This brings back memories.
My wife and I visited the GLR many years ago sometime after the engine "house" was built.
We both have the same memories. We asked at the ticket office if we could look at the engine house. Sure. "Just go down and look around. But, if they are welding or a machine is running, don't go in."
I did not feel comofrtable that the person above knew what they were talking about. We waited in front of the house until an employee in a hurry went by and said to find someone inside. I do not remember who we were supposed to find, but this is what I porrly remember:
1.) The first impression was the shop was cramped and inadequate for the operation at hand
2.) A very loud and angry discussion between someone at the GLR and someone from the CHS.
3.) The CHS person pronounced in an arrogant tone that the shop employees "Had life too good and the 'TRAIN GARAGE' was perfectly adequate." "The extra machinery is not really needed. Its just another example of (unintelligble) asking for more. Look at that machine, its not even running and was not running the last time I was in here 3 months ago. You obviously don't need it." "There is no use discussing this, end of discussion." At this point the expensively casually dressed middle aged man left.
4.) I can not recall what the machine was it was, but I remember it was important. I think it was a large vertical drill. Boy, my mind is a terrible thing when it goes to waste.
5.) The GLR employee was none too happy. There was a string of blue words following the CHS person outside.
6.) As I recall we were standing next to a vertical column that supports the roof. My wife and I beat a hasty retreat out of the building by a side door.
7.) The GLR employee did catch up to us, in a not too good mood and appologized for the conversation and asked us to move on. The locomotive facilities were really not open to visitors.
8.) It was pretty evident back at least 11 years ago (and maybe more) there was bad blood.
9.) Please remember the above is based on a memory full of holes, but it is set down as accurately, without distortion as I can recall. So be careful and do not take it as literal.
10.) But, I am 100% sure about the lack of knowledge of the CHS designing a "TRAIN GARAGE". That phrase sticks with you.
11.) My wife just reminded me were shown around the shops by a friendly guy that had a brown/blonde beard. I know remember this guy as very busy but accomodating. He left us near where the above conversation occurred and that is how we came into the middle of it. This was not the employee having the discussion with the arrogant CHS "Daper Dan" BMW driver.
