MAY. 1952

NYC System Biggest Owner of Diesels Add 7 More Units Last month saw delivery of the Cen• tral's 1,650th diesel locomotive unit. The 2,250 horsepower unit was placed in To Beeliner Fleet; service at Harmon, N. Y., at the head• end of the Twentieth Century Limited. By acquiring 420 new diesel units for Service Widened the System in 1951, the Central set a new record for the number of diesels Seven more Beeliners (diesel rail it has received in a single year. NYC passenger cars) have been placed in is now the largest owner of diesel service on the Central. With 18 of them power among all railroads. now in operation, the Central has more of the self-propelled cars than any Delivery of road freight units during other railroad. April made it possible to dieselize all main line freight trains between New The newest cars have been placed in York and Buffalo. service between Jackson and Grand Rapids, Mich.; between Buffalo and All of the Central's through pas• Syracuse, N. Y.; and between Pough- senger trains between the east and mid• keepsie and Albany, N. Y. Four of them west also are hauled by diesel power. have been added to the run between So far in 1952, the Central has re• Boston and Springfield, Mass., where ceived 201 diesel units. An additional the first NYC Beeliner went into action. 302 remain on order and are expected to be delivered by mid-1953. When The Beeliner running between Jack• they have all been received, the Sys• son and Grand Rapids will cut the time tem's diesel fleet will number 1,939, of the westbound trip on that run by about 54% of the number required for 25 minutes. At Springfield the rail full dieselization. diesel cars will provide better connec• DAMSEL WITH DIESEL accepting delivery tions with trains to New York, and at (For new styles in diesels, see page 11 of 1,650th unit on NYC's behalf at Har• Albany better connections with west• of this issue of the HEADLIGHT.) mon, N.Y., is songstress Connie Russell. bound trains. The self-propelled car assigned be• tween Poughkeepsie and Albany will perform commuter service essentially, making stops at many of the smaller Who Writes the Pay Check? communities between its terminals. At Buffalo, the Beeliner from Syra• With their pay checks for the last pay our work ... he is the purpose of it. cuse will make connections with a simi• period in April, all NYC employes re• "We are not doing him a favor by lar car running to Niagara Falls. ceived a reminder of the importance of serving him ... he is doing us a favor the Central's customers in making the by giving us an opportunity to do so. checks possible. "A customer is not an outsider in our A leaflet, distributed with pay checks, business ... he is part of it. ON TIME, ACROSS THE BOARD! pointed out: "This pay check never could "A customer is not a cold statistic . . . A perfect, across-the-board "on have been written if it weren't for your he is a flesh-and-blood human being time" record—the pride of any rail• railroad's customers. The money they with feelings and emotions like our road operating department — was pay, for tickets and for freight service, own. chalked up by NYC's through pas• is the money that goes into your pay "A customer is not someone to argue senger fleet the morning of April 30. check. That makes a customer a very or match wits with. Nobody ever won As satisfied smiles lit up the faces of dispatchers, tower men, train important person. an argument with a customer. crews and officials up and down the "In fact, a customer is the most im• "A customer is a person who brings line, one after another of NYC's portant person ever to call on a railroad us his wants. It is our job to handle overnight streamliners rolled into its employe, in person, by mail, or by tele• them profitably — to him and to our• terminal on time or minutes early phone. selves. —a top-notch feat when you're run• "A customer is not dependent on us "A customer is the man, or woman, ning one of the biggest and fastest . . . we are dependent on him. behind our pay checks. Let's always re• passenger fleets in the country. "A customer is not an interruption of member that." CONCERNING THE CENTRAL

Steel Troubles Hurt NYC shops and necessitating lay-off of a Timetable Changes number of operating employes. The Central's freight traffic, running The steel upset could hardly have With the coming of daylight saving below 195l's level, was dealt a further come at a worse time for the Central time for the summer months in most blow last month by a serious decline and its employes. The March strike on of the territory it serves, the Central in industrial production due to strike NYC had caused a net deficit of $1,- has issued new passenger timetables, troubles in the steel industry. 363,955 in the Central's income account In addition to adjustment of sched• Added to this was carry-over dam• for the first three months of 1952, and ules to conform with daylight time, age to traffic volume resulting from the trouble in steel hurt prospects for the top speed of several trains is being the strike of engineers, firemen and a fairly rapid recovery. reduced in the interest of greater com• conductors against the Central's lines fort for overnight passengers. west of Buffalo in March. Although this will mean that sched• Imminent threats of a steel strike Terrace Grade Crossings Out ules of some NYC long-distance trains early in April slowed down production One of the biggest grade crossing will be lengthened, the additional at the mills and caused a drop-off in elimination projects in recent years on time is expected to contribute greatly Central carloadings. Coal, iron ore, the Central is being carried out near to riding comfort and dependability. steel, and finished products using steel NYC's Terrace Station in Buffalo. Surveys conducted by NYC's Pas• all were affected. Resulting loss of A new station building to replace the senger Traffic department have shown revenue, coupled with the lessened de• present one at the Terrace and a new that passengers are more interested mand for equipment, forced the tem• electrically operated signal interlock• in those two qualities of train service porary closing of some of the Central's ing plant are being erected in conjunc• than in speed. car and locomotive shops. tion with the elimination and are ex• The changes will mean only about About 3,300 shop employes were laid pected to be in operation early in the 30 minutes more running time be• off. Installations affected were the West fall. tween major mid-western and eastern Albany, N.Y., Beech Grove, Ind., East To carry the tracks under Buffalo cities. Since most of the extra time Buffalo, N.Y., and Avis, Pa., car shops; streets, two new tunnels, each about will be consumed during the night, the West Albany and St. Thomas, Ont., 500 feet long, are being built. The tun• convenient arrival and departure locomotive shops; and the Elkhart, nel floors are at a level below the times will be maintained. Ind., foundry. high water mark of nearby Lake Erie, By railroad clock, the westbound Before NYC freight business could which makes it necessary to thorough• Twentieth Century Limited, Commo• stage a real comeback, the all-out ly waterproof all tunnel construction. dore Vanderbilt, Empire State Ex• strike of steel workers caved in the The new tunnels are to be equipped press, Advance Empire, and North roof on industrial traffic, wrecking with pumps to provide drainage. (See Shore Limited leave one hour earlier hopes for a quick reopening of the picture this page.) than before. The eastbound Century and Commodore depart an hour and a half earlier; and the eastbound Cleve• land Limited, an hour earlier. Commuter trains in the New York, Boston and Chicago areas will be scheduled on daylight time and, as an additional convenience to passengers, most commuter timetables will be printed in daylight time.

Will Run Train to Meeting The annual meeting of the Central's stockholders will be held May 28 in the ballroom of the Hotel Ten Eyck, Albany, N. Y. Stockholders attending in person, and others voting through proxies, will elect the directors who will guide the company's affairs during the coming year. Re-election of the present 15 directors is proposed in proxy statements mailed to all share• holders. Following the practice begun two years ago, a special train will be run to Albany from New York for the ac• commodation of stockholders in that city and surrounding areas, where the addresses of the greatest number of NYC stockholders are concentrated. A special fare of $3.50 (including tax) for Photo by Buffalo Evening News CONCRETE ROADBED is being laid in Buffalo to carry relocated Central tracks to the 284-mile round trip will be in ef• new Terrace Station there. Work is part of big grade crossing elimination project. fect on the train.

Page 2 New York Central Headlight Strike Damage Shows Serious damage done by the strike of engineers, firemen and conductors in March shows up in the $2,548,169 loss for the Central in that month. The strike—which tied up NYC's lines west of Buffalo and curtailed serv• ice on other parts of the System—cut deep into revenues as business was lost to other railroads and other forms of transportation. As a result of the March showing, the Central has a net deficit of $1,363,- 955 for the first three months of 1952. The March loss more than wiped out the earnings of January and February.

Relief for Lagging Rates Recognizing that railroad freight rates have fallen far behind the upturn in railroad companies' costs of opera• tion, the Interstate Commerce Commis• sion has authorized a modest rate increase, taking effect this month. In eastern territory, the increase generally amounts to 6 per cent over previous rates. Elsewhere, it is 9 per ROAST BEEF DINNER for family of five costs $2.79 more now than in 1945. Railroad cent. On some commodities, however, freight charges in over-all cost of dinner have risen only about three cents. the rise is held to less than the stated percentages, so that the increase in N.Y., via NYC ferry to Weehawken, courtesy can do more for the railroads average revenue per ton-mile for the N.J., and the West Shore Railroad. De• than the most modern equipment Central and other eastern roads will parture time on Sunday mornings is available. be somewhat under 6 per cent. 8:45 with arrival time at Bear Moun• "It takes more than air conditioning In explaining their need for the in• tain 10:08 a.m. Returning, passengers to keep passengers riding our trains. It crease, the railroads pointed out that have a choice of two trains, leaving takes an air of hospitality. And the railroad wages and the prices of rail• Bear Mountain at 4:24 p.m. and 6:20 same is true if we want to keep our road materials had risen about 140 p.m. Arrival times in New York are shippers happy," he declared. per cent since 1939, while unit charges 6:10 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. for performing railroad freight service During the month of May, a Sunday had gone up not even half that much. train is being operated, particularly All-room Southwestern For the consumer of goods hauled for the convenience of baseball fans, The Central's Southwestern Limited by rail, the increase in rates will have from Poughkeepsie and Beacon, N.Y., is now sporting all stainless steel such a slight effect on prices that, at to New York City. Leaving Pough• streamlined equipment. Effective with retail, it will scarcely be noticeable. keepsie at 7:32 a.m. and Beacon at 7:55 the new passenger schedules issued Rail rates have risen so much less than a.m., the train arrives at Grand Cen• last month, all the Southwestern's other price factors that rail freight tral Terminal at 9:52 a.m. Departure Pullman accommodations are room- charges now account for a smaller per• time for the return trip is 8:20 p.m. type. It also carries reclining seat centage of the total cost of good than Special reduced fares are in effect coaches. ever before in modern times. for both excursions. The Bear Moun• If traffic were to stay as high as tain excursion rate is $2.00 for the last year—which it hasn't been doing round trip. The fare for the Pough• Book Studies Class 1 Roads thus far in 1952—the increase would keepsie New York run is $2.88. From Railroad personnel, and other stu• bring the Central about $24,000,000 in Beacon it is $2.59. On both trips chil• dents of the transportation scene, will additional revenue in 1952. This would dren between 5 and 12 years of age welcome a little handbook, recently not quite equal the yearly cost of the are carried for half fare. published, that highlights interesting "escalator" wage increases being paid and useful data on each of the 127 by the Central to employes under the New Building on P. & L. E. Class I railroads in the United States. cost-of-living provisions of contracts A new yard office building is to be This Simmons-Boardman publication, negotiated last year. built at Riverton, Pa., on the Pitts• Handbook of American Railroads, is the The picture-chart on this page shows burgh & Lake Erie Railroad. work of Robert G. Lewis, Transporta• how tiny a part freight charges have The new structure will replace the tion Editor of "Railway Age" maga• played in the rising cost of food. While present small yard office building. zine, whose widespread research on rail the price of a family meal was rising questions convinced him of the need $2.79 between 1946 and 1952, the cost Courtesy Rated Highest for gathering such information within of rail transportation involved in all the covers of a single volume. steps in bringing that meal to the table "The good will department is the rose only about three cents, including biggest one on the railroad, and every• Some of the points included in the the recent rate increase. one is a part of it." 242-page illustrated handbook are This view was expressed recently by comparative statistics on freight, pas• senger and operating revenues, income, Summer Excursions G. E. Ramsdell, NYC Agent in Erie, Pa., in a talk before the Freight Agents ton-mileage, and detailed equipment The Central has added two new ex• Association of that city just prior to data. The author has prepared an add• cursion runs to its summer passenger his retirement after 33 years of service ed treat for rail enthusiasts with de• schedules. One runs every Sunday with the Central. scriptions of unusual points of interest, from New York to Bear Mountain, Mr. Ramsdell told his audience that and personality sketches.

May, 1952 Page 3 NEW HOPPER CARS, DUE FOR ACTION IN NYC FREIGHT TRAINS, ARE PULLED OUT OF DESPATCH SHOPS, CENTRAL'S CAR-BUILDING SUBSIDIARY Cars for the Central's Freight Fleet

CARRYING most of the nation's freight, the railroads NYC's own car-building subsidiary, Despatch Shops, Inc., must keep up a steady program of buying new freight located at East Rochester, N. Y. cars of all types to replace older cars as they wear out. Building freight cars is a big operation and Despatch They also must buy spare parts so that cars on hand can is organized on a correspondingly big scale. The shops be kept in good running order. spread out over a 60-acre area and can turn out anything The New York Central System acquired 7,707 new in the freight car line, from completed cars to extra box freight cars during 1951 to further equip itself to meet the car door handles and the hundreds of spare parts that goods-carrying needs of the nation's defense economy. NYC car shops must keep on hand for repair and re• They cost an average of $6,000 apiece. Orders not yet placement purposes. filled at the end of the year totaled about 15,000 more cars. Each of the plant's two main assembly aisles can pro• One of the Central's chief sources of freight cars is duce 17 finished cars a day. The aisles are 75 feet wide

MODEL CAR helps Engineering department plan produc• GIANT PRESS shapes hoppers which will be installed in cars during tion of new model before actual shop work gets started. assembly process. Machinist Helper Jim Fioco applies lubricant.

Page 4 New York Central Headlight PUNCHING RIVET HOLES in side sheets is this machine, run RIVETING draw bar frame to car underframe is one of early steps by Machinist Bill Hudson (left) and Helper Arnold Noblitt. in assembly. Job is done with help of pneumatic riveting machine. and 800 feet long. One is presently turning out 70-ton are stored. The wood shop has eight tracks, capable of hoppers and the other 50-foot long box cars, specially holding 70 cars at a time. In this shop a great deal of major fitted to carry automobiles. repair work is done on older cars that have wood sections, Separate departments make the component parts that which wear out faster than steel. go into the new cars. Whole sections of cars — under• Final job on a car is the painting. The paint shop at names, sides, ends, roofs—are sub-assembled in other Despatch, with a 70-car capacity, sprays the paint on parts of the plant, then moved on mobile cranes into the with guns powered by air compressors. The paint shop main assembly department. There, amid the steady rat- also stencils identifying marks on cars before they are tat-tat of riveting machines and the flash of welders' delivered to the railroad. torches, freight cars are put together in a routine series All machines and power tools at Despatch Shops are of steps. run by electricity or compressed air—even the drop forge After the basic assembly, cars with wooden parts, like hammers, which used to be powered by steam. The only flooring or interior walls, are moved to the wood erection steam now used in Despatch Shops is in the building shop, where thousands of board feet of kiln-dried lumber heating plant.

UP GOES underframe of hopper car. Mobile crane, taking signals from FINAL TOUCH for new cars is spray paint job. Car Night Foreman Paul Bird, will move it into position for next operation. markings, including date built, are stencilled on.

May, 1952 Paqe 5 Centralines Railroad Quiz Try your hand at these railroad questions. Check one of the four answers suggested NYC's General Attorney in Detroit, George H. Wyatt, has below each question, then compare your been elected president of the Michigan Railroad Lawyers answers with those on page 12. Association for 1952. Joseph C. Nelson, NYC Attorney at Detroit, has been named secretary of same 1. About how much territory is covered in the longest group . . . Richard M. Zwolenik, Motor non-stop passenger run made by a railroad in Truck Operator at Linndale, O., Stores the U. S.? department before entering Army, is on a. 350 miles c. 170 miles duty in Korea . . . Charles Gorey, NYC b. 200 miles d. 290 miles Clerk in New York, has entered the Army. His father, T. J. Gorey, is in Gen• 2. What is the prescribed coupling speed in switch• eral Freight Traffic Department . . . John ing freight cars? M. White, son of NYC Agent at Rosendale, a. 8 mph c. 4 mph N. Y., joined Marines and is now in train• b. 12 mph d. 10 mph ing at Parris Island, S. C. . . . F. G. Love, MR. WYATT Assistant to Vice President, Operations 3. In 1951, net income, or profit, for the Central and Maintenance, who heads NYC Property Protection and amounted to $14,718,720. What percentage is this Freight Claim Departments, was guest speaker at spring of total money taken in? meeting of Providence, R. I., Traffic Club in connection with a. 6% c. 1.8% "Perfect Shipping Month" . . . Honesty paid off for 17-year- b. 4.3% d. 2.5% old son of John Toth, Stores department of Indiana Harbor Belt at Gibson, Ind. John, Jr., found wallet containing $32, 4. What railroad climbs 15,817 feet above sea level, lost by man from Hammond, Ind. Returning wallet, he was the highest point reached by rail? rewarded with $20. a. Chesapeake Western c. Comargo & Western b.. Bangor & Aroostook d. Antofagasta & Bolivia Alert Fireman Fred H. Delorey spotted obstruction on op• posite track as his train passed Newton, Mass. He notified New• 5. NYC uses a "fragrant" hot box alarm that is recog• ton police from train's next stop and 10-foot iron bar was nized by even the most undiscriminating nose. removed in time to prevent mishap . . . Thoughtful citizens What chemical is used to furnish the odor? Lawrence Compton of Nakomis, Ill., and David Orange, Peters• a. Ether ethyl c. Ethyl mercaptan burg, Ill., notified NYC of object on tracks and received letters b. Ethyl propane d. Ethylene of appreciation from Superintendent J. D. King for their help in maintaining railroad safety . . . Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo 6. Where on the railroad could you find a "weak- train made emergency stop near Hamilton, Ont., while Con• creeper?" ductor Earl Garrity plunged into muddy pond near tracks to a. Freight station c. Roundhouse pull out drowning 5-year-old boy. Engineman Alex King ap• b. Under the rail d. In the caboose plied artificial respiration until arrival of rescue crew; but child, unfortunately, did not recover ... A chapter of the 7. What does "idler car" mean to railroad men? St. George Association has been formed among NYC em• a. Car to help carry c. Car waiting to be ployes in New York. NYC men elected officers are Andrew projecting load loaded Schuttinger, president; John L. Rapp, vice president; Herbert b. Car awaiting repairs d. Car carrying deadhead Rogers, secretary; Walter K. Ulrich, treasurer; and L. B. Mc- Millen, delegate to group's national committee. Association's 8. What, on the railroads, is a "butterfly?" theme: "Everyday Religion in a Workaday World." a. Ceiling fan c. Weakened spike b. Note tossed from d. Refrigerator car J. H. Williams, Supervisory Chef in NYC Dining Car de• train equipment partment, represented NYC at recent annual Nutrition In• stitute-Food Show at Tuskegee Institute, 9. What is a shoo-fly track? Ala., where students observe culinary a. Temporary track c. Track under repair techniques of recogized experts. He dem• b. Mountain pass d. Siding onstrated NYC recipes and serving meth• ods . . . Albert Turtoro has been elected 10. At some points, they call it a "greyhound"; at Commander of F. E. Williamson Post of others, a "black cat." What is this item of railroad Veterans of Foreign Wars. Other new equipment? officers are John McManmon, Peter Kier- a. Covered hopper car c. Way freight nan, Michael Campbell, and Joseph Bian- b. Work train d. Steam crane cardi. All members of the post are NYC employes . . . Russell T. Martin, General MR. TURTORO Agent, NYC Passenger department in New Orleans, has been elected president of New Orleans chapter of Skal International, made up of members of travel industry . . . M. B. Bartels, NYC General Agent in Terre Haute, Ind., has been named president of the Terre Haute Transportation Club . . . When the Wabash River recently threatened to flood Mt. Carmel and Carmi, Ill., NYC made empty box cars available as temporary shelters for families whose homes were endangered. One family spent several days in a car while their home was repaired . . . Holiday spirit filled a Central train recently when 19 first grade pupils of Delaware, O., school took their first train trip with their teacher. Trip was arranged by E. J. Snedeker, NYC Ticket Agent at Delaware. "LET'S BLOW THE HORN REAL LOUD."

Page 6 New York Central Headlight TALKING IT OVER around conference table are W. C. Sniffer (standing) and from his right, K. O. Jensen, Glenn Wright, John Wukovitz, E. J. Ryan, Carl Hovland, Frank Kamper, F. J. Steele, T. J. Boyd, T. Clifford, Paul Norville, A. A. Yentsch. Conference Groups Talk It Over

HE two men work in different yards. learning about the company's financial T As part of their jobs they talk with situation, the competition the System each other on the phone nearly every faces, the effects these things have on the day, but until recently they'd never met jobs of individual employes. Back on the face to face. "Now that we know each job in their own departments, they're other it seems we can get more done, and able to pass the information along to quicker," one of them remarked not long other employes. As a result everybody ago. "Since we know something of each has a better idea of "what's what." other's problems, we work together bet• Meetings are held once every three ter." The other agreed heartily. weeks, with 15 to 20 men in each group. What brought them together and gave The Central, Indiana Harbor Belt, and them a chance to exchange ideas was a Chicago River & Indiana are all included series of meetings which supervisors on in the program. Men from each of the the Central's lines in the Chicago area roads serve as discussion leaders in the have been attending for the past few meetings; they were trained for the as• months. The case of the two men on the signment by the Industrial Relations telephone is only one of many interesting Center of the University of Chicago, stories growing out of these get- which is helping the Central with the togethers, the first purpose of which is to program. Charts and posters help get give System supervisors more informa• points across, as do the subject outlines tion about conditions in the railroad which each participant receives. industry generally and on their own line A similar program of meetings has in particular. been started at Toledo, and plans have In the sessions, yardmasters, road been drawn up for launching one at foremen of engines, freight house and Buffalo and one at Syracuse, with Cor• shop foremen and other supervisors are nell University cooperating.

GOING OVER new leaders manual are GROUP LEADER Sniffer (standing) discusses CHARTS with concise pictures of eco• R. H. McGraw, General Manager, I.H.B. chart with group member John Bubel, Assist• nomic lessons help group leaders illus• and C.R.&L; N. J. Melas, U. of Chicago. ant Foreman of Polk Street Freight House. trate points and draw out discussion.

May, 1952 Page 7 HEADLIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

Visiting First Gift

. . . New York for the first time, this group of high school students from Lebanon. Ind., views ... to campaign in Grand Central Terminal to raise funds for American famous ceiling of Grand Central Terminal. They were accompanied by Margaret Martin (stand• Cancer Society was made by screen star Yvonne de Carlo. Looking on are ing behind white suitcase), a Lebanon high school teacher. Miss Martin is the daughter of the Mrs. Edward F. Hennessy, Chairman of the New York City fund campaign, NYC's Agent in Lebanon, W. D. Martin. She arranged tour for 19 students, including a visit and NYC President, Gustav Metzman. Money was collected by a model Photo by Wide World to Indianapolis, two days in New York City and a stop-over at Niagara Falls on the way home. train with dump cars that dumped the money into a central collection box. Smiling

. . . farewell through the window of their car on a Central train in Grand Central Terminal, these Metropolitan Opera stars left New York via NYC to start their annual nationwide spring tour after the close of the regular winter opera season. From left to right the singers are Lucine Amara, soprano; Paula Lenchner, soprano; Paul Franke, tenor; Jean Madeira, contralto; and Herta Glaz, contralto.

Extra Long Eager Radio Man Painting

. . . flatcar was specially designed by New York Central equipment engineers ... to learn about trains, these school children from Buffalo . . . Jerry Forbes has taken over ... is gift of people of Italy to NYC for road's part in helping run to transport large and heavy shipments of electrical equipment manufactured by public schools are conducted on tour of station and equipment NYC's morning radio show in Spring• Friendship Train which collected gifts several years ago for western the General Electric Company. Supported by 16 wheels, the car is 67 1/2 feet long, by C. F. Barth, Central Passenger Representative. Nearly 1,000 field, Mass. Jerry (right) gets low- Europe. Ralph Freccia (left), General Chairman, Brotherhood of weighs 160,000 pounds, and can carry a load of 340,000 pounds. Its dropped cen• youngsters from Buffalo schools tour Central facilities every down on railroading from Robert D. Maintenance of Way Employes, born in Italy, examines it with L. ter permits loads like this giant transformer to clear tunnels and low bridges. year, get inside view of what it takes to make a railroad run. Fuller, Central's Passenger Agent. W. Horning, NYC Vice President, Personnel & Public Relations.

Page 8 New York Central Headlight May, 1952 Page 9 Two-way Phone System Now Used to Check Freight

At its freight house in Springfield, Mass, the Central has set up a new two-way communications system to streamline the work of routing LCL shipments to the right cars, trucks, or platforms. Freight checkers—the men who direct the unloading and placement of shipments arriving at the house—work in soundproof booths that have been set up inside the build• ing. In each booth is a gadget that looks like a small tele• phone switchboard, with five keys and corresponding signal lights. Each of the keys controls a line to a separate loading platform position. On the platform, outlets have been installed so that freight handlers can plug in portable two-way talk-back loudspeakers. When a crew start to work a car or truck, they simply hang up the speaker and they're in touch with a checker. From his booth, where he has waybills and other papers pertaining to the load, the checker gives instructions as to where each package goes.

SOUND-PROOF BOOTHS with two-way telephone system Before this system was developed, checkers worked on enable LCL checkers to handle unloading of five cars at once. the platform as cars were unloaded.

TRUCKS carrying Central LCL freight are also unloaded with TWO-WAY SPEAKER, hung in car and plugged in on platform, this new two-way telephone system at Springfield, Mass. gives direct link to office. Button beneath signals checker.

NYC Brakeman Highballing His Way Through College

Raising his eyebrows, the dean asked the student across his desk to repeat his excuse for cutting a class in American Literature. The student said simply, "I had to take a dead-head milk run back upstate." A week earlier he had given a similar explanation after missing a class in the Philosophy of History. Strange as they sounded in a college classroom, the excuses were accepted because William A. Armond, 28-year old history major at Long Island University in Brooklyn, N. Y., maintains a 97 aver• age in his studies while working full- time as an NYC Brakeman. He lives in Ossining, N.Y., with his wife and two daughters. The 30-mile trip each way between Ossining and Grand Central Terminal, where he re• ceives his railroad assignments, gives him a good chance to do a lot of study• ing. He leaves his college work behind Photo by Wide World him, though, when he rolls out of G.C.T. WEARING UNIFORM, Brakeman William Armond is all set for dash to Grand Central on a Hudson Division passenger train. Terminal and NYC passenger run right after this class at Long Island University.

Page 10 New York Central Headlight SPEEDING along the banks of the Hudson River, a newly styled NEWEST LOOK in Central diesels is displayed by this newly Fairbanks-Morse diesel hauls the Central's Empire State Express. designed Baldwin locomotive, now running in freight service. New Faces Appear in Growing Diesel Fleet

EW faces have appeared recently at the head-ends of N some Central trains. Two of the manufacturers from whom NYC buys diesel locomotives have adopted new de• signs for their units. The newest profiles—which will be seen in increasing number as the Central continues large-scale dieselization— belong to the Fairbanks-Morse road passenger model and the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton freight number. The chief way of telling one steam locomotive from another is by wheel arrangement. With diesels, the prin• cipal method of telling them apart is by the shape of the front of the "A" unit, the one with the cab. New York Central uses four makes of diesels in road service. They are Electro-Motive, American Locomotive (Alco), Fairbanks-Morse, and Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton. Each has its own distinctive "nose" and can easily be iden• tified by it. Road passenger units are painted gray with white stripes; freight units are black with white striping. The NYC oval emblem is stenciled under the headlight on both in bright red with white letters. Studying the sketches on this page should make it simple for you to pick out the various makes of road diesel loco• AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE motives now running on the New York Central. BALDWIN-LIMA-HAMILTON

Central Gets Clinton Model

An exact small-scale replica of the DeWitt Clinton, first train to operate in New York State, has been lent to the Central for display purposes by H. D. Moore, of Utica, N. Y., son of the builder of the model. The DeWitt Clinton was operated on the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad, first of the many small railroads that finally were merged into the New York Central. The model was built by the late Henry B. Moore of Utica. Mr. Moore was a goldsmith by trade who often fashioned models of ships in gold and silver. A man of many interests, he also was head of a brick company and president of a brewery. For many years his chief hobby was making violins. In 1933 Mr. Moore decided to build a scale model of the DeWitt Clinton and spent 18 months in research before starting work on the model. He collected 16 pounds of draw• ings and other papers on the subject. The model of the DeWitt Clinton is complete in every de• tail. All of the minute parts were hand-fashioned by Mr. DE WITT CLINTON model, lent to NYC for display purposes, is Moore and he decorated it in the colors of the original train. inspected by Helen Vaream of Central's Personnel department.

May, 1952 Page 11 Move Central Men Up to New Posts

M. R. Garrison has been named Gen• eral Freight Traffic Manager for the Central and H. D. Vail has been ap• pointed Freight Traffic Manager at New York, in the latest appointments of Cen• tral men to new posts. Mr. Garrison succeeds Arthur E. Bay- lis, who was recently appointed Assist• ant Vice President of Freight Traffic, and is, in turn, succeeded by Mr. Vail. Mr. Garrison joined the Central in 1906 as a Clerk at Weehawken, N. J. He be• came Freight Traffic Manager in 1951. Mr. Vail became a Central employe in Pawling, N. Y., in 1911, as a Freight Clerk. In 1951 he became Assistant Freight Traffic Manager, the post he held until his latest promotion. Other recent appointments include Archibald D. Duffle, who succeeds Photo by Toledo Blade Thomas J. Jaynes, recently deceased, F. R. CLARKE (left) and R. B. Ross playing chess in the recreation room of the new as Designing Engineer, with headquar• Y.M.C.A. building erected by the Central for employes at Stanley Yard, Toledo, O. ters at New York. At West Albany, G. M. Schmidbauer has started duty as Superintendent of New 'Y' Building Opened in Toledo the Car Shop, replacing C. H. Mendler, Central employes laying over at Stan• Edward A. Dudley, formerly General retired. ley Yard, Toledo, O., as well as those Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in Council New Assistant Master Mechanic at assigned there, are enjoying the facilities Bluffs, Ia., has been named to manage Detroit is E. H. Wright. of the new Y.M.C.A. building, opened the affairs of the Stanley Yard Y.M.C.A. George W. Childers has become last month. Mr. Dudley succeeds James R. Win- General Coal Freight Agent, with head• Built by the Central at a cost of $300,- terhalter, who is joining the transporta• quarters at Cincinnati. 000, the new "Y" contains 86 individual tion department of the Y.M.C.A. Na• Appointments to Transportation In• sleeping rooms and a restaurant with a tional Council. spector include T. D. Bickham, stationed seating capacity of 44 persons. The new Y.M.C.A. building was con• at Gibson, Ind., and J. E. Egan Jr. at Other conveniences in the new build• structed as part of a $2,000,000 project at Syracuse, N. Y. ing include locker room facilities for 84 Stanley Yard which has made the yard E. J. Cowin has been appointed Spe• men and an assembly room capable of one of the Central's major diesel loco• cial Agent, Operating department, with accommodating 120 people. motive servicing points. headquarters at Youngstown, O. Newly named Transportation In• spector, Lines West, Robert I. Geary Children on Romp with will be stationed at Cleveland. John G. Beldham has been named Favorite Railroader Safety Agent of the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway. Brakeman J. B. Henderson is known as "the kiddies' friend" all along the Central's Grand Rapids branch, from Jackson to Grand Rapids, Mich. Quiz Answers In the kindergarten of the Galewood School in Charlotte, Mich., the young• Check your choices with the answers sters have standing permission to run to given below. If you answered all 10 the window to wave to him and other correctly, you're top notch; 6 to 9, you're crew members when their train passes doing swell; 1 to 5, you should try only 40 feet from the school. harder; none, you should try. Mr. Henderson's following started when he appeared dressed as Santa 1. d (290 miles, between Carlin and Claus on a coach platform last Christmas Sparks, Nev., on the Southern while the train passed the school. Pacific.) Recently the 59 children in the Char• 2. c (4 mph) lotte kindergarten decided to honor their 3. c (1.8%) friend by naming a special day as "J. B. 4. d (Antofagasta & Bolivia) Henderson Day." To celebrate it, they 5. c (Ethyl mercaptan) joined their favorite railroader on his 6. b (Under the rail: the term refers train. For many it was their first train to a weakened anti-creeper, a trip. device to prevent rail slippage) They watched Mr. Henderson closely 7. a (Car to help carry projecting throughout the trip, anxious to learn load) about railroading. He, in turn, took great Photo by Jackson Citizen-Patriot 8. b (Note tossed from train) pains to explain his duties to them and, HAPPY CHILDREN boarding train for out• 9. a (Temporary track) mostly, to see that they had a good time. ing get helping hand from J. B. Henderson. 10. a (Covered hopper car)

Page 12 New York Central Headlight GREETING Superintendent L. E. Pangburn at Albany Safety TALENTED Central employes and the children of NYC employes Rally were Bette Quinn (center) and Christine Fox. Stenog• took part in show produced for Boston Safety Rally. Profes• raphers in Stores department, they were on show committee. sional-looking sets were designed, built by Carl Hammerle. Rallies Draw Crowds at Boston and Albany

"Family Night" safety rallies, spon• ance of safety precautions not only at sored by the Central's Safety depart• work, but at home, while driving or ment, continue to draw huge crowds walking—everywhere. wherever they are held. The two most In Boston, 600 Central people gath• recent such affairs were in Albany, ered at Boys Latin High School for a N. Y., and Boston. The purpose of the safety rally. rallies is to make NYC employes and Mr. Mumford also addressed the Bos• their families safety-conscious. ton meeting. Other speakers were J. F. A record crowd of 1,300 Central men, Nash, General Manager of the B.&A., women and children turned out for the and W. W. Treleaven, B.&A. Superin• Albany party, held in the Albany High tendent. The talks given by these men School auditorium. at the Boston rally also stressed the im• Guest of honor was Erastus Corning portance of observing safety rules at all II, Mayor of Albany, whose great• times and in all places, at work and at grandfather was the first president of play. the original New York Central Railroad In each city the program was ar• Company. Mayor Corning, NYC Super• ranged by the local safety committee. intendent L. E. Pangburn, and Safety Groups of talented Central employes Superintendent D. E. Mumford ad• and children of employes produced skits MUSICAL SPOONS are demonstrated by dressed the group. The speakers all and vaudeville reviews which climaxed Ed Theriaulp (left) to B. & A. General stressed the importance of close observ• the parties. Manager, J. F. Nash, at Boston Rally.

Rail Blood Bank Opened

In two days last month, 1,185 New York Central and Pullman Company employes in the New York area gave a total of 977 pints of blood to start a railroad employes' blood bank. Half of the precious pints were earmarked for use by the armed forces in Korea. The rest were placed in the Red Cross blood bank in New York. NYC and Pullman employes who gave blood, or who offered to do so but were turned down for physical reasons after medical examination, may call on the bank in time of need for themselves or close relatives and withdraw a pint or more of blood from the railroad em• ployes' account. Railroaders who did not offer to donate blood may also obtain aid from the railroad employes' blood account, but for themselves only. Additional donations may be made at any time at regular Red Cross donor centers and credited to the railroad account. Chairman of the drive to enlist railroaders as blood donors was W. F. Place, NYC Vice President, Finance. E. N. Tarald- sen, associate executive director of the Grand Central Branch of the Y.M.C.A., acted as campaign director. WAITING to donate blood at railroad employes' blood bank are Red Cross administrator Dr. William M. Markel, in a letter (from left) William Couch, William Donnelly, and Marilyn of appreciation to Mr. Place, described the Central-Pullman Caterson, as Charles Curtis is examined by Dr. J. Brandeleone. blood program as "an outstanding achievement."

May, 1952 Page 13 J. D. CARKHUFF (LEFT) AND MR. DURKIN MR. VANDIVORT (LEFT) AND MR. TUCKER

FROM LEFT, MISS KIRCHNER, MR. TIRMENSTEIN, MR. CLINTON MR. YOUNG (LEFT) AND MR. GARLING Gold Passes Reward Long NYC Service

Seven more Central men have been tendent Leroy Stecker. Service, and H. M. Tirmenstein, Ass't honored with presentation of the gold William J. Delorey, Conductor, Boston Superintendent, made award. pass, bestowed in recognition of a half- & Albany. James S. Tucker, Section Foreman, century of service. They are: A. F. Durkin, Chief Train Dispatcher, New Castle, Pa. R. E. Vandivort, En• William H. Clifford, Leading Signal Grand Central Terminal, New York, gineer, Maintenance of Way, made the Maintainer on the Boston & Albany. who has held this post since 1916. presentation. Albion L. Cummings, Engineer, Bos• Leota G. Kirchner, Reclamation Clerk K. A. Young, Freight Agent, Pittsfield, ton & Albany, who received the life• in the Car Service department, Buffalo. Mass., to whom the award was given time award from Assistant Superin• M. R. Clinton, Superintendent, Car by Trainmaster L. T. Garling.

dropped their round-trip rail reserva• sandwiches for a dinnerless passenger tions to the west coast and booked plane rushing to board a dinerless train. Pats on the Back space when the strike began, moved Donald J. Pease, Relief Assistant quickly when word came the stoppage Chief Dispatcher at Toledo; M. J. Sulli• was to end the same day the passengers van, Chief Dispatcher, and D. R. Powers, Heavy loss of revenue, hurting all planned to fly. They immediately got Stationmaster, at Syracuse, N. Y.; Con• NYC employes, resulted when the Cen• their customers new rail reservations. ductor H. Whipple of the New England tral was picked as target for a strike Result: the Central recaptured some States; and several unidentified Centra] by three national unions of operating lost business, and the passengers, who men, for speedily relaying a death employes in March. much preferred to go by train, were notification to a passenger en route and The public was hurt, too, by the in• so delighted they wrote the Central to making prompt arrangements for his terruption of service; but in a number show their appreciation. return trip home. of cases quick thinking and action by Other NYC people commended in P. C. Brown, Waiter; Mary Beth Central ticket sellers helped improve letters recently received by the Central Duggan, Passenger Representative; Tom the bad situation. include: Kirkland, Bartender; Dudley Washing• Ticket Agent W. E. Rogers and D. J. Devlin, Ticket Agent at Trinity ton, Porter, on the Empire State Express, Ticket Clerk J. M. Bryk, at Yonkers, Place station, Boston, who dashed to a for attention to a 10-year-old miss mak• N. Y., knowing a party of four had nearby restaurant to get coffee and ing her first unaccompanied train trip.

Page 14 New York Central Headlight Monthly Roll Shows Recent NYC Retirements

Fisher, Frederick A., General Following is a list of New Foreman, Pittsburgh 42 7 York Central employes who Flood, Stephen C, Train Dis• patcher, Bay City, Mich. 41 9 have retired from active serv• Fox, Charles H., Locomotive En• ice recently. The figures to the gineer, Toledo Division 41 8 Fravey, Albert H., Machinist right of each name indicate Helper, Elkhart, Ind. 39 8 Freligh, Claud H., Wheelman. the years and months of serv• New York City 33 1 ice spent with the Central. Gates, Grover F., Brakeman, Ohio Division 44 6 Geovaras, Harry C Section La• Anderson, Charles G., Section borer, New Castle, Pa. 14 11 Foreman, Lock Haven, Pa. 43 11 Gilkison, Lue E„ Agent-Tele• Andrews. Roger W., Assistant to grapher, Mattoon, Ill. 44 1 Assistant General Manager, Girardin, Louis E., Cook, Boston, Cleveland 45 10 Mass. 18 7 Anstett, Frank L.. Telegrapher, Gosnell, Clyde A., Brakeman, Saginaw, Mich. 48 5 Columbus, O. 22 11 Appel, Matthew, Machinist, Gozdowski, George, Car Inspec• Rensselaer. N. Y. 42 9 tor, Suspension Bridge, N. Y. 33 9 Bassler, Charles, Trucker, Utica, Groesbeck, James W.. Car In• N. Y. 30 2 spector & Repairer. Syracuse, Beard. Herby u., Yardmaster, N. Y. 32 0 Louisville. Ky. 38 9 Hahn, Edwin C, Baggage Agent, Belrlore. Frank. Crossing Watch• Weehawken, N. J. 42 8 man, Cleveland 37 1 Headley, Lloyd W., Locomotive Bishop. Arthur H., Waiter, Chi• Engineer, Rochester Division 29 1 cago 44 3 Heustis, Scott C, Assistant Sig• Black. Clyde C, Locomotive En• nal Maintainer, Cincinnati 35 9 gineer. Ohio Central Division 41 7 Hilbert, Fred, Locomotive Engi• SENDOFF PARTY was held in Weehawken, N.J., for Captain C. Boyer. Charles A., Telegrapher, neer, Western Division 40 3 Beaver Falls, Pa. 34 11 Hobson, Bert, Yard Clerk. Elk• W. Degen of Marine department. From left, A. W. Dietrich, Boyer. Matilda C, Stenographer, hart, Ind. 35 0 F. B. Hank, Captain Degen, C. J. Hennig, and H. B. Tucker. Pittsburgh 34 7 Hodges, Oakley, Section Laborer, Carcich. Rocco. Floatman, Wee• Ogden, Ill. 27 11 hawken. N. J. 27 2 Hood, Emery W.. Conductor, Carpentier. James Q., Crossing Western Division 35 7 Minn. 31 8 Stetter, Charles, Oiler, Weehaw• Watchman. Valhalla, N. Y. 20 3 Hudson, Charles C, Assistant Murray, John I., Locomotive En• ken, N. J. 29 7 Carr, Charles E., Switchman, Agent, Toledo, O. 48 2 gineer, McKees Rocks, Pa. 53 1 Stier, Fred A., Section Foreman, Detroit 27 4 Hummer, Leon I., Telegrapher, Neumann, John B., Car Inspec• Cincinnati 34 11 Castrilla, Michele, Section Fore• North Findlay, O. 26 3 tor & Repairer, Chicago 46 3 Strandberg, John, Stationary En• man, Conneaut. O. 38 4 Hunt, Reuben G., Machinist, Noonan, James P., Sheet Metal gineer, Linndale, O. 32 3 Cinelli, Carmen. Section Laborer, West Albany, N. Y. 39 4 Worker, Rensselaer, N. Y. 31 7 Strother, Joseph E., Signal Main• Lyons, N. Y. 29 8 Hunter, William F.. Chief of Northrup, Scott, Locomotive En• tainer, Greencastle, Ind. 33 2 Cody. Roy A.. Machinist Helper, Reclaim Department, Buffalo 47 2 gineer, Indiana Division 38 9 Stuart, Fred C, Car Repairer, Niles, Mich. 26 0 Johnson, Homer P., Locomotive O'Brien, David M., Leading Sig• Boston, Mass. 35 3 Copeland. John E., Bartender, Engineer, Toledo Division 41 8 nal Maintainer, Springfield, Swift, John J., Locomotive En• New York City 35 1 Jones, Frederick H., Clerk, New Mass. 52 6 gineer, Syracuse Division 46 0 Cox, Ora A.. Locomotive Engi• York City 34 2 Ogden, Russell W., Passenger Sylvester, Ernest, Section Fore• neer, Illinois Division 36 3 Kelley, DeWitt S., Agent, Gar• Carman, Buffalo 40 10 man, Watertown, N. Y. 54 6 Cushman, Ernest A., Section rison, N. Y. 34 10 Owen, Hugh R., Assistant to Szezpaniak, Vincent, Laborer, Laborer, St. Thomas, Ont. 22 0 Kuhlman, Fred L., Conductor, Auditor, Passenger Accounts, McKees Rocks, Pa. 15 4 Darpini, Patsy, Laborer, Utica, Toledo Division 49 3 Detroit 45 5 Tauroney, Donato, Section Fore• N. Y. 32 1 Larizzo, Domenick, Laborer, Elk• Papero, Donate Trucker, Buffalo 33 2 man, St. Lawrence Division 57 9 Davern, Walter T., Clerk, Buf• hart, Ind. 27 9 Peterson, Carl L., Machinist Taylor, George A., Locomotive falo 33 9 Leech, Lester N., Locomotive En• Clearfield, Pa. 39 2 Engineer, Indiana Division. 44 3 DeFeaster, Purley D., Bartender, gineer, Albany Division 43 11 Pierce, Floyd A., Telegrapher- Thase, John B., Conductor, In• Chicago 31 2 Lidke, Edward G., Conductor, Leverman, Jackson, Mich. 33 1 diana Division 46 1 Degen, Charles W., Supervisor of Western Division 42 8 Pociwatz, Adolph, Car Repairer, Thompson, Fred R., Car Inspec• Operations. New York City 31 10 Livingston, Benjamin, Machinist, East Chicago, Ind. 30 6 tor & Repairer, Albany, N. Y. 43 5 Densmore, Angues A., Black• Rensselaer, N. Y. 36 11 Pustare, Rudolph P., Car In• Thompson, James J.. Conductor. smith Helper. Jackson, Mich. 32 5 Lockwood, William J., Machinist spector & Repairer, Notting• Hudson Division 38 11 DePalma, Joseph, Boilermaker Helper, Harmon, N. Y. 24 3 ham, O. 31 4 Tillman, Howard V., Conductor. Helper, DeWitt, N. Y. 27 9 Longbottom, Tom, Ticket Agent, Raczkowski, Vincent E., Insped- Hudson Division 29 3 Dillabough, George L., Hostler, Framingham, Mass. 38 6 tor & Repairer, East Chicago, Timmers, George F., Conductor, Watertown, N. Y. 38 7 McCoy, James A., Sheet Metal Ill. 25 5 Cincinnati 43 4 Doney, Floyd F., Locomotive En• Worker Helper, Rensselaer, Raichle, Charles E., Store• Tinsley, Joseph B., Car Cleaner. gineer, Michigan Division 41 2 N. Y. 32 4 keeper, Rochester, N. Y. 40 5 New York City 34 8 Doyle, Timothy B., Locomotive McGinnis, James, Locomotive Raiser, William N., Conductor, Thornton Charles S., Engine Engineer, Western Division 28 6 Engineer, Hudson Division 45 2 Hudson Division 46 8 Wiper, Mattoon, Ill. 33 4 Eder, Antone, Coach Repairer, McGough, Arvel N., Locomotive Rakauskas, George, Machinist Thorpe, Forrest L.. Foreman. Beech Grove, Ind. 35 6 Engineer, Erie Division 31 9 Helper, Collinwood, O. 26 2 West Albany, N. Y. 32 5 Ehrhart, William J., Lamp Room McIlvain, William, Locomotive Ramsdell, George E., Freight Troxel, Jefferson L., Crossing Attendant, Pittsburgh 31 10 Engineer, Erie Division 38 7 Agent, Erie, Pa. 33 10 Watchman, Louisville, Ky. 28 0 Eimer, Christian, Cable Splicer, Mcintosh, William, Stationary Reese, Emmitt B., Locomotive Tyler, Robert E., Locomotive New York City 41 11 Engineer, Electric Division 25 3 Engineer, Peoria & Eastern 48 3 Engineer, Illinois Division 44 3 Ellis, Charles J., Baggageman, Macone, Antonio, Section La• Reinhart, Charles Y., Train Dis• Vance, Floyd H., Carpenter, South Bend, Ind. 31 6 borer, Boston & Albany 16 10 patcher, New York City 43 11 Bellefontaine, O. 31 6 Erwin, Clifford M., Telegrapher, Mahoney, James P., Assistant Richardson, Bert H., Painter, Meigs, O. 25 6 Vogel, Leo E., Carpenter. Fair- Stationmaster, New York City 35 8 Utica, N. Y. 36 5 born, O. 27 4 Falkenstein, Oscar, Signal Super• Mazzoli, Enrico, Section Laborer, visor, Erie, Pa. 33 6 Ripley, John B., Telegrapher- Voigt, Harry V.. Laborer. Kings• East Syracuse, N. Y. 21 10 Towerman, Hinsdale, Mass. 42 2 ton, N. Y. 29 4 Farr, Wheeler R., Blacksmith, Merritt, George T.. Switchtender, Rowland, Lewis D., Telegrapher, Rochester, N. Y. 33 5 Vosburgh, Isaiah. Bridges & Collinwood, O. 41 10 Detroit 50 11 Buildings Supervisor, Pough• Fay, Thomas M., Conductor, To• Mildren, Arthur J., Locomotive Rundquist, Carl J., Assistant ledo Division 50 7 keepsie, N. Y. 50 9 Engineer, Canada Division 46 9 General Foreman, Gibson, Ind. 44 10 Waffle, Grover C Agent, Fick, Charles N., Laborer, Buf• Moyer, Louis J., Traveling falo 24 6 Rutley, John A., Acting Fore• Goshen, Ind. 41 7 Freight Agent, Minneapolis, man, Malone, N. Y. 31 8 Wainwright, Thomas C, Clerk, Sabin, Harry, Assistant Chief Pittsburgh 29 4 Train Dispatcher, Chicago 44 8 Wake, John T., Trucker, Roch• Screes, Clarence R., Blacksmith, ester, N. Y. 33 2 Beech Grove, Ind. 50 6 Waller, Frank G., General Yard- Seamans, George A., Agent, master, Louisville, Ky. 40 4 Watertown, N. Y. 50 7 Weaver, William H., Mason. Searle, Clayton F., Locomotive St. Lawrence Division 41 6 Engineer, Rochester Division 45 1 Webb. Forest J., Locomotive Seitz, George E., Examiner. Engineer, Illinois Division 39 11 Buffalo 37 0 Whitehead, Walter, Section La• Shea, Thomas B., Train Dis• borer, Electric Division 22 7 patcher, Cleveland 47 10 Wiggins, Elza L., Car Inspector, Shevlin, Peter F., Machinist Stanley, O. 34 5 Helper, East Buffalo, N. Y. 32 10 Williams, Edwin E., Section La• borer, Watertown, N. Y. 41 0 Skuzinskas, Sebastian, Mill Ma• Wolfe, Raymond C, Locomotive chine Operator, Linndale, O. 30 1 Engineer, Syracuse Division 34 3 Slavicek, Joseph F., Material Yacco, Dominick, Stationary Carrier, McKees Rocks, Pa. 23 2 Fireman, Utica, N. Y. 25 11 Smith, Temple D., Telegrapher, Yelope, John, Journal Box Indianapolis 39 7 Packer, Niles, Mich. 26 11 Snyder, Fred A., Carpenter, Yoder, Calvin R., Traveling Jersey Shore, Pa. 29 4 Storekeeper, Collinwood, O. 42 1 Spencer, Stanley, Locomotive En• Zagaeski, Walter, Painter, West RECENTLY RETIRED Central men (left to right): Bert Hobson, gineer, Erie Division 45 1 Albany, N. Y. 33 6 Staniec, Alexander, Car Inspec• Zinsmaster, Oddie O., Supervisor Elkhart, Ind.; E. D. Balph, Pittsburgh; Fred Ewald, New York. tor, Syracuse, N. Y 38 4 of Track. Van Wert, O. 46 6

May, 1952 Page 15 let's Know the Facts The Third Party

Vol. 13 May, 1952 No. 5 Another in a Series by Gustav Metzman, President- Published monthly by the Public Relations Depart• ment for New York Central System employes and their families in eleven states and two provinces Usually we think of two parties as being in direct contact with the public. They of Canada. Submission of material is invited. Editorial office: Room 1541, 466 Lexington Avenue, involved when a customer buys some• are in the front line of public relations. New York 17. N. Y. Their attitude toward customers helps thing—for instance, when a passenger or EDITOR shape the public's feelings about travel• shipper buys our service. The first party Norman M. Stone is the customer, the buyer; we, the seller, ing by rail. are the second. Unfortunately, a large number of people ASSOCIATE EDITORS Actually, there's also a third party in rate the railroads below the airlines when Harry B. Spurrier Richard C. Marshall the picture, a very important one. The it comes to the attitude shown toward Chicago Cleveland third party is the competitor the customer customers by employes. Quite a few would have people say they don't feel their patronage PHOTOGRAPHERS bought from if he is appreciated when they travel by rail. D. V. Hyde Ed Nowak hadn't bought From ticket window or telephone reser• from us. vation bureau right through to the end road, aren't getting our money's worth We can't afford of the trip, they complain that many out of the expensive modern devices that to lose sight of railroad employes don't seem to care have been built into our passenger cars that third party. whether there are any customers or not. to make them smooth-riding and com• In the case of pas• fortable. senger business, it We All Like to Be Appreciated The importance of smooth handling of may be an air Comments like this, repeated by a num• trains goes back to the old point that the line, a bus com• ber of travelers, bring out an important engineman is an important public rela• pany, or another fact about human nature—one we all tions man for his railroad even though railroad. When know but sometimes need to be reminded he may seldom see customers face to face. the business is of—namely, that we all like to be ap• In a similar way, the men in the Main• freight, it's prob• preciated. If we find that our trade isn't tenance of Way department, though they ably either the welcomed in one place, we take it some• don't deal with our customers personally, trucks or a com• where else. have public relations work to do. The peting railroad, MR. METZMAN The study I have referred to dealt with kind of job they do in maintaining our though in some cases it might be air cargo railroads in general. Whether any of the track helps determine how smooth our service, or water transport, or parcel post. complaints referred to the New York passengers' ride will be. Central specifically, I don't know. How• Sometimes We're the Third ever, if customers don't like indifference Convenience Must Work There's something else we can't afford on another road, it's certain they won't The same is true of the maintenance to forget. We're the second party—the like it any better on ours. men who inspect and repair the many seller—in the transactions with our cus• Actually, if we stop and think for a convenience devices that are part of a tomers. But in a lot of other transactions moment, we'll realize that the people who passenger car's equipment. If they slip we're the third party, the fellow who ride our trains, come to our ticket win• up, with the result that the air condition• might have made the sale but didn't. dows, and call us up on the phone, are ing in a passenger's roomette doesn't work Every time a passenger airplane flies the ones that make it possible for us to right, or a light is out of order, or the between two points on our lines, there are have jobs on the Central and collect our heating controls aren't functioning, or some people aboard who might have pay. The more of them we encourage to something's wrong with the fan, the pas• bought tickets from us instead of our com• come back by showing them they're wel• senger's impression of the railroad is going petitor. Their money might have helped come, the better and more secure our jobs to suffer. He's not going to be satisfied pay Central employes' wages. Why didn't can be. with our service. we get their business? The message which was distributed to Train crews and porters can back up We can find some possible answers to all Central people with their pay checks the maintenance men by promptly re• that question in a recent study of the recently stressed the importance of the porting any item that needs repair. They transportation preferences of a large customer to all railroad employes. As it also can help by doing everything possible number of frequent travelers. Without points out, a company's pay checks are to relieve the passenger of inconvenience going into a lot of statistics, we can find made possible only by the money which —perhaps by switching accommodations— some important points in the results. customers pay for the company's products if an appliance or device gets out of order The study dealt chiefly with the rail• —in our case, freight and passenger serv• during a trip. roads' sleeping-car business, which is the ice. department that airline competition has It will pay all of us to keep that message We Have to Do Something hit hardest. Most of the people ap• some place where we'll see it from time to There's no point in kidding ourselves. proached were open to being sold on time as a further reminder that doing a The airlines have taken a big cut out of either form of transportation, Pullman or good job for our customers is the only way our passenger business. Last year, for the air, depending on which will give them we can make a success of our work. first time, airline travel exceeded Pull• the most of what they want for their man travel on a passenger-mile basis money. Comfort Is Important We can't blame this entirely, or even chiefly, on the greater speed of plane Let's Look at the Complaints An interesting point the study brought out is that railroad sleeping car service travel. The points I've mentioned above The safety and dependability of rail• in most cases isn't competing with plane have had a lot to do with it. They are road travel showed up as impressive fac• travel alone. It's competing with a com• points we can do something about, for• tors to most of the people contacted in bination of plane travel and hotel ac• tunately, because we have to do some• the study. Rather than concentrating on commodations. In other words, the over• thing about them right away if we're the things the public likes about us, how• night Pullman passenger expects to be going to keep the passenger side of rail• ever, I think it might pay us to look as comfortable on the train as if he were roading—and the jobs that go with it— closely at some of the complaints that spending the night in a hotel before or in business. were most frequently mentioned. They're after flying to his destination. the things that frequently cause people If the train is handled roughly during to turn away from us and spend their switching movements or in starting and money with somebody else. stopping, the passenger's sleep is inter• No railroad, of course, can make a rupted and he begins to wonder whether better impression on its customers than he's getting his money's worth in comfort. the one created by its employes who come Rough handling also means we, as a rail-