This 1979 cartoon appeared in the U. of Tennessee's Daily Beacon following a continuing series of derailments on the L&N, the worst being the tragic 1978 derailment in Waverly, TN involving a tank car loaded with LP Gas that exploded, killing 16 people. This was a difficult period for the L&N, with years of deferred track maintenance taking its toll on lives and equipment. I recall a rumor was that L&N owner SCL was bleeding the L&N of cash, leaving L&N budgets in an impossible state. In any case, I saved the cartoon and unearthed it today after nearly 40 Years.
Wow! A sad state of affairs. Reminds me of my grandfather's farm outside of Lockport, NY. Crossed by a NYC branch. During WWII it was an important feeder line for food raised in the area. Heinz processed tomatoes 3mi away in Barker. By the 60's when I was 5-12yrs old my siblings & I would hike along the track and pull out spikes with our hands. In some places the track was 5-6" above the ties. Ties were rotted down to almost nothing. I remember seeing trains pulled by Baldwin switchers rocking along at less than 10mph and wondering if it would stay on the tracks. We had collected a pile of spikes about 2' across and 10" deep by the time grandfather passed in 11/1967. The farm was sold in 1969 and we moved west. I went back for the 30th anniversary of his passing and of course the line was gone. I wonder if they ever found the pile of spikes we had scrounged.
I recall perhaps 35 to 40 Years ago my Dad showing me an article in an investment publication where a stock analyst took the Santa Fe Rwy. to task for overspending on track maintenance! My Dad explained why the analyst was mistaken. Santa Fe was recognized for an exceptional standard of service, all made possible through a superbly maintained plant.
Aside from just railroading, this is what ails many businesses today. Too many paper shufflers in the offices. Railroads, etc, all used to promote from within ranks. This started changing, rapidly, back in the 1960's. When they began hiring straight from college, and throwing people with zero knowledge of that specific business onto the corporate ladder. By promoting from within, they had people who actually knew what it took to make the company tick; smoothly, reliably. No more. This is likely the same schooling from which that "analyst" came.
Well stated Boxcab. I once read a story of a new Conrail management employee without rail experience. As he sat in a meeting, a seasoned manager excused himself and said he "had to go home, then catch TV-8". The new employee doubted the commitment of the man, leaving the meeting to go home and catch the news. Only later did he learn that TV-8 was a hot Trailvan intermodal train.
Count me in the know column. L&N ran close by my home leaving out of Memphis. L&N was my first favorite railroad.
The L&N was my first exposure to Biloxi, MS and Keesler AFB May 5th, 1956. I remember looking out the vestibule window as we crossed Biloxi Back Bay over a rickety wooden trestle at 6:30 in the morning.