TALES OF THE DOCKSIDER
NYC shop switcher X-8688 is in the roundhouse for routine service, so her crew has been assigned Astoria, Light Heat & Power Co no. 4 for today’s recovery duty. X-8688’s crew isn’t too pleased with no. 4, not realizing -despite her diminutive size - she has prodigious pulling power! X-8688’s fireman, Vasik Semaphorowski, is particularly unhappy. He’s wondering how he’s going to fire her, because there is no coal bunker, tender or other source of fuel!
Foreign power has returned to the Worcester, MA yards. Jersey Central 4-6-0 Camelback no. 763 needs assistance due to an overheated rod bearing.
Vasik’s frustration has turned to admiration for 763’s fireman. He can’t imagine working under such harsh conditions; little weather protection, tender rocking out of synch withe the engine. He is amazed to learn the 763 has two firebox doors so coal can be distributed evenly in the wide firebox.
Well, like movies on the Hallmark Channel, the stories in this series always come to a happy ending. No. 4 has no trouble hauling 763 to the shop and the Docksider crew has again shown they are professional railroaders!
