You would be surprised what the old hooks could do. First and foremost was a little fact of one man. His only job was to watch the wheels on the rail. If they started to lift he had a whistle around his neck and you could hear it on the hook. It was a whistle like you would find in a football game.

Near the west end of Honda (SP Coast MP 307.9) "something" happened and a steam engine ended up down the side of the hill onto the beach below. The engine was in good shape except for its location. The SP poured 2 huge concrete foundations up on the flat area, near the edge. When everything was ready, they used two hooks and sucked the engine up the hill and to a track laid in the sand. They got the engine up, hooked a temporary track panel to the siding or main and it was done.

You can still see those concrete foundations if you know where to look. They were mostly covered with ice plant and stuff but if you look hard you will see them.




Nudge