The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-28
HONORING ERIE ENGINEERS


fame attached until the Erie Rail-
road commenced, recently, its pecu-
liar sytsem of rewards. By means
of these an engineer, after protract-
ed fine service, can have his own
name painted on his engine.
Locomotive engineers do not be-
long, of course, to the uniformed
corps, so that they cannot have SER
vice stripes, such as are given to
conductors, brakemen, and signal
men. 1t has been a long-standing
problem to reward engineering SER
vice properly. The position is unde-
niably the most vitality important of
the running staff of a train, but by
it's very nature it enforces privacy
and anonymity upon the men hold
ing it. Being a highly specialized
position, it does not put man in
line of promotion for work in other
departments, and because of it's pc
culiar charm to the men who hold it
it is rarity when an engineer will
leave his locomotive for any other
branch of railroad work. Yet it has
seemed manifestly unfair that these
men, many of whom are particularly
loyal and efficient, should have no
visible honors. So the Erie turned
the question over in it's mind.
AS a result there was established
THE Order of the Red Spot" under
the stipulations of which any en-
gineer in the service of the Erie can
be distinguished for fine work by
having the number plate on his To-
comotive painted a bright red.
This order had the following rules
and regulations:
Cd Name: This Order shall be
known as The Order of the Red
Spot, of a Master Mechanic, Chair
man, one the New York Division and
Side Lines, and all other divisions
of the Erie Railroad.
CD Membership Committee: The
Membership Committee shall consist
of a Master Mechanic, Chairman, one
Road Foreman of Engines, one
Trainmaster, the Chief Dispatcher
and the Superintendent, ex-ofiicio.
This Committee will elect, on the last
day of each month, the members of
the Order for the following month; !;
membership for any month shall be
posted on the first day of that
month.
(4) Conditions for Membership:
Engines in good physical condition,
clean and tidy, free from avoidable
failures, both mechanical and en-
gineering failures.
CD Advantage of Membership:
Red Spot engines will be given pre-
ference over other engines in the
following particulars: Preferred
space in the roundhouse; preferred
attention by hostlers and cleaners;
preferred runs for exhibition, test or
special purposes. Red Spot engines
will not be loaned to other divisions
when other suitable engines are
available. Red Spot engines will not
be taken from their regular engi-
neers when such action is avoidable.
Red Spot engines convey to their
regular engineers and firemen spec
ial disciplinary conditions. Member
ship for any one month will modify
any suspension given during that
month by five days. In case disci-
pline be discharge, membership will
be carefully considered in favor OF
the engineer or fireman implicated.
(6) Conditions removing engines
from Order: On application of five
days relief from discipline, engine
barred from membership during the
remainder of that month. AvoidaIble
engine failure, as determined by the
Committee, bars engine from the
Order during the remainder of the
month. Neglect to maintain in con-
dition or appearance of engine, as
determined by the Committee, bars
engine for remainder of the month
CD Badge of Membership: Mum.
Der plate to be printed a bright red
Following the installation of this
| 10 /, f11, rDf ,1Dr ,0ri
neers were eligible, the Erie enlarg
ed it's credit system for all it's mer
and established Roll of Honor" 6
| list printed each month in the little
monthly magazine devoted to the EN-
| ployes of the railroad, of the mos
unusual and distinctive services rem
dered to the company by it's men.
Then, as a crowning tribute to it!
engineers, it was decided to allow tt
each man of long service and eXcep
tional loyalty the privilege of having
| his own name painted on the cab o
his locomotive.
In the early days of locomotives
when they were something of a rar
ity, it was customary to name eacl
engine just as steamboats, are nam
ed, and the National heroes all haC
their due representation among th'
engines. There was an Abraham
Lincoln" a George Washington" ;
ULYSSES Grant" John w. Gar
rett," and countless others, all dis
-tinguished by having the name
painted on the side of the engine
Then, as locomotives grew more nu
merous than National heroes, the sy
tenn of numbering them was evolved
and gradually the old roster of her
oes went to the dump heap. From
this the Erie took its idea. Thi
ultimate honor has no codified rule
governing it. 1t is conferred simpl
when, in the opinion of the railroa,
officials, it has been fairly earned
There are 1,500 engineers in the ser
vice, and many hundreds of then
have belonged to the "Order of tn
Red Spot" but only eighteen me-
have received this highest dignity
They are, naturally, the veterans O
the service. the men who have prov