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Economy

Auggie

(31,940 posts)

1. My grandfather worked on the Nickel Plate

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Sun Oct 16, 2022, 06:24 AM

Oct 2022

1920s, I think. He was the fire man on a steam locomotive.

One day, he told me, his freight train was idled on a siding waiting for a green light to proceed to their home yard.

Both he and the engineer fell asleep!

When they woke up the light had already changed from red to green. Neither knew how long the green had been activated. It could switch back to red at any moment indicating another train was coming from the opposite direction. They went as fast as they could breaking all sorts of safety and speed laws and with fingers crossed they wouldn't crash head-on.

They must have made up time in their return because no one said anything about being late. Lucky guys.

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On this day, October 16, 1882, the Nickel Plate Road began operation. [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2022 OP

My grandfather worked on the Nickel Plate Auggie Oct 2022 #1

Mine too. Chipper Chat Oct 2022 #2

Great story. Thanks for sharing. Auggie Oct 2022 #3