" Pot Belly Stoves "

I had an experience with one of the coal stoves in a yard shanty as well. I was working the Speedway at Mimico, and it was pretty cold out. Is it my imagination or were winters a lot colder in those days? Anyhow, I'm all alone in the speedway shanty with the fire going but it's still pretty cold in there. I put more coal on the fire but thought I would help it along. A carman left an oil can used for oiling the journals, full of dope, in the shanty. I generously poured dope oil over the fire, an d soon it was blazing to beat hell, and finally it was starting to get warm in there. A little to warm, Actually, the smoke and flames were starting to come out of the ash pan.
I didn't know much about these stoves and didn't realize the oil was running right through the grates, and into the ash pan which was full of live ashes. The live ashes lit the oil, and the shanty was quickly filling with smoke. I panicked but quickly pulled out the ash pan and threw it out the door. The smoke took a long time to clear, and I was afraid someone would come in before it did, and ask what the hell I was doing. My heart was beating for a while, though as I had visions of the Speedway shanty being burnt down. After that I put on an extra sweater when I came to work in the winter.

Gary M.

......................................................................................................................................

This story reminds me of some of the characters that used to work in the yard. There was always some little thing happening that injected a little humour min the day, and make you smile.

One day a yards engine was on spot in the lower yard at Bathurst St. The yard crew was in the shanty and the hogger was on the engine. It was time to make a move and the yard foreman came out of the shanty, and whistled to get the hoggers attention.

The hogger leaned out the window and yelled " Hey don't whistle at me I'm not your god dammed dog" , The foreman swung his arm in a big back up signal and said " when I whistle and go like this, you'll come.

Railroaders had a sense of humour all their own.

Gary M.