Dale Spahn, Marantz, the Diesel Engine Governor in Tales of the Jointed Track

An odd title. But Dale was a Roundhouse foreman, Marantz was a PBX, radio frequency. The diesel engine Governor, was what regulated, via throttle positions, how the locomotive operated. It was an oil based vs throttle position, vs pressure ad nauseum , odd type of cat but I digress.

Dale worked the 23rd Street Roundhouse as a foreman. I reported any bad orders to him, or requested helpers, when he was on. He was BN, I was Santa Fe, but we worked, like the others, to keep the operation flowing.

I decided to see how the Santa Fe extra board worked. I always worked the pool jobs to Pueblo. A bid, an opening, and here I am. Now, I am on the extra board, this is a sleaze job, working maybe 4 times a week. Me, I am on the on rest mode. A transition, to a pace, I am not familiar with. And a Guarantee, X amount of wages, as long as your marked up an available for call. WOW… It is mostly Helpers, FUCK, excuse me…what didn’t I get? DUH stupid ass.

Coal Train Helpers 1981:

I am still getting feelers out. Helpers, who cares, this is an easy job. Boost ‘em, cut off at Palmer Lake, or maybe help a stressed northbound over, and cut off before South Denver.

Our standard, SD-40-2’s, or and odd set of U-30-C’s, SD-45’s or and odd F-45, in consist.

I get my charges for the shift, two BN SD-40-2’s. Everything looks good. Fuel, water, oil, governor… Happy Happy Joy Joy.
NOT!!

Sedalia MP 23.9

We’re laying into this load, RINGGGGG !!!! a bell. I get called, “Shoe, we’re flagging in on a signal, and a gang order”. “No problem, I have a bell, when we stop, I’ll see what is down”.

I go back, the rear SD-40-2 is down with, governor shutdown, low oil.. on the governor, not the Paxon-Mitchell, which is totally different. Looking after a re-set, it is low, and enough to shut us down. No, water bottles, of light oil, to be seen. LOL yes, the en-route fix.

We’re on a curve, and this unit is slanting toward the compressor fill access knock off. A hammer, and the knock off, I’ll siphon of a bottle of oil. Yep, did, plus a lil more, but will help. I pour what I need into the Governor, fire off, and VICTORY..
The 40 stabilizes, and ready for whats ahead. I call the head end, saying we’re re-set and ready. “Here’s the release, we’re clear, to go through the gang order”. Repeated, “Releasing rolling”. I’m laying into them again. I make my next call....

I dial in the Marantz, the tone in, a dial tone, and the roundhouse. “23rd Street Dale”. “Dale, Bob Terry, on “helpers 7287, on Marantz”. “Yeah, whats up?” I related the condition, and what I did. “Okay, we’ll look at it, when ya tie up, call me or the foreman, when ya get in”. “Okay Dale thanks, BN Helpers clear”. The sign off, tones engage, and back to 36-36, and let the head end we’re back.

No problems, and we assaulted the summit, run lite, and called the house. “Running track, thanks” Tied up another call........

Last updated September 12, 2016