Evening star., 1961-01-19
Railroad Tieup
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rail service. Such a tieup would
quickly pose staggering travel
woes for more than 100000
commuters.
Half this number already
were scrambling frantically for
other transportation through a
shutdown of New York Central
and New Haven Railroad
operations at the city's other
big terminal, Grand Central.
The two railroads also shut
off all long distance passenger
and freight operations into New
York.
Problem for Commuters
Bus and auto traffic jams
grew-along with tempers-as
commuters from subur b a n
Westchester County and Con-
necticut north Of the city
struggled to get to work by
makeshift travel arrangements.
Some gave up and took hotel
rooms in Manhattan for the
duration.
Paradoxically, it was a mere
handful of men who created
such turmoil for so many. In
addition, they are not train
men. But they are ferry and
tugboat crewmen on vessels
operated by II railroads.
In another example Of the
complexities Of life in the me-
tropolis, they were able to mus
ter a fantastic strength behind
their contract demands by
picketing railroad facilities.
Refuse to Cross Lines
Other railroad workers, who
operate trains, refused to cross
the sailors picket lines.
The size Of tugboat crews,
now mostly five men, is the
chief issue in the contract dis
pute.
Two major railroads use
P Pennsylvania Station, the
Pennsylvania itself and the
Long Island. The Long Island
operates the biggest commuter
service in the world.
Despite pickets at the sta
ton, the two railroads reported
they were continuing operations
normally this morning. But it
was anybody's guess as to
whether they could continue.
The Long Island during the
night started court action in
an effort to halt the picketing.
/ Meanwhile, as Federal medi-
ators reported that new propo-
sails in the dispute gave rise to
some optimism. Gov. Nelson A.
Rockefeller personally entered
the situation by summoning
both sides to his office.
We've got to get this situa-
tion Strengthened out" he de-
clared.
Situation Called Serious
Gov. Rockefeller said the la
Dor dispute was "one Of the
most serious strike situations
in the city in a long time" In
addition to commuter prob
lens, he said, 1t could eventu-
ally hamper the flow of food
into the city.
Tomorrow's presidential in
auguration in Washington
even got mixed up in the
troubles here.
1t was generally believed that
the striking unions might be
delaying a shutdown effort
against the Pennsylvania Rail-
road until after the ceremonies,
so as to permit trains to carry
New Workers there.
/ There was no immediate
confirmation. but the chairman
Of a non-striking trainmen's
union said his group intended
to keep working Pennsylvania
trains during the Inauguration
period.
I'VE do not intend to be a
party to anything that will
embarrass the newly elected
President of the United States"
he said.
| After that, he added, how
ever, his men would re-evaluate
the entire situation.
The New Haven Railroad
shut down most OF its opera
tions last night-the fate that
fell to the New York Central
on Tuesday.
Pickets also marched today
at the Pennsylvania Railroads
vast Sunnyside yard in Queens.
where ong-distance and COM
muter trains are assembled
Commuters Stranded
Picketing in the 10-day-old
strike by 664 crewmen of tug
boats and ferryboats Of the II
railroads already has stranded
100000 commuters in the New
York New Connecticut
metropolitan area.
The total includes 10000 on
the New York Central, 10000
on the New Haven and 10000
who rode railroad ferryboats
between railroad terminals in
New Jersey and Manhattan.
The ferryboat service stopped
when the strike started in a
contract dispute.
The. Long Island, not yet af-
fected. carries $4,000 two-way
commuters and 10000 single
trip passengers each work day.
Terminal Deserted
Grand Central Terminal
used by both the New York
Central and New Haven Rail-
roads-was deserted last night
after the last New Haven Rail-
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