B&M Operators

TRAGIDY NARROWLY AVERTED BY QUICK THINKING ENGINEER

Yesterday a fast freight train operating on the Atlantic Shoals Railway narrowly missed being buried inside tunnel number six just west of Fairgrounds at MP 187.3. While operating an eighteen car freight with two locomotives from Church Point to Port Evangeline  engineer Don Howd  noticed part of the roof of tunnel number six falling onto the tracks ahead of his train. Thinking quickly Mr. Howd went to full throttle and pulled his locomotives beyond the falling debris just as a section of the tunnel fell onto the second car in his train. The locomotives and one car managed to get out of the tunnel but the remainder of the train became uncoupled and suffered the brunt of the damage. Emergency forces were dispatched to the west end of the tunnel and found the Conductor and flagman wandering around in a dazed condition but thankfully they were unhurt. It took the car and track departments several hours to remove the debris rerail the cars and pull the remainder of the train to daylight. Engineer Howd was quoted as saying �hot dam I didn�t know those new fangled diesels could get up and go that fast�. The head brakeman who wishes to remain anonymous quit his job on the spot.

AC&E

Picketing!

At approximately 7:45 PM Tuesday July 1, 2008, “without warning” the A.S.Ry was picketed in front of it’s headquarters by a large group of workers representing the operators union. Management took immediate action by calling the Pinkerton Detective Agency for reinforcements. Alas, cooler heads prevailed and after concessions from both sides the picket line disbursed and the operating session, although starting late, was a success.

The action did, however, take it’s toll on the employees involved as witnessed by the actions of the bridge tender at Port Evangeline, who could not lower the bridge for the passage of train CP-PO. After relearning his duties and the proper procedure he did manage to get the bridge closed safely. In the spirit of reconciliation management did not take any disciplinary action, rather generous considering the pressure the operators had placed on him!

Ownership felt a flash of relief when the session ended and most union members admitted that the two and a half month closure of the railway was worth it because of the new heating system which allows much wider aisle space, something most of them need do obvious reasons if you have seen them.

The only obvious damage by this illegal action may be the permanent trauma inflicted on Carl’s next door neighbor who was quite upset by the turmoil on Anawan Avenue. He did however, to managements dismay, wish the workers good luck and was quoted, although unconfirmed, as saying “I hope you get even with the bastard”.

False accident reporting

To The Broken & Mangled society –

The mishap at the Dividing Creek RR (Fraizers Coal Yard) was definitely not the fault of the road crew assigned to the Terminal Switcher. The incident in reality must be directly attributed to the Railroads lack of vigorous enforcement of it’s maintainable program.

I’m sure there are mitigating circumstances in play here, this being the summer (a particularly heavy vacation period) much of the DCRR road maintenance crews were enjoying the weather and their family for the first time in many months. That being said the buildup of the brush and debris at the top of the ramp must have escaped the watchful eye of the brass hat and therefore attributed greatly to this unfortunate mishap.
The engineer when backing the car in question up the ramp to the coal dock , being seated in the right side of the cab and not having his brakeman on board (was still on the ground at the switch below the ramp)  the car was backed up the ramp with all due care and all proper handling procedures followed. The first time the engineer became aware of a problem was when he saw the coal car tipped at a 15-20 degree angle from his window, whereupon the brakes were immediately applied, the car however persisted to tip and landed at the bottom of the coal yard. Fortunately old man Fraiser was in the back of the yard working on another vintage Saab restoration.

The incident was properly reported to the DCRR management and photos taken which clearly show the foliage at the top of the ramp. A proper “pee in the bottle test” was administered and the upcoming results will of course completely absolve the Atlantic Coast Senior Engineer of all blame and place it squarely upon the shoulders of the DCRR maintenance department where it properly rests.

I’m becoming quite annoyed with this “AhHa! another AC&E mishap” being reported without due process being served before findings are discovered.

A. Cutter
Senior Operations Director
Atlantic Coast & Eastern Railroad

DISASTER AT DIVIDING CREEK

During the last operating session at Dividing Creek, the Trainmaster/Dispatcher was visiting a local crew at Gassetts when he heard cries of dismay from the direction of Catherine Street yard. Upon closer investigation, he found a CNJ hopper upside down in the middle of Frazier’s coal yard. According to eyewitnesses, apparently some foliage became wedged between the rocks and the car being spotted on the trestle. The car started to tip and before it could be rescued, it slowly continued its journey to the ground. And of course, this car had a live load. Fortunately, no damage or injuries resulted.

In the aftermath of this, a vicious rumor started that the same train crew was involved in dumping a car load of sand on the streets of Port Evangeline some time ago. Is a pattern beginning to show?

Don