Nostalgia & History > Switcher (Critter) Saturday Class 1 loaner

Back on December 12, 1995 Conrail WABH-11 had to deliver coal to the New Yotk State Electric & Gas Goudy Power Plant in Johnson City, NY. Normally the crew would pull the train over on the Vestal Spur and then upon arrival at the plant make a cut pull one drag of cars past the plant switch and run around them. Pull them back east to shovel into the plant. On this day the crew decided to save time shove the entire train to the plant.  Having just cleared the Johnson Runner a few of the cars in the middle derailed.  They crew was able to pull the cars on the east end of the train back to the yard but there were twenty three cars on the west end that had to be moved before any rerailing could have been done.
Solution was to borrow the NYSEG plant switcher a 45Tonner. I was on the recrew and the Trainmaster drove us over to the plant to ask if we could borrow it for a couple hours. I think this was the first time in years that it had been out of the plant gate. Checked over the air brakes and everything seemed to be in order. Decided to take the first ten cars and just had enough power to get them moving. Spotted them in the plant and returned for the remaining thirteen. Got them over to the plant and returned their locomotive. Bitter cold day and the only heat in the cab was a bare light bulb. The radiator core heaters had rusted out and the plant never replaced them. Got the work done and everyone was happy and the car department began rerailing. December 13, 1995 Binghamton, NY. 

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Great story..gotta love how necessity is the mother of invention came to play in this event, in which a lowly 45 tonner came to the rescue and saved the day!
 

Neat. Working to serve the customer.

Very interesting story.  Sometimes it takes some ingenuity to solve a problem.
ALLEN

Truely rare photo and fascinating story.
Bob