Despite the long discussion about the deteriorating State of California, it is nice to know that the conductor was OK. A number of trainmen and enginemen I used to work with were carrying guns. A few yardmasters, signal, MW and other employees who had to venture out on the property had suspicious bulges in their coat pockets. Some had the saying that "a Santa Fe Special is not a watch anymore." This was of course in reference to small revolvers what were called "Saturday Night Specials." Illinois made fine railroad grade pocket watches with Montgomery dials, that read "Santa Fe Special" on their dials, which was also sometimes engraved on the watch movements.

It was preferable to be in violation of the rules prohibiting employees from carrying weapons than not to be able to defend oneself in the bad neighborhoods.

When the Lexan Star Headlight & Lantern Co. trainmen's lanterns replaced the classic stainless steel Congors, there were complaints that the new Lexan lanterns could not inflict as much damage on bums, and decidedly unfriendly lowlifes encountered on the railroad. Many of whom sought to roll a trainman for his packset, railroad watch and wallet. The stainless steel Congor, weighted with a six volt lantern battery got battered and bent. The Lexan lanterns just bounced off, and served only to reduce personal injuries to the unruly transients and other lowlife assailants.


Glen Icanberry
Redlands, CA