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Re: (erielack) RE: I-80 crossovers east of Denville

Was the first trick towerman Jack Swenson?  I think he had retired by then, 
as he originally hired out in 1913 if I recall correctly, and posted me up 
1966.

Len VanderJagt
1st trick Summit
- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jgb_@_dbd01.com>
To: <erielack_@_Lists.Railfan.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 7:21 AM
Subject: (erielack) RE: I-80 crossovers east of Denville


> <Long Post>
>
> I was an extra towerman during the summer of 1970.  I first qualified at 
> Dover with Rich Pennisi.  During the middle of the summer I posted at West 
> End.  West End terrified me so much that I bid in third trick Denville 
> just to get away from it.
>
> My favorite regular move at Denville was to cross #604 from track 1 over 
> to track 2 on the M&E.  It was basically the only time I had to use the 
> crossover from track 2 to track 2 M&E.  604 was about 11 cars long, and 
> occupied all three tracks at the same time. It also didn't stop at 
> Denville, so it made the move at a good clip.
>
> At that time, track 2 (Boonton Branch) continued on through Denville down 
> to Rainbow Lakes (just west of where the present Boonton Line crosses 
> Route 46). There it ended and converged into track 1.  Track 1 went 
> through Denville and on to Boonton.  Track 3 started at Denville and then 
> went on to Boonton as well.  Here's a diagram: 
> http://72.148.42.113/EL/OldDenville.bmp
>
> One particular day train 1002 (or 1000, I forget which) was on the bell. 
> The Boonton Drill hit the bell on track 3 at Rainbow Lakes.  Normally, I'd 
> just bring him up track 3 all the way to the tower, and then send him on 
> his way to tie up at Dover.  On this day, however, track 3 had cars stored 
> on it just east of the tower.  There was some time pressure, since the 
> parade was about to start and trains would be coming down both tracks from 
> Dover.  In that case, the drill would have to tie up at Denville, which 
> was just NEVER done.  So I lined the drill up to track 1 at Rainbow Lakes. 
> 1002 pulled into the station and made his station stop.  The distant 
> signal for Rainbow Lakes on track 2 was just a little way east of the 
> tower.  So the conductor, seeing the approach signal, started yelling at 
> me from the platform.
>
> At that time, things had just cleared up at Rainbow Lakes, so I lined up 
> 1002.  When I poked my head out of the window, the conductor commenced 
> yelling some more and waved his hand towards the distant signal, which was 
> now at approach medium. So I said "WHAT?".  He waved some more, looked at 
> the signal, realized that he was all lined up, waved to the flagman, and 
> away they went - a minute late because he had been standing around on the 
> platform yelling at me.  Just as 1002 started to pull, here comes the 
> drill (lite), going by the tower up track 1, like a rocket, with the 
> throttle wide open.  What a sound those geeps could make.
>
> Anyway, I enjoyed that morning immensely.  Even the first trick towerman 
> couldn't ruin it.
>
> John Bobinyec
>
>
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