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

[jgb_@_dbd01.com]

Hello Len!

It's been about 35 years since I talked to you last.  You told me that dispatching was "satisfying", but not "fulfilling", remember?  I think you left the EL altogether after that.  Where'd you go?

To answer your question, it was Ryan.  I forget his first name. Bill maybe?

Thanks,
John Bobinyec

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Len VanderJagt" <lvj911_@_worldnet.att.net>
> To: "EL Mail List" <erielack_@_lists.elhts.org>
> Subject: Re: (erielack) RE: I-80 crossovers east of Denville
> Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 10:11:49 -0500
> 
> 
> 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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> 
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