Conductor Burnett's Train Book for June 17, 1928

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Abram,
  If the pusher was to return to Blake to wait for the next train
that needed a pusher then it would have pulled off on a siding
somewhere (or onto a different track in the Bluefield yard) to let
your grandfather's train pass it (or vice versa) before returning
to Blake.  This would have given your grandfather an opportunity
to get the engine number.  He could also have seen it in the
Bluefield yard even if it wasn't returning to Blake.
  Where did the pushers from Blake to Bluefield actually "drop off"?
Toney Minter

nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org said:
>  JUNE 17, 1928.  Extra 453 West Roanoke to Christiansburg, and Ex 1722 West
> Christiansburg to Bluefield.  (Eng 453, a Class M, "hauled ahead" Roanoke to
> Christiansburg, and cut off at that point.)   108 empty hoppers.
>
> On Eng 453, Engineman J L Roberts and Fireman N A Fisher.  On Eng 1722,
> Engineman G W Roberts and Fireman Harrell.  Also had helper Eng 439 from Blake
> to
> Bluefield, no crew names given.
>
> Conductor ADB, Flagman May, Head End Brakeman Linkous.
>
> Reported 9:45am.  Departed Park St 10:00am, departed WB 10:40am.
>
> Elliston 11:25 am - ---.
> Christiansburg 1:00pm - 1:15pm.
> Potts Valley Jct 2:25pm - 2:50pm, to s/o 2nd thru 12th car, mty hoppers.
> Ingleside 4:15pm - ---.
> Arrived Bluefield 4:10pm.
>
> --------------------
> A few observations.
>
> 1.  How could a crew, called for 9:45am, move the engine from the Round House
> to the yard, couple to the train, make a brake test and depart, all within 15
> minutes?  I suspect that the head end crew was called 15 minutes ahead of the
> rear end crew (a standard practice at many places) just for the purpose of
> getting the engine "out of the house."
>
> 2.  It's very interesting that M's were being used for helper service in 1928.
>
> 3.  In cases where Grandfather does not record the names of the Engineman and
> Fireman on the helper engine (such as in this case, where Eng 439 assisted
> from Blake to Bluefield,) I suspect that the helper "hauled ahead" rather than
> pushed, in which case Grandfather would never have seen the engine crew.  But
> if the helper coupled ahead, how did Grandfather even get the engine number?
> I
> don't know.
>
> -- abram burnett
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