Winter 2000
Volume 107 - No. 4
Winter 2000
Volume 107 - No. 4
Our history
A collection of December news items from the past 133 years
The following items are reproduced from previous issues of the Locomotive Engineers Journal.
December 1867
"I count it an honor to belong to this great fraternity of working men. I wish also, to express my sense of obligation to those from whose industry, skill and care we continually derive so much of comfort and of safety; for to the locomotive engineer, more than to any other man, we entrust our prosperity and our lives."
- Clark Snyder, Chief Engineer of BLE Division 12, speaking at a ceremony honoring the BLE's fourth anniversary.
December 1900
Dear Editor: For Heaven's sake, how much longer are we to be afflicted with switch engines and kids with oil cans? When did either become such a curiosity that our Journal must be filled with them? I dare say most of us see several switch engines every day, and would not shed many tears if we never saw another, and as they all look pretty much alike, they become very tiresome after a while. But as to the kids. How cute they look - to their paps. At the advanced age of 11 months, with overalls and oil can they all look about the same, only some look worse than others, and they are not such a curiosity after all
- W.C. Wescott, BLE Division 180, in a letter to the editor, expressing dismay at the overwhelming number of children pictured in the Journal at that time.
December 1915
"On the large modern locomotives, any of which under severe service conditions burn from three to four tons of coal per hour, it is a physical impossibility for the fireman to perform the work which must be done and ring the bell as required by the law and by the rules of his company; therefore, if the bell is to be rung at such times it must be done by the engineer. To require the engineer of a fast important train, who must at all times keep a sharp lookout for signals of various kinds and for persons or obstructions on the track, and in addition thereto must manipulate the numerous devices necessary for the proper and successful operation of the locomotive, to also pull a bell rope for 80 rods before passing each grade crossing and when persons are seen on the track, to save the small cost of a bell ringer is certainly not in the interest of safety."
-Testimony by BLE member Frank McManamy at an Interstate Commerce Commission hearing regarding new rules for an automatic bell-ringer.
December 1930
Despite the hard times which have caused the loss of their jobs to a quarter of a million railroad employees during the past year and reduced total railroad wages by hundreds of millions of dollars, the unearned income of railroad shareholders has increased substantially this year. Cash dividends paid by American steam railroads in the first nine months of 1930 amounted to $376,287,831, compared with $308,347,324 paid for the first nine months of 1929.
December 1945
"Awakening this Christmas season in the manger of a new atomic world, Mankind finds a war-weary people most eager to hear again the blessed words, 'Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men.' Despite the fact that this year is hailed as 'the Victory Year' with our armies victorious over stubborn and treacherous enemies in both Europe and the Far Pacific, the final victory of lasting peace, contentment and prosperity for all, is yet to be won. Just as the peace-loving nations of this world demand a wise and sane handling of a new and mighty force - atomic power - so do the locomotive engineers and other railroad employees demand foresight and wisdom of their employers and our government on matters pertaining to their daily jobs, wages and working conditions in the new era that has dawned upon us."
- Editor Paul M. Smith
December 1960
President Eisenhower named Secretary of Labor James P. Mitchell as chairman of the 15-man commission which will study the work rules controversy in the railroad industry and make recommendations for settling it. The commission is expected to begin its work shortly after the Jan. 20 inauguration of John F. Kennedy as President.
December 1975
As this issue of the Locomotive Engineer went to press, the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were reconvening after their Thanksgiving recess. One of the things they were expected to take up is legislation implementing the startup of the Consolidated Rail Corporation. Early passage of the implementing legislation is vital if the ConRail system is to go into operation as scheduled on March 1.
December 1990
At press time, the Presidential Emergency Board is still scheduled to issue its final recommendations on wages and work rules on December 23. Whether the PEB extends its deadline, however, is a subject of speculation. An unconfirmed report indicates that the PEB may delay releasing the recommendations until late January. Although the PEB's wage and rules recommendations, as well as its already issued "guidelines" on health and welfare issues, are not binding on the BLE or the carriers, if Congress were to end a strike by locomotive engineers it would likely mandate a national settlement based on the PEB's recommendations. ·
© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers