Re: (erielack) Train starter?

[Dlw1el2_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 10/22/2005 2:16:41 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
g.davids_@_verizon.net writes:

The  train starter was the gateman at Hoboken Terminal, not the conductor.   
When a train was due to leave, unless it was to be held for passengers from a  
late ferry or H&M train (not uncommon) the gateman would close the gate to  
the platform and signal to the conductor that it was OK to leave.  As  best as 
I can remember, the signal was simply closing the gate.  The  conductor was to 
see that no one was running or trying to climb on a departing  train.

The conductor was in charge of the train, and I don't know were  the 
cartoonist got the idea that the "train starter" opened the car  doors.  That was 
normally the function of the train crew (conductor and  trainmen).
 




The equipment in that cartoon, conveys everything.  Its almost pre  turn of 
the century, and anyone with any knowledge of the Lackawanna's commuter  lines 
knows the tremendous amount of rebuilding that took place after that  cartoon 
era.   Maybe those cartoons were a little inspiration to the  RR to do the 
massive rebuilding that they did do?
 
As far as departing Hoboken: When the GATEMAN closed the gate the FLAGMAN  at 
the rear of the train then looked forward to see that the last person walking 
 forward along the train had gotten on. Then he and the CONDUCTOR who would  
be at the head end of the train exchanged a highball,  the FLAGMAN  would then 
give two on the whistle cord. The FLAGMAN  was always the guy  that pulled 
two on the whistle cord at every station after getting a highball  from the 
conductor at the other end of the train. Conductors always worked the  head end of 
a passenger train.
 
Bob Bahrs


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