The poling shot at 5:02 alone makes this a treasure; but the whole sequence is a great inspiration for modellers of that era and locale. Thanks for sharing!
I remember seeing #9 crossing Mineral Spring Ave. My dad worked at Sayles Finishing Co., and would take me to see the engines in action there and also at Watt Terminal.
The procedure of pushing a railcar with a pole, railroad tie, or wooden stick was known as “POLING”. Back in the day locomotives and freight cars were built with four "poling pockets," one on each side of the front and rear sills. By the 1960s and 1970’s most Railroads outlawed the dangerous practice because the poles could break under pressure posing a hazard to people, equipment or objects close by. In my 42 year railroad career, there were times when it was necessary to perform this dangerous function because a freight car was fouling the track the engine was on. There wasn’t any other way to get around the car but to “pole” it out of the foul. With an experienced crew the task could be safely accomplished but the man on the ground always remained clear of the move in case the pole snapped. On the Warwick Railway it was necessary to “Pole” cars being spotted at Atlantic Tubing and chaining the knuckles when pulling them out. Even with a “Radial Coupler” on the engine the curve was too tight to make the move coupled to the freight car.
I grew up in Saylesville and as a kid I used to go watch the Moshassuck Valley a lot. I used to sit at the crossing at Higginson Ave. They switched Durastone and Watts Terminal at the crossing and went north to the Sayles Bleachery. Years later after I got married my father in law worked at Watts unloading cigarettes and other stuff at Watts. Great video.
What a great video! Love the footage of both short lines, thanks for posting. If I may I would like to elaborate a little on the Warwick Railway footage: At the beginning of the Warwick Railway portion, it looks like Oscar Greene is running the 104. Then around the 4:39 mark it appears to be Oscar riding the footboards and oiling the switch for Atlantic Tubing. It may be possible Oscar's wife Shirley Greene was running the engine this day.
Around 5:50 mark Oscar is running the 104 headed for the interchange with two tank cars. I don’t recognize the man flagging Elmwood Avenue. Oscar is running the 104 again around the 7:30 mark. At the 8:00 mark it looks like my dad Loris is flagging Mill Street and riding the footboard at 8:15 and again at 9:15. Oscar is running the 104. The gondola on the stub track is a leased car for Geigy. It will be loaded with Zinc dross (waste) for shipment out of Cranston. At the 9:53 mark, Loris is riding the side of the box and Oscar is running. 11:00 Loris on footboard and Oscar running the 104. 11:44 Oscar’s turn on the footboards and Loris is running. I don’t recognize the third man.
Now this is how you run a Railroad. Thank for the blast of the past. Love the old standard 40 foot boxcars some of them still had running boards, high ladders and brake wheels which were banned in 1966 by the ICC.
Excellent! Seeing the MVRR kicking cars, and drop switching, WRWK crews riding the switcher steps. Geigy Chemical. Atlantic Tubing. I think Oscar is seen quite a few times, and I believe Larry, as well. I lived in Providence around the time that Oscar's wife bought him the railroad from Tom Vaughan.
Great footage! I'm from Rhode Island and unfortunately wasn't old enough to see these two lines in action. Thank you for posting it. Do you have any other old Rhode Island railroad footage you might be posting?
Priceless footage. Thanks so much!
The poling shot at 5:02 alone makes this a treasure; but the whole sequence is a great inspiration for modellers of that era and locale. Thanks for sharing!
I enjoy the well maintained locomotives and the lack of graffiti. Plus its just great video of how it was.
Great job!
I remember seeing #9 crossing Mineral Spring Ave. My dad worked at Sayles Finishing Co., and would take me to see the engines in action there and also at Watt Terminal.
The FRA Inspector would be producing a Brick.
What's with the trackside fires in the first 2 minutes??
The procedure of pushing a railcar with a pole, railroad tie, or wooden stick was known as “POLING”. Back in the day locomotives and freight cars were built with four "poling pockets," one on each side of the front and rear sills. By the 1960s and 1970’s most Railroads outlawed the dangerous practice because the poles could break under pressure posing a hazard to people, equipment or objects close by.
In my 42 year railroad career, there were times when it was necessary to perform this dangerous function because a freight car was fouling the track the engine was on. There wasn’t any other way to get around the car but to “pole” it out of the foul. With an experienced crew the task could be safely accomplished but the man on the ground always remained clear of the move in case the pole snapped.
On the Warwick Railway it was necessary to “Pole” cars being spotted at Atlantic Tubing and chaining the knuckles when pulling them out. Even with a “Radial Coupler” on the engine the curve was too tight to make the move coupled to the freight car.
Neat to see all the older freight cars with Fallen Flag roadnames I remember from back then.
Thanks so much for sharing this. Greetings from Argentina!
I grew up in Saylesville and as a kid I used to go watch the Moshassuck Valley a lot. I used to sit at the crossing at Higginson Ave. They switched Durastone and Watts Terminal at the crossing and went north to the Sayles Bleachery. Years later after I got married my father in law worked at Watts unloading cigarettes and other stuff at Watts. Great video.
It is mu understanding that the former Warwick Railroad's line is being brought back into service. P & W is going to serve Safety Kleen.
What a great video! Love the footage of both short lines, thanks for posting.
If I may I would like to elaborate a little on the Warwick Railway footage: At the beginning of the Warwick Railway portion, it looks like Oscar Greene is running the 104. Then around the 4:39 mark it appears to be Oscar riding the footboards and oiling the switch for Atlantic Tubing. It may be possible Oscar's wife Shirley Greene was running the engine this day.
Around 5:50 mark Oscar is running the 104 headed for the interchange with two tank cars. I don’t recognize the man flagging Elmwood Avenue. Oscar is running the 104 again around the 7:30 mark.
At the 8:00 mark it looks like my dad Loris is flagging Mill Street and riding the footboard at 8:15 and again at 9:15. Oscar is running the 104. The gondola on the stub track is a leased car for Geigy. It will be loaded with Zinc dross (waste) for shipment out of Cranston.
At the 9:53 mark, Loris is riding the side of the box and Oscar is running. 11:00 Loris on footboard and Oscar running the 104. 11:44 Oscar’s turn on the footboards and Loris is running. I don’t recognize the third man.
Now this is how you run a Railroad. Thank for the blast of the past. Love the old standard 40 foot boxcars some of them still had running boards, high ladders and brake wheels which were banned in 1966 by the ICC.
Excellent!
Seeing the MVRR kicking cars, and drop switching, WRWK crews riding the switcher steps. Geigy Chemical. Atlantic Tubing.
I think Oscar is seen quite a few times, and I believe Larry, as well.
I lived in Providence around the time that Oscar's wife bought him the railroad from Tom Vaughan.
Great footage! I'm from Rhode Island and unfortunately wasn't old enough to see these two lines in action. Thank you for posting it. Do you have any other old Rhode Island railroad footage you might be posting?
what customers did the moshassuck valley railroad serve?