BOB2 Wrote:
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> I know that a handful of these cars are (maybe?)
> still used for thing like toilet paper, according
> to what I've read here. Back when these were
> mostly used for auto parts, they would not have
> seen a hump very often. On the SP these and auto
> racks made up APW's and APE's and loads and
> empty's in LA originated or terminated from the
> Gemco and Tweedy and Tweedy GM plants. There is
> no reason, except maybe with "short' squeezers on
> the older humps that you couldn't necessarily hump
> these cars, it just wasn't necessary.
>
> As I recall, these long box cars, mostly carried
> frames and exterior parts like hoods, fenders,
> trunk lids, which were spotted and pulled directly
> from the tracks adjacent to the assembly line,
> where they were spotted by the parts being used on
> that section of the line. There never was a
> reason to "hump" them in LA to make up blocks
> "classified" them by "destination", and there was
> no hump at Gemco or Tweedy, so all of these cars
> were switched.
>
> SPHS&TS Quarterly just had a great little article
> on Gemco, which might help you answer more
> questions. I worked mostly out of Tweedy, but
> earned many an extra days penalty pay for running
> "hot" cars, from the Shops out to Gemco, even up
> to the last month I worked. If didn't get all the
> parts necessary to spot the plant, you'd shut down
> the line....and hottest trains I've ever run were
> "shut down" trains. including once with just 3
> units, 4 "hot" cars, and a caboose, with an RFE
> telling me that there were no speed
> restrictions......, and I made Yuma to Indio in
> under 2:20, switch to switch.......not very likely
> something ever said or done in today's safety
> culture.


No kidding Bob ! I surely would have fired you and Stellar Nudge for that !
Today its not about the Customers satisfaction anymore. Level 5. Ceeya!