Re: DRGW #50 switcher

Dan, I suspect you are right. I recall reading somewhere that an inspector from the Ore PUC paid a visit to the SVRy in the early 30's probably when money was very scarce and switching was being performed without the aid of a brakeman. The inspector indicated his concern for the fact that the switch engine was routinely shoving cars through road crossing without a flagman nor someone riding the side of the car to guard the shove. There is more evidence that SVRy cut back employees to bare bones in this period because as you probably know the story, SVRy's master mech. is said to have overhauled the 19 all by himself, with only the aid of a mill employee as needed to heft parts that were too heavy for one guy. But back to the 100 and the 101, I kinda wonder where the union was with regard to working with a one man crew. Seems like the conductors or brakeman would have had a problem with this.