by Mike Bednar
I know it: you thought I finally “lost it.” What do these four things have to do with railroading? Let me explain… I’m writing this article while listening to John Prine on my CD player and overlooking what used to be the main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Hokendauqua, Pa. The article is about the loss of what I knew of, and considered, as important railroad jobs during my time around the rails. I’m listening to a song by John Prine called “Paradise.” It’s about a small town in western Kentucky where his parents came from. The town was destroyed by a coal company and the people displaced – all for the “progress of man.”
John was a singer-songwriter who had been first discovered by Kris Kristoferson and specialized in “Americana” music. He was one of the best songwriters I can remember. He passed away during the early pandemic. I first heard him on a late Sunday night while driving home from E’Port on late night radio (I was working 2nd trick). There was a really-local TV station in our area that I watched that specialized in country music, blue grass, and gospel. On Thursday nights, Kevin Carl hosted a country variety show. He took requests from people and played them for three hours. I dialed in for quite a few tunes, but “Paradise” was my most requested. The station has since changed hands and Kevin’s show is no more. But I’m glad I had the good fortune to be entertained by it. Not many TV stations like this still exist.
ABOVE: The loss of the crossing watchman’s jobs not only displaced the men working these shanties, but dis-placed the building as well. It was a piece of “Americana” lost forever. This job lasted into the mid 1980’s on the LV main line into the Conrail era when it was closed as a through route. On June 24, 1974, a “Heiney Lehigh” led by “Pups” brings an Extra west by the Hamilton Street gate tower in Allentown. This scene is radically changed now. The main line and myriad industrial spurs are torn out and have been replaced by “upscale” condo buildings and office buildings. The right-of-way is now a street named Riverview Street. —Photo by Bob Wilt, collection of Mike Bednar
“Paradise” haunts me. It is a reflection of what has happened in my time on the railroad. Jobs that I know were worked by so many talented people have disappeared and were fast disappearing for Good Old American Greed. Thousands of railroaders have seen their jobs impacted when their railroads “rationalized” and eliminated work. Now the term for this is AI (Artificial Intelligence). Train Dispatchers no longer can run trains like I was taught. They must let the “auto router” dictate who runs first, etc. Yardmasters are not allowed to run their yards unless they follow the computer instructions.
Engineers can no longer run their trains like I was taught. They must look at three computer screens while running three-mile long trains that include “DPU’s” (Distributed Power Units) spaced through their trains. So now one crew is doing the work of what only a few years ago would have been two or three crews. Good ol’ Lightnin’ wouldn’t have lasted a day (you’ll see what I mean later in the article) and you can be sure that you won’t find engineers with nicknames like “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” anymore!
ABOVE: When I hired out in LV tower service in 1966, there were still five towers in the NJ&L District. The CNJ had eight towers working the Pennsylvania Division. The operator at PQ (Nesquehoning Junction) was responsible for the Nesquehoning Branch and CNJ main line from Packerton Junction to Hetchel. I was riding along with Eddie Mink and the CNJ AW-1 crew when 2nd trick operator Cletus Sullivan “hooped up” train orders to us at PQ. The remains of PQ Tower still exist and can be seen by riding the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway out of Jim Thorpe. This photo was taken April 21, 1971. PQ closed in April 1972. —Photo by Mike Bednar
At one time, every job was considered an art from with each person having pride in his or her various crafts. Technology is running away with itself. When will enough be enough? How many “Lac-Megantics” must we have in our future? I’ll always remember that when I hired out as a towerman on the Lehigh Valley, the entire railroad had telegraphs in most of the tow-ers and agencies. I remember Snapper Didyoung trying to teach me to use the telegraph – “CF”-”CF”-”CQ” – meaning “CF” (Treichler) was being called by “CQ” (Catasauqua). Snapper told me my touch was too heavy. That was true and still is today. Just ask the keyboard that Jaime got me to use.
I would have to write a book that rivals “War and Peace” to illustrate the good people who made the railroad “run like a Swiss watch,” but I will attempt to illustrate a few of the “crafts” that the railroads are determined to eliminate or have eliminated. These photos are not just railroaders, they are real people with families. The effort they put into keeping the railroad running efficiently and their dedication to their jobs is something that I will always remember.
ABOVE: This picture illustrates what was an everyday scene on the railroad that is now GONE! Train LV-2 is pictured leaving Lehighton on June 9, 1973. Flagman Bobby “Bow-wow” Kromer looks to Lehighton Tower for a roll-by signal from Towerman Bob Remaley. Today, Lehighton Tower, cabooses, flagmen and the Lehighton freight house are gone, as is the former LV main line. Former Lehigh Valley caboose 95023 stands along the old LV right-of-way. —Photo by Mike Bednar
I have the scanner on now tuned to Norfolk Southern at Allentown. At one time, yard clerks would assemble train wheelages and have the waybill consist reports ready in time for departure. WELL, now it’s all done by a computer sitting 800 miles away in Atlanta, Georgia. The few yardmasters that are left running the yard are blessed with running “the magic mirror.” Today, the computer is “DOWN” so nobody is going to leave Allentown Yard until the computer comes “UP.” “The Progress of Man?”
Thanks go out to my brothers, John Prine, Kevin Carl, Jaime Serensits and all the great railroaders I’ve had the privilege to get to know over the years (decades!).
