Vol. V, No. 1 JANUARY, 1944

Schaff Retires Centrals New "Let Us Have Faith," and Metzman Bomber Fights Says President Williamson Takes His Post in Secret Area W. F. Schaff, Vice-President at Chi• TO ALL IN NEW YORK CENTRAL SERVICE: The NEW YORK CENTRAL II, Ma• cago, retired December 31 and was suc• WE enter the New Year with the greatest job of all time ahead of us. The load rauder bomber presented to the Army ceeded by Gustav Metzman. Air Forces, September 12, 1943, by the Mr. Metzman will have jurisdiction upon the Central in 1944, as upon the other railroads of the country, promises employes of the New York Central Sys• over the New York Central, Line West to be even greater than in the record-breaking year just closed. We are called tem, to replace a similar medium bomber of Buffalo, the Big Four Railway, the upon to carry that load under conditions probably less favorable, on the whole, which made a crash landing in combat Michigan Central Railroad, the Indiana in North Africa, after shooting down six Harbor Belt Railroad and the Chicago than we had in 1943. Axis planes, is performing combat tasks River and Indiana Railroad. Your efforts to do the 1943 job have been extraordinary and in many in• in an area of active operations which, Mr. Metzman has been with the New for reasons of security, must remain un• York Central since 1920. In 1942 he stances positively heroic. Our fighting men, including over 23,000 of fellow workers disclosed. was furloughed for several months to in the armed services, will need all this and more during the New Year. Every day become Chief of the Railway Division, This was made known in a letter, Transportation Corps of the War De• you are showing what our response will be. dated November 25, written by Staff Sergeant Anthony J. Gibb, Air Corps, partment, in Washington. He is a native Looking beyond the trials of the immediate future, we may look forward of Baltimore where he began his rail• son of John A. Gibb, Electrician at road career in 1903 with the Baltimore to the victory of our arms and the greater victory of a just and durable peace. The Harmon, N. Y., who was the first con• & Ohio Railroad, after graduating from better we do our part, the sooner these will be achieved. tributor to the cash fund with which the the Polytechnic Institute there. He re• second plane was purchased. mained with that road until 1916, May our trials and troubles, of which all have many, be surmounted with faith Staff Sergeant Gibb was a member of when, for a year, he was with the in our fellow men, faith in our country and faith in ourselves. My greeting to you for the ground forces of the squadron which Eastern Presidents' Conference. In 1918- the New Year: Let us have faith! flew the first plane presented, the NEW 1919, he had an administrative job with YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM. The letter, the United States Railroad Administra• written to C. R. Dugan, Manager Public tion. On joining the New York Central, Relations, New York Central System, he held several posts and in 1929 was December 24, 1943 was as follows: made Manager, Freight Transportation, "Dear Mr. Dugan: New York. On February 1, 1940, he was "I am in receipt of your letter of appointed Assistant Vice President at September 17th and cannot restrain my• Chicago, and on November 29, 1943, he self in writing you a letter of thanks, was promoted to Vice President & prior to the arrival of the picture of General Manager in charge of operation NEW YORK CENTRAL II'S christening, of the Big Four Railway. Some N. Y. Central Men in the 718th Railway Battalion and which you stated has been mailed under Some Recent Slocum Graduates separate cover. "The faith that you on the home front have in us has been proven in the fact Big Four Men that, NEW YORK CENTRAL II, has ar• rived and will combat the enemy from * * * * where I am now stationed. Al• Win Praise for though a new combat crew will fly her, the original ground crew that serviced Oil Handling NEW YORK CENTRAL I, will service the replaced bomber. I feel safe in saying In a report made to W. C. Kendall, Chairman of the Car Service Division, that both these crews will justify your Association of American Railroads, by faith in sending NEW YORK CENTRAL A. M. Pike and J. D. Lester, Car Ser• II to us. vice agents, the Operating Department "I will personally interrogate the of the Cairo Division, Big Four, is crew after each combat mission that praised for its noteworthy performance NEW YORK CENTRAL II participates in handling approximately 320,000 in, so that I may at some future date tank cars, empty and loaded, on the turn over to you the complete history of single track main line between Norris NEW YORK CENTRAL II, which I feel City and Mt. Carmel, Ill. Norris City sure will be second to none. was the first terminus of the Big Inch "In closing I send the sincere thanks pipe line, which has now been ex• of my organization and myself, and best tended to the east. wishes to you and the employes of the New York Central System for the com• Mr. Kendall, who sent copies of the Dispatcher Commended ing year." report to executives of the Office of Defense Transportation and the Petro• for Work at Munda leum Administration for War, said: N. Y. C. Twins, 19, GUADALCANAL — (Delayed) — "This is another outstanding perform• Are Now in Army ance to be added to the many that Sergeant Walter H. Johnson, USMC, a have been and are being accomplished member of the New York Central Crew by the railroads during the war emer• Dispatching unit of Corning Engine gency. House, Corning, N. Y., was presented "During the past year of 1943 many with a letter of commendation here articles have appeared in magazines and recently for his part in parachuting newspapers throughout the country in supplies to American Marines besieging connection with the construction and Munda airfield. operation of the 24 inch pipe line, bet• Sergeant Johnson participated in two ter known as the 'Big Inch,' originat• At top, first row, left to right: First Lieut. Gerald E. Chambers (Assistant Super• trips through heavy enemy "ack-ack" ing at Longview, Texas, and terminat• visor, Track); Captain William G. Chase (Trainman); Major Lewis W. Moss fire to drop food, medical supplies, and ing the first leg at Norris City, Illi• (Assistant Engineer) Maintenance of Way; First Lieut. Willard E. Mason (As• ammunition to the beleagured troops. nois. Later extension reaches Phoenix- sistant Foreman); Captain James L. Hartraub (Supervisor). Second row: Sec• The letter reads, in part: "Your work, ville, Pennsylvania. ond Lieut. Fred M. Eusey (Yardmaster); First Lieut. Harry H. Fox (Assistant composed of extremely long hours and Terminal Foreman); Edgar R. Sims, Sr. (Yardmaster); Albert H. Cieutat (Texas "However, very little, if anything, & Pacific Railway). Rear row: First Lieut. John P. Ragsdale (Signal Foreman); necessary air trips over the Rendova has been published regarding the large Second Lieut. Lee H. Benner (Inspector); First Lieutenants, George H. Bachert Island area contributed greatly in ac• tank car movement from the first leg (Locomotive Fireman) and Verdi V. Crouch (Locomotive Engineman). In the complishing the enormous task of pre• of the Big Inch at Norris City, Illi• bottom picture are shown more New York Central men, other than those as• paring and dropping hundreds of cargo nois, located on and served by the signed to the 718th Railway Operating Battalion, who graduated from basic chutes." New York Central Railroad, Cairo Di• military training at Fort Slocum December 4: (front, left to right): Second "Your devotion to duty and deter• vision ; while the second leg of the Big Lieut. Ralph M. Carver, Motive Power Department, Columbus, O., in 740th mination to complete an exceptional Inch was still under construction. Ry. Op. Bn.; Capt William W. Hay, Engr. Dept., Pittsburgh, in 744th Ry. Op. Bn.; Capt. Elbert F. Utter, Engineering Staff, New York City, in 744th Ry. Op. task were in keeping with the highest "Temporary loading racks were con• Bn.; Second Lieut. Clement L. Blanc, Emergency Yardmaster, Cleveland, O., traditions of the United States Naval structed to handle a total of 296 cars in 722nd Ry. Op. Bn. (Top row): First Lieut. Herman J. Fedore, Locomotive Service." per spotting. Records show as many Engineer, Jackson, Mich., in 723rd Ry. Op. Bn.; First Lieut Pilney P. Pusserr as 1,200 tank cars loaded during a 24 Yardmaster, Youngstown, Pa., in 710th Hq. & Hq. Co. Ry. Grand Division; These two boys,. Leland and Lowell hour period. A storage yard capable Second Lieut. William H. Goold, Asst. Supv. Track, Kalamazoo, Mich., in 743rd Collinwood Man Dies Grosjean, former signal maintainers at of handling 300 cars was set up north Ry. Op. Bn.; and First Lieut. Howard F. Dickson, Yardmaster, McKeesport, Pa. Joseph P. Carey, Assistant Super• Utica, joined the Army, January 5, of the loading rack, where the empty in 710th Hq. & Hq. Co., Ry. Grand Division. visor of P. W. Schedules at Collinwood 1943. They are now stationed at Camp tank cars could be promptly pulled Shops, died recently. Claiborne, La., where they are in the and spotted by two diesel switch en• Operating Battalion that operates the gines engaged in this operation. Mr. Carey was born in Wellsville, government-owned railroad between Victory is Not Here Yet — Buy More Bonds! Ohio on August 7, 1890, and all of his Camp Claiborne and Camp Poke. There "Operations at Norris City began 36 years of service were spent at Collin• are several other New York Central (Continued on page three) wood. men in this outfit. 2 Central Headlight

Shattered Central Headlight Information Booth

Published monthly for New York Central System employes and their families BELOW are given the answers to a number of Soldier in eleven states and two provinces of Canada by the Department of Public Rela• questions asked recently by some of our readers. tions. Contributions are invited but no responsibility is assumed for their By H. Freeman Barnes They are printed here in the expectation that they will return. Editorial offices, Room 1528, 466 Lexington Avenue, New York City. interest others besides those who made the inquiries: General Electric Company Editor 1—The first steel rails in America were rolled at the Chicago TALKED with a shattered soldier C. W. Y. Currie ' yesterday ... a soldier whose Rolling Mills, May, 1865. Two years later only 2,277 tons broken body is here, but whose future Associate Editors had been rolled but in three years after that 30,375 tons may be buried in the muck and heat Frank A. Judd Chicago had been rolled and the price had fallen from $166 to and stench of the Solomons. C. A. Radford Cincinnati $106.75 per ton. It was hard to get him to talk about 2—Of the 187,315,904 tons of freight handled by the New the war . . . about whether he thought Volume 5 JANUARY, 1944 No. 1 York Central in 1942, 80,197,812 consisted of coal and we business men were doing our share. coke. He seemed hesitant about criticizing 3—The first trip of the Fast Mail, from New York to Chicago, or complaining .... Yes, he thought war production was going along mar- The Days Ahead was made September 14, 1875, on a 26-hour schedule, velously. No, he believed there wasn't which it beat by eight minutes. The train consisted of much he could suggest . . . but I kept HE Christmas bells have rung their joyous tunes and the advent of four postal cars and a parlor car. It should be remem• trying to see whether, down under the T 1944 has been welcomed gratefully as presaging better things to bered that at that time the fastest regular trains between surface, there were any things which come. the two cities were on a schedule of approximately 36 rankled him . . . things that a soldier, hours. who has looked into the eyes of death, As we stand on the threshold of the new year, the whole world 4—Chauncy M. Depew, the fourth President of the New might feel were queer — or out of place recognizes that facing us are twelve months of fateful events, events — in a business world at war. which will change the course of human history. The forces of oppres• York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company, served in this post from 1885 to 1898. Later he was elected He smilingly fended off my ques• tions until I asked him — "Do you sion, greed and brutality face an accounting that will be world shaking. Chairman of the Board and held this Office until his Victory for the Allied Nations looms on the horizon and, for the people think that every business man is going death in the Spring of 1928. He was an officer of the to be proud of his record of service subjugated by the tyrants of this generation, hope flares anew. Central for more than 62 years. when this war is over? Yet our leaders warn that the path to victory will be paved with blood 5—The Boston & Albany had two parent roads, the Boston "Well, I don't know," he said, and and sacrifice, a sacrifice in which our whole people must share. A deeper & Worcester and the Western Railroad. The Boston & the smile left his face. He leaned for• unity, a more widespread perception of the gravity of the grievous days Worcester was incorporated June 23, 1831 and was put ward in his chair, and nervously open• that lie ahead, together with a greater effort on the part of all, large or in operation between Boston and Worcester, 45 miles, ing and clenching his hands, remarked: "I'll say this — and then I'll shut up. small, are called for to bring the world back to peace more quickly. on July 4, 1835. The Western Railroad began operation I was a salesman . . . when I came New York Central men and women, in common with the other rail• between Worcester and Springfield October 1, 1839. back, I naturally visited my own com• roaders of America, sense the urgency of the moment. Their record, a pany. I was proud to see the war work shining one, is a guaranty that they will not falter. With about 24,000 they were doing. sengers. These had running speeds of master T. L. Coughlin presented Mrs. New York Central men and other thousands of employes' sons already "But when I found out that one from 15 to 20 miles per hour and Shultis with a bouquet. of the big shots didn't seem to care too in military service and with more yet to go, they recognize their stake overall speeds of 5 to 12 miles per William B. Salter, Trainmaster at much about helping end the war sooner, is a personal one. Every extra effort they make in performing their daily hour. Victoria, gave Mr. Shultis a brake club, or what the cost in life and happiness duties is a blow at the enemy and an aid in bringing peace nearer. On the first three classes, extra inscribed by all who attended the ban• was going to be ... I wasn't so proud fares were collected. Although the number of New York Central men who have made the quet. — I was burned up. The low speeds were due in large Letters were read from J. L. McKee, "You know when you have been supreme sacrifice is not definitely known it is already large enough to part to the fact that the single track Vice President and General Manager, down on your knees wiping the blood bring home to every railroad worker the fact that he and his fellows are lines had very heavy grades and sharp Detroit, and H. L. Margetts, Assistant off the face of a dying buddy . . . and engaged in a task that has been made glorious by those who are in curves and were very lightly con• to Mr. McKee, and from F. M. McElroy,holdin g his hand, trying to help him military service. structed. Multiple-track main lines, Superintendent, Detroit. through it . . . you wonder why there such as the New York Central's be• would be anybody in the world who There can be only one response to this situation — more work, harder tween New York and Chicago, are wouldn't be giving every ounce of his work and, if possible, better work. Every extra car that is moved and unknown in Russia. DeOto in Air Forces energy to getting this mess over — and every extra mile that it is movedmor e speedily and safely will count in BUT AS THE Russians would say, quickly. the final result. Yes, for every railroad man, his best efforts on the job "Nichevo!" or what of it! geant in the Army Air Forces at Miami And yet, some men seem to be will do much to hasten victory. Beach, Florida, has been in the service mainly concerned over their sales fig• ures. You find others who are post• Let's start the New Year aright! since June, 1941. Shultis Honored His duties consist of co-ordinating war planning, not with the idea of Forty Michigan Central employes the training schedule for the selectees making jobs for the boys who'll come gathered in Fort Erie, Ont., recently to and supervising their general basic train• back, but with the thought of making ing. it tough for competitors. And I've met honor George Shultis on the occasion of plenty who are doing a lot less than his retirement after more than 37 years Previous to his induction "Gene" they really could. Yet, how they love The Roundhouse of service. He was General Yard Master was employed as a clerk in the Main• at Victoria, Ont. to talk about the few things they are tenance of Way Department, Electric contributing. Division, Bronx, N. Y. By Sim Perkins J. E. Schwender, Superintendent and "It's . . . well ... I guess they principal speaker, outlined Mr. Schultis' His sister, Eleanor, is employed as just don't understand" service record and presented him with Chief Clerk for F. B. Cox, Supervisor a wallet and a sum of money. Train- I shall never forget this shattered sol• MANY of the Mexican workers who although the government, readying of Track on the West Side. dier. He had already done far more are helping to keep New York itself for the war, laid all emphasis than his share. He made me search my Central trains rolling speak little Eng• on the freight traffic and did its ut• soul to see if I was doing all I could. lish but, despite this, they are quick to most to discourage passenger travel. A V-Mail Greeting to President Williamson Not a matter of doing a little — or even accept some of the features of American For example, on short runs up to quite a lot — but a matter of doing all life. Already many of them have adopted around 500 miles, the only fast trains I can. nicknames or have been given these by moved at night. By day there were their fellow workers. A matter of helping increase pro• only slow trains, which stopped at duction to the limit ... a matter of For example, at the Conneaut, Ohio, every station and which operated as a helping get out more ... at less cost Camp, one has been named Superman. unit over only part of the line. . . . a matter of keeping at it day in Three others, at the Ashtabula Camp, Russian passenger trains were listed and day out ... a matter of living with are called respectively, The Engineer, in six categories: one's self, when this war is over. Slippery and Chicken Bone. Strangely 1 — Express trains, of which there enough, most of them are proud of their So, if you see a shattered soldier, nicknames, especially Chicken Bone. were only two, the Red Arrow ex• perhaps you will say to yourself, "I presses between Moscow and Lenin• have reason to be proud of that soldier It is interesting to note that all seem grad. These trains were the fastest in . . . I wonder if he has reason to be to think these names will be retained the Soviet Union, yet they made the proud of me?" when, eventually, they return to their journey of 404 miles in nine hours, homeland. fifty minutes. Thus, the average run• ning speed was only 45 miles per Morris Gets Purse The holiday decorations in Grand hour and the overall speed, 41 miles T. W. Morris, Clerk in the Commerce Central Terminal were somewhat differ• per hour. Section of the Freight Traffic Depart• ent this year and for a reason. Under 2 — Courier trains, of which there ment at Chicago,,retired, December 1, new regulations, even the greenery used were only two pairs in service, the and was presented with a purse by his had to be fireproofed. So this year, for Siberian Expresses and the expresses associates. Mr. Morris started railroad• the first time, oak leaves, which lend between Moscow and the Polish ing with the B. & O. at Dayton in themselves readily to this process, were Frontier. These trains had an average December, 1893, and came to the New utilized and made an effective display. running speed of only 42 miles per York Central System in the Tariff hour and an average overall speed of Bureau at Cincinnati in October, 1924. Announcement of the plan to present 37 miles per hour. annually gold passes to employes who 3 — Fast trains. Except on the Mos• completed 50 years of service with the cow-Leningrad main line these trains Grateful for Afghan Company was received warmly by those had a usual running speed of 25 to Recently members of the Auditor of who were thus honored. This official 30 miles per hour, with an overall Freight Accounts Department, Detroit, recognition of continuous and faithful speed of 20 to 25 miles per hour. made an afghan and donated it to the duty seemed to be a touch of sentiment 4 — Slow trains. These trains, which Red Cross. In appreciation of this ac• which really hit home. covered both local and long distance tion, a following letter was received The passes will be renewed annually runs, had running speeds of from from the chairman of the Knitting Di• during the lifetime of the recipients. 12 to 27 miles per hour and overall vision of the Red Cross. It said: "This, speeds from 10 to 15 miles per hour. I think, is the 13th afghan from your group and we receive many letters of ap• Whatever else Russia has to offer 5 — Postal Trains. These trains were slow passenger trains to which postal preciation from the hospitals where our the world, certain it is that Americans service men are using these afghans and would never accept, amiably, pas• cars were attached and were operated at similar speeds. deriving comfort and cheer from them. senger service of the type that existed One letter came yesterday from a nurse in Russia just before the war. Pas• 6 — On secondary lines, in addition Jackie Donovan, formerly of the New York Central Police Department at Buffalo, in a hospital in North Africa, who senger travel in the years preceding the to slow passenger trains there were sent the above greeting to Mr. Williamson from Sicily, where he is a member of wrote there were 61 afghans from the start of the conflict was heavy, also freight trains which carried pas- the Air Forces. Mr. Williamson sent him a cordial acknowledgment. Detroit Chapter in use there." Central Headlight

Assistant Land and Tax Agent at New run-away girls to return home and as• Rowen, Margaret Sotak, Shirley Lewis, G. C. T. Matron Kay Liesenfelt, Metha Wilhelm, Helen F. Boardman York on April 1, 1929. sisted in the birth of several babies in Two years later he was promoted to her office. She acted as a one-woman Hilton, Edna Mack, Helen Willardo, Land and Tax Agent and on August 1, Ends Long Service Travelers' Aid before that welfare Leona Schaadt and Billie Yescitz. Dies; Assistant 1942, he was made Assistant to Gen• Mrs. Margaret Hendry, Supervisory agency established quarters in the eral Land and Tax Agent, New York. Matron of the Ladies Rest Rooms in Terminal. Manager G. C. T. Grand Central Terminal, retired De• As her duties grew over the years, 18 Men Have 16 Sons cember 31 at the age of 73 after 48 so did her family. She has 12 grand• in Service Francis Boardman, for the last 17 C. Arthur Becker years of service. children and nine great-grandchildren. years Assistant Manager of Grand Cen• C. Arthur Becker, Vice President Five grandsons are serving in the armed R O. PRESTON, Equipment Fore- and General Manager, Despatch Shops, forces. She lives with her daughter and man at Mackinaw City, Michi• tral Terminal, died suddenly Decem• gan, reports that while his depart• ber 12 in Harkness Pavilion, New Inc., at East Rochester, New York, son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. ment employs a total of only 18 men, York. Mr. Boardman entered the Pa• died in a Rochester hospital, December Kaus, at 426 Scarsdale Road, Crest- they have 16 sons and nine sons-in- vilion a week before for treatment for 3. Mr. Becker, whose home was at 395 wood, N. Y. law in the Armed Forces. He be• influenza. He was apparently recover• Penfield Road, Brighton, Rochester, She was succeeded as Head Matron by lieves this must be a record for so ing when stricken by a heart attack. was 58 years old. Mrs. A. Peterson who has been in serv• few men at one location. He was born in Rutland, Vt., Au• He had been in the service of the ice 12 years. gust 15, 1875, and had been in the Despatch Shops and predecessor com• service of the New York Central for panies for 35 years and had been Vice Joseph N. Crocker 43 years, starting on April 23, 1900, President and General Manager since Joseph N. Crocker, of Woodbury, as a chainman at Buffalo. In August of January 1, 1939, when he succeeded Gibson Men Go Up N. J., who retired in 1933 as Manager, the same year he was transferred to L. S. West. The office of Auditor Freight Ac- Mail & Express, New York Central Hudson, N. Y., as assistant super• The funeral was at 2 P.M., Decem• couts, Gibson, Ind., reports: System, died December 27 after a long visor of track, soon going from there ber 6, from his residence. Congratulations to the following serv• illness at Frankford, Pa. He was born to White Plains. From 1901 to 1904 in Lockport, N. Y., August 6, 1863. he was stationed there as assistant en• ice men from this office on recent pro• gineer and supervisor of tracks. James J. Gibbons motions: Pfc. C. J. Mund, with the 249th Engineers; Corp. Bernal Story, On April 1, 1904, he was appointed James J. Gibbons, of the Engineering Signal Dept., Camp Breckinridge, Ky.; assistant engineer and two years later Corps, Division Engineer's Office, Corp. G. F. Kolb, with the 531st Fighter was promoted to designing engineer Springfield, Ohio, died suddenly on Bomber Squadron; Sergt. W. E. Gud• and division engineer. In 1923 he was December 11, at the age of fifty-eight. geon, with the 16th Comm. Squadron made building manager, Grand Cen• He started with the Big Four as a and Sergt. C. J. Miller, First Fighter tral Terminal and on February 1, 1926, draftsman in the valuation department Command, Mitchell Field, N. Y. was appointed assistant terminal man• in 1915. In 1922 he went to Indian• ager. apolis on the Engineering Corps and Mr. Boardman made his home at was transferred to Springfield in 1939 Mrs. Margaret Hendry Mrs. Florence Howard has resigned Riverdale-on-Hudson. He is survived where he was employed until his death. as Clerk after 17 years of service, and by his wife, Mrs. Annie Calef Board- He is survived by his widow and one Left with the support of four chil• has joined her husband, Master Sergt. man, a daughter, Mrs. Elisabeth Lloyd daughter. dren after the death of her husband in V. E. Howard, furloughed clerk, who of Concord, N. H., and three sons, His brother, W. R. Gibbons is Real 1896, she became Head Matron over Mrs. Katherine Howland, Pullman Res• three Maids in the original Grand Cen• is stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, ervation Clerk in the Pullman Reserva• William H. Boardman of Boston, Estate and Tax Agent, Cincinnati. Indianapolis. tion Bureau, Grand Central Terminal, Francis Boardman, Jr., of Washing• tral Depot. Later she saw the Depot en• retired December 21, after 25 years of ton, D. C, and First Lieutenant Robert larged into Grand Central Station, service with the New York Central. She C. Boardman, United States Army Sig• F. F. Wirth which itself was demolished and re• The girls of the A.F.A. office held was presented with gifts and a corsage nal Corps. F. F. Wirth, Traveling Freight Agent, placed in 1913 by the new Terminal. their Annual Christmas Party, Monday by her co-workers. Mrs. Howland is the The funeral services were held at Cincinnati, died suddenly in a hotel She now has a staff of 15 Maids. evening, December 13, at the Ultra first woman to retire from the office. She room at Louisville, Ky., December 14. Recently Mrs. Hendry made an ef• started work at the West 42nd Street 10:30 A.M., December 15, in the Riv- Moderne Tea Room in East Chicago, Office, August 17, 1918, transferring to erdale Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wirth was born at Lawrenceburg, fort to count the number of patrons en• the Reservation Bureau, June 19, 1919. Ind., forty-six years ago. He had thirty- tering the Ladies Rest Rooms during a Ind. About sixty girls attended and par• one years of service and had held his single day. After clocking more than ticipated in community singing and play• last position for six years. He is sur• 22,000 by three o'clock in the afternoon, ing of various organized games. After Big Four Men Win Praise vived by his wife and a daughter. she stopped counting. opening the grab-bag gifts, a buffet For Oil Handling Franklin P. Huestis, 91 During her many years in the Ter• luncheon was served. (Concluded from page one) Franklin Pierce Huestis, 91, retired Patrick Cordon minal she has heard sympathetically the The committee in charge consisted of Agent, St. Louis Line, Illinois Division, problems of thousands of women, patch• Margaret Schreiner and Mildred Kim- about February 15, 1943, gradually in• of the Big Four, died at his home, 512 Patrick Cordon, Passenger Car Dis• ed up broken marriages, persuaded creasing in volume until the peak was tributor in the office of the Assistant brough as co-chairmen, assisted by College Avenue, Greencastle, Indiana, Betty Arvay, Agnes Winkler, Emma reached along in April when as many recently. He had been ill for almost a General Manager, Indianapolis, died as 1,200 loaded tank cars or 16 train month. recently. He was a native of Union City, loads were forwarded to the East Mr. Huestis was born October 29, Ind., and was 59 years old. His service Glee Club Sings in Grand Central Terminal Coast. 1852 at Rigby, Illinois and began as with the company covered thirty-five "The remarkable phase of the whole an Operator May 1, 1872 at Irving, Il-years operation was the manner in which the linois and a short time later was made New York Central Railroad handled Agent. On October 1, 1887 he was pro• George C. Heath their end of the tank car movement. moted to the Agency at Greencastle, In• During the peak loading period the diana where he remained until his re• George C. Heath, Attorney, Cincin• New York Central had a total of 68 tirement on pension at the age of 70 nati, died from a sudden heart attack road engines in the Norris City pool. years, November 1, 1922. in his office, Big Four Building, Cin• cinnati, December 16. He was a native "The empty tank car trains were as• Mr. Huestis' record was exceptional, of Springfield, Ohio, a graduate of the sembled at Mt. Carmel, Illinois ter• he having been in service for more University of Cincinnati and the minal which is located 44 miles north than fifty years and on pension twenty- Y.M.C.A. Law School. He was a past of Norris City. The road power for• one years. master of Miami Masonic Lodge. He is warded these empty tank car trains to He is survived by a son, Denver and survived by his widow and his mother, Norris City and returned with the three daughter, Mary, Irene and Grace. Mrs. Amelia Heath, who reside at 5029 loaded oil trains. Anderson Place, Cincinncati. "Sixteen empty tank car trains in one direction and 16 loaded oil trains in December was a red letter month for The Club also lent its talent to add the opposite direction, in addition to Chester A. Oakes John L. Shane the N.Y.C.A.A. of Manhattan Glee to the Christmas festivities in the Grand 10 empty and loaded coal trains, two Chester A. Oakes, Assistant to Gen• John L. Shane, 55, Agent, Kalamazoo, Club. Central Terminal, December 23, when local freights, and two passenger trains eral Land and Tax Agent, New York for 17 years, died recently at his home On December 6, 45 members paid a the group sang carols. for a total of 46 trains in a 24 hour Central Railroad, died suddenly No• following a heart attack. He had been visit to the Castle Point Memorial Hos• A new activity for N.Y.C.A.A. period over a single track main line vember 29, in the West Englewood, associated with the New York Central members will be inaugurated in January with but five passing tracks within the pital at Beacon, N. Y., where they en• 44 miles. Dispatching was the keynote N. J., Hospital. for 27 years, and before going to Kala• tertained the patients, veterans of both when instructions in tap dancing will be Mr. Oakes was born in New York mazoo was Agent at South Have, Mich. given under the direction of Miss M. of this successful operation. the present war and some of World Stumm. Anyone aspiring to become an• City, May 16, 1892. He started in rail• He was a former president of the Kala• War No. 1. The well-rounded program "During the operation, up to and road work as an office boy in the Cen• mazoo Traffic Club. other Elenore Powell or Fred Astaire including November 1, the New York of choral singing and voice and instru• are invited to join the group, meeting tral's Engineering Department at New Mr. Shane was born in Colon, Mich., mental solos under the direction of Miss Central handled approximately 320,000 York on December 19, 1908. After June 8, 1888. every Wednesday in Room 553, 466 tank cars, empty and loaded, on this various promotions, he was appointed O. Hamilton has been apointed Agent Gladys E. Holtorf, was enthusiastically Lexington Avenue, from 5:15 to 6:15 single main line with very little loss of to succeed Mr. Shane. H. G. Coverston received by the patients. P. M. oil due to derailments or accidents of was named Assistant Agent. any kind. During the April flood the New York Central had their tracks Promoted Carson New Head N. Y. Vets to Dine washed out between Mr. Carmel and George S. Northrop of Columbus A. A. Metropolitan Chapter, New York Lawrenceville, Illinois, causing tem• George S. Northrop, a Train Dis• Central Veterans' Association, will hold porary detouring of their trains for The New York Central Athletic about ten days. After this was repaired, patcher at Jersey Shore died suddenly Association of Columbus last month its 22nd annual meeting and banquet December 10 from a heart condition, in the Hotel Commodore, New York, normal operation was resumed in less at the age of 57 years. elected the following: than six days. President, C. C. Carson, Captain of January 27. The principal speaker will Police; First Vice Pres., Ben Souther- be Otto S. Beyer, Director, Division "The East Leg of the Big Inch was placed in service and the flow of oil John Cleveland land, Conductor; Second Vice Pres., of Transport Personnel, Office of De• Clyde R. Thomas, Chief Clerk to Gen• fense Transportation. started East at 9:56 A.M., July 14. John (Jerry) Cleveland, 30, As• eral Yard Master; Secretary C. F. Jo• First day 71,949 barrels entered the sistant File Clerk in the office of the hannes, Clerk, Office, Superintendent; line, gradually increasing to approxi• Vice President, Chicago, died December Treasurer, H. E. Tarleton, Assistant L. E. Brown, Electrician, Beech mately 250,000 barrels, leaving an 7 after an illness of several months. Chief Clerk, Office, Superintendent; Di• Grove, has entered the Armed Services. overflow of 50,000 barrels, 225 tank Jerry started work with the New rectors, F. K. Pickett, Chief Clerk, Of• car loads or three oil trains to be han• York Central in 1930, and had spent fice Superintendent; W. C. Wardwell, dled by the New York Central until the last seven years in the Vice Presi• Master Mechanic; E. H. Lehman, Divi• all booster pump stations are in oper• M. P. Crickmore, upholsterer, and ation on the East Leg. dent's office. He was a brother of Wil- sion Storekeeper; Lawrence King, Boiler Otto Gudat, upholsterer helper, left in lard Cleveland, Freight Car Distributor, Foreman; M. P. Springer, Clerk, Traffic December to enter the Marine Corps. "It is assumed that when all of these Chicago. Department; E. E. Martin, Engineer and booster stations are in operation on Other surviving members of the im• R. Z. Gardner, Lieutenant of Police. the East Leg of the Big Inch, all oil mediate family are his mother, Mrs. F. B. Fischer, former laborer in the stock received at Norris City, Illinois, Mary Cleveland, and three sisters. He Freight Shop, has enlisted in the Navy. from the Southwest will be put was unmarried. Beech Grove Notes through the line and tank car loading Corporal R. R. Mount joy, who was at Norris City, Illinois, will be discon• Second Lieutenant J. P. Buelow of the tinued. I. M. C, U. S. Army, a former clerk of A. Lee Breese, retired conductor, died a Machinist Helper at Beech Grove in Private Victor A. Sahm has returned Gardenville, N. Y. Yard office has been December 13 in Rochester. For years he the Wheel Shop, paid a visit to his to his former occupation in the Freight "LET'S GIVE THE N.Y.C.R.R. A BIG promoted to First Lieutenant. He is at served on Train 40 from Buffalo to New fellow-workers recently while on fur• Shop after having been honorably dis• HAND FOR THE EFFICIENT HANDLING the Sales Commissary. York City. lough. charged from the Army. OF THIS TANK CAR MOVEMENT," 4 Central Headlight

McGovern Succeeds Hamilton. Cincinnati Roe Uses Sign Language With Arabs ALLIED FORCE HEADQUAR• TERS, N. AFRICA —A new use of the sign language in supervising Arab labor gangs is one of the accomplish• ments of T/Sgt. Robert R. Roe, Os- sining, N. Y., now serving with a grand division headquarters of the Military Railway Service, Transporta• tion Corps, somewhere in North Africa. An employe of the New York Cen• tral Railroad in civilian life, Roe worked in the office of the general claims attorney in New York City. On arrival overseas, Sergeant Roe found that his duties as Bridge Inspec• tor were not particularly pressing, so he was assigned to duty as Night Yard- master at one of the port areas. The job required extreme patience with the Arab laborers handling railroad equipment arriving from the States. One of his greatest difficulties was to Paul Hamilton E. H. McGovern familiarize the Arabs with the various parts of locomotives, box cars and flat Left to right, George Jackson Paris, Jr., who is now in the Marines and J. A testimonial dinner honoring Paul E. H. McGovern was appointed Dis• cars. Robert North, who is now in the Navy. Hamilton, who retired as District En• trict Engineer of the Big Four District, When he wanted car bumpers gineer, Cincinnati, was given at the to succeed Mr. Hamilton. loaded, he would bang his fists to• Cincinnati Club, recently. Officials He is a native of Cincinnati and en• gether; for car springs, he would jump from New York, Chicago, Cleveland, tered the service in 1910. His em• up and down like he was riding a Seaman, Sightseeing, Indianapolis and other points were ployment up to 1917 was in the con• pogo stick. Another worry was the present. struction department. During the natural tendency of the native workers to hide away in some secluded spot Tries to Steal Army Locomotive Mr. Hamilton, a native of Decatur greater part of 1917 and 1918 he served in the army, with the Twenty- and take a siesta. Every hour or so he CASEY JONES would have been County, Indiana, was graduated from "counted noses" to check up on them. "I would like," he said, "to drive Michigan University and for a time Third Engineers' Corps. proud to be at the throttle of No. her into Berlin. Flags all over her, and worked for the U. S. Engineers. He Returning to the railroad after the After all materials had finally been 1864 — for No. 1864 is a combat vet• me with some flowersi n my hat. And entered the service of the Big Four in war he entered the maintenance of shipped to assembly shops, the ser• eran who defied Arabian fatalism and something nice and nasty about Hitler 1900 at Springfield, Ohio. way department. He went to Mt. Car• geant's time was devoted to assisting Nazi aerial attacks to get the supplies chalked on the sides." mel, Ill., as Division Engineer and in supervision of the bivouac area. Odd through to American soldiers in North He went to the general offices in shortly thereafter was transferred to jobs included planning company Africa. Cincinnati in 1912, after having served the same position with the St. Louis dances, and designing Christmas cards. A 2-8-0 Consolidation-type engine, B. & A. Air Officer as division engineer on several divi• Division at Mattoon, Ill. In 1938 he One of his hobbies is portrait sketch• Weds Brighton Girl sions. He was Assistant Chief Engi• No. 1864 was built in December, 1942, went to Chicago and was Division En• ing, and in his spare time he makes by workers in an American locomotive Lieutenant Joseph J. Yancovitz was neer for a number of years until 1940, gineer at that point until June, 1941 drawings from photographs of the folks when he was appointed District En• back home for his buddies. plant. married on November 20 to Miss Louise when he returned to Cincinnati as As• Kiernan, of Brighton, Mass. gineer with jurisdiction over the Big sistant District Engineer. No. 1864 is standard-gauge. Her Four District of the System. boiler number is 8106; her manufac• Lieutenant Yancovitz was formerly McGovern is succeeded as Assistant turer's number is 8095. employed at the Boston & Albany's East A handsome, fully equipped filing District Engineer by E. J. Bayer, who She arrived at Oran, North Africa, Boston Freight Office and in March, cabinet was presented to Mr. Hamil• had held a similar position at Cleve• Elkhart Woman 1942, entered the Army as a private. ton by his associates. Mr. Hamilton land. Bayer is familiar with the Big late last spring and was immediately lives at 3483 Whitfield Avenue, Cin• Four district as he formerly was em• Veteran Retires set up by the Military Railway Shop He was assigned to the Air Corps, cinnati, and plans to make his home ployed on several divisions in various Mrs. Mary T. Schneider became Elk• Battalion charged with the assembly of and after a period of training at vari• at Greensburg, Indiana, later. capacities. hart's first woman New York Central railroad machinery then being unloaded ous fields was appointed to the Offi• pensioner recently when she retired as in considerable quantity at this key cers' Candidate School at Camp Lee, janitress at the roundhouse after many Allied base. Virginia. Upon graduation, he was years of keeping its offices and bunk- The Military Railway Service is part commissioned a Second Lieutenant, and houses as neat and orderly "as I would of the Transportation Corps, Army Ser- is now Transportation Officer at Buf• my own house. vice Forces, and is the service chargefalod , where he does considerable busi• Fred Katona, Edward L. Kelly, SP with the operation of any railroads ness with his former employer, the Auditor's She was one of 41 pensioners hon• New York Central System. 3/C, Sergeant John P. Klee, Corporal ored at the Elkhart railroad Y.M.C.A. used by and for the armed forces in a Adelbert R. Kotz, Fred W. Leuchtman, foreign theater of operations such as Detroit Office recognition dinner. Mrs. Schneider had Y.3/C, Private Charles L. Lottridge, been on the job since April, 1920. Her North Africa. Here, M.R.S. and the Private Robert C. Marshall, Private civilian authorities of the Chemin de B. & A. Man Overseas Sends 45 to War energetic and lively spirit belies her 65 Daniel S. McCormick, Jorm H. Mac- years, but physical handicaps com• Fer Algerian labor side by side; Irwin Godin, formerly a clerk in the Employes of the Auditor Freight Donald, Private Raymond; J. Marx, pelled her to give up the strenuous French personnel operate their own Freight Traffic Office, Boston, has been Accounts Office, Detroit, are proud Pfc. Charles W. Moofev Pfc. Marvin work she had done for 23 years. trains and M.R.S. operates the purely promoted to Sergeant, and has been transferred overseas. to report that 45 of their former co• C. Oldenburg, Private Frank G. Perz, Mrs. Schneider was born in June, military American service over the same workers now are serving in the Armed Daniel E. Purcell, SK 2/C, Private 1878, in Austria and came to this lines, using American equipment rang• Fred A. Greenleaf, also a former Forces. They include 44 boys and one Edwin Rees, Lieutenant Leo M. country in 19H, just before World ing from locomotives and cars all the clerk, who enlisted August 10, finished girl. Schario, Jr., Edwin T. Scheper, Y.2/C, way to huge wrecking cranes and shop his preliminary training at Middletown, Corporal Norman M. Schmotzer, Ed• War I began. The family moved to Last Christmas and Easter brought Elkhart from South Bend in 1915. Her tools. Conn., for the Navy Air Corps, and win J. Schoenbeck, S.2/C, Private No. 1864 was given her hydrostatic has been transferred to the Navy W.T.S. them gifts made possible by the indi• Bill Schwartz, Private William Sulli• husband, John Schneider, who was also vidual contributions of their friends. a New York Central employe, died in test on May 11, 1943 — the same day School, Weston, W. Va. van, Private John L. Sullivan, Albert January, 1920. her present operating battalion arrived Since then, a more systematic method, J. Traxler, S.l/C, Private Willy J. whereby 10c a month is collected in North Africa to begin the job of Walther, Harvey J. Wilkins, S.l/C supplying the Allied armies in Tunisia, regularly from the large majority of and Private Eugene A. Wroblewski. department members, has been put set to move into Sicily. into effect. Why not drop any of them a line? She worked for some time in the Al• Molly Ann Hunter on the eleventh As a result of this effort, Christmas giers area, there receiving her baptism floor and Sarah Sharpe on the tenth of fire. She came unwounded through gifts of money orders are being for• floor will be glad to furnish addresses. warded to Private Walter T. Arm• a number of German air raids, some of strong, Corporal Rowan G. Behnke, which were directed exclusively at her Irwin E. Beitman, A. S., S/Sergeant and her sisters. Jack C. Bollman, Private Robert J. Engineers Shift One time, in addition to her normal Bullo, Ersie E. Cash, EM 3/C, Cor• F. J. Jerome, Chief Engineer, Chi• duties, she underwent a nerve-wrack• poral Trevor H. Clark, Private Joseph cago, has announced the appointment ing experience: Somebody tried to steal D. Crescio, Private James W. Cullen, of G. E. Robinson, formerly Assistant her! Frank F. Cuthbert, S.l/C, Joseph E. Engineer of Structures at Cleveland She was sitting peacefully in the Diroff, SK 3/C, Private Wm. Down• for the New York Central Railroad, yards, with steam up. Her crew, in this ing, Private Thomas Dype, Sergeant Line West, as Assistant Engineer of well-guarded establishment, were near• Norman F. Farquharson, Private James Structures in Chicago. by, picking up coffee and a sandwich E. Feighan, Private Charles E. Folley, A. M.Wasserhoff, formerly Assist- before starting their run. Private Betty Green, A/S Richard C. tant Engineer of Bridges, Chicago, suc• A man, dressed in GI overalls, Hall, Pfc. Bernard Hupert, Corporal, ceeds Mr. Robinson in Cleveland. climbed aboard and pulled the throttle open. The Johnson bar was in reverse. The brakes, fortunately were set, so nothing happened. T/4 Oswald B. Dusina, an ex-South• Detroit Engineers Golf League Champions ern Pacific employe from Oakland, Cali• fornia, came along about this time and saw the would-be thief busily pulling levers. He called Pfc. Anthony P. Dwyer of St. Louis, formerly with the Mis• souri Pacific, and T/5 Keith McCaf- ferty of Steubenville, Ohio, who once worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. C. B. Longstreth, Signal Maintainor, Corporal John S. Means, Jr., formerly The three of them pulled their quarry of Charleston, W. Va., reports his son a car inspector at Newell Interchange out of the cab and turned him over to Severn, was home on a short furlough Yard, on the P. & L. E., has been in the military police. No saboteur, he from Camp Butner, N. C. His son, Military Railway Service since October turned out to be a seaman who wanted shown above, has received a medal as 29, 1942. He is now in Iran and writes to see the countryside and figured 1864 an expert rifleman and has been pro• that he has met numerous other would be just the thing for him. P. & L. E. men over there. Corporal moted to Corporal. Severn is a former Means is the son of John S. Means, a Where 1864 was to go from her lat• Assistant Signalman, Ohio Central Di• car inspector at the Newell West Clas• est reported assignment was anybody's vision. Evidently his days of squirrel sification Yard, who has been em• guess. Engineer Martin, however, con• hunting in West Virginia have not been Left to right, J. S. Small, C. A. Anderson, Captain, T. Deyo and M. Friedman. ployed there for 17 years. fessed he had certain hopes. amiss. Central Headlight 5

Edward V. Underwood, former as• P. & L. E. Veterans In the Navy sistant Signalman and son of H. M. Gets Flying Cross Underwood, Signal Maintainer at Fos- toria, Ohio, has been promoted to Honored at Newell M.B.2c, and his address is B.M.2/c, A committee composed of William Boat Repair Unit, N.A.B. Navy 140 Collins, Elmer Sweitzer, Carl Dando, c/o Fleet Post Office, San Francisco. Howard Wellington, John Vacaro, William Dunlap, Fred Kreuter, A. Cos- A French Christmas card has just tello and J. Monath, representing all been received from Pfc. Dwight D. local departments of the east end of Firestine, who is in a Railway Oper• the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad, ating Battalion in North Africa. He staged the second annual retirement writes that he is working as a night dinner at Newell Y.M.C.A. It was at• dispatcher at the motor bureau and tended by 80 employes and their wives. that one of his buddies had a nice sur• With the hospitable cooperation of prise when he came back from a trip Secretary James Winterhalter and staff, one evening when his young brother festivities were conducted under the was waiting to see him. The brother leadership of James J. Donovan, Gen• was in the invasion of Sicily as a eral Foreman, Motive Power Depart• Paratrooper and told tales for three ment. nights. He said that Sergeant York Honored with suitable gifts, were didn't have anything over some of the four employes of the east end of the boys in his outfit and that one or two road who retired during 1943:—Conrad of them brought in 100 to 200 Italian Vogel, who entered the P.L.&E. ser• Mrs. Marie Firestine of 749 Utah Street, prisoners. vice as a brakeman in 1895, and was Toledo, sends this picture of her hus• band Delbert, who is an Electrician's promoted to conductor in 1904; Wil• Staff Sergeant John Amber, 23, son of Mate, First Class, in the Navy. Delbert Corporal William D. Dildine, for• liam V. Cocheran, who started as a coal M. Amber, Road Conductor, has been dock operator at Dickerson in 1902, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross was Signal Maintainer at Stanley Yards, mer Assistant Signalman, now with a and also three clusters for heroism. Toledo, until his enlistment in Septem• Service Battery at Shreveport, La., and was promoted to hostler in 1911; Joseph Robertson, who entered the ser• Sergeant Amber, former Stores Depart• ber, 1942. E. M. Firestine is somewhere writes that his brother, Harold, also Shown above is Pfc. John M. Brown, ment employee at East Youngstown, in the north Pacific. In his last letter he a former Assistant Signalman, is in Marine Corps, son of Patrolman John vice as a fireman in 1903 and was pro• Ohio, enlisted December 19, 1941, re• writes that "the boys out here could the Solomon Islands. D. Brown of the Electric Division. Pri• moted to conductor in 1909; and Frank ceived training at Keesler Field, Missis• use a few 'USO' clubs as I have not vate Brown saw service in engagements Inuso, who started as a track walker sippi, Spence Field, Georgia, Barksdale seen one since leaving the States and at the Marshal and Gilbert Islands, at in 1911 and transferred to flagman at Field, Louisiana, and Myrtle Beach, entertainment is a big problem out here. Private Orsie D. Mercer and Mrs. the bombing of Tulagi and the Battle the Newell Morgan Street Crossing in South Carolina, from where he went About all that we have is a few movies Mercer are the parents of a seven on the side of a hill once in a while." of the Coral Sea. He was assigned to 1932. overseas in April, 1943. He is now with He is on the left with an unidentified pal. pound bundle from heaven, Beverly. the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown when it Dr. J. Riley Staats, California State a Bomb Squadron in England. Private Mercer is with a Service Unit at was sunk at Midway. Private Brown Teachers College, California, Pennsyl• New Orleans, and was an Assistant Sig• when home on furlough, recently, re• vania, spoke on "The Railroads in nalman until his induction. cuperating, told how he owes his life American Life." to Pfc. Richard H. Davis, 1460 Park- Ex-Signalman Following the introduction of John Indianapolis Cop John M. Sims, with the Merchant chester Road, Bronx, N. Y., for swim• Yohe, Supervisor for the east end of Marines, writes that he returned a ming with him on his back for a half the road, A. Costello, Foreman, Main• Captures Two Suspects hour before they were rescued. Private Now Lieut. Col. short time ago from a six months' trip, tenance of Way Department, delivered Sergeant H. W. Brown of the New which took him all the way round the Brown is now back in action serving on an inspirational address on "Coopera• a new Carrier. York Central police, Indianapolis, The Ohio Central Division Signal world and about every place except tion among Railroad Men." started the day, December 7, with England and Russia. He crossed the Novelty entertainment was furnished plenty of activity. At 12:30 A.M. he Department reports: equator eight times and stopped in Because President Theodore Roose• by Howard Wellington, a Carman, and was at West and Washington Streets, Australia, India, Arabia, Egypt, South his musical saw, with Mrs. Joseph and noticed a red taxicab pull up to velt liked men who could get things Africa and South America. He is now Working in Iran done, Harley E. Johnson, 57, 324 N. Diederichs at the piano. the curb. A man in civilian clothes got in the Maritime Service Officers' out and started walking away, count• Warren Ave., Columbus, O., is now School, where he hopes to graduate in Lending color to the event, Secretary wearing the silver oak leaf of a lieu• Winterhalter introduced, as guests of ing money as he went. Brown called January as an Ensign, with a Third police headquarters and learned that tenant colonel and is Assistant Director Assistant Marine Engineer's License for the Y.M.C.A., Pfc. J. Sofranko, Cor• of Supply at Camp Atterbury, Ind. poral Robert Becker, Lieut. John Prek- the cab had been stolen and the driver both steam and diesel engines. held up. Brown then trailed the man It was during World War I while rel. Corporal Joseph Russo, Seaman 1st Class, Richard Stevenson Jr., Sergt. until he went into a chili parlor, where stationed at Camp Sherman that Lieu• the police found him in the wash room. tenant Colonel Johnson, then wearing Pfc. Amos M. Curry, with the 513th Clarence Henry and Seaman 1st Class sergeant's stripes, first drew the atten• Base Headquarters Squadron at Sara• Thomas Shaffer; all of whom had the He was identified by the cab driver. tion of the late President and high sota, writes that his wife and baby are good fortune to be home on furlough. Brown then started to drive to West- ranking army officials for his work in with him in Florida and the boys are side Yards when a truck came dashing producing working models of the enjoying fine steak dinners once or from a side street and he had to take "Stokes" type of trench mortar, which twice a week, ham and chicken once H. J. Curry Retires the wrong side of the street to avoid proved a big factor for the Allies. a week and fish and shrimp on Fri• being hit. They drove west on Wash• days and that the army is really feed• After 47 Years' Service ington Street at high speed. Three At that time none were available in ing the boys well. Henry Jacob Curry, Assistant Super• men were on the front seat. Brown fol• this country because they were manu• intendent, Boston & Albany Railroad, factured in England and sent immedi• lowed them and, flashing his light, ately to the troops in combat. Springfield, Mass., retired November saw a carton of cigarettes in the truck. Pfc. Vernon M. Hardy, Mess Cook 30. He chased them through streets and A British army officer who was serv• with the 459th Bomb Group at West- Mr. Curry, who was born March 12, alleys until they crashed into a tele• ing as an instructor at Camp Sherman over Field, Mass., and former camp 1877, at Hortonville, N. S., entered phone pole. All three men ran but in this type of warfare exhausted every car cook on the Ohio Central Divi• railroad service as a telegrapher at Bos• Brown caught one of them. He means at his disposal to secure a work• sion, writes that he expects to get a ton, May 12, 1896. turned out to be a well-known police ing model of the trench mortar. furlough home soon and is seeing quite character, "wanted" as a suspect for a Because of his work with the New a bit of the country in his training. number of stealings. He told the names York Central Railroad as Superinten• William F. Horton, son of Sanford C. Hartley in New Orleans of the other two, who also were known dent of Signal Maintenance and Re- Horton, Stationmaster at Albany, N. Y., to the police. The truck had been repair, the sergeant was asked if he Miss Wagner Weds is now an engineman in a Railway Private John H. Hartley, Jr., son of John H. Hartley, Conductor at 72nd stolen as had the contents, consisting could produce a model of the trench Miss Virginia C. Wagner, daughter Operating Battalion in Iran. He is a of cigarets, coffee, chickens, turkeys mortar. He answered in the affirmative Sergeant Technician, Fourth Grade. Be• Street Yard, New York, recently re• of Lisle O. Wagner, Assistant Chief turned to his camp after being home and ducks. and was immediately given orders to Clerk to General Attorney, New York, fore entering the Army he was a fire• "go ahead." man on the Hudson Division. on a 15-day furlough. Private Hartley Sergeant Brown had himself quite a was married recently in St. Paul's was formerly a brakeman at the 72nd morning. Using the signal repair shop at Church, Ossining, N. Y., to Frederick Street Yard. He is stationed with the night, Sergeant Johnson and five of his B. Overbaugh, Jr. The groom, em• Army Service Force, Shop Battalion, in 5,000 At Christmas buddies went to work. From scrap ma• ployed in the General Solicitor's office, Cline Now Inspector New Orleans. While Private Hartley terial they not only made replicas of New York, is the son of F. B. Over• Edward F. Cline, for many years was home, he was godfather for his Festival at Blue Island the model but working models that baugh, Sr., of the Vice-President and sister's son. Private Hartley also has a The Indiana Harbor Belt Athletic As• fired dummy shells. Captain of Police at Indianapolis, with Comptroller's office. jurisdiction over the Indiana division brother, William, who is with the sociation held its 17th annual Christ• In recognition of his work he was and the Indianapolis terminal, was pro• Field Artillery. mas parties at Blue Island, Ill., Ham• recommended for officers' training moted to the position of Inspector of mond, Ind., and Franklin Park, Ill., school by the President and after re• Inductee Gets Watch Police in the office of Chief Frank December 15, 16 and 17, respectively. ceiving his commission served as The third member of the Account• Poppe, at Cincinnati, effective Novem• Ford Goes to Seattle Total attendance of the three parties faculty instructor at Post Field, Okla., ber 1. until 1919, when he was placed on the ing Department Typing Bureau, De• Captain John F. Ford, Army Trans• was more than 5,000, and toys were reserve list. troit, to enter military service was Mr. Cline is succeeded at Indianapo• portation Corps and former C.F.A. in distributed free to Association mem• Eddie Gildard, who left October 14. lis by Mark Robbins, who had been the office of the General Eastern Freight bers' children, 12 years of age or un• Johnson entered the service of the He was presented with a watch by Lieutenant at Muncie, Indiana. Mr. Agent, has recently been transferred der. Continuation of such parties in Ohio Central in 1906 and enlisted in the many friends whom he had made Robbins is a son of a former chief from his station in Bayonne to a new the face of current day war time con• World War I, Sept. 30, 1917. When during six years with the bureau. of police of the city of Muncie. post in Seattle. ditions is believed by the Association's he returned from the war he had officials to be a worthwhile undertaking charge of the Store Department and for the benefit of the children, upon became Supervisor Material & Repairs. whom it is felt the burdens of war In 1925 he was made Assistant Signal Scene at Annual Dinner for Elkhart Employes Retiring in 1943 should not rest. Supervisor and left the service in 1928 to enter the regular Army. Robbins Promoted Signal Maintainer W. L. Hale of Technical Sergeant James L. Rob• Kenton, Ohio, reports that his son is bins, formerly a New York Central in a mess outfit in North Africa feed• employe at Indianapolis, has been pro• ing the boys. moted to Master Sergeant and is sta• tioned at Washington, the Headquar• ters of the Army Ground Forces an• Mrs. Anna M. Downour, wife of nounced recently. Robbins is attached Technical Sergeant Ralph Downour, to the Office of Chief of Staff, Army died in Toledo, recently, after an ill• Ground Forces. ness of three weeks. Burial was in To• ledo Memorial Park Cemetery. Tech• nical Sergeant Downour, whose picture Leininger Overseas appeared in the September, 1943, issue Private Fred Leininger, formerly art of the HEADLIGHT with a group of This was the seventh yearly dinner of the sort given at the Elkhart Y.M.C.A. Standing in the rear is Carleton W. Meyer, electrician's helper for the New York N Y. C. men in a Railroad Battalion Assistant to the President of the New York Central System, one of the principal speakers. Superintendent F. H. Garner, Central at Elkhart, is now in the Medi• in North Africa, was a former signal Chicago, Assistant Superintendent J. W. Crowley, Trainmasters J. A. Hickey and H. C. Van Bergen, the latter toastmaster, terranean area as a tank mechanic, his Maintainer at Stanley Yards, Toledo also were present. wife reports. 6 Central Headlight

B & A Spur Will Chicago Sales and Traffic Committee Celebrates its 18 th Anniversary, Record for N. Y. Central System Serve Army Hospital The Cushing General Hospital, new 1750-bed Army medical center at Framingham, Mass., was made ready to receive its first consignment of soldier patients early in December. Many of the patients will be from combat areas, although local soldiers also will be treated at Cushing. Named after Boston's great brain surgeon, Harvey Cushing, the hospital will have a large staff of medical specialists. Situated on 70 acres on Winter Street, Framingham Center, the hos• pital is somewhat difficult to reach without a car although it is hoped a bus line will eventually be put through from Framingham to the hospital. A spur track has been built in direct to the hospital from the Boston & Albany station at Framingham, and the wounded will be brought direct from ports of embarkation. In anticipation of the expected in• crease in business to and from Fra• mingham, Mass., Carl E. Hatch, for• merly of the General Passenger Agent's office, Boston, has been appointed Front row, left to right: L. C. Howe, Division Freight Agent and Committee Ticket Agent at Framingham and as• Chairman; C. R. Yoder, District Storekeeper, Elkhart; W. L. Houghton, Super• intendent, Equipment; F. H. Garner, Superintendent; W. C. Douglas, Assistant sumed his new duties on November 1. Has Five Sons in War General Freight Traffic Manager; D. S. Mackie, Freight Traffic Manager, and Chicago Soldiers Leroy Blue, General Freight Agent and past Chairman. Second row: C. L. The service flag at the home of Burgess, General Agent, retired; James H. Reed, Master Car Builder, retired; Get Xmas "Goodies" Henry Stone Promoted Frank Maure, Foundry Molder at Elk• A. W. Morgan, General Freight Agent; W. M. Stewart, District Freight Claim hart, displays more stars than does a Agent; P. J. Burke, Assistant Land and Tax Agent; H. W. Coffman, Industrial Santa Claus did not forget the 20 Henry Stone recently was appointed general, as five of his nine children are Agent; A. I. Parker, General Agent, Merchants Despatch Corporation; R. L. boys who left the Polk Street Freight Assistant Supervisor of Track, Sub- in the Armed Forces. Two of the five Melbourne, General Westbound Agent; H. L. Kershner, Assistant to Treasurer; Office and Freight House, Chicago, for Diviston No. 16, St. Lawrence Divi• sons were following in their father's O. M. Hullinger, Local Agent, retired; F. A. Judd, Western Publicity Repre• military service and are now stationed sion, with headquarters at Richland, footsteps with the New York Central sentative; J. C. Huston, Assistant Engineer, representing J. R. Scofield, Division at various points throughout the world. N. Y., by W. E. Carnes, Supervisor before entering military service. Engineer; J. W. Pitsch, Locomotive Engineer, retired, and Secretary of the A box of Christmas "goodies" was sent of Track. Chicago Pensioners' Association, and H. R. Trowe, District Station Accountant, The first to enter service was John, to each of the following: Englewood. Third row: F. O. Stein, Assistant General Agent; G. F. Wynn, Gen• Mike Gabrione, Tommy Green, now recovering from a serious back eral Agent; S. H. Home, Manager, New York Central Warehouses; C. K. H. R. Fleming Retires injury suffered in a jeep accident on Thomas, Auditor Freight Accounts, Gibson, Ind.; S. W. Jacobson, representing Jimmy Gleason, William Cranston, the West Coast, and awaiting a medi• H. P. Hannan, Superintendent Freight Transportation, Gibson, Ind.; A. F. Tommy Roche, Ray Martin, Jesoph Howard R. Fleming, City Freight cal discharge. He is 25, and has been Shoup, Building Department, retired, and President Elkhart Pensioners' Associa• Mozdren, John McAvoy, Joseph Petitt, Agent in the office of Division Freight in the Army since January 25, 1943. tion, Elkhart; H. J. Derner, Chief Clerk to Superintendent Equipment; F. W. George Stillwell, John Ahearn, Frank Agent T. J. Davis, Dayton, Ohio, re• Flott, General Attorney; P. P. Belitz, Assistant Coal Traffic Manager, and H. C. Gibbons, Ignacio Lopez, Tony Maggio, tired, November 1. The next to leave was 21-year-old Carson, Assistant General Passenger Agent. J. C. Stineman, Chief Claim Agent, Joseph Failla, Marion F. Genardo, Theo. Dominick, now overseas, a Private present at the meeting, is not shown. His service dated from January 18, First Class in the Ordnance Depart• J. Neubauer, Joseph Rachmaciez, Ray 1905, when he was employed as a ment. Before entering Service about McCacerty and Albert Santi. clerk in the transportation department a year ago he was employed by the The Polk Street forces send their con• at Columbus. He was transferred to Ball Band in Mishawaka. McKees Rocks News gratulations to Mike Gabrone who has Dayton as traveling freight agent in The first to choose the Navy was Cracking Good Time become the father of a boy, born since 1921. The McKees Rocks District, P.&L.E., he left the States. James, who enlisted at the age of 18, reports: BOB CHRISTENSEN, of the Vice and completed "boot" training at Joseph Koenig, Sr., Piece Work In• President's Office, Chicago, who Lyons Man Retires Great Lakes, 111. He is now at sea as recently joined the Navy, writes Business Women a Second Class Seaman. He also worked spector, Fabricating Plant, McKees John Edward McEwan, a machinist for the Ball Band. Rocks, who apparently was doing nicely Give Toys to Orphans in the shops at Lyons yard, Danville, after an operation, had to undergo that he recently had the great Another sailor son is Ruke, 31, who, "privilege" of cracking eggs while The Chicago Railway Business Ill., retired October 30. He lacked other operations and died recently. Mr. but eight months of attaining fifty prior to his enlistment, had been em• Koenig had been in the service for 34 on galley duty, and that he and his Woman's Association omitted their ployed by the New York Central for years and was a crack freight car man. partner on the night watch cracked usual gala Christmas party in favor of years of railroad service. He started about 15 years. 1,080 dozen for the morning break• a Benefit Tea held December 11, ad• with the Santa Fe at Argentine, Kan• Besides others, he is survived by Another prospective molder who fast. But Bob seems to be enjoying mission to which was a toy. All toys sas. He served a number of roads and Joseph, Jr. and William, employed in life immensely. later were distributed among the vari• for five years was with the Baldwin learned his business in the New York the Car Department, Josephine, Loco• Central's shop at Elkhart is Frank, 29, ous local orphanages. Other club activ• Locomotive Works. He entered the whose skill is being passed along to motive Department, and Frank, em• ities late in 1943 included a Trav• service of the New York Central in the Navy. ployed in the Pittsburgh Storehouse. elogue on China given by Miss Ca- 1911 at Indianapolis. He has been at geant James Sherry, Army Air Forces, mille Rathbun at the Central Y.M.C.A. Danville since 1921. at a dinner party recently. Jim is the Miss Margaret Gillen, Stenographer It was such a success that a repeat per• son of R. S. Sherry, Storekeeper, East formance was given. in the Master Car Builder's Office, died Youngstown, Ohio. Two Sons in Service recently after a short illness. Miss Aileen Green, Secretary to As• Albert J. Frank sistant Vice President, Chicago, is Emil Heimann, Patrolman at Cincin• Albert J. Frank, 62, Passenger Last September, Pfc. George Schott, Peter Petruna, former template Chairman of the New York Central Brakeman, Elkhart, died suddenly in nati Union Terminal, has two sons in Division of the Association. a hospital in Chicago, December 3. He the Service. of a Marine Parachute Regiment, wrote maker at the Fabricating Plant, McKees his father, Fred Schott, Blacksmith Shop Rocks, was promoted to Piece Work was stricken with a heart attack in One, Pfc. R. A. Stohlman is with a La Salle Street Station, shortly after Foreman, McKees Rocks, that he arrived Inspector, vice Joseph Koenig, deceased. Selkirk Notes Railway Operating Battalion in Eng• in the South Pacific war area. Another the arrival of his train, about 8 A.M. land. He was formerly a yard brake- letter hinted that he expected "bigger The Selkirk Car Department reports: He had been with the Central since man at Cincinnati. The other, Staff Two reasons why August F. Sonnet, Wilbur C. Palmer and Frederick Al• 1918. His wife and a daughter sur- Sergt. Edward H. Stohlman, formerly and tougher things from now on," Machinist, Locomotive Air Brake berts have returned to work as Inspec• a car department laborer at Riverside, which indicates that it didn't take long Room, McKees Rocks, is proud these tors and Repairers and Walter F. Zych Ohio, is now a radio operator in the for him to see action. days was evident when his two big and Arthur V. Smith have returned to Army Air Forces in the South Pacific sons visited the shops during fur• work as Car Repairers. These men re• area. Most recent word from Sergeant loughs. Private Martin, Army Air ceived honorable discharges from the ln San Antonio James Curley, Jr., son of J. M. Cur- Forces, who enlisted in February and Army. ley, Electrical Stockkeeper, Storehouse is at Gulf Port, Mississippi, is one A, McKees Rocks, was from England, reason; the other reason is Frank, Army Air Cadet, who enlisted in Russ DeGroot, Clerk, resigned and Medical Corporal where he is a crew member on a Fly• his co-workers presented him with a fine ing Fortress. April, received training at Wofford Parker "51" pen. His place was taken College, South Carolina, and is sta• by John Hutchings, son of Inspector tioned at Nashville. and Repairer Hutchings at Hudson, J. R. Board, Storehouse A employe, who was recently discharged from the was happy when his two children were Armed Forces after serving three years. home on furlough at the same time. Corporal Joseph Sobeck, former Gen• They are Tom, Seaman Second Class, eral Storekeeper's Office employe at stationed at Great Lakes Training Sta• McKees Rocks, stationed at the P. W. William Gudz, former Laborer, has tion since September 1, and Private Camp, Weingarten, Missouri, was enlisted with the Navy and is taking Laurett, who enlisted in the WAC home on a furlough. His present job boot training at Sampson, N. Y. July 5, and is stationed at Fort Dix, is court reporting in connection with New Jersey. She received training at trials conducted by the Army. Dominic A. Ollivett, former Laborer, Fort Devens, Mass., and also at Fort has been inducted into the Navy. Des Moines. James M. Smith Car Repairer Carmen Scaringe, ace bowler, who banged the wood for an Corporal Charles O. Selby, Army Air James MacKenzie Smith, who re• Forse, stepson of S. P. McCartney, average of 188 with the West End tired on April 30, from the Freight League last season, has now been given Storehouse Attendant, Storehouse A, is Claim Department, died October 25, stationed at A & College, Fargo, N. D. a berth with the New York Central in a Wheeling, W. Va. hospital at A. A., American League. the age of 65. Robert Winnett, Army Air Cadet, He entered service with the Freight Lieut. Charles R. Harrington, shown son of M. C. Winnett, Signal Stock- Claim Department in 1905 and was Two Promoted above, is with the Normoyle Ordnance Above is shown Corporal James N. keeper, Storehouse A, McKees Rocks, Chief Clerk in the Rochester Office Two former Central employes, now Motor Base, San Antonio, and has Taylor, who is serving in a station hos• is at the Miami training station. pital in a psychiatrical ward. Formerly at the time of his retirement, follow• in a Railway Battalion abroad, Pfc. earned several promotions since he at the McKees Rocks Car Shops, he ing which he made his home at Thaddeus A. Zdziarski of Buffalo and went south with the Ohio National entered the Army 20 months ago. He is Miss Grace Morton, employed at the Bethany, W. Va. He formerly resided T/5 John R. Cleary of Syracuse, have Guard, in 1940. He is a former As• the son of Mr. & Mrs. J. R. Knight. East Youngstown, Ohio, Storehouse, at Tarrytown and was buried in Sleepy been promoted to Technicians, Fourth sistant Signalman in the Signal Depart• His father is a P. & L. E. trainman. revealed her engagement to Staff Ser- Hollow Cemetery, October 28. Class. ment, Ohio Central Division. Central Headlight 7

War Shows Strategic Importance of Boston & Albany to New England's Industries SINCE 1939, when World War II Both the Beacon Park Yard on the began, through 1942, the Boston & main line of the B. & A. and yards on Wins Air Medal Albany has demonstrated its strategic the Grand Junction Branch, terminat• THE Air Medal has been awarded importance to the industries of New Facts About the Boston & Albany ing in East Boston, serve the indus• to First Lieutenant Hamilton C. England and the port of Boston by tries of Boston and the railroad's own MAIN line, double-tracked for its entire length of 199 Laing, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John hauling an increase of approximately docks and piers. R. Laing, 710 East 117th Street, 300 per cent more freight and 50 per miles, connects Boston, Mass., and Albany, N. Y. Cleveland, by Lieut. General George It is the main passenger route and one of the major Beacon Park Yard has a total car cent more passengers. capacity of 2,058 cars and East Boston, C. Kenney for "meritorious achieve• During those three years B. & A. freight routes between New England and the West. Terminal of the Grand Junction ment" while participating in 25 op• freight car couplers strained at loads Almost half of its main line is on curvature, its longest Branch, a capacity of 1,205. erational flight missions in the which increased from 654,969,606 to stretch of straight main track being 2.68 miles. Most of Southwest Pacific, the War Depart• this is due to the fact that it crosses the Berkshires, reach• The Terminal at East Boston, now ment announced. 1,672,112,716 ton-miles of revenue devoted solely to the nation's war ef• freight while passenger cars were busy ing an elevation of 1,452 feet. It has more than one A graduate of Glenville High fort, covers an area of 43.32 acres. School and Ohio University, Athens, with an increase from 186,451,371 to bridge per mile of road. Located directly on the main ship 353,666,870 passenger-miles. Between Boston and Framingham, 21 miles, a heavy O., Laing entered the service in channel of the port of Boston, it December, 1941, while working for The war presented an all-important commuting district, its route is four-tracked. has four large piers and a grain eleva• AGFA Doutt at Cleveland. He won job to do and the B. & A. was fully During the War it has been the main route for the tor which is the largest in New Eng• his commission and wings at Spenc• prepared to take these extra loads of transportation of petroleum, in which its performance has land, having a capacity of 1,000,000 er Field, Ga., in September, 1942, traffic in stride. Its central New Eng• been outstanding. bushels. and went overseas last December. land line, safe-guarded by automatic It operates 15 trains a day in and out of Boston to Buf• The Terminal has one huge ware• Lieutenant Laing flies a P 38 Lock• signals and automatic train control, falo and points West. house seven stories high, of brick heed Lightning. and its stone ballasted roadbed, double- construction. tracked with 105 and 127-pound rail, Selkirk Yard, southwest of Albany, made this an ideal route for the of 11,931,425 tons carried during emergencies of war. although not a B. & A. yard, is of ing the B. & A.'s freight traffic into 69,400 pounds, which is stepped up great importance to its freight service. 1942. Taking another view of the great and out from Selkirk Yard, and the by booster to 81,400 pounds. All freight leaving the New York The principal reason for the in• volume of war traffic handled, while Newton Highland Branch, which has There are no shops for heavy re• Central main line for the B. & A. or crease of volume in mine products freight cars per train-mile leaped from heavy commuter traffic. The longest pairs on the Boston & Albany. All coming off that railroad passes through was the transfer to rail shipment of 34 to 45 cars, freight train miles kept branch line is the Ware River Railroad such work on both locomotives and this yard. former water-borne crude petroleum pace, with an increase from 1,600,820 which winds its way northward from rolling stock has been done at the and coal and increased demand for to 2,392,267. Passenger traffic rose Palmer 49.36 miles, almost bisecting Many eastbound through freights iron ore by war industries. Handling New York Central shops at West from the NYC main line are previ• from 6,588,172 to 9,062,543, an in• the State of Massachusetts. Albany since 1941. of anthracite coal increased by 25 per crease of 2,474,371 passengers. The Boston & Albany is the main ously classified at DeWitt Yard, East cent to 566,084 tons and of bituminous Light repairs, however, are made on Syracuse, and at Selkirk receive only 70 per cent to 1,243,061 tons. The This heavy increase in passenger passenger route between New England locomotives at engine terminals, on a new train crew and their Berkshire traffic was caused by military move• and the West, operating eight east- volume of iron ore almost doubled to passenger coaches at the Exeter Street locomotive. Some classification is done 303,703 tons. ments, the diversion of highway travel bound and seven westbound trains a Yard, Boston, and on freight cars in here, however, to consolidate trains as a result of gasoline rationing and day in and out of Boston to and from the yards at West Springfield and at from the NYC main line and the West The most spectacular increase in all rubber conservation, and the curtailed Buffalo and points West. Through Beacon Park, Boston. Shore for eastbound movement over freight shipment was in crude petro• airplane operations which restricted Boston-New York passenger service is leum. In 1939 the B. & A. carried The largest engine terminals are the B. & A., this operation being passengers using such service to those also maintained via Springfield over reversed for westbound movement. only a thin trickle — 527 tons — of traveling on essential business. the New York, New Haven & Hart• located at West Springfield and Beacon crude petroleum to New England re• ford Railroad from New York to Park. Others are at East Boston, River• The largest passenger car yard on fineries, the great bulk being carried Certainly nothing of the importance Springfield and the Boston & Albany side, Framingham, Milford, Worcester, the B. & A. for cleaning, light repairs by, tankers. Because the submarines of the Boston & Albany as a main from Springfield to Boston. Chester, North Adams Junction, North and servicing of passenger equipment artery of traffic in times of peace or drove the tankers from coastwise ser• The eastern passenger terminus is Adams and Hudson. is the Exeter Street Yard in Boston. vice, however, this trickle swelled by war has lessened since it first in• Here, also, the New York Central augurated through service in 1841, the South Station at Boston. This sta• The principal freight yards on the 1942 to a great river of 1,529,828 tons. tion handles probably the largest vol• B. & A. are located at West Spring• Dining Service maintains a commissary This outstanding and amazing per• under the names of the Boston & for its thirteen dining cars on the Worcester and the Western Railroad. ume of commuter traffic in America. field, Worcester, Beacon Park in Alls- formance by the B. & A. helped save The Boston & Albany has its own ton, four miles West of Boston, and B. & A. Other passenger car yards New England from the hardships of Linking the capitols of Massachu• equipment of motive power and rolling East Boston. are located at Worcester, Springfield a severely cold winter and made it setts and New York State by way of stock, bearing the name of the rail• The largest yard is West Spring• and Rensselaer. possible to maintain the necessary such industrial cities as Worcester, services of automobile transportation. Springfield and Pittsfield, the Boston road. It has 225 locomotives, 3,210 field which has a total capacity of Although every main category of & Albany vaults the Berkshire Moun• freight cars and 347 passenger cars. 3,279 cars. This is also the main clas• freight leaped in volume of traffic In the category of manufactures and tains and runs through some of the Of the locomotives 89 are freight,. sification yard for, the B. & A. west• between 1939 and 1942. the sharpest- miscellaneous freight the following most scenic countryside in America. 78 passenger, 53 steam switcher and 5 bound" trains'." Its westbound yard has increases were made in the products increases"occurred from 1939 to 1942: diesel switcher. Of the freight cars a capacity of 1,598 cars. Eastbound of mines and in manufactures and refined oils and gasoline from 154,790 The railroad presented a difficult 2,200 are box cars, 500 hoppers, 307 yard capacity is 1,417 cars. West miscellaneous freight. Thus, the vol• tons to 1,019,844 tons; fuel oils from job of construction in early days and gondolas and 203 flat cars. Springfield also has a car repair yard ume of mine products increased from 123,658 tons to 1,381,843 tons; iron its right of way has been steadily im• The mighty and heavy giants of the for 155 cars and industrial tracks for 1,668,736 tons in 1939 to 4,081,900 and steel manufactures from 391,339 proved since then. Almost one-half of freight locomotives, depended on to service to several large industrial tons in 1942 and in the same period tons to 793,301 tons; scrap iron and its main line is on curvature; it has pull and push trains of eighty loaded plants with a capacity for 334 cars. manufactures and miscellaneous freight steel from 61,922 tons to 141,758 more than one bridge, of 10 feet or cars over the Berkshires, are 55 Worcester Yard is used primarily increased from 2,734,358 tons to tons; canned food from 63,467 tons to more, per mile of road; and it reaches engines which take their name from 6,118,649 tons. 135,400 tons; and miscellaneous an elevation of 1,452 feet. for service to local industries. Its manufactures from 1,007,533 tons to the mountains they conquer — Berk• limited classification yard has a capac• These two categories of freight al• 1,540,255 tons. The only decline was The main line, 199 miles long, has shire type, Class A-l, locomotives. ity of 209 cars. Its storage, freight most tripled in volume and together in the shipment of automobiles, falling 102 miles of tangent and 97 miles of These engines have a 2-8-4 wheel ar• delivery, team yard and repair yard, they comprised 10,200,549 tons of the from 41,398 tons to 4,984 tons. curve. Much of this curve is caused rangement and a tractive power of however, have a capacity for 775 cars. grand total for the Boston & Albany by its climb over the Berkshires. The Increases in other categories of longest stretch of straight track on the freight were products of agriculture main line is 2.68 miles between Brook- from 491,116 tons to 508,584 tons; field and East Brookfield. The longest animals from 331,509 tons to 457,633 straightaway on the railroad is 3.86 Supervising Officials Start Public Relations Course tons; forest products from 108,506 miles on the Milford Branch. tons to 262,070 tons; and less than carload freight from 216,212 tons to Hurdling numerous streambeds and 355,454 tons. passing through frequent cuts in the hilly country it traverses, the main line Heavy eastbound freight shipments has acquired 189 overtrack bridges and consist of coal, fuel oil, iron and 161 undertrack that have a clear span steel. Westbound freight is principally of ten feet or more. The undertrack manufactured goods and less than car• bridges have a total linear footage of load shipments, the greatest proportion 10,816. of which today is materials of war. The highest elevation on the B. & Although a decrease in petroleum A. is reached at Washington. Just movement occurred in 1943 once the West of Washington, between North winter blasts gave way to spring Adams Junction and Hinsdale, occurs breezes, industrial freight, including the heaviest eastbound grade, where raw materials and finished products, there is a rise of 434 feet in 5.78 has continued on an increase, promis• miles, giving an average grade of 1.42 ing for the Boston & Albany another per cent, with a maximum of 1.51 per record year of wartime railroading. cent. The heaviest westbound grade occurs between Russell and Washing• Public Relations Training on the The course is conducted in six two- cation Department; I. L. Austin, As• More Corning Men Go ton, a distance of 24 miles with a New York Central has started with hour sessions, one session for each of sistant Secretary, Board of Pensions' Recent inductions in military service rise of 1,202 feet, giving an average the training of Assistant Superinten• the above subjects. C. R. Dugan, Manager, Public Rela• from Corning, N. Y.: grade of .95 per cent with a maximum dents, Trainmasters, Assistant Train• This training will be conducted at tions; L. W. Horning, Vice President, Firemen: D. R. Brion, Army; E. C. of 1.65 per cent. masters, Station Masters, Assistant Sta• other points on the New York Central Personnel; Arthur L. Mann, Leader of Cook, Navy. The main line is double-tracked for tion Masters and other officers and su• System as soon as it is completed at the above group; L. D. J. Williams, Yard Conductor: F. G. Dart, Army. its entire length of 199 miles between pervisors at New York. New York. The New York Central Division Examiner; G. E. McHugh, Boston & Albany. In addition, it is Brakemen: J. C. Piano, Navy; S. E. The training is being conducted by feels that it has an excellent oppor• Assistant Trainmaster; W. J. Godfrey, Wheeler, Air Force. four-tracked between Boston and Arthur L. Mann, Chief, Industrial Ser• tunity at present to make friends with Assistant Station Master; E. G. Fischer, Framingham, a distance of 21 miles, to vice Bureau, New York State Educa• the public, at a time when employes Assistant Trainmaster; H. A. Offer- Laborers: L. B. Hall, Jr., Edward handle heavy commuter traffic. Three- tion Department. In addition to train• are meeting more passengers and ship• man, Trainmaster; H. B. Tucker, As• Porter. tracking occurs primarily in upgrade ing the above officers and supervisors, pers than at any previous time, and it sistant Superintendent and E. J. Con• The Honor Roll at Corning now locations, as eastbound between Chat• Mr. Mann, with several of his assist• is hoped that the training will result nors, Station Master. includes: 28 Brakemen, 27 Yardmen, ham and East Pittsfield and between ants, trained 15 New York Central in a substantial improvement in rela• Those in the outside row, from left 6 Messengers, 12 Firemen and 11 Mo• North Adams Junction and Washing• employes as leaders, who in turn are tions between employes and the public, to right, are: R. J. Enright, General tive Power Department employes. ton. Charlton Hill is three-tracked on training other employes in Public Re• thereby improving the reputation of Yardmaster; F. P. Fleuchaus, Secre• both sides. lations in groups of 15 per class. the New York Central as a friendly tary, Board of Pensions; J. F. Waddell, Richard L. Wood, former Crew The main line and its fourteen Approximately 500 employes at New and a courteous railroad. Chief Clerk; R. P. Hayes, Information Caller, was recently promoted to Cor• branches have 352 miles of first track; York have enrolled for the training Those in the above group, from left Clerk; Franklin Leclave, Associate Edi• poral. He is in England. 224 miles of second track; 70 miles which involves a study of the value of to right at the table, are: H. F. Tuott, tor of Printers' Ink; Nicholas J. Gallo, of third track and 22 miles of fourth good will to employes and the Com• Assistant Station Master; R. G. May, and John Addeo, of the State Educa• "Barney" Heidemann, son of George track. The total trackage of the Boston pany, employer-employe relations, cus• Trainmaster; H. G. Palmer, Trainmas• tion Department; J. G. Castle, Assist• Heidemann, Assistant General Foreman, & Albany is 1,021 miles. tomer relations, employe as part of the ter; J. D. Carkhuff, Assistant Super- ant to Vice President, Personnel; H. G. Polk Street, Chicago, who was awarded The only two branches to be double- job, employe as part of the public and tendent; J. K. Lovell, General Freight Farnham, Assistant Superintendent, and the Purple Heart, was home on fur• tracked are the Selkirk Branch, carry- public relations — present and future. Claim Agent; S. F. Korbet, State Edu• L. B. Nutt, General Yardmaster. lough recently. 8 Central Headlight

Soldiers Help Handle Mail at Chicago Detroiter Kelps to President Gives Stone, 60 Years in Service, First Gold Pass Find Jap Supplies Anyone who has been reading the war news can tell what Aleutian Island Corporal Arthur "Bud" Higgins, of the Auditor Passenger Accounts Office, De• troit, is on from his interesting letter, which follows: "Censorship has been relaxed some• what and we can now tell a few things. I still can't name the island I'm on, but I can say we came here as an invasion force and fully expected to engage the Japs in battle. However they had al• ready pulled out. "It has been very interesting going through their positions and fortifica• tions, of which there are plenty. On one of our trips of exploration we found six cans of sake, a Japanese rice wine. After a few drinks we called several others and went out exploring again. We came to a long, low passageway and followed it for a couple of miles and came upon a very large cave back in the mountains. In the cave we found the place lined with more cans and The Army did its bit in helping to J. G. Gatoura. made our way back through the tunnel, handle the tremendous volume of Christ• Recent reconstruction of the Clark sometimes on hands and knees. When mas mail in Chicago. According to R. and Taylor mail handling platform has we came outside, we opened some of the E. Dean, Supervisor Baggage and Mail, given the Central a facility which has cans and found — potatoes! LaSalle Street Station, an average of made it possible to avoid congestion, "Did the rest of the boys give us a about 30 men, none under the rank of and resulted in a more efficient handling helluva ribbing." Sergeant, from Fort Sheridan, Illinois, of mail than at any other railroad sta• were employed daily in the LaSalle tion in Chicago. Street Station and at the New York The new platform, together with the Four more Auditor Passenger Ac• Central mail house at Clark and Taylor installation of additional track, made counts boys have been sent out by the Streets, Chicago. All of them received possible for the first time the simultane• Army in all directions. Sergt. Matthew the prevailing wage rates. ous loading and unloading of solid stor• Conlon is in the European area, Cor• The above picture, taken at the Clark age cars at one facility. This has resulted poral Arthur Higgins in the Aleutians, and Taylor Street mail house, shows a in an economy of available manpower, Private Robert Blakeslee in Panama, and group of soldiers sorting and loading an important accomplishment at this Pfc. William W^ddigen in Alaska or unsacked Christmas parcel post. In the time, and also relieved congestion in the Aleutians. picture are Staff Sergt. Floyd W. Mc- the LaSalle Street Station by releasing Henry; Tech. Sergt. Abraham Shames; considerable trackage from mail and ex• First Sergt. V. O. Marrell, Technician, press car use, and making it available Third Grade; David P. Hier and Sergt. for passenger traffic. Hale at 87

This efficient secretary has two broth• Battle Creek Men ers serving as officers in the Canadian Navy, both of whom have been in con• in Distant Posts tact with enemy forces. Lieutenant Stew• art Paddon is a veteran of the sinking of The holiday season find NYC service the Bismark, when he was serving as an men from Battle Creek in far places, Albert B. Stone, General Clerk in the Office of Manager, Freight Transportation, officer on the Prince of Wales, and at and formerly Chief Clerk, Is shown receiving from President F. F. Williamson a many already overseas and others ex• the battle of Singapore, at which time System-wide gold pass marked GA 1, the first of such passes to be presented to pecting sailing orders momentarily. he lost his ship under attack by enemy all employes with 50 or more years of service. C. L. Jellinghaus, Manager, Freight One Aerial Gunner, Sergt. George E. bombers. Lieutenant Oswald Paddon has Transportation, stands at left. Mr. Stone, who at 75 has had 60 years of service, Turnbull, a former yard clerk, still is seen much service in North Atlantic con• has seen more years of service than any other present employe. His father, Albert reported missing in action after a bomb• voy duty. The father of this fighting Stone, who died in 1931 at 96, retired as Statistician, Auditor of Passenger ing mission over Italy. family is Edmund Paddon, retired Can• Accounts, after 80 years of service. At bottom is picture of Mr. Stone's gold pass. Yard Conductor Willard Durham is adian Division Conductor. also in Italy with Clark's Fifth Army and Bill Clerk H. Robert Stevenson is His quiver is still full of arrows, it Fred Tatro, Section Foreman, retired in North Africa with a hospital unit. Recently the locomotive Master seems, from the number of recent mar• December 15 after 43 years of service. Former Yard Clerk John Vaira is with Mechanic's office was visited by several riages involving Auditor Passenger Ac• Mr. Tatro was presented with a gift the Marines in the Pacific and Yard former employes on furlough. Among counts girls. Jean Menard was wed to from his men. Conductor Tom Brownfield is also re• them were Robert E. Seger, son of Elec- Sergt. Jack Mann at Marquette, Mich., ported in the European theater. trian Foreman E. Seger, and electrician on Nov. 13, Virginia Markey married John M. Olver, retired, died recently apprentice and officer in the Canadian James Webster Second Lieut. William Wesley on Dec. after a short illness. Mr. Olver had Recent visitors at the "home office" Navy; James Douglas Bucke, a Naval included Thomas Y. Fletcher, former 1, and Iris Winn became the bride of been 30 years with the System. officer and son of Leo Bucke; Corp. Still going strong is James Webster, Robert Hoover, MM 2/c in Seattle, Freight Trucker, now with the Mer• William Smith from the Western Coast chant Marine; Sergt. Harold J. Palmer, New York Central Traffic Manager, re• Nov. 7. Thomas W. Harvey, switchman for Command and Rifleman Donald Hill, tired, who on December 14, when the the past 32 years at Bay City, died re• Accountant, now with the Air Corps at Machinist Apprentice. Strothers Field, Kans.; Tech Sgt. Leon above picture was taken, celebrated his Among its many donors to the Red cently. Samulac of the C.A.C. Anti-Aircraft eighty-seventh birthday by receiving the Cross Blood Bank the Auditor Passen• artillery who was formerly a bill clerk, LeRoy Brown, Federal Inspection congratulations of a host of friends and ger Accounts Office, Detroit, boasts two and Ray E. Schmitzer, a former mes• Clerk in the Master Mechanic's office, associates. seven-timers in Glenna Hill and Julia senger who stopped off enroute to an recently was elected District Deputy During his active career Mr. Webster Conlon. That's almost two gallons be• Helped Lead Invasion eastern air base. Grand Master of the Local Fraternal was an outstanding figure in the freight tween them! Many a wounded soldier Organization, and appears resplendent traffic affairs of the railroads. His coun• will owe his life to these patriotic men Seaman Fletcher was home on leave and women. after his second round trip to Europe in his regalia. sel was sought and respected by all and and reported that "nothing much hap• his reputation firmly established as a pened." When pressed, however, he Gerald Rupert, furloughed employe man who could see all sides of a ques• Recent promotions noted among Au• finally admitted that his convoy played from Windsor Enginehouse, visited that tion and do substantial justice to all ditor Passenger Accounts boys in mil• tag with a submarine wolf pack all the terminal recently while on casualty concerned. itary service: Second Lieut. Nick M. way across the Atlantic. leave. Airman Rupert had the misfor• Mr. Webster reached this eminence as Tikfesi graduated from bombardiers' school in November. James E. Ochs Samulac and Schmitzer were enroute tune to be seriously injured in a forced a result of a long period of service. Just before the turn of the century he now is Pharmacist's Mate Third Class to new stations and both expected sail• landing and recently was discharged at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. ing orders shortly. The whereabouts of from the Military Hospital. was General Freight Agent of the Nickel Plate Road at Cleveland, Ohio, in that Matthew Deak has been advanced to former Yard Brakeman William Rush- Technician Fifth Grade. ford is still unknown although he was The Canadian Division recently lost era when the General Freight Agent was last reported in Alaska with the Air George H. Folland, Passenger Engineer the chief freight traffic officer. Corps. On January 1, 1910, he went to Chi• Almost as lucky as T/4 Albert Soltis of many years service, who died sud• (who is stationed just outside Detroit) denly. cago as the Assistant Freight Traffic Manager of the New York Central is William Giles, S 2/c (both of the Lines, West of Buffalo, subsequently A.P.A. Office), who has been assigned Lieutenant G. D. Lang of the Master to the Induction Center in Cincinnati. It St. Thomas Woman Mechanic's office and Lieutenant J. Teet- becoming Freight Traffic Manager, and then Traffic Manager at Chicago, which was while the office was located there Resigns to Enlist zel, are spending a great deal of their for six years that he met and married off-duty hours training new recruits in position he held at the time of his re• tirement at the close of 1926. his attractive wife. He is now living at Miss Irene Paddon, Secretary to the the Western Ontario Reserve Regiment. the home of his mother-in-law. Master Mechanic at St. Thomas, was The period of his active railroad C.E.S.M. R. H. Christenson's son, Ser• honored by fellow employes on the oc• career might be called the formative geant Granville C, is connected with The recent Victory Loan went over Staff Sergeant Roy Hronek, of the a signal unit, Engineers, Amphibian Bri• casion of her 25th anniversary with the with a bang on the Canadian Division, period of freight traffic department rates, railroad, the date which also marked her rules, regulations, and practices, the Auditor Passenger Accounts Office, De• gade, someplace in Italy. He has been all departments over-reaching their troit, stationed at Camp Atterbury, Ind., in on three invasions already, at Oran enlistment in His Majesty's Canadian quota and receiving plaudits. evolvement of which was no simple task. Army. She was presented with a gold It called for infinite patience, vision, announced his wife had presented him in North Africa, at Gela, Sicily, and at with a charming daughter on Nov. 21. Salerno, Italy. In the Gela and Salerno watch and a fountain pen. Miss Paddon and sound business judgment and all invasions he was the beachhead man in started service with the company on the Bollman On Coast of these Mr. Webster possessed in charge of all radio communication be• first Armistice Day in 1918. abundance. First Sergeant Jack C. Bollman, Mo• Bay City Police tween the shore and invasion fleet, so The ceremony was attended by local tor Transport Company, Signal Corps, His is a familiar figure at the freight he was in the groups first ashore. supervisory and office forces and by is now at Camp Kohler, California. He traffic department headquarters at Chi• Captain Is Dead Ray's other son, Corporal Christopher, Superintendent J. E. Schwender, As• was with the Infantry when they invaded is a son of Joseph S. Bollman of the cago, where he is a frequent visitor. His Edward Gleason, Captain of Police Makin Island in the Gilberts recently. sistant Superintendent T. L. Coughlin Auditor Freight Accounts Office, De• unfailing cheerfulness and enduring at Bay City, died November 29 after a Granville worked in the Terminal dur• and Car Foreman Robert Ritchie from troit, where he worked with his father vigor are inspirations to all who know short illness. He joined the company ing one of his summer vacations while Windsor. before entering war service. him. police force on November 19, 1909. attending college.