THE 60'S PT2

Once again, back to the 60's...

A wrecker outfit was often stationed in Hillsdale, until the early 80's, when most of the "big hook" cranes were retired.

The crane is still steam-powered from its 1940 build date; it will be retired as such in 1980.

A gondola is used as a holder for pre-fabricated track panels; a 40' car for the then-standard 39' track sections. The pre-fabricated track panels helped to quickly get the line back up and in service after a derailment.

A flatcar is also ready for track panel sections, and the tank car holds water; both for the steam-powered crane and for use in putting out any potential hot spots while cleaning up a wreck.

Finally, a boxcar holds tools and supplies, while a "drover" caboose holds additional supplies and the clean-up crew.While infrequent, wrecks did occur, amd each season nad its headaches. During the fall, wet leaves on the rails caused a loss of traction, leading to slipping and minor derailments of motive power. Winter was another bad time, with ice on the rails, and heavy snow was known to derail trains that tried to push through it. And heavy rains in the spring or summer could cause a washout or mis-alignment of the track -which wouldn't be known until the approaching train went through it (and derailed).

Nothing but trucks outside the shop! Note the two Dodges, especially the red A100; Dodge converted a van into a pickup basically by cutting down the body!

During this time, the furniture factory was  still in operation; note the string of double-door boxcars on the siding. Note also, the DT&I boxcar; it will be headed to Ohio. The DT&I itself will be purchased by the Appalachian RR in 1980, and merged into the AP&W in 1986. The Southern, of course, merged with the Norfolk & Western in 1982, to form the modern Norfolk Southern.