The Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad met promptly at 8:30 a.m.  The Board viewed a number of unpublished Videos involving the evolution of the railroad and it was decided to load some of the best of them for publication in future Saturday Reports.
   The Pennsy has a special relationship with the A&S.  The Pennsy announced the newest addition to its passenger fleet, a diesel-powered train called the Tampa Bay Special, which runs weekly from Philadelphia to Tampa.  The inauguration run of the train took place right after the Board completed its meeting.  The Tahope Times picked up the action at Sanlando and followed the train around the Midlands and up to Summit and back.  The train then took a turn through downtown Tahope before being sided due to the lunch hour scheduled at Del Dio's Italian Restaurant. 

   The idea for this week's story came from the June, 1940 Railroad Magazine.  Naturally, the story was modified to fit local railroad conditions.

                                                                                                         THE STUDENT BRAKEMAN

   William Hatch, his friends called him "Willie," worked for Old Man Martin at his cattle ranch in Osceola County, South of Orlando.  He was one of many who herded the cattle to the loading point on the ACL and chased the reluctant cows up the loading ramps into the stock cars for their last trip to the slaughterhouse at Summit. 
   One day he vowed to find work on the railroad.  He watched while a brakeman signaled the engineer who was running 1559 with four empties attached back into the siding and come to a stop at the cattle pens.  When the cattle were loaded, the brakeman gave a signal and 1559 chugged off towards its destination.
   Willie thought to himself, "If I could land a brakeman's job, I could ditch this cowpoke job and gain some adventure." 
   He approached a railroad employee who was standing near a tool shack and inquired as to just how he should go about obtaining a job with the ACL.  The employee said, "The best way I know of is to ask for it." 
"Fair enough," said Willie, "but where?"
   "Ask the trainmaster at any division point," said the employee. 
   "But where is the nearest division point," said Willie.
   "Tahope."
   With that, Willie hopped the local and soon arrived at the Sanlando Station.  He hoofed it to the roundhouse and found Trainmaster "Tater" Cartwright.  Willie took a short, written exam designed to make sure new hires could read and write and was hired as a student brakeman.  He began his on-the-job training the next day.
   At first, Willie was confused with the lingo he heard and the new mechanical braking and coupling devices with which he had to become familiar.  He learned how to use a brakeman's club and how to replace a broken knuckle.  He became familiar with journal boxes and how to cut out a car that had a hot box.  He climbed up the side of boxcars and became sure of himself "on the tops." 
   Finally, the day came when he was assigned to a train heading from Tampa to Jacksonville.  He climbed into the crummy at Sanlando and perched in the cupola with the conductor for a routine trip.  The train was powered by number 835, a USRA light Mikado coupled to twenty cars of mixed freight. 
   The engineer, Russel "Ballast Scorcher" Taylor, and his colored fireman, Jim, climbed into the cab of 835 and in no time the conductor gave the high ball and Taylor whistled off.  The challenge of the trip was the climb up the Ovalix to Summit.  The grade was a steady 1% and the track passed over itself six times.  It was said that if the train was long enough the engine could provide its own helper service. 
   The consist was just about all 835 could handle and it disgorged heavy smoke and cinders as Jim fed the furnace and the engine maintained a steady 5 mph. 
   Unfortunately, about halfway to Summit the knuckle on a mid-train boxcar coupler failed and the consist broke in two.  The conductor was sitting in the cupola and he immediately signaled the engineer, who applied brakes and awaited further instructions. 
   Willie climbed down from the caboose and pulled a new knuckle from the box hanging under the floor of the crummy.  It hit the ballast with a thud.  Knuckles are heavy objects – too heavy for one man to handle.  Fortunately, the head shack walked back to the stricken boxcar, and, between the two of them, they manhandled the new knuckle up to the scene of the problem. 
   "Well, Willie," said the head shack, "replace the knuckle and tell the brains to signal for a highball." 
   Willie struggled to remove the broken knuckle and finally met with success.  Not so much with trying to replace the knuckle by himself.  After several minutes of struggling and straining, the head shack returned and lent a hand.  New brakies routinely are the recipients of good-natured hazing and Willie learned he was supposed to have help replacing the knuckle of a coupler. 
   The rest of the trip to Summit was uneventful, although Willie pondered what he would have done if the train had broken in two and the air brakes had failed on a 1% grade.       
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 30, 2021, 04:11:27 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on October 30, 2021, 05:57:22 PM
Another good one Judge.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on October 30, 2021, 06:03:25 PM
Quote
The rest of the trip to Summit was uneventful, although Willie pondered what he would have done if the train had broken in two and the air brakes had failed on a 1% grade.     

Huh...  He might be too smart to work on this railroad :-) :-)

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on October 31, 2021, 08:30:11 AM
Nice one Bill.....
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on October 31, 2021, 09:56:55 AM
Another good one Bill.  I can't imagine what it's like to replace the knuckle on a coupler.  Those things must have some serious weight to them.  :o
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on October 31, 2021, 02:36:26 PM
Thank you, Curt, Jim, Dave, Greg, and Bob for your kind comments.  835 can pull a heavy load if it doesn't have to struggle up the Ovalix.  See the link below.

                                                                                           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLk50mPWfbU
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on November 01, 2021, 12:32:42 AM
Great story and great video, enjoyed both.

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 06, 2021, 03:37:42 PM
Saturday Report – November 6, 2021

     The Board of Directors of the mighty Atlantic & Southern Railroad, including the CEO and the Ticket Agent, met a little before 8:30 a.m. this morning.  The agenda was scant but the BS was plentiful.  The A&S has received three locomotives back from the shops.  One of them, a brass Southern RR MS-4 Mikado, was in need of a new decoder and the other two, SAL Baldwin Centipedes, had undergone minor repairs.  The MS-4 runs smoothly and performed well.  The Centipedes performed adequately after CV2 was set were set to the same numbers in both locomotives.
     This week the readers of this report will be entertained with two related stories.

                                                                                                     A TALE OF TWO CENTIPEDES

   Several years ago, your reporter read of Baldwin Centipedes being offered in HO scale by Broadway Limited Imports.  The locos were offered in the SAL paint scheme.  The Seaboard Airline Railroad had fourteen of these monsters.  They were Baldwin's first attempt to compete with EMD.  They had a wheel arrangement designated as 2-D+D-2, which explains the Centipede moniker.  Originally intended for passenger service, they posed too many maintenance problems to be reliable.  They were constructed individually, like steam locomotives, so the wiring and electronics were different on each engine, causing confusion in the repair shop.  The two Baldwin prime movers developed 1500 hp each, making these 3000 hp locos the most powerful of their day.  The crews said they "slung oil everywhere."  The SAL's Centipedes were bumped from passenger to freight service and finally assigned as helpers.  All in all, a noble, but disappointing, experiment into dieselization. 
   Two of the SAL Centipedes were assigned to the A&S Tahope District and were assigned to freight service from Jacksonville to Tampa.  The original intent was to have only one of the locos and an order was placed for it with Baldwin.  Unfortunately, there was such a delay in delivery, the A&S management assumed the order was lost or could not be filled.  Not to worry, A&S management attended a train show not far north of Tahope and found Baldwins for sale at a reduced price.  A purchase was made and the engine was transported temporarily to your reporter's home.  The next day, the doorbell rang and your reporter found another Centipede on his front porch.  Two is not always better than one. 
   The A&S took delivery of these engines and gave them a test run.  The sound was unacceptable and the engines were placed in storage.  Many months later, TCS introduced Baldwin prime movers to its WOW Sound inventory and, finally, the new decoders were installed. 
   This morning was the inaugural run.  The engines were coupled up "elephant style," like they usually ran on the SAL, and they were ready for a test run.  The engines simply could not run through turn-outs without derailing.  It was discovered that CV2 was set differently for each engine and, once the adjustment was made, the engines ran better.  We found that slow-speed operation through turnouts helped prevent further problems.
   These engines are interesting but suffer from design flaws like the prototype.  Your reporter believes both the front and rear trailing trucks are too lightweight and are part of the all-to-frequent derailment problems.  In addition, the articulation needed to navigate curves might have worked well on the prototype, but the sharp curves on a model railroad make the model look like a toy.  Your reporter gives these diesels an overall grade of "C."

                                                                                                         OPERATIONS ON 11-6-21

       After the Director's meeting was adjourned, the day's operations began.   
       The SAL mixed freight, X44, powered by two SAL GP7's walked up the 1% grade of the Ovalix from the Midlands to Summit without breaking a sweat, and, after being cut off, the Geeps shunted into a siding.  The Centipedes backed into the train and we were off for the maiden revenue run.  The single-note Baldwin horn is certainly different from the melodious EMD horns, but it is pleasant in its own way.  Of course, TCS has provided many different horns for those who want variety. 
   The train made its way down the Ovalix without difficulty and it was interesting to hear the prime movers ramp down on the downgrade.  Once back to the Midlands, X44 toured the district and received waves from local citizens who watched the unusual locomotives from a distance to avoid being soiled with spatters of oil from the engines.
   The Centipedes headed north towards Jacksonville and the A&S photographer caught a video as they crossed the Suwanee River Bridge. 
   The trip back from Jacksonville to Sanlando Yard was powered by one of the Southern RR's MS-4 Mikado locomotives.  The photographer managed to record its passing over the Suwanee River bridge late in the afternoon.  Turns out, he was spending the weekend fishing and enjoying the company of a companion in one of the fish camp's "Happy Huts."     

                                                                                                               THREE VIDEOS

This early video provides an amateurish view of the Centipedes as they head north out of Sanlando.  The main feature is the likeness of your reporter at the controls. Note the poor quality of sound.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4phUKjs0Ee0


This second video was taken by the A&S photographer as X44 was heading north to Jacksonville.  Note the authentic single-note Baldwin horn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DykfrFDaBBs

This third video was captured by the photographer when he was awakened by the whistle of the Southern RR MS-4 as it approached the Suwanee River bridge late in the afternoon.  Note the quality of the sound produced by the TCS decoder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfp3Mu2l6Sk

P. S.  Last week's report was viewed 1470 times.  Either a lot of people viewed it or two guys had nothing else to do all week but reread it.

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 06, 2021, 06:23:30 PM
Interesting how the A&S acquired 2 Centipedes. Nice videos.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on November 06, 2021, 06:47:30 PM
Thanks for the A&S update and videos.  Did the SAL run them elephant style or back to back?  CB&Q often ran E units elephant style.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 07, 2021, 06:50:28 AM
I have a photograph in a SAL book that shows Centipedes back-to-back with an FB unit in between.  So they had it both ways.  A lot of SAL passenger trains ran elephant style.  It was handy if the New York to Florida train was going to split at some point in Florida, with half going one way (Tampa-St. Pete) and the other half going another (Miami).  The ACL's Champion did that at Auburndale daily for many years. (The club car made the short trip to Tampa and the diner went to Miami so everybody was able to enjoy cocktails all the way to the end of the line.)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tom.boyd.125 on November 07, 2021, 01:32:03 PM
Tom,
Checked out all those video...well done !!!
Tommy
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 13, 2021, 10:13:14 AM
Saturday Report – November 13, 2021

The Board of Director's meeting for today and next week have been canceled by the management. 

However, there is a story this week.  The idea came from a book entitled "When Deadhead Counted as Rest and Other Railroad Stories, by a former engineer on the Grand Trunk. 

                                                                                                                  NEAR MISS

   It was a clear, crisp (for Florida) day in November when engineer Ethan Douglas and his fireman, Franklin Smith drew the weekly Pennsy coal train.  Conductor Bud Millstone reviewed the manifest and noted the train was heavier than usual, consisting of loaded coal hoppers that stretched nearly a mile behind the A-B-A brace of Baldwin Sharks.  Douglas backed the diesels into the string of hoppers and pumped up the air.  One thing Baldwin did right was providing robust air pumps so it only took a few minutes for the long train to be ready to roll.
   The Sanlando dispatcher cleared the board and Douglas moved the throttle a notch to take up slack.  Then he gave her another two notches and the train slowly picked up speed and moved to the mainline. 
   Oddly enough, on the A&S in order to head north to Summit from Sanlando it is necessary to run south until the train reaches the grade on the Ovalix. 
   Douglas proudly eased the Sharks up to 45 mph and approached Eaton's Curve and The Great Divide without incident.  Those Baldwins will lug as long a string of hoppers as can be coupled on – and more.
   The train crossed the Suwanee River Bridge and passed Piney Woods Station on its way to the cut at Perkins' Farm.  Old man Perkins and his wife, Paula Deen Perkins, gave the crew a waive as the train passed under the overpass connecting the farm to the cow pasture.
   Baker's Crossing is dangerous.  The mainline comes out of the cut at Perkins' Farm and makes a sharp curve to reach the crossing.  Vehicles have little warning other than the whistles and horns of the locomotives and the locals make sure to look out for the train before venturing over the track. 
   As the coal train approached Baker's Crossing, Douglas sounded the horn for the crossing.  The train approached the crossing at 30 mph.  When the nose of the lead shark rounded the bend Douglas let out a scream of expletives and hit the emergency brake.  A Gulf Oil fuel tanker was inching across the track but was blocked due to traffic on the other side. 
   Douglas and Smith had a split second to take action.  Clearly, the train would not stop in time to avoid what would be a fatal collision with a gasoline tanker.  Just as they made the decision to jump from the engines, the truck slowly pulled forward and the diesels missed it by inches. 
   The truck driver, who realized how close he had come to making his last run, pulled over as the diesels screeched to an emergency stop.  Douglas climbed down from the engine and ran to the fuel truck to give the driver a piece of his mind.  The driver climbed down from the cab Douglas realized he was well over six feet tall and weighed close to 300 pounds.  Douglas calmed down and suggested the driver should watch for trains at crossings.  The driver said, "I don't know what your problem is – the tank was empty."  Realizing you can't fix stupid, Douglas walked back to the train and, after clearing with the dispatcher, continued on the way to the Ovalix.
   Running a heavy coal train up the Ovalix was supposed to have been the challenge of the trip, and it would have been but for the fuel truck. Douglas attacked the 1 percent grade at 35 mph and notched the throttle to number 8.  The 608A prime movers growled mightily and the train slowed to 12 mph.  With black smoke pouring out of the exhaust stacks, the Sharks inched up the grade all the way to Summit.  Douglas and Smith spotted the engines in front of the Summit Dispatcher's Shack and reported the near-miss.  Then they returned to their train and "whistled off" to finish their run.
   In his report, Douglas recommended a crossing gate for Baker's Crossing.

                                                                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojY9BlCQAQo
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on November 13, 2021, 10:55:06 AM
Another great story and video, Your Honor.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 13, 2021, 01:21:45 PM
Great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on November 13, 2021, 03:19:59 PM
Hey Judge:

Very much enjoyed that story.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 14, 2021, 09:42:49 AM
Good story Bill..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on November 14, 2021, 10:09:24 AM
Interesting story Judge. Always look forward to seeing your creative work. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on November 14, 2021, 11:26:51 AM
Sharks and PAs are on my very short list of "acceptable diesels".  So are RS-1/RS-2 and SW-1.  Otherwise, yuck  :(   It was good to see and hear the Sharks swimming uphill.

dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on November 14, 2021, 11:28:02 AM
Judge,

Crossing gates will be installed at Baker's Crossing. Work order has been sent to the MOW Dept.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 14, 2021, 01:51:40 PM
Thank all of you for the kind comments. 

Tom - I hope the Chief of Maintenance, Will Fixer, orders crossing gates that actually operate.  The crossing is very dangerous unprotected. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 20, 2021, 08:38:20 AM
Saturday Report - November 20, 2021

Sadly, there was no Board of Director's meeting this morning.  The next meeting is scheduled for a week from today. 

There is a story.  Your reporter got the inspiration for this tale from the January 1941 edition of Railroad Magazine.  Admittedly, much license has been used retelling this tale, but the inhabitants of Tahope County, Florida, a happy bunch of swamp dwellers and railroaders, have a different culture than their northern cousins.  Today, we are introduced to a new character - a brakie from out west who worked on the UP.  He forgot, or didn't know, that strangers in Tahope need to slowly assimilate into the local social scene, especially where the local "wimmins" are concerned.

                                                                                                        BRAKING ON THE OVALIX

Sandy Williams, age 28, had been braking for the UP out west for two years before he got the wanderlust to get out of the desert and hi-tail it to Florida.  Oh, he had pulled good jobs on the UP but runs "from no place to nowhere through nothin'" did not keep a serious young bachelor entertained. 

He landed in Central Florida and learned the Atlantic & Southern Railroad was hiring brakies for the Ovalix Division, known to the local railroaders as the "Up and Downer." Sandy entered the roundhouse at Tahope and applied.  Due to his significant experience with the UP and his glowing recommendation letter from that railroad, he was hired within an hour.  He stopped by the paymaster's office and picked up a "pie book" and walked down the City of Tahope's main street towards Sweaty Betty's Diner for some eats. 

Boomers knew the City of Tahope to be one mile long and one street wide.  However, it provided the basic needs of a young brakeman, with a movie theater, a pub or two, and the Trackside Tavern, which housed a bevy of inexpensive women, some of whom worked in the bar as dancers and some who worked out of the bar as independent contractors.  What else could a young man want? 

Braking on the Ovalix Division was hard work.  Three freights a day were scheduled to fight the grade from The Bottoms to Summit and there was usually an extra or two to make things interesting.  The A&S assigned its former C&O H-5 2-6-6-2, to the division to haul the extra trains.  Diesels pulled the scheduled runs up the grade.

Sandy soon learned that braking on the Ovalix meant he was expected to spell the regular fireman and shovel coal into the firebox.  The Mallet had a stoker but, due to its age and condition, the stoker could not keep boiler pressure up without help.  Hand firing an engine as big as an H-5 was dirty, backbreaking work.  It didn't help that the extra trains originated in The Bottoms and had to struggle up the entire Ovalix to make it to Summit.  At least the return trip to The Bottoms was easy, with the engine drifting all the way on the downgrade.

Now, Sandy decided he would bunk in The Bottoms, at least temporarily, until he could manage to land a place of his own.  It only took him a few days to scope out the inhabitants down there in the darkened freight yards.  He met Boxcar Bertha as she was nailing a drag out of town and he decided she wasn't his type.  He ran into Maggie Hussy while she was bathing in the river and swapped a bottle of bourbon for a home-cooked meal of catfish and hush puppies.  Maggie's little sister, Tawdry, joined them for dinner and Sandy was instantly smitten by her. 

Sandy invited Tawdry to join him for a beer at the Trackside Tavern and she agreed.  (Tawdry was very agreeable.)  They hopped a local from the yard at The Bottoms and jumped off at Sanlando Station.  It was only a short walk from there to the tavern. 

A beer here, a beer there, and Sandy was getting mellow.  He did not count on Tawdry's former boyfriend being in the tavern and when the two got into a friendly argument over territory, Sandy landed on the floor with his bell rung.  The night manager, a large Chinese person with a Fu Man Chu mustache, usually handled altercations with his baseball bat but he decided to call the police since the injury resulted in one of the parties no longer standing.

Officer Poovey appeared almost instantly and Tawdry's ex was arrested for assault and battery and hauled off to the county jail.

While the medics were cleaning Sandy up from the fight, a reporter from the Tahope Daily News, Roger Ragweed, asked Tawdry for her comments on the incident.  Tawdry, always willing to accommodate, said, "I think I'll get a bigger boyfriend."

The next day, when Sandy reported for work, the engineer, "Fatso Johnson," took one look at Sandy and said, "Must have been quite a night at the Trackside Tavern.  Any joint that has blood on the ceiling is a rough place."


                                                                                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0hjJvH4zEA&t=8s

                                            And here is a video of C&O H-5 1534 coming off the Ovalix and storming through Sanlando with a heavy drag.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 20, 2021, 08:53:38 AM
Young men and women.....quite the explosive combo at times. Good one Bill.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 20, 2021, 10:04:32 AM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ReadingBob on November 20, 2021, 10:50:50 AM
 :)  I always enjoy your tales from the A&S Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 28, 2021, 10:02:13 AM
Saturday report will be posted later this morning.  Sorry about that.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on November 28, 2021, 11:46:12 AM
Saturday Report (BelateddD) November 27, 2021.

The Bored Directors met precisely at 0830 hours to discuss serious business effecting the Town of Tahope and its commercial progress.  The contractors submited a report to advise of the substantial progress being made on the "Pub Crawl Enhancement."  Short-cuts are being made in order to schedule time for another build.  The archetects are supposed to deliver the plans and materials on Monday, November 29, 2021.  Meanwhile, when there is a lull in building construction, the Plants and Grounds crew will be sprucing up the area across from Butts Bar-B-Que. 

When the meeting adjourned, a freight train powered by L&N L-1 4-8-2 #415 climbed up the Ovalix, albeit with serious pusher service from GP7 1803.  The train was spotted a the main yard on the east side of Summit and a Pennsy passenger train (The General) was given her chance to show her stuff.  (For those readers who subscribe to MR or RMC, Walthers has been touting their version of The General along the lines of "A Train You Can Model" for several months.  Little did they know the A&S already had one in regular service.)  Our General travels a slightly different route than the route indicated on the Pennsy map.  Ours runs from New York to Miami during the winter season and uses the Seaboard route to get there.  A video of a different Pennsy train is provided at the end of this report.  The Broadway Limited swings South to Florida during the winter under an accommodation agreement the Pennsy has with the A&S.  It provides service to and from New York to the Sanlando Station in Tahope on a weekly schedule.

Meanwhile, a Central of Georgia freight, powered by two of CofG's beautiful E7A's toured the Midlands and provided delivery of goods to various customers along the way. 

Our guests arrived around 10:00 a.m., including some of the Saturday Butty Group (Greg DeMayo and Curt Webb) along with Curt's father.  This obnoxious bunch caused little damage to the railroad and all of us traveled the mile or so to Del Dio's for lunch.  The Saturday meeting terminated after lunch so those of us of the Gator persuasion could watch the annual Florida-Florida State football game.  This year's match-up was between two 5-6 teams who played down to their level of competition.  Florida managed to barely squeek out a win in the fourth quarter for a 24-21 finish.

This week's story has its inspiration from a tale told in the December, 1939 edition of Railroad Magazine.  It has to do with hot boxes, which were a constant problem back in the day and still are a problem on most of our HO empires.

                                                                                                                   HOT BOXES

The Seaboard has one Miami to New York daily hotshot that provides perishables, such as tomatoes, lettuce, mangos, and other vegetables from South Florida and citrus from Central Florida to the markets and restaurants from Washington, D.C. to New York City.  This train is given high priority and the consist is usually composed of the best equipment.  The train, named the Fruit Grower's Express, is diesel-powered and only stops for crew changes, one of which occurs at the A&S station in Sanlando. 

In late November 1951, the first Florida "cold snap" had come and gone and the citrus was ripening and ready for picking.  Ethan Douglas drew the FGX as engineer on November 27, along with Conductor Willie Wright, fireman George Whittle, head shack Charles Tanner, and hind shack Tom Miller.  The FGE pulled out of Sanlando on time at 8:07 a.m., powered by three E7 diesels. 

Willlie Wright and Tom Miller perched themselves in the cupola of the SAL crummy and kept a look-out over the train for any observable defects that might interfere with the train's progress.  In those days, before the common use of roller bearings on freight cars, the truck journals were regularly inspected and carefully packed with oil-soaked waste to eliminate the friction that would cause a "hot box."  A hot hox can result in the failure of a wheel and cause a derailment if not repaired.   

Lubrication experts will tell you that insufficient packing, waste with poor capillary attraction, a worn-out brass, a rough journal, or lack of lubrication are the main reasons for hot boxes.

The train was about 50 miles from Jacksonville when Miller spied a wisp of grey smoke coming up from one of the mid-train reefers.  It had to be a faulty brake or a hot box.  Either one would cause the conductor to stop the train.  Miller held out a yellow fusee from the cupola to signal the engineer to stop.  Tanner spied the fusee and Douglas eased the train to a stop.

The head shack and the caboose crew walked toward the source of the problem and soon had it located.  Miller pried upon the journal box cover with his hook.  The experienced crew looked into the box and immediately saw the problem.  A car toad had packed the journal box too tightly and grease (dope) was not getting to the journal.  Miller removed the waste with his hook and replaced it with new waste soaked in "dope."

Soon, Douglas eased the throttle up a couple of notches and the FGX was back up to speed.  The stop had cost nearly 30 minutes, but by the time the train reached Washington, D.C., the time had been made up. 

Today, there are no journal boxes on freight cars.  Roller bearings have replaced them and hotbox detectors notify the engineer to stop the train if in the unlikely event, a hotbox occurs.  The conductor, the hind shack, and the caboose have also been replaced. Computers handle the conductor's paperwork involving the consist and the hotbox detector eliminated the need for a rear brakeman.  These things also eliminated much of the romance of freight travel.  But that's progress.

Here is a short video of Pennsy's Broadway Limited making a whistle-stop at Tahope's Sanlando Station:

                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vD0uwakaHo&t=19s


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on November 28, 2021, 12:26:46 PM
Another interesting story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on November 28, 2021, 02:14:21 PM
"Obnoxious bunch" Bill?.....good story.  ;)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 04, 2021, 02:53:54 PM
Saturday Report- December 4, 2021

The Board of Directors met at 0830 hours.  The agenda was limited to discussion of the director's various medical issues, mainly the CEO's upcoming surgery scheduled for Monday.  Estimates are that he will be home from the hospital by a week from today.  All of the employees of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad, both management and labor join hands in wishing him the best of luck. Please do not send flowers - Send money instead.  The ticket agent needs to upgrade his office.

After the board meeting, the team adjourned to run trains.  An ACL freight, powered by a purple and silver brace of F3's was brought up from The Bottoms and it climbed up the Ovalix to The Midlands without difficulty.  The mixed freight made its way around the area, dropping off and picking up freight cars and generally showing her stuff.  Along the way, she was turned on the wye located near the Ovalix and she worked the industries located on the Tahope Penninsula.

A movie company hired by A&S management shot a video of the beautiful train.  The video was shot several times due to various glitches but it can be seen with the link located at the end of this report.

The story this week has its origin in tgh April, 1938 edition of RAilroad Magazine.  The caboose was part of the lore of railroading in the day before technology and managerial concerns about the cost of labor.  This week's story is about one of the ACL's crummys which was the home of Donny "Short Stack" Turner and his cousin Newton (Newt) Ray Lee Fisher on their regular run until the wreck occurred.

                                                                                                     THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE

The crew that drew the trip from Tampa to Tahope that foggy December morning included "Fatso" Johnson, as engineer, Newton Ray Lee (Newt) Fisher, as fireman, Willie Hatch as head shack, and Newt's cousin, Donny (Short Stack) Turner, as hind shack. 
   Newt and Short Stack were just about at the end of their rope living in The Bottoms so they decided to make the caboose used on their regular runs their home.  It beat paying for an apartment they would sleep in six nights a month. 
The caboose was a standard M-3 ACL crummy, manufactured after the war with steel sides.  It had a cupola where the con or the hind shack could observe the train, a desk for the con to use to flip tissue in route, racks for waybills, and an order hook hanging from a peg near the desk.    There were also cabinets for tools, chains, knuckles, wrecking frogs, jacks, and buckets of dope for hot boxes. 
The desk was located right across from the coal-fired stove.   The stovetop provided heat for fried potatoes, corn beef hash, and fried eggs at breakfast time and for a variety of delicacies at lunch and dinner.  During the winter, even in Florida, the crew kept a smoldering fire going all day and night.   
Newt and Short Stack painted over the drab sand color paint on the interior of the crummy and gave the walls a couple of coats of light green.  They painted the ceiling dark green and hung pictures on the walls.  They swapped out the oilcloth cushions and replaced them with real mattresses.  White curtains decorated the windows.  The galley was much improved, with an ice-cooled refrigerator and a vegetable bin. 
They oiled the suspension springs on the trucks and adjusted them to where the crummy rode like a Pullman.
The boys liked the caboose so much they took up residence there and quit going out at night to howl in the local joints. 
The conductors began fighting for assignment to the caboose's runs and, on the day in question, Bud Millstone pulled the duty. 
Things went well for the first part of the trip.  However, Millstone got busy with his waybills and Short Stack fell asleep on his bunk as the train reached Auburndale.  That is where the ACL rails from Miami join the rails to Jacksonville via Lakeland and Orlando.  The Miami-Chicago Floridian was scheduled with right over Fatso's freight, but if was running behind time so Fatso was given the clear to run ahead to Orlando. "Fatso's" freight sped past Auburndale with the Floridian close behind.  Fatso slowed for a herd of cattle crossing the track near Kissimmee and the Floridian plowed into the rear of the train, derailing the caboose and causing it to be destroyed by fire from the overturned stove. 
The investigation that followed blamed Short Stack for not flagging the Floridian in time to avoid the accident and he was awarded brownies and demoted to the job of car tonk.  He took the demotion in stride.  After all, he had been demoted before. 
Newt, who suffers from a fear of accomplishment, said, "After this adventure, I feel like I can accomplish anything.  I've always wanted to say that and now I've accomplished it."   
   And both Short Stack and Newt, after being barred from entry to any of the railroad's cabooses, moved back to The Bottoms.

    Here is a link to a short video of the mixed freight coming out of downtown Tahope - before the incident that destroyed the caboose.

                                                                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsi4N4nWmFA



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on December 04, 2021, 04:43:31 PM
Judge,

Loved this story. What those boys from The Bottoms lack in intelligence is off set by an adventurous spirit!

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 04, 2021, 04:59:47 PM
Great story Bill, I don't think this could happen with a Pennsy freight. ;D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on December 05, 2021, 07:23:59 AM
Another great story and video. 


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 05, 2021, 09:18:38 AM
Good story Bill.....those boys from the bottoms are quite a colorful bunch.  :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on December 05, 2021, 09:34:30 AM
For you operators out there, this story raised a question in my mind:


The passenger train was running late, so the dispatcher released the slower freight.  Ignoring the accident that stopped the freight, what's the guarantee the passenger train doesn't catch up and rear-end the slower freight?  (This all reminds me of an Algebra 2 story problem...)  Would orders have to be passed to the Passenger train to limit its speed? 


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 05, 2021, 09:58:01 AM
Dave - Thanks for your thoughtful question.  I suppose, in 1950, when the freight passed a station, the engineer would receive orders to "go into the hole" until the passenger train passed. This would have been coordinated by "brass pounders" who acted as dispatchers along the line.  At least that is the way stories are told in my old copies of Railroad magazine.

And thanks to all of you who take the time to read my whimsical missives.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Bruce Oberleitner on December 05, 2021, 01:29:06 PM
Hi Tom.
Wishing you all the best for Christmas and the upcoming surgery. 

BTW, don't let them tell you you can't have any Diet Pepsi during your recovery!  Nothing heals the body better than a cold Diet Pepsi.  I believe!

;D ;D 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: tom.boyd.125 on December 05, 2021, 02:24:10 PM
Tom,
Thanks for sharing that great video. Those F units look really nice in that ACL paint.
Good luck going forward.
Will be thinking of you as I drink my Pepsi here.....
Tommy
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 11, 2021, 08:32:14 AM
Saturday Report - December 11, 2021

No Saturday Report today due to the A&S's CEO having a date with his medical team in anticipation of his surgery scheduled at the first of the new year.

    There is a story this week.  Your reporter's wife of 47 years, Cindy, recently bestowed upon him a book entitled "American Steam Locomotives - Design and Developmnet 1880-1960.  This book of over 450 pages contains more information about the engineering and physics involved in manufacturing and operating steam locomotives than a lawyer with no engineering background can absorb, but it is interesting reading nonetheless.  The chapter on WWI's United States Railroad Administration is most interesting for its historical aspects and the highlights will be presented here in at least two installments. 

    Wouldn't you love to have been given a chance to sit in on the meetings when the USRA Committee adopted the designs of the famous USRA locomotives?  Hopefully, you will get the flavor of what that may have been like.  Imagine, the motive power bosses of most of the major railroads sitting down and agreeing on standard designs?  The group included such luminaries as J. T. Wallis, architect and designer of Pennsy's K4.  Fortunately, no one who was familiar with the words "internal combustion" was included.

    The USRA was formed due to wartime necessity.  Many railroads were relying on outdated locomotives that simply were not up to the task to handle wartime traffic.  The USRA locomotives provided much-needed relief to railroads needing modern motive power.
   
                                                                                Federal Takeover – The U.S. Railroad Administration (Part One)
                                                                                                                   1917-1920

    In December 1917, President Wilson entered an executive order federalizing the railroads.  He claimed authority for such a move to be in the declaration of war and the Mobilization Acts of April and August of that year.  Treasury Secretary William G. McAdoo became Director-General of Railroads in addition to his other duties.
   The first item of business was to reduce the log jam of freight trains transporting military equipment to ports in the east. Next came the standardization of freight cars.
   McAdoo, being impatient with the failure of the railroads to adopt standard designs for steam locomotives, appointed a new committee on engines.  The locomotive manufacturer's committee recommended several basic designs based on popular general types, including both freight and passenger locomotives. 
       Ultimately, a board of nine members was appointed. Three members were appointed by each of the three USRA Regional Directors.  The Chicago and Northwestern, a major but not dominant line, had two members, including the chairman and the road's superintendent of motive power; New York Central and Santa Fe were represented, while the Pennsylvania, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Baltimore and Ohio were not. This "oversight" was eventually corrected and representation became more equitable.  J. T. Wallis, superintendent of motive power for the western lines of the Pennsy, and leading architect of the design of the K4 Pacific, simply showed up at the initial meeting of the committee and stayed. The B&O, the Milwaukee Road, Erie, Norfolk and Western, Southern Pacific, and Illinois Central gained members and the committee went to work.  The builders had limited, unofficial participation in the process.  The railroad mechanical engineer staff knew just as much about the theory and practical issues of locomotive design as did the builders.
   McAdoo let his own views be known.  He envisioned a kind of "flying squadron" or "circulating reserve" of government-owned engines sent out as needed to railroads experiencing motive-power shortages.  These locomotives needed to be of standard design in order to be interchangeable from road to road. 
   "There was more than a purely engineering or operational agenda here.  McAdoo was a Democratic Party progressive and spokesman for the view that an activist government should intervene forcefully to correct capitalist abuses.  He foresaw his new locomotives – with a big "U.S." emblazoned on their tenders – as symbols of government-to-the-rescue, bailing out a failed private industrial empire and thus helping reassert citizen control over that industry's former oppressions."  Unfortunately, for McAdoo, the war ended before he could "transform all the railroads, these separate competitive systems, into one great unified transportation system."

   To be continued.  Next week – Successful Locomotive Designs.

   

 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 11, 2021, 09:00:46 AM
Very interesting Bill. I look forward to the next installment.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 18, 2021, 02:11:51 PM
Saturday Report - December 18, 2021

The Board of Directors met at 0830 hours as usual.  The main topic this week was the production of two new videos designed to complement this week's continued story of the USRA (United States Railroad Administration).  The A&S movie production studios are somewhat limited technologically in that editing is not an option.  This limitation required several "takes" before the videos met the standards expected by the producers. 

After the videos were completed, an ACL mixed freight powered by an A-B-A lash-up of ACL F3's made its run through the Midlands, and dropped local freight in route.  Then the train climbed the Ovalix and traveled through the main freight yard at Summit before being spotted on the mainline in anticipation of lunch at Del Dio's. 

This week's story is a continuation of the abbreviated story of the USRA.   

                                                                   Federal Takeover – The U.S. Railroad Administration (Part TWO)
                                                                                                         1917-1920

   By April, 1918, the USRA's locomotive committee had finished most of its work.  The committee was composed of locomotive users rather than locomotive builders.  As a result, the committee grappled with common problems as well as operational issues limited to one or more railroads.  The committee sought to achieve the best result possible while being under tremendous pressure to reach consensus quickly. 
   The committee first decided on three basic wheel arrangements for road locomotives, with a "light" and "heavy" version for each.  The choice for freight was the 2-8-2; for passengers, the 4-6-2; and for heavy passenger and fast freight the 4-8-2.  The light and heavy versions differed primarily in boiler size and in axel loading.  The heavy versions were limited to 30 tons per axel while the light versions were limited to 28.5 tons.  The light versions were designed for use by the smaller railroads with their lighter rail.  Two switchers, an 0-6-0 and an 0-8-0 were also approved.  Later, the wheel arrangements were expanded to include a light and heavy 2-10-2, and two mallet designs, a 2-6-6-2 and a 2-8-8-2.  Notably absent from the list of wheel arrangements were the workhorses still popular with many roads, the 4-6-0 ten-wheeler and the 2-8-0 consolidation.  These engines were simply too small to be considered adequate for the needs of the day.
   From this far remove, it is easy to imagine the heated arguments over designs among the various committee members.  One member, Robert Quayle, had this to say about the discussions that ultimately lead to consensus:
   "I was a member of the committee of nine that was called on to prepare these designs.  It was a big job to reconcile every member of the committee to each particular thing that was adopted.  All the roads represented had their own standards and they were all different.  Many had to give up fancy notions of someone else in order that the committee might agree.  We saw that we could not bring localism or sectionalism: what we did had to be for the good of the nation.  It was essential that we get together and do what we could to help out." 
   Imagine the chances of that kind of spirit of cooperation in today's political climate.
C. A. Greenough, Vice President of Baldwin Locomotive works, and who was not a member of the committee, had this to say on the subject of standardization:
   "The capacities of the locomotives are based upon average conditions; hence there is no provision for the extreme requirements which these locomotives do not cover.  Where even the light locomotives are too heavy - - and where the heavy locomotives are not sufficient capacity, then special locomotives will have to be provided. Those roads requiring heavier locomotives must change their system of operation so as to use the heavy standard government locomotives.  In such instance where railroads have been equipped from one end to the other to use power of maximum capacity for the purpose of reducing train movements, such action would prove a negative economy." 
   Greenhough's dissenting opinion on standardization expressed one of the main reasons dieselization occurred so rapidly thirty years later.  Moving people and goods efficiently required efficient use of both capital and labor.  Capital is wasted when crews operate locomotives that are bigger than the need.  And when crews operate locomotives that are even slightly too small, more crews have to be paid for the same total traffic.  Greenhough's dissent focused on the labor-cost dimension:  changing 'their system of operation" or arranging an operation "for the purpose of reducing train movements" is code for labor cost implications.  Greenhough could not have visualized the increased efficient use of both labor and capital by the use of multiple diesel units back in 1917.
   The committee agreed to recommend the use of the best of the proven devices and appliances of the time.  Devices that had been proven over time were included, while experimental devices were rejected.  The USRA designs included combustion chambers, firebox arches, superheaters, mechanical stokers for the large road engines, mechanical coal pushers for the smaller engines without stokers, mechanical grate shakers, air-operated power reverse gear, mechanically operated firebox doors, dual water glasses, gage cocks mounted on a water column, and better in-cab lighting. 
   The boiler proportions were quite advanced for the day.  Boiler capacity was generous, with large fireboxes.  The adoption of "flexible stay bolts" allowed the simi-controversial use of combustion chambers without appreciable increase in the cost of maintenance.

        The attached videos are of various USRA Steam Locomotives found on the roster of the Atlantic & Southern:

         The first viedo illustrates the "light" version of the USRA Pacific featuring the ACL P5A 1559, one of many copies of the original design acquired by the ACL

                                                                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZMHbrOqhrk

        The second video illustrates the "light" version of the USRA 2-8-2 Mikado, ACL's 835

                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLk50mPWfbU

        The last video illustrates the Seaboard Air Line's version of a USRA copy with air pumps mounted on the smokebox and sporting a Vanderbilt tender.

                                                                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2emuCOQSYi8

NEXT WEEK – SELLING THE USRA DESIGNS
   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 18, 2021, 05:14:59 PM
Great story about USRA locomotive design. Nice looking videos.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on December 18, 2021, 05:26:59 PM
Nice history lesson and videos, Judge.


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: ACL1504 on December 18, 2021, 05:50:57 PM
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on December 18, 2021, 05:26:59 PM
Nice history lesson and videos, Judge.


Jeff


Dr. Jeff,

We have fun with the videos. I hope to get a better camera and a video editing program to make our videos better. These videos were all shot using a small Sony Cybershot. I paid all of $99.00 for it 10 years ago.

The Judge controls the train action and I work the movie clapper.

Tom  ;D

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on December 18, 2021, 06:08:30 PM
I'm always amazed at the changes from 1897 to 1917! 


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on December 19, 2021, 09:16:00 AM
Great yard and videos.....big thanks to the guys at the A&S.  8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on December 22, 2021, 08:13:54 PM
Dave, regarding the freight running ahead of a late first class train: The underlying rule (86 in my old B&M book) says lower class trains must clear superior trains in the same direction by 5 minutes. Dispatchers, knowing a superior train was late, might issue an order to the superior train "#7 run 30 minutes late Auburndale to Jacksonville".  This would allow a freight to run ahead of #7, as long as they stayed more than 5 minutes ahead of #7's re-scheduled time at each station.  Should the freight get delayed between sidings, the rear-end crew was to drop burning 5 min. red/5 min. yellow fusees to warn following trains. I'd have expected Conductor Millstone to get the blame, as he was supposed to be aware of exactly where his freight was relative to the Floridian and direct the caboose crew appropriately. Many would drop the fusees themselves because they were most visible/reliable if the spike stuck in a tie and held them upright). Perhaps there were extenuating circumstances.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on December 22, 2021, 08:19:21 PM
James, thanks!  That makes sense.  The orders would have to be addressed to both the superior passenger train and the inferior freight, right? 


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jbvb on December 22, 2021, 08:28:23 PM
A "run late" order would need to go to every train in the area and time period it affected.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 24, 2021, 02:14:19 PM
The A&S does not have a "run late rule."  Our trains run on time or not at all. 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 24, 2021, 02:31:41 PM
Saturday Report on Friday, December 23, 2021.

The Board of Directors convened at an unscheduled meeting at 9:40 a.m.  Since the meeting was not advertised, no business was conducted.  However, the Board did discuss various matters of interest, including the A&S Video Collection, which has disappointingly not received any awards or other recognition.

This week finishes the information on the United States Railroad Administration.  It is a fascinating subject for steam enthusiasts and its short life had lasting effects on steam locomotive construction.

We at the A&S wish all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a fun Festivus for you Seinfeld fans.

                                                                                               SELLING THE USRA DESIGNS – (Part III)

During the second and third decades of the new century, railroads spent some considerable effort acquiring "dual service" locomotives.  Railroads blessed with level routes or minimal grades discovered that larger boilers and slightly smaller drivers could convert a passenger locomotive into a satisfactory engine capable of adequately handling both freight and passenger trains.  Perhaps the most famous examples of these dual service engines were the 1600 series of Pacifics on the Atlantic Coast Line. 
   The ACL had seventy P-5-A (USRA light Pacifics), numbered 1500-1569, which appeared during the first world war and it used these locomotives in both freight and passenger service.  They developed 40, 750 lbs. in tractive effort using 25" x  28" cylinders and 73" drivers and steam pressure of 200 psi.  The advantage for these engines was their ability to pull passenger trains at a sustained speed of over 70 mph.  Naturally, a locomotive with such speed capabilities had its drawbacks as an efficient freight engine.
   The Baldwin Locomotive Works and ACL mechanical engineers set out to design a true dual-purpose Pacific to replace the 1500 series, resulting in the design of the P-5-B.  Baldwin built 165 of these engines between 1922 and 1926.  They became the standard mainline freight locomotive and were also capable of making fast running time with heavy passenger trains.  The size of their drivers was reduced from 73" to 69" and steam pressure was raised to 210 psi.  The cylinder size remained the same, but the tractive effort was increased to 45,275 lbs.
   Some of the engines of both classes were equipped with disc-type main drivers, which increased their maximum speed to 75 mph.
   The overall appearance of the P-5-B class engines closely resembled the original USRA design to the untrained eye, the addition of a delta trailing truck on later deliveries being a notable difference.  The P-5-B class weighed slightly more (less than a ton) than the P-5-A class.

Following is a complete list of the twelve designs and the number of original locomotives built and sold:
Type Name                   No. Built
0-6-0 6-Wheel Switcher             255
0-8-0 8-Wheel Switcher             175
2-8-2A Light Mikado                625
2-8-2B Heavy Mikado             233
2-10-2A Light Santa Fe             94
2-10-2B Heavy Santa Fe            175
4-6-2A Light Pacific               81
4-6-2B Heavy Pacific                20
4-8-2A Light Mountain             47
4-8-2B Heavy Mountain             15
2-6-6-2 Mallet                  30
2-8-8-2 Mallet                        106
  Total 1856
Note:  A number of railroads ordered copies of the USRA designs. A total of 3251 copies were built.

THE FIRST USRA ENGINE
The first USRA engine produced was the 4500 for the B&O.  The 4500 was built in only 20 days, which is a record for any locomotive of similar capacity. This was the result of the wishes of Samuel M. Vauclain, then the Senior Vice President of Baldwin, who wanted his company to have the honor of completing the first USRA engine. In accordance with his orders, the engine was finished on July 4, 1918, and was decked out with American flags

THE LAST USRA ENGINE
The last road freight steam locomotive constructed was a N&W 2-8-8-2 (Y6B), which was a development of a USRA design.  The last steam locomotive constructed in America was a N&W 0-8-0 of USRA design based upon the original 1917 blueprints, with the addition of some modern appliances.


For more information on USRA locomotives see:

https://www.asme.org/wwwasmeorg/media/resourcefiles/aboutasme/who%20we%20are/engineering%20history/landmarks/147-baltimore-ohio-4500-freight-usra-2-8-2a.pdf - Or Google number of USRA Steam Locomotives.



Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 24, 2021, 02:36:02 PM
Great history Bill. Merry Christmas to the board of the A & S.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on December 31, 2021, 02:24:13 PM
Saturday Report - Friday, December 31, 2021.

    The Board met at 0930 this morning - an hour late due to a prior appointment.
    Last week, we noted that 1559, a USRA Pacific, would run for about 20 feet and stop.  It would run again when given a little throttle.  Your reporter suggested that we try resetting the decoder to the factory default and see if that would fix the problem.  NO NEED!  The decoder fixed itself during the week (A&S decoders often do that) so we decided to run 1559 on a mixed freight at Summit. 
    The engine ran without a problem but it would short out when it ran through the Summit freight yard.  After much testing and a few expletives, it was discovered that the problem was a Kay-Dee freight car.  We did not have time to figure out why the car caused a short when it ran over a turnout but that is a problem to be solved when next we meet.
    The A&S CEO is scheduled for surgery on January 6 and will be out of action for a few weeks.  Your reporter will post information about his progress. 

    The stories posted for the last few weeks have been derived (but not plagiarized) from a book entitled "American Steam Locomotives - Design and Development -1880-1960.  As I previously explained, the book has a lot of information in it that engineers and physicists might understand, but that stufff is all Greek to me.  (Lawyers go to law school when they realize they are mathematically challenged.)  Anyway, there are sections of the book that are of interest to the readers of this report so I have decided to devote two or three weeks to the subject of railroad safety.
 
                                                                                                   Locomotive Safety and Regulation
                                                                                                                         Part I

   Those of us who are old enough to remember steam locomotives when they were still in service look back in amazement at just how dangerous the iron horse in particular, and railroading in general, could be.  The subject of safety in railroading is all too broad a topic for a report such as this one, but your reporter has opted to pick and choose a couple of examples of how steam crews risked life and limb on a daily basis, especially before enactment of the Locomotive Inspection Act of 1911.  This week's topic has to do with boiler safety.
      Modern investigators from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) would no doubt be appalled at the conditions inside the cab of a steam locomotive.  Temperatures up to 130 degrees F, constant vibration, noise levels exceeding 90 decibels, noxious gases laden with particulates and sulfur, tripping and head bumping hazards everywhere, and no sign of safety concerns and crashworthiness.  Crews regularly worked in these conditions up to 16 hours at a stretch.  One engineer remarked, "You parboiled in the summer and froze in the winter.  It was part of the job.  We loved that job.  Sure, we had a union.  That was to get us better pay.  Safety?  I always thought the job had its dangers. But it was as safe as any other."
Boiler explosions were not uncommon and occurred at alarming frequency.  Interestingly, boilers in steamships came under federal inspection in 1852, largely because explosions on a ship tended to cause mass casualties.  Explosions on steam engines usually only killed a couple of crew members, so these catastrophes did not attract the same public ire as explosions on steamships.
      The fireman and the engineer manually controlled the flow of boiler feedwater and visually monitored its level.  If the crew allowed the water level to fall too low, a boiler even in the best condition would explode due to catastrophic structural failure of the firebox from overheating.  Without adequate water surrounding the firebox, steel in its walls failed from softening by the 2,000-degree fire. The pressure containment of the boiler then ruptured, a couple of thousand gallons of superheated water flashed almost instantaneously into steam, and the consequent explosion generally ripped the boiler off its frame and sent it flying a hundred feet or more into the air and several hundred feet down the track.  The damage was generally so severe that the cause of the explosion was unclear – whether it was crew error (no surviving cab crew), faulty water monitoring devices, or some prior flaw in the boiler.
      While crews were generally hesitant to admit that common practices on board risked dangerous consequences, in situations where the engine was being worked hard, a fireman often "traded water for steam."  This trade occurred when the fireman saw his boiler pressure falling – from poor coal, inexpert firing, or poor running technique by the engineer.  In such case, the fireman could aggressively tend to the fire while cutting back temporarily on the water supply.  Feedwater cooled the boiler, thereby lowering boiler pressure.  Cutting back on the water rate allowed the boiler pressure to recover, preventing a loss of power.  In cases where the locomotive was working at full power on a steep hill, cutting back on the water could prevent a stall, the worst professional embarrassment for both fireman and engineer. 
      Well-experienced crews were able to trade off the firing rate and the water supply against each other and keep boiler pressure steady while anticipating the ever-changing power demands on the boiler due to changing grades and train speeds.  Whether the trade-off was bad or good depended upon the skill of the fireman, familiarity with the road, and the tolerance of the engineer. 
      The Locomotive Inspection Act of 1911 required periodic inspections of boilers and significantly reduced boiler explosions caused by defective boilers.  It did little to reduce explosions caused by negligent operation, which remained a problem until the end of steam. 
      Next week – Danger Beyond Boilers

   
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: bparrish on December 31, 2021, 06:03:58 PM
Judge..................

Your remarks this week are great...........  I really like the shot at lawyers and math! ! ! ! !


The discussion on steam locomotives is spot on.   They would surely win the "OSHA goes apoplectic" award on any day.


Thanx'
Bob

Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Rollin on December 31, 2021, 08:27:00 PM
Judge,

Any boiler can be dangerous, the fact that locomotives were on the move made them especially so, not to mention the extra wear and tear from vibration, the weather conditions, etc. Stationary boilers were often subject to regulations as well. When my dad had greenhouses (in Ohio) the boilers would be used for heating, first with steam and later we converted to hot water, which was a little less dangerous.
Boilers at factories, like the rubber plants in Akron, had employees who monitored the conditions around the clock, but our boilers were 'Ohio Specials' so called because they were LESS than 100 hp rating and did NOT require around the clock in person monitoring, but only automatic systems which would shut them down and ring alarms if the flame went out or the pressure was too high, etc.
Of course, if the alarm went off in the middle of the night, we would have to get out of bed and go check...
January weather doesn't allow you to wait and fix it in the morning!
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Jim Donovan on December 31, 2021, 09:51:04 PM
Finally had a chance to catch up on the doings of the A&S as reported by that intrepid reporter known simply as 'The Judge'. Funny, informative and enjoyable. Thanks!

Jim D
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 01, 2022, 08:11:30 AM
Very interesting Bill. I have never really thought much about the dangers of operating a steam locomotive. Please keep up the great stories in 2022.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 01, 2022, 09:08:59 AM
Great story Bill.....I had an uncle, in New Jersey, that was a boiler guy for one of the railroads and made a darn good living with his specialty.

I remember him talking about the dangers of the steam locos, but was always adamant that if the machines were operated correctly (by the book) they were as safe as any other machine. He always thought that the benefits the railroads brought to the country far outweighed the problems and disadvantages.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 01, 2022, 11:23:48 AM
There were a number of trades working at the Lima Locomotive Works in Ohio.  They were often in friendly competition with each other.  Sometimes there was an argument as to whether a particular task belonged to one trade or another.  I remember some reported banter between trades at Lima describing the boilermaker trade - "He doesn't have a trade, he only has a habit."  I assume the speaker was referring to the thousands of rivets/bolts that held a boiler together.

I have a book describing the shops at the Lima Locomotive Works.  The shop was divided into several sections, all of which were deafeningly noisy.  The boiler shop was one of the worst, although the shop that had the huge presses used to stamp out locomotive parts, such as side rods, must have been right up there.  Imagine OHSA inspecting the Lima Works today?   

Here is a link to a video taken of the Lima Works in 923-24.  It is of poor quality (typical of the times) and accurately gives the impression of a dark, dangerous environment.  Look at all those bolts on the boiler!

                                                                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXzXoMnGVKg
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on January 01, 2022, 01:55:43 PM
Interesting video.  I can only imagine how loud it was in there, and hot in the summer.  I think the white substance on the firebox is probably asbestos as well. 


Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 08, 2022, 02:04:46 PM
Saturday Report – January 8, 2022

There is no Saturday Report this week due to the hospitalization of the A&S's CEO after open-heart surgery.  Happily, the surgery was successful and he is either out of ICU or will be moved this afternoon.

Last week we took a look at safety during the steam era and learned that boiler explosions were the main cause of death due to problems running the locomotive.  Today, we will take a look at other causes of death and injury.

                                                                                                         Danger Beyond Boilers

      It might surprise you to learn that the second cause of injury beyond boiler explosions was the squirt hose.  This gadget was a rubber extension hose for use to periodically clean coal off of the engine deck and to lightly wet down the tender coal pile to control the dust.  The hose came off of an injector and the water was scalding hot, which caused needless injuries.  The ICC reported the scalding hot water injured up to 80 employees (mostly firemen) a year.  The injuries declined when hoses were improved after 1945. 
   The third most common source of injury was the grate shakers.  Non-standard shakers and ill-fitting shaker bars caused most of the problems.  Firemen used the grate shakers to clean the ashes from his fire.  The fireman would insert an iron shaker bar into a hole and "rock" the grates back and forth, causing the ash to fall onto the ashpan below the firebox.  If the shaker bar came loose from the grate operating lever, it could throw the fireman severely.  Different engines had different grate shakers and often the shaker bars from different engines got mixed up.
   Slightly less frequent, but far more hazardous were bursting flues and arch tubes inside the firebox.  When these items failed, steam pressure and boiler water was released into the firebox.  If at that instant the fireman was standing back beyond an open firebox door, a large quantity of burning coal from the firebed would blow into his face.  Serious burn injury or death inevitably resulted.
   Installation of "butterfly" firebox doors, many steam-operated, reduced other firebox problems. 
   Up until 1925, the fireman's job was the second most dangerous job in railroading, after the brakeman.  The installation of the automatic stoker, a steam-driven mechanical device that used an augur to convey coal from the tender to the firebox significantly reduced the fireman's risk of injury due to firebox dangers.  Stokers were invented and installed because by 1925 locomotives had gotten so large that a single fireman could not maintain boiler pressure under normal operations.  Thus, the safety aspects of stokers were a secondary reason for their installation.  Interestingly, the ICC regulation requiring stokers on heavier locomotives met with objection from both the fireman's and engineer's union, but the railroads agreed to install stokers and they became standard on most engines. 
   The stokers themselves presented problems.  They would jam if rocks or other trash was loaded in the tender along with the coal. 
   The advantages outweighed the problems.  The cab of the locomotive became safer and cleaner when stokers were installed and steam-powered grate shakers reduced other hazards.
   Other hazards included broken axels, blow-off cocks failure, injectors failing, steam pipes cracking, crankpins failing, and side rod failure.  The latter hazard could be particularly deadly if the failure occurred on "Mother Hubbard," or center cab locomotives.  The side rod could wipe out the cab, killing its occupants.
   This short review of the dangers to crew members barely begins to cover the topic. 
   Next week we will turn to the story of locomotive development.
   Your reporter is surprised to report that the Saturday Report received over 1400 visits from last Saturday until this Saturday's posting. Who would have thought?         
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 08, 2022, 03:30:28 PM
Great information Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 08, 2022, 04:37:49 PM
Very interesting Bill.....thanks.  8)

Enjoyed the videos also. :)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: postalkarl on January 09, 2022, 03:43:14 AM
hey Bill:

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. My Great Grandfather was an Engineer on the Pennsylvania RR.

Karl
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 09, 2022, 09:17:44 AM
I found a video reporting on a firebox backblast.  Really close call.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TJPmkcPer8

And here is a video on how to bring a steam locomotive up to steam. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx9Q8PphAVo
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: S&S RR on January 09, 2022, 09:35:15 AM
Judge


Great report - it is amazing how much Engineering went into the design of Steam locomotives. Managing the energy from steam is very tricky.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 09, 2022, 02:40:32 PM
The how to video is amazing. I never knew there was that much work invoved in getting a steamer ready to go.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 15, 2022, 11:27:40 AM
Saturday Report - January 15, 2022

      There will be no formal Saturday Report today due to the A&S CEO being laid up recovering from open-heart surgery.  Your reporter spoke with him by telephone yesterday and his recovery is proceeding nicely, thank you.

      Your reporter has always been fascinated with railroading back in the link and pin days and he stumbled across an article in the July 1940 Railroad Magizinge this morning that provides the basis for this week's story.

     Each month, the publication had a section called "True Tales of the Rails" and it usually contained three or four short stories.  The July 1940 issue included a story entitled "50 Years on the High Iron."  As you might imagine, it tracked the career of a railroader whose first job was in the 1880s.  Two of the tales contained within the article are reviewed this week.

                                                                                                     THE WAY THINGS WERE

      A. L. Butcher made a fifty-year career of railroading beginning in the 1880s.  He lived in Tennessee and spent most of his career on the L&N or subsidiary railroads many of which have long been forgotten, such as the East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia.
His first job was as a roundhouse flunkey and he was the butt of jokes typical of the era.  He was sent to look for a left-handed link or a three-cornered pin.  He was ordered by the  "car knocker" to walk about a quarter of a mile carrying a drawhead on his back, saying this was very necessary in training to be a switchman. 
      In those days, the yard conductors hired their own brakemen, and Butcher's first run as a brakie was mid-winter in Tennessee.  The temperature sat at six below zero and since this was before air brakes, he had to "decorate" the tops of the cars and work the hand brakes in response to whistles from the engineer. As an additional duty in those days, brakemen had to wrestle 250lb bags of salt to the tops of the cars and spread the contents on the wooden running boards to discourage ice from forming. 
      Train crews worked sixteen hours a day.  Conductors were paid $75.00 a month, while brakemen made $40.00.  Butcher says they could live as well on that as rails can live in 1940 "on twice that amount." 
      Butcher had a friend who had been railroading since the 1870s and he related a trip when Jefferson Davis, the former president of the Confederacy, rode his train as a passenger.  His friend, Ross Smith, hauled freight during the Civil War on the ET&V, first for the Confederates and then for the Yankees, whichever side was holding that stretch of the railroad. The Federal Government gave all conductors the rank of captain under the authority of the army and they were still called captain even in 1940.  (Your reporter's grandfather was a conductor on the ACL from 1900 until his death in1936 and he was called "Captain" until the day he died.)
Smith was proud to have been the conductor in 1873 on the train on which Jefferson Davis traveled back to his home in Mississippi after he was released from Fort Monroe.  Smith recalled the incident as follows:
      "Jeff Davis got on my train at Bristol.  He sat alone in the back of a coach, staring out a window most of the trip.  Evidently, he was most dejected.  But when we stopped at Jonesboro, the site of a tragic battle, I watched the old Confederate leader get off the train, head erect, shoulders squared, and stride briskly over to the Capt. James Sevier Hotel for lunch.  A real man, I thought, a fine Southern gentleman."


Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 15, 2022, 12:55:45 PM
Good story Bill, I'm really enjoying the history in your series..... 8)
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on January 15, 2022, 01:39:49 PM
I didn't know about the salt on roofwalks, that makes sense (mix of salt and sand would work even better.)  Those could be damned slippery in bad weather!


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 15, 2022, 05:01:32 PM
Another great story Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: jrmueller on January 16, 2022, 11:23:23 AM
Your Honor - Thanks for another of your informative stories and keeping us up to date about Tom. Jim
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 22, 2022, 08:12:39 AM
Saturday Report -January 22, 2022.

There is no Saturday Report today because the Board of Directors meeting of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad was canceled.  The CEO is recovering from surgery and both directors must be present (including your reporter, who is the Railroad's Ticket Agent) for there to be a quorum.

The February 1938 edition of Railroad Magazine was selected to get ideas for this week's story, but it was hard to get past the first few pages of advertisements.  Here are examples: 

"Be a Passenger Traffic Inspector. – Trained Men in Demand – Positions Ready.  Men 19 to 50 -trained as railroad and bus passenger traffic inspectors are in constant demand.  Our short home-study course qualifies you quickly and, upon completion, will place you at up to $135 per month plus expenses to start or refund tuition. Standard Business Training Institute of Buffalo, N.Y, Div. 5002.  (No job description of just what a Passenger Traffic Inspector actually does was included in the ad.)

Start a Potato Chip Business in your home and make money.  Buy potatoes for $.02 per lb. and sell "greaseless" chips for $.035 per lb.  small investment buys complete equipment needed.  No experience is necessary.  Offered by Food Display Machine Corp., 3235 West Huron, Dept. D-232. Chicago.

LAW Study at Home – Legally trained men win higher positions and bigger success in business and public life.  They command respect Greater opportunities now than ever before.  Big corporations are headed by men with legal training. 
   More ability, more prestige, more money!  We guide you step by step.  You can train at home during spare time.  Degree of LL.B. conferred.  Successful graduates in every sector of the United States.  We furnish text materials, including a fourteen-volume law library.  Low cost, easy terms.  LASALLE EXTENSION, Dept. 258-L, Chicago.

I'LL TRAIN YOU AT HOME in your spare time for a GOOD RADIO JOB.  Many radio experts make $30, $50, $75 a week!  National Radio Institute, Washington, D.C.

HERE'S THE WAY TO BECOME AND EXPERT ON DIESEL ENGINES * International Correspondence Schools, P. O. Box 2206, Scranton, Penna.

FISTULA – Anyone suffering from Fistula, Piles, or Non-Malignant rectal trouble is urged to write for our FREE Book describing the McCleary Treatment for those insidious rectal troubles.  The McCleary Treatment has been successful in thousands of cases.  Let us send you our reference list of former patients living in every state of the Union.  The McCleary Clinic, D-207 Elms Blvd., Excelsior Springs, Mo.

In addition to the valuable products advertised, the February 1938 Railroad Magazine had a page of short 'jokes."  Here are three of them.  Humor in 1938 was a little different, but it is funnier after a cocktail or two.  (The jokes have been rewritten to have taken place on the A&S.)

                                                                                                     Slight Misunderstanding:
On the Atlantic & Southern, at Sanlando, there is one man who fills the position of caller, operator, and dispatcher, besides just about everything else that needs doing.  His title is Train Dispatcher.  One day a fellow from the General Office called on the phone with a rush message for transmission, asking who had received the message
   "Dodge," answered the Dispatcher.
   "Right, Mr. Hodge."
"The name is DODGE!" shouted the dispatcher.  "What would you do if someone threw a brick at you?"
   "Duck," he replied.  "O. K., Mr. Duck."

                                                                                                                 BEAR MEAT
   A certain brakeman on the A&S liked to be known as "hard-boiled."  One day he walked into Sweaty Bett's Diner, pounded on the counter and cried in a loud voice, "I want service." 
   The waiter asked for his order.
   "I want bear meat," said he.
   "Just what cut of bear meat would you like to have?"
   "Run the bear out here," was the reply.  "I'll tear out what I want." 

                                                                                               JUST LIKE OTHER PASSENGERS
   A lady boarded the Champion at the Summit Station, carrying her dog with her.  She asked the conductor, "If I pay my dog's fare will he be treated like any other passenger and be allowed to occupy a seat?"  The conductor answered, "Of course, madame.  He will be treated the same as any other passenger and can occupy a seat, provided he does not put his feet on it."

   



 
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 22, 2022, 08:49:44 AM
Excellent Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: deemery on January 22, 2022, 09:29:34 AM
Sign me up for "Law Studies at Home"...


dave
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on January 22, 2022, 04:12:55 PM
I wonder what the McCleary treatment for rectal troubles was.   :o   Then again, maybe I don't want to know.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 29, 2022, 08:31:16 AM
Addendum to the December 31, 2021, Saturday Report.

A couple of weeks ago, I reported on Locomotive Safety and Regulation - particularly boilers and the practice of "trading water for steam." (See p. 80).  Here is a website that has several photos of boiler explosions and an interesting video of an explosion in 1948 on the C&O involving a T-1 2-10-4.  Keep your water glass full and these accidents won't happen.  I suspect one of the members of this forum will recreate a boiler explosion disaster on his/her layout.  Hopefully, it will be a staged photograph. 

http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2015/11/boiler-explosion-of-c-t-1-3020-on-may.html
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 29, 2022, 08:51:24 AM
Fascinating stuff Bill.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: Judge on January 29, 2022, 01:41:08 PM
Saturday Report – January 29, 2022

   There will be no Saturday Report again this week because the President of the Atlantic & Southern Railroad is still recuperating from surgery. The weather here in Central Florida is chilly.  It was 41 degrees at dawn this morning and will only go into the high 50s today.  But there is lots of sunshine.  Sorry about that, New Englanders.
        While there is no report, there is a story.  Your reporter has noted that attention has not been paid to any of the characters who live in and around Tahope recently so this week's story is an update on the adventures of Newt Fisher and his cousin, Donnie "Short Stack" Turner.  Readers will recall these two, who regularly have scrapes with the law and have a hard time keeping a job with the railroad.  They live in The Bottoms which is a dimly lit area with a large railroad yard on the lower level of the A&S.  Newt and Shortstack live in a 1934 Airstream trailer parked next to the river.  The river provides them with fish, crabs, bathing opportunity, and cooking water for Mulligan Stew.  Their nearest neighbor is Boxcar Betty, who smokes cigars, drinks corn squeezins and has never lost a fight.
   For those of you who are new to the Saturday Report, there is some information about Newt Fisher and Short Stack interspersed within previous reports.  Examples include "Inhabitants of Eaton's Curve (page 8, 8), Life in the Bottoms (page 10), Code Talkers (p.19), Striking it Rich on a Student Trip (page 22), and The Ride to the Great Divide (page 23).  For information about Perkins' Farm see page 13.

                                                                                                   The Purloined Breakfast

   In late January 1949, Newt Fisher and his cousin, Donnie "Short Stack" Turner managed to convince the new yard boss at Summit to let them hire on as brakemen.
   For those readers who are not familiar with the weather in Central Florida, let me tell you that there are a few rainy grey days in January when the temperature gets down into the low 30s and the effect can be bone-chilling.  It was one of those days when our heroes climbed aboard a Coast Line M3 red caboose for the run from Summit to Tampa.  The train was powered by one of the Coast Line's famous P5B Pacifics, specifically designed for dual service duty and at home at the head of a freight drag or a 12-car streak of varnish, like the Southwind.
   It had been a long time since these characters had parked their carcasses in a red crumb box and the cold weather had whetted their appetites.  Newt started a fire in the coal stove and Short Stack checked the crummy' s larder to see what was available for breakfast.  He said, "Newt if we had some ham we could have ham and eggs if we had some eggs."  The lack of vittles required putting thought to the problem.  Quite a few delicacies could be gotten near the tracks if would-be foragers put their minds to it. 
   The Brains was consulted when he climbed aboard and agreed that something had to be done about breakfast.  Shortstack discovered the route that day would include a water stop at Piney Woods Station, which was located close by Farmer Perkins' farm.  The two brakies convinced the Brains that a purloined breakfast was better than no breakfast at all, so a plan soon developed.
        The train pulled out of Summit Yard an hour before dawn and was 10 minutes ahead of schedule when it came to a stop at the water tank at Piney Woods. The Brains walked up to the engine to speak with the engineer, Uncle Henry O'Leary, while Newt and Short Stack skedaddled past the orange grove and into Farmer Perkins' chicken coop. They snatched a handful of eggs, grabbed a ham from the nearby smokehouse, and made a run for it back to the train. 
        Farmer Perkins heard the commotion and stepped out onto his porch with his shotgun.  He shot into the dark a few times but, since he could not see the thieves, his buckshot went wild.  Newt had the presence of mind to snatch a few ripened oranges from one of Farmer Perkins' orange trees on their way back to the crummy. 
Soon the aroma of fried ham and eggs rose from the crummy' s smokestack and the crew feasted on breakfast washed down with Florida orange juice. 
         Newt, who suffers from a fear of accomplishment, said to Short Stack, "I feel like I can accomplish anything! I've always wanted to say that."  "And now you've accomplished it," said Short Stack 
         And the train pulled out of Piney Woods on time.

        Attached is a video taken a few years after our story showing the freght train (now diesel powered) passing Perkins' Farm and entering Piney Woods.  The train passes the Piney Woods Station and proceeds across the Suwanee River Lagoon (rainstorm) and beyond. 

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxlI-UA2hII
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: PRR Modeler on January 29, 2022, 07:52:17 PM
Another great story of the bottoms.
Title: Re: The Atlantic & Southern Saturday Report
Post by: GPdemayo on January 31, 2022, 08:03:33 AM
Enjoyed the story Bill.  :)