N&W GP40 #1372 with commuter train?

[NW Mailing List]

Harry,
 
I had the pleasure of meeting a Bill Bridger. He was Superintendent on the  
Shenandoah Division in 1978. Bill had a natural grin as he talked to you. 
He was  running a Southbound at Nace, VA during the strike of '78 and had 
pulled a  knuckle right at the top of the grade. When I first saw the 
locomotives  they were running repeatedly north and south within sight of their 
disabled  train. My curiosity got me and being a young eager railfan I stopped to 
see what  was going on. Seems the lead unit had no sand so they were 
sanding the rails  with the second unit. Mr. Bridger and the other fellow had 
hauled the  replacement knuckle back about 15 cars but couldn't get something in 
the drawbar  to lift so they could get the new one in. I offered to help, 
remember I did say  young and eager..., and took the flag they had used to 
carry the knuckle and  stuck one end in the drawbar, gave it a twist, and the 
part lifted. With the  knuckle replaced they recoupled. My reward was a 
short cab ride back to the  crossing.
 
As far as the commuter cars, the Roanoke Chapter, NRHS acquired No. 1009.  
Our car had two seats per side but they were spaced very close to the seat 
in  front.
 
Thanks,
 
Richard D. Shell
Troutville, VA
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