My Dad, his Dad, his Dad's brother and his Dad's brother's wife were all railroaders for a time. All four got out of it.
Dad in his Cook's uniform on the steps of his kitchen car, part of a work train on the BR&P RR:
He started in 1928 (at age 16 following HS graduation) and quit in 1932 to attend Penn State. His workday began at 3:30 AM when his THREE wind-up alarm clocks rang (he was responsible for waking the whole crew, hence 3 alarms).
His Dad was a Telegrapher/Tower Operator on the PRR, here seen at his desk at Enslie Tower:
He quit railroading after a night-train grazed him with the cylinder (the widest part of a steam locomotive front end) while he was holding up an order-hoop for the Fireman to snare. It took a long time for his shoulder to heal.
His Brother (my Great Uncle) met his wife (my Great Aunt) when he was working a tower on the PRR (Medix) that was situated across the street from a station/tower on the Buffalo&Susquehanna where she was the Tower Operator:
She carried a pistol on that job (sawmill town) and once fired over a drunk's head when he wouldn't leave her alone.
