Re: (erielack) EL Yard engine assignments and changes

[Smtimko_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 8/21/2008 8:50:25 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
zookeepr42_@_verizon.net writes:

Here's  some questions regarding yard crew and engine changes.  Am I correct 
that  Yard crews worked an 8-hour shift?  If so, was the assigned yard engine  
also changed at that time?  The era of reference here would be the early  
1970's. 

Also, in the excellent "Erie Facilities Vol 3", I read that  Meadville had 2 
engines assigned to each section of the yard.  Was this  also true at Marion 
during the 1970's?



...................
Terry--
 
Concerning the above.  Yes, crews usually worked an eight hour  shift.  For 
example at Brier Hill, first trick.  There may have been  an 0700 crew that 
switched at the east end and an 0715 crew that switched at the  west end.  Each 
would take their locomotive from the respective yard  offices at each end.  
When done, anytime after 1300 hrs or so, they would  park the engine and when 
second trick reported at 1500 and 1515 they would use  the same engine.  For 
third trick, maybe there would only be one crew at  Brier Hill and they would 
report to the East End Yard Office and use that  engine.  If an extra crew would 
be called for a drag to haul cars to NK  Yard and back, they would report to DO 
Shop (Brier Hill Shop) and perhaps get a  set of MU'ed Lima switchers and go 
to the East End and haul a drag to NK, then  haul one back and may be done.  
Frequently the drags would be 100 cars each  way.  The drags were made up on 
the main at NK, usually consisting of  inbound P&LE freight with cars from NK 
tacked on to the head end, if room  allowed.  The westbound drags were heavy 
with coal and steel and would  frequently require two Limas on the head end and 
the NK Yard crew or the YO  Depot Yard crew (or both) pushing.  Occasionally a 
drag would stall at  Westlakes Crossing and an engine from Brier Hill would 
come down against it  under flag protection and assist it to Brier Hill.
 
As far as Meadville was concerned, yes, there were usually two engines at  
each end of the yard.  WE of the WB and the drill crew at the east end of  the 
WB.  On the east side, the WE drill crew and the east end crew.   One crew 
drilled (switched) the cars and the other crew made the setovers to  make up the 
trains.  Meadville would also have a "shop job" that would  switch the Program 
Car Shop, the Reclamation Plant, and the Cripple Track.   Usually this would 
be a second trick only job.  At one time there was also  a Depot Job that 
reported at the Old Backshop and switched the backshop yard,  depot yard and uptown 
industries.  Extra yard jobs could and would be  called as required.
 
Youngstown (Brier Hill, NK, Depot and YS&T captive crews)  would normally 
have about 15-20 yard crews a day during the 1970's.   Ferrona Yard (Sharon, PA) 
would have 9-10, Leavittsburg would have 4 or 5 and  Niles would have 3.  
Don't know about Cleveland but would think it would  have been at least 6 or 8 per 
day, plus a few more if a boat were working.  
 
Engines were exchanged through the diesel shop for servicing but for the  
most part, yardmasters and crews would have their favorites and they would be  
retained on those jobs as far as practicable.  Units also had to be headed  a 
certain way for ease of work and safety.  I forget the details but each  
location had its preferences on that subject.  Leavittsburg, for instance,  had all 
locomotives facing west.
 
At places such as Brier Hill, Meadville, etc, locomotives were not returned  
to the shop after the end of each trick.  They were parked at the yard  office 
to be readily available for the next crew and to avoid delay.
 
Hope this answers your question.

SMT



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