Use of the Packing Hook to Check Axles for Scoring

[NW Mailing List]

Mr. Matteo von Gootmann, Protosynchellus of the Prefecture of
Columbus, doth like the story of packing hooks and journal boxes.

Once Upon a Time there was a good story about an old Conductor on the
Southern Railroad's Illinois Division whose caboose was for years
known as a rolling Speak Easy.  At last the Southern Railroad
Officials planned to raid the old fellow's caboose and deprive him of
both his refreshment and his employment.

And so it happened... but the old Conductor had been tipped off in
advance.  The Raiding Party tore his caboose apart, looking for the
goods.  Checked under the bunks, all the bunk and cupola cushions, the
lockers, the toilet, the stove, in the journal dope bucket, and even
dug into the coal bin.. they checked everywhere.  But they came up
with nothing.

After the Officials had left in frustration, the old Conductor got off
his caboose and said to his Flagman, "They ain't gonna catch me ! "
and promptly retrieved his gin bottle from the journal box !

And now for an N&W story.  This one happened on the Shenandoah
Division.  There was a Conductor, probably about age 50 when I was in
my early 20s.  His name was E.E. Payne.  I never knew his given name,
but his moniker was  "Muldoon."  Everybody called him "Muldoon Payne."
 He was a big man and  probably stood about 6' 2".  I broke for him
several times on the Roanoke-Shenandoah Local and maybe a time or two
on the Cloverdale Branch, and he was a good man to work for.

Now, Muldoon was a very reserved and quiet man, said but little and
never raised his voice.  The saying was that when Muldoon was on the
train, a beer can went out the cupola window at every Mile Post.  And
when this came to the attention of Management, the story was not well
received.

So little Joe Richardson, the Asst Train Master and a man as good as
Gold, was sent out to confront Muldoon about the situation.

That morning the Local had stopped at either Troutville or Cloverdale
(I can't remember which,") and little Joe rolls up on the caboose and
looked us, face-to-face, at big Muldoon, towering over him.
"Muldoon," said Joe, shaking his finger up into Muldoon's face, "There
are entirely too many Budweiser cans up and down this Right-of-Way ! "

"Ain't mine, Boss,"  said Muldoon.  "I drink Blue Ribbon ! "

And thus ended the conversation.

So, Mr. Goodman... if you get thirsty, just check the journal boxes on
your caboose !

-- abram burnett,
...............derailed old brakeman
Can You Solve the Turnip Equation?
.

<<  PS - The large box hung under N&W cabooses was called the Possum
Belly.  It had sliding wooden doors, and contained the spare knuckles,
a chain, a few wooden blocks... and about three inches worth of coal
dust.   You never went in the Possum Belly unless you needed a knuckle
or chain.  As I recall, the COT&S and the IDT dates were often
stencilled on the sliding wooden doors.  COT&S means Cleaned Oiled
Tested Stencilled.  IDT means In Date Test.  Both of those items
pertain to the Triple Valve... or as Management has for years been
trying to get us Trainmen to call it, the Air Brake Control Valve.
Bah-Humbug.  Apply to Mr. Gordon Hamilton if you want an Air Brake
class. >>
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