(erielack) Stories remembered from closetcleaning DL&W & EL stuff

[WSmith5957_@_aol.com]

Going through the things in the guest bedroom closet brought back some 
memories & I won't have the stuff around anymore to remind me of it, so hre's 
some stories that go with the memorabilia.
1. The TRACK CAR OPERATING RULES - I was working as an operator at SN Jct in 
OHIO on the ERIE side in 1960. This was a busy tower with 52 levers & a CTC 
board that ran the cutoff from SN Jct to Pymatuning where hte mainline 
rejoined the cutoff. 
      One day, the maintainer called me & asked for permission to put his 
trackcar on at the beggining of the CTC & go East. No problem, "Permission 
granted, motorcar #---- occupy main track, Leavittsburg to Cortland."  Away 
he went out of sight. At this opportune moment, a bell in the tower went 
"DING" telling me that the 1st 98 out of Kent was here & I'd already given 
him a Green signal. Of course the trackcar didn't set off the signals, so the 
98 wouldn't get an approach (yellow) or Stop (red). My hands were shaking as 
I picked up the radio in the tower & said"NY 98, please look out for a track 
car out ahead of you just by the East End of Leavittsburg yard!" The engineer 
was by me already, but replied "OK, SN I see him and I'm slowing now".
THANK YOU, GOD!!! The motorcar cleared up & away went the 98 & I never heard 
a word from anybody, but what a lesson. It could have very easily gone the 
other way. I think of these things when I see the incredibly inexperienced 
newhires the RRs put out nowadays & I realize they don't have a chance to 
learn by experience the way I did. It reminds me of the Japanese Kamikaze 
pilots in World War 2. Here's a train, there's the track, BANZAAIII!!!!
     Now for a lighter side. It was 1963 & I was working as a fireman on the 
Greenwood Lakes division, I'd bring a train in from Wanaque to Hoboken in the 
morning. It was usually the practice for the ERIE men to take their engines 
to Jersey City (Pavonia Avenue roundhouse) for the layover. The engine 
(Usually an RS3) would be serviced, and the engineer & fireman could rest in 
a bunkroom on the South side of Pavonia Avenue until it was time to take the 
power back to Hoboken for the return to Wanaque. Now the area around the old 
ERIE roundhouse was rundown & the only place to get food (of any kind) was a 
dump next to the roundhouse - Penners' Bar & Grill - more bar than grill. I 
NEVER ate there, preferring Shaffers good German restaurant in Hoboken for a 
decent meal. The engineer on this particular day WAS hungry so into Penners 
we went. One or 2 winos were passed out at the tables & we were the only ones 
at the bar. The engineer yelled"Gimmee a ham & cheese on whole wheat."  
Penner-"One ham & cheese on whole wheat, coming up".  The bar extended into 
the kitchen through a large opening in the wall between the two areas and it 
was possible to see into the kitchen. I wasn't paying attention, but the 
engineer was. When the plate slid through from the kitchen, the engineer 
grabbed it and threw it at Penner, hitting him in the chest. "I meant to hit 
your Goddamned head!" roared the engineer, whose name eludes me at this late 
date. "Whassamatter, whassamatter," said Penner. "I'll tell you whassamatter 
you sonofabitch. That F-----g wino you've got in the kitchen had the cat on 
the counter & had its' tail raised & was tickling its' a--. Then he makes my 
sandwich & sends it out here. I ought to jump over the counter & kick your 
A-- and then KILL him."
    We both walked out and I never went in THERE again. I hear the area is 
all developed and 'gentrified' now. A far cry from Penners' bar & Grill in 
the 60s.
Regards to all,
Walt Smith
Employee # 102156

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