The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-23
How about the air brakes ?"

"How about the air brakes!
asked,
"Well, what We called the straight
air brakes went into use about '72,
l think. / broke on the first passen-
ger air-brake trial train on the Mil
waukee in '73 and everybody was out
to see how it would work. It was
quite few years, however, before
freight trains and box cars were
equipped; in fact, it was in the '9O's
before all roads had adopted them.
"ln the hand brake days q brakeman
had to get out on top of the freight
cars and set the brakes to stop the
train or slow It down when going
down hill. Just imagine brakeman
riding on top Of . train setting brakes
going from Wilton for 10 miles on
some Of our winter days! Some
roads made one brakeman ride on top
vt oil times between stations and
their salary was $1.73 day or about
$45 month--and we thought we had
good Job. A conductor received
$40 month and an engineer 1926 a
day. There were no labor organixa-
tions in those days and no seniority
rights. A man was promoted accord
ing to his ability"
Never Been In Wreck
In the half century that Mr.. Der
rick has been in railroad work, hav-
ing Travelled thousands of miles, he
has never been in railroad wreck
II is significant fact that many
Of his acquaintance and close friends
Of his early days have later become
famous in railrOading.
u used to sleep with Iantry." he
said when he read Of his recent pro-
motion to general manager Of the
Northern Pacific Railway. He imme-
diately wrote q letter Of congratula-
tion and in Mr.. Lantry's reply the
latter stated that he well remember
ed Mr.. Derrick in his conductors uni
form with bright brass buttons and
that it was the ambition of his life
to wear one like it.
Mr.. Underwood, who was q conduc-
tor with Mr.. Derrick on the 500 Line,
became general manager Of the 500
Line and later president of the Erie
from which position he, too. will re-
tire on December 81 ut an advanced
age. ~.
"When l came to the 500. Line"
Mr.. Derrick once told me, Dan VIII.
lard was IN engineer. Now he is
president Of the Baltimore 4 Ohio"
Both Willard and Underwood write to
Mr.. Derrick occasionally and remem-
Der him with greeting every Christ
mas.
II knew Huntington" he remark
ed, "as little fat boy who lived
across the alley from our home in
Milwaukee" Mr.. Huntington later
became president Of the 500 Line,
which position however, he held only
q few years as his sudden death sew
eral years ago brought his brilliant
career to a close while at the zenith
Of his ability. Mr.. Derrick also
worked as brakeman for Mr.. PEN
nington, who was u conductor on the
Chicago & Milwaukee. Pennington
was president Of the 500 Line for
number of years, preceding Hunting
ton in that capacity.
Will BE Greatly Missed Here
And now, after these 55la years.
Mr.. Derrick is to retire from active
scrvice-and in good health. He has
purchased u home at Long Beach.
California, and summer cottage on
to divide his time between the two
rctrospection, over the years gone by,
educated in the university of exper-
fence and he climbed upward by his
own ability and perseverance. We of
the younger generation see him 60
with genuine regret and with a GER
tain reverence. We shall miss the
example Of his honesty, thrift, fear
lessness and business efficiency; but
more than all these we shall miss him
as friend and as q counselor.