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Re: Taking water at SLO : The Move
Author: Nudge
Date: 07-27-2017 - 09:11
In 69, the "old" depot was used by the train crew dispatcher and the foot board yardmasters office. Trainmen went on and off duty there and there was a telegrapher , "BI Telegraph."
In 70 or 71, the switch engines and yard crews were abolished. They renovated the "New" depot, adding an area for Crew Dispatchers and telegraphers. They closed the engine crew dispatchers office at the Roundhouse and moved us to the depot. They moved the train crew dispatchers to the depot and BI was moved along with teletypes, etc. They made the old baggage room, everybody's change room. The officers were moved upstairs and later, the SP Credit union moved upstairs from the old REA building.
Waaaay back the dispatchers were in the old depot along with the CTC machine for Cuesta grade. Later, that would be moved to the City at 3rd & Townsend.
As a "funny" side note, there was a story about a switchman in SLO working a
2nd trick goat. Well, switchman are known for finding stuff that they can use at home or sell. Even had one that took all the dunnage or discarded blocking from mty flat cars over the years and had enough to build a home with.
Well, back to the 3rd trick switchmen. Well being bored he saw a piece of metal that was screwed to the floor. He removed the lid and here were hundreds of small wires in big loop in the box. Well, the dispatchers had long been moved to the City and the machine had been gone for years so he figured it was surplus and up for grabs. He removed all the wire, cutting where needed and took it home. Well, the next day he comes to work and there are special agents, FRA, everyone there.
Long story short, those wires were still in use and never disconnected when the machine went north. What he had done was to bring all the CTC, teletypes, voice and dispatchers lines to a stop. Federal charges were never brought against him for sabotage, after all he was a switchmen doing what they do. Word had it he took a long vacation.
Nudge
In 70 or 71, the switch engines and yard crews were abolished. They renovated the "New" depot, adding an area for Crew Dispatchers and telegraphers. They closed the engine crew dispatchers office at the Roundhouse and moved us to the depot. They moved the train crew dispatchers to the depot and BI was moved along with teletypes, etc. They made the old baggage room, everybody's change room. The officers were moved upstairs and later, the SP Credit union moved upstairs from the old REA building.
Waaaay back the dispatchers were in the old depot along with the CTC machine for Cuesta grade. Later, that would be moved to the City at 3rd & Townsend.
As a "funny" side note, there was a story about a switchman in SLO working a
2nd trick goat. Well, switchman are known for finding stuff that they can use at home or sell. Even had one that took all the dunnage or discarded blocking from mty flat cars over the years and had enough to build a home with.
Well, back to the 3rd trick switchmen. Well being bored he saw a piece of metal that was screwed to the floor. He removed the lid and here were hundreds of small wires in big loop in the box. Well, the dispatchers had long been moved to the City and the machine had been gone for years so he figured it was surplus and up for grabs. He removed all the wire, cutting where needed and took it home. Well, the next day he comes to work and there are special agents, FRA, everyone there.
Long story short, those wires were still in use and never disconnected when the machine went north. What he had done was to bring all the CTC, teletypes, voice and dispatchers lines to a stop. Federal charges were never brought against him for sabotage, after all he was a switchmen doing what they do. Word had it he took a long vacation.
Nudge
