" Labels "


Submitted by Gary M.

I started checking at Bathurst St. in July 1960. I was just barely 16, and remember talking to siding checkers. There was a long table That ran the length north wall of the Yard Office, [ it was actually the east wall Gary] and this is where they gathered before starting out in the morning. They would start at Bathurst St and walk all the way to Danforth checking all the customers sidings along the way. They were a friendly bunch and were astonished that I was only 16.

Most of the guys were pretty friendly but a few liked to chew your ass out to let you know you were nothing special. Squeaky, the GYM wasn't friendly nor unfriendly but seemed a little aloof as he was the boss and didn't have to much time for a new checker. It was just shortly after I started that the CNR came out with new type of label to attach to the cars to show their destination. The card was blank until filled in by the Bill and Train Clerk with a black brush pen. Everything was coded such as 35 for Toronto, or 25 for Montreal, and beside it a letter was added to further pinpoint the delivery. 35P was the Don, 35M was Mimico, 35K was Bathurst St., etc. One of the Car Checkers jobs was to staple these labels to the cars.

So this night I had been up checking Jefferson Ave. and as I walked by the Graveyard on my way back there was a small lift set up for a Winnipeg train. I wasn't checking this lift but just looking at the labels as I walked by. Right smack in the middle was a car labeled "25" meaning it was supposed to be going to Montreal but was about to be lifted by a northbound train. I went into the switchtenders shanty at the Graveyard and phoned Squeaky to tell him. A Yard engine had to be sent up to switch the car out but Squeaky was sure happy that Montreeal car wasn't headed for Winnipeg. After that I couldn't do anything wrong as far as Squeaky was concerned
Gary

This is verbatim, except for a comment about where the long desk was, also, this is what I would like to get as this way can get a bit of a profile on the place, and the people.


" Matching Story

Gary here is a story to match yours, and I feel I have to use a whole name in this instance, and because everyone else in the story is long gone.

J.D. Hayes was a very tall and imposing character, and had just been promoted to some position beyond Superintendent Toronto, and in all honesty to what I don't know.

Hayes was the most conscientious, and fastidious Official around that I ever knew of and would not broach fools lightly.

He got it in mind to marshall 409 in a particular way, and what he wanted, he got.

Before going to the North Side to check 409 Harry B., Yardmaster came on the speaker in the Yard Office telling us that he was switching out a Calgary that was out of place in case we had already checked the train.

I went to the North Side to check the train, and saw them switch out the Calgary and proceeded to check the train, at which time I find another Calgary out of place so I go to the nearest speaker and tell Harry about the Calgary out of place.

Now Harry B., who had been a Sgt. Major, in the Artillery in the second war, and had been in on the bombardment of Monte Casino, barks back to me, like a Sgt Major, no there isn't we switched it out, and I replied to him, in the same tone, I know you did, and you have an other in there and if you let it go that way Hayes will have your balls for breakfast, don't say I didn't tell you.
I proceed back to the Yard Office with the check, and was greeted by Bob W. the Chief Clerk, who asked me if I had given Harry a bad time on the speaker.

I told Bob what had happened, and he tells me that he got a call from Hayes, who was in the Tower with Harry at the time, asking who was the Car Checker checking 409 and Bob told him it was me, and Hayes says what happened, and tells Bob, godammed good Car Checker.

I should point out that Harry B. was a very nice guy to me, but he was a lot of bluster, he was one of the Yardmasters that always treated me well and I always appreciated that.

Allan