Amtrak train 360 is eastbound and getting his orders hooped up to him
by Block Operator Myron Smigelski at Town Line in Dearborn, MI 3/25/73
Photograph copyright © 1973-2002 Mark W. Dobronski
PC 4297
Jim Harlow Remembers:
"Myron Smigelski was my first teacher in the craft of Block Operation and
train order writing in 1971 when I first started my railroad
career. He showed me a lot of tricks of the trade, such as how to
deliver train orders up to speeding trains by hand. Even though Town
Line was equipped with an "iron man" to deliver train orders and
messages without having to hand them up, they never worked at this
location successfully. We always had to deliver them by hand.
Myron was one of the kindest men on the railroad, who always admitted me and others in the shack to observe railroad operations before I hired on - strictly against the rule prohibiting "unauthorized personnel". He never encouraged me to hire on the railroad; one time he said to me "you'll never retire from the railroad" if I intended to make it a career, because the block stations and towers wouldn't be around to retire from. As you know, he was right. He said this to me way back about 1970! I remember thinking that I didn't want to believe him even though I knew he was wise gentleman and that he could be right, but what the heck - I couldn't help myself, and figured I'd be a part of railroading as long as I could anyway.
I shall never forget him".
Back to the Conrail Detroit SAA Page
Talk to me jknorek@msen.com
This website and all contents herein Copyright 2002 by Jeff Knorek except where noted.