Every dyed in the wool New York Central fan has heard of Ed Nowak, but the following adds a human element to company photographers...... In the early days of NASA's Apollo Program, I worked with a photographer who had apprenticed under Ed Nowak in the 50's. One day this guy was assigned to do an enroute shoot while in the cab of the Century from Harmon to Albany. This was the first time he had been in the cab of any diesel running full speed, let alone the Century, and the first time he was shooting "solo", i.e. without Ed. He said he was nervous to say the least. During the run, the engineer had to respond to nature and asked if this guy would mind sitting in his seat for a few minutes. (He didn't mention a "fireman", maybe he was back in the second unit?) After a minute or so he said a loud "horn" went off, scaring the dickens out of him. The engineer screamed from wherever he was to "step on the button on the floor, and quickly". This poor guy said he panicked, but finally found the button and "stomped" on it just before the Century went into Emergency from 80(+/-) MPH! He told me that he was sure the trip was great, especially since Ed had complimented him on getting some excellent shots, but that the "horn" and his panic was the only thing he remembered from the whole experience.
Not knowing a thing about diseasals, what was the horn? Overspeed warning? Ran a red block? ATC signal? Anything to do with "deadman" button?
Jim, Best I remember what this guy told me, the system was some sort of early Dead Man's Throttle or Alerter that was timed to go off every half hour or so. I believe he said the engineer had about 30 seconds to step on the floor reset button after the horn went off or the engine would immediately dump all air and put the train into Emergency Braking...not a good thing to do with the Century travelling at 80+. I'm sure Lew or other E- or F-unit driver can correct me, or at least fill in the details. I think I heard that during this time engineers would put their dinner pail or overnight bag on the button so they could use the facilities, or just relax for a bit.
Never operated an E unit but sounds more like an alerter.The reason I say this is the 30 min. delay. The F units had dead men and they took them off,then put them back on. With the dead man on the F units when you let your foot up the whistle started and you had about 20 seconds to depress the pedal. The alerter's came in two styles that I worked with The first if you were touching the brake handle you had to take your hand away about every min. If you were not touching the brake you had to touch the handle every min. The other type you had a handle spring loaded to center and every min. you the handle or blowed the horns turned on the bell set the brake or bailed off the independent or engine brake.I understood what they were trying to do but it got to be a real pain when the radio the the whistle the alerter and detecters all working in there turn and sometimes at almost the same time. We had an east bound that sometimes had a UP unit in the lead and Oh but it was a good trip.Most of the time the radio didn't work and there wasn't a deadman or alerter. It added 5 years to your life.At one time between Avon and Crestline,it was 220 miles and 245 crossings to blow at. LEW
Hi LEW, and thanks for the explanation. I had to chuckle at your UP unit comment. I loved the sounds of whistles and horns, and now everyone and his brother is complaining about the "noise" they produce. Times have sure changed.
At one time we never whistled at crossings in Elkhart and just one in Indianapolis.All of the crossings were protected by gates or flashers. Very rarely did you hit anyone.Most of that was trucks because they had not figured out they were to stop at the gates and still haven't got it straight yet. A year or so ago on another forum the young people thought you should whistle a little.They did not understand that people must be complety responsible for their actions or it won't work.When they know that they will be accountable and their insurance rates will go up you can't believe how careful they can be. LEW
I will change that meaning.What I ment was with all of the train traffic was anyone hit as compared to the autos that were hit after we started blowing the horn again.When you blow for a crossing the first sound the first thought that goes through a drivers mind is,Got to beat that train.It does not make any difference if they are in a hurry ,Got to beat that train. In my first 14 years of railroading I was involved in 14 auto accidents where 14 people died.There was more auto's hit during that time but no one died in those.LEW
