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Re: White stuff Coming out of the Malabar Switcher
Author: DCA
Date: 02-19-2011 - 15:46
Thank you, sir, for the update on Malabar, Redondo, etc.
It seems pretty incredible to me now that when I worked on the Harbor District, with its many, many grade crossings and fairly crazy local drivers, that due to crowding in the cab of the Alco switchers (we still had firemen in that era) some of us, myself included, would in good weather often ride the front/rear platform (not the steps).
The night Wingfoot job (#323) usually ran at something approaching warp speed in order to get a typically three-hour early quit. So riding out front at the speeds we went entailed watching carefully for the errant driver and being ready to head back along the side deck or jump up to the cab, as required. It seemed as if the bell and two-chime airhorn never stopped sounding during the five hours it took to get the work done (covering from Redondo Jct. to Hyde Park).
The 323 usually had a high-hood Alco kept at the Wingfoot freighthouse but no graffiti in those days.
It seems pretty incredible to me now that when I worked on the Harbor District, with its many, many grade crossings and fairly crazy local drivers, that due to crowding in the cab of the Alco switchers (we still had firemen in that era) some of us, myself included, would in good weather often ride the front/rear platform (not the steps).
The night Wingfoot job (#323) usually ran at something approaching warp speed in order to get a typically three-hour early quit. So riding out front at the speeds we went entailed watching carefully for the errant driver and being ready to head back along the side deck or jump up to the cab, as required. It seemed as if the bell and two-chime airhorn never stopped sounding during the five hours it took to get the work done (covering from Redondo Jct. to Hyde Park).
The 323 usually had a high-hood Alco kept at the Wingfoot freighthouse but no graffiti in those days.
