Railroaders' Nostalgia > mad dog chronicles #322. Afternoon shift drag to Bayshore yard

In 1968 there were three regular drags from down town to Bayshore on the afternoon shift.  One originated from 16th & Harrison; one came out of Mission Bay Yard; the third was the pulls from zone four out of 6th & King.

Working on job 421, after the Daylight was put away, the next order of business was to go to beans.  After that we would pull any late releases from zone 4, and air out our drag in preparation for the drag to Bayshore.  Now came a bit of gamesmanship.  For you see on an ordinary week night three drags went to Bayshore but only two trains came back downtown.  The trick was to be the second drag to Bayshore.  Almost always it was the second drag that was sent back light.  We arranged to be second night after night.  After our train was made up and air tested we would pull up to the signal, and send a man to the phone.  But not to call fourth st tower just to listen.  Waiting for the first switch crew to call for a signal, then we chime with an immediate request to also get a signal for our run to Bayshore and an  almost certain run back downtown light engine and an early quit.   😁

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/21 15:02 by mdo.

This knowledge must have come in handy when you were the division boss and making sure everyone was working hard and not running light for the quit. Why run light, when you could be hauling something back with you

Mr. Ongerth, so nice to have the "chronicles" and your self back. I got my BIG spoon out to eat this up

Great to have you back, mdo. Enjoying these last three new posts greatly, and looking forward to more.

MC

Mike, you should put all of your chronicles organized together in book form.  What great reading it would be.