The trail of the swinging lanterns : $b a racy, railroading review of transportation matters, methods and menCopeland, John Morison
History
The trail of the swinging lanterns : $b a racy, railroading review of transportation matters, methods and men
Copeland, John Morison
Railroads -- Canada
Close to Niagara Escarpment, at Hamilton, Ontario, where S. R. Callaway
won his bride, railroading cast its spell broadcast, inoculating many
promising youngsters. Graduates of the “Great Western”, “Hamilton &
Northwestern” and “Northern” schools are scattered from Halifax to
San Diego, from Vancouver to Honduras. James Charlton, first “G.P.A.”
of the Great Western Railway, Canada, was a beacon light in guiding
numerous proteges “up and along”. You may wager none of them imitated
the behaviour of young Keenedge who, when saluted with “Does the train
leave at Eleven sharp?” blandly replied, “Yes, or Eleven slow, if you
like!” They all memorized and hummed the motto “Learn to labor and to
wait”. John J. Byrne, from the same city, present Asst. Passr. Traffic
Manager, Santa Fe Coast Lines, took up the refrain when setting out to
contend with life’s odds and handicaps, and by doing the thing to be
done with earnestness and fidelity, he also has compelled recognition,
a distinguished place among his fellows and Mammon’s silver recompense.
Through a similar “course of sprouts” and monotonous introduction
to details passed James Horsburgh Jr., Genl. Passr. Agent, Southern
Pacific Railway. With canny disinclination to “Bid the devil good-day
before meeting him”, he philosophically set the pace in shouldering
onerous duties and accomplished important results with the aid of a
large corps of efficient assistants.
A contemporary of this trio and candidate for the order of merit is
Alexander Hilton, or “Handsome Hilton”, as ladies know him, who also
was born at Hamilton because his mother happened to be staying there at
the time. He was “captured young” and as a junior developed that moral
fibre and eager spirit which buoyed him while climbing the grade to the
position of Passenger Traffic Manager, Frisco Lines.
Robert Somerville, a “C. & A.” Chicago veteran, now President Judson
Company, was a Hamiltonian; likewise Dave Bowes, their General
Manager. So was Harry Jameson, an auburn D.P.A., P.M.R. Harry Parry,
indefatigable Asst. Genl. Passr. Agent, “N.Y.C. Lines”, Buffalo, the
Jago Brothers, for years with the “West Shore” and A. W. Ecclestone,
Dist. Passr. Agent, Nickel Plate, New York, claim the Ambitious City as
birthplace. All keep in more than telepethic communication with friends
there.
It is chronicled in the log that the bluff, jovial W. F. Herman, former
“G.P.A.” of “C. & B.” Line, Cleveland, who takes to water like reynard
to a partridge, got a bowing acquaintance with a vessel’s interior
economy under W. K. Domville’s tutelage in the old “G.W.R.” shops at
Hamilton. To this city, every now and then, comes W. L. Stannard,
General Agent, C. & N.W.R., Detroit, on a brief visit to his respected
sire, which stimulates the memory of other days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account