Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-21
LOYALTY TO EMPLOYERS.
Remarkable Record of Railroad Men
in an Emergency of Gravest
Character.


The well-known writer on railroad
subjects, Mr. Frank II. Spearman. in his
book entitled, "The Strategy of Great
Railroads" describes the surprise of
the general manager of one of the east
ern trunk lines, on hunting trip in the
north woods, who suddenly found him.
self on the right of way of splendid
well-built railway line, apparently of a
construction and equipment similar to
the New York Central or Pennsylvania
along which thundered in quick success
sion heavy trains of iron ore, splendid
passenger equipment and general
freight service of surprising proper
tions.
This was the Peninsula division of the
Chicago e Northwestern railway which
covers the upper peninsula of Michi-
gan, including the hardwood district
and Lake Superior iron and copper re-
gion, with surprisingly efficient net
work of lines that connect the mines
and forests with important lake ports.
and with through rail service to and
from the outer world.
AlOiS lilio DuSy Ing line q
splendid exposition of the loyalty, in
telligence and general good team work
that can be expected of the average rail
road man and the efficiency of the rules
laid down for his guidance in an emer-
Gency, was given few days ago which
so greatly pleased the superintendent
and other officials that the story has
finally crept into public print, and it is
well worth repetition in these columns.
1t was all occasiOned by a very heavy
sleet storm that fell in the upper pc
ninsula, which threw down practically
every telegraph line in the region in Il
few hours, and left the AGA miles of the
division absolutely without telegraphic
service for no less than As hours.
The ore movement has been especially
heavy this year, more Lake Superior
ore being transported on the greas
lakes than ever before in the history of
the iron industry, and in this emergency
every mine would have to shut down on
account of the shortage of railway cars
to move their product unless the road
was kept open in spite of the storm.
There was nothing that could be done
by the chief train dispatcher; both he
and the division superintendent were
temporarily out of the game 1t was one
Of these emergencies where the man
behind the gun" must make good. or
the case was a hopeless one. And make
good he did, in true blue, loyal style,
with that splendid initiative that
makes the average train crew typical of
the qualities we admire in our American
troops.
There was no way in which to get or
ders for train movements, no means by
which division headquarters could be
kept advised of where their trains were,
and, to the onlooker, no means existed
by which the train crew could keep
track of the whereabouts of trains in the
opposite direction. 1t was an emer-
gency of the gravest character. and was
met with a splendid exhibition of good
judgment and intelligent grasp of the
science of railroad operation that is per-
haps without an equal They managed.
on a single track line. without telegraph
lines, for two whole days and nights. to
keep every iron and copper mine in the
district supplied with equipment, and
moved all trains practically on time
There were 4.971 cars moved over the
division Friday and Saturday. October
20 and 81, and 125 freight trains and no
less than 81 passenger trains were taken
care of upon the division, all handled on
time on a single track. without accident,
mishap or delay, and without the help
of a train dispatcher.
Can anyone beat that record of 10y
atty to employers, hard work and intel
ligent grasp of conditions?
Any man who has ever handled the
train movement of busy railway di.
vision will appreciate how very much
is involved in the work these trainmeu
did, hurrying to and fro over sleet-
covered cars, keeping cool, and ready to
meet every emergency by application of
the operating rules provided for their
guidance.