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Re: Submitted For Your Approval - Two-hundred-seventeenth Installment
Author: D. B. Arthur
Date: 06-04-2023 - 07:25
John Monhoff Wrote:
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> When we went on one of Ed Von Nordeck's El Paso to Los Mochis trips, the consist included an ex-UP dome-diner-lounge. The owner specified that the only way he would allow his car to go into Mexico was that Bill Farmer had to be included in the crew. A fitting tribute to Bill's knowledge and talents.
Here's another story illustrating how highly Bill was respected and appreciated by so many people.
When AAPRCO had their 1989 convention in San Diego at the no-longer-existing Wright Street Yard, Bill did most of the planning and logistics of how everything would be arranged there, down to details of how each car should be properly pointed; how each car should be mated with other cars; which cars should be wyed; where the cuts would be made between cars, and so forth. He had all of this plotted out in detail on paper, with detailed instructions for the switch crews in how to switch the cars. This was presented at a pre-convention meeting and, after it was examined by Joseph Yannuzzi, General Superintendent of Amtrak's Southwest Division, he told Bill, "When this convention is all over I want you to come and work for me."
I guess Bill had other plans or other job offers, because he did not exercise the option.
Here's a photo of Joe Yannuzzi presenting a retirement certificate of appreciation to Southwest Chief engineer Kenny Galusha after Galusha completed his last run. Sadly, in 2020 Yannuzzi lost a battle to cancer at age 65 and Kenny Galusha also passed on at age 73 in December of 2022. That's me on the right.
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> When we went on one of Ed Von Nordeck's El Paso to Los Mochis trips, the consist included an ex-UP dome-diner-lounge. The owner specified that the only way he would allow his car to go into Mexico was that Bill Farmer had to be included in the crew. A fitting tribute to Bill's knowledge and talents.
Here's another story illustrating how highly Bill was respected and appreciated by so many people.
When AAPRCO had their 1989 convention in San Diego at the no-longer-existing Wright Street Yard, Bill did most of the planning and logistics of how everything would be arranged there, down to details of how each car should be properly pointed; how each car should be mated with other cars; which cars should be wyed; where the cuts would be made between cars, and so forth. He had all of this plotted out in detail on paper, with detailed instructions for the switch crews in how to switch the cars. This was presented at a pre-convention meeting and, after it was examined by Joseph Yannuzzi, General Superintendent of Amtrak's Southwest Division, he told Bill, "When this convention is all over I want you to come and work for me."
I guess Bill had other plans or other job offers, because he did not exercise the option.
Here's a photo of Joe Yannuzzi presenting a retirement certificate of appreciation to Southwest Chief engineer Kenny Galusha after Galusha completed his last run. Sadly, in 2020 Yannuzzi lost a battle to cancer at age 65 and Kenny Galusha also passed on at age 73 in December of 2022. That's me on the right.
