Jim;

Good observations!

I just thought some “entertainment” was in order:  bad order cars, hot boxes, “flat” wheels (bang bang bang), shifted loads, mis-routed cars, the fun never ends!

I wish I never made a mistake, but more than once, people definitely got creative in avoiding dropping off hot boxes “there is a car inspector on hand, and his assistant with the oil can and cotton”.  Ah ha.

Burning cars I never did adequately represent, but the plan per PRR employees was to figure out what was burning (smoke visible to the cabin), stop for conference, pull forward to grade crossing, call local FD, fail to put out fire, and so on.

EVERYONE wanted to get rid of the offal car, so that became an unexpected priority (surprise).  Re-routing on next block NB was “expedited”.  The poor car repairman that had to crawl under in August….

Elden Gatwood