Steam Era Train Crews

[NW Mailing List]

5 man train crews were the standard for many years but technology has changed that. Today its usually 2 on through trains and sometimes 3 for locals or through trains that do work between crew change points (depends on the union-railroad agreements). 
Not on the Shenandoah Division, but continuing into the 70's, Indiana state law specified that any train
over 69 cars had to have a 3rd brakeman.  On the Fostoria District (Bellevue-Fort Wayne), for example,
trains would leave Fort Wayne eastbound with a 3rd brakeman.  He'd drop off east of the state line at
Payne, OH.  laying over until a a westbound showed up needing the 3rd brakeman for the trip to
Fort Wayne.  If no westbounds in sight, Fort Wayne would call a taxi to drive to Payne to retrieve the
brakeman.        Harry Bundy
 






 
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