[PRCo] Re: Coatesville Arson

[John Swindler]

Hi Phil
 

It was a trip down memory lane yesterday morning, (sort of like looking at fantrip pictures from 40 years ago), only from my military experience, and I was having some fun with Freds comment about military using abbreviations.  Ken just happened to ask the right question at right time, (or wrong question at wrong time) In this case FM 55-21 is the field manual for "Railway Operating and Safety Rules", dated July 1989.  Runs to some 250 pages.

 

Sure it's railroad related, but it might address some safety issues helpful to PTM. 

 

At the risk of boring most of you ......  

 

So why did the Army print this at this late date, and how did I get a copy?  The US Army has its own railroad that runs from an NSC interchange south of Wilmington NC to the Sunnypoint ammunition terminal.  Normal operation is with federal civil servants.  But the Army also still has/had a couple railway operating units - the 757th from Milwaukee and 1205th from New England.  The 1205th was mobilized during Desert Storm to augment the Sunnypoint civilian staff for train crews and railroad maintenance.  My second Desert Storm year was as asst chief in a provisional military personnel office to handle pay, orders, etc. for all military (active and reserve) assigned to Sunnypoint.

 

Fred 3 commented about military 'screw-ups' when he was in the service.  That was 1960.  In 1990, we didn't allow that. Early on, the 1205th commander mentioned some 'problem children'.  Told him "not a problem - let me know who they are and I'll have orders faxed to me and have them on a plane heading home in less then 24 hours."  Got rid of two.  Never had another problem.  (hey, I was a reservist - I didn't know that you were not suppose to be able to do that) (:>)

 

With an apology for going into excessive detail, but there are some veterans on this list.  I suspect Fred 3's experience was similar to most, even today.  My experience was in a completely different world.

 

Cheers

John

 

 

 
> Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:41:06 -0800
> From: pcc_sr at yahoo.com
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Coatesville Arson
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> 
> > From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 1:34:03 PM
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Coatesville Arson
> > 
> > 
> > Everyone at PTM should have their own copy of FM 
> > 55-21 (see final para. - which can be translated as 'guess what I found'?)
> > 
> > 
> > 
> Mr.Swindler;
> 
> 
> How long must we guess? Did I miss something related to trolleys?
> 
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

_________________________________________________________________
Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail.
http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Access_022009