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From: Dlw1el2 AT aol DOT com
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:59:10 EST
Subject: Railroading many Generations apart, BCC to many!
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Railroading 1890s Style

This is from the saved archives of a trainman that worked out of Port Morris
on the DL&W ( Lackawanna) several generations ago. He is not the one whom
the pome is about but had the ware with all to save it. I found it a nice
comparison to the second email that's floating around the Internet this week. It
reflects back on the days when the Railroads graciously aloud men to become
just switch tenders or hostlers when that man for various reasons could no
longer perform as a Conductor or Engineer. I thought I might share it with all
of you. At this time of year I will let each of you draw your own
conclusions, and thoughts from both.

Bob Bahrs

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THE SWITCH TENDER

A LITTLE RED SHACK BUILT CLOSE TO THE TRACK
WITH A WINDOW IN EITHER END
A LITTLE RED DOOR AND TEN FEET OF FLOOR
AND PLENTY OF SWITCHES TO TEND
A LITTLE OLD MAN WITH ONLY ONE HAND
AND A LITTLE OLD PIPE MADE OF CLAY
AND A LITTLE OLD SMILE FROM OLD ERINS ISLE
HE IS A HAPPY OLD FELLOW ALL DAY

IN THE LITTLE SHACK BUILDT CLOSE TO THE TRACK
THERE ARE MEMORIES OF BYGONE YEARS
WHEN YOUTH AND ITS PRIME WAS ALL SUMMER TIME
NOW GONE AMID SORROWS AND TEARS
WHEN THIS LITTLE MAN WITH ONLY ONE HAND
IN THE DAYS OF THE OLD LINK AND PIN
WHILE COUPLING THE CARS WAS CAUGHT IN THE BARS
AND THE IRON HAND OF FATE TURNED HIM IN

IN THE LITTLE SHACK TURN LIFES PAGES BACK
WHEN YOUTH SUCCESS LOOKED AHEAD
SINCE THOSE BALMY DAYS THE FUTURES BRIGHT RAYS
HAVE CHANGED LIKE THE HAIR ON HIS HEAD
AS HE SITS THERE TO NIGHT IN THE GLARE OF THE LIGHT
THAT SHINES THROUGH THE LITTLE STOVE DOOR
YOU CAN EASILY TRACE BY THE LINES ON HIS FACE
THE SADNESS AND GLADNESS OF YORE

WHEN YOU COME ALONG AND THE SWITCHES ARE WRONG
AND THE LIGHTS ALL AROUND YOU ARE RED
DON'T CURSE AND ABUSE AND SHOUT AND MISS USE
HAVE RESPECT FOR THAT WEARY GRAY HEAD
FOR THAT LITTLE MAN WITH ONLY ONE HAND
MAY SOON PASS AWAY FROM YOUR VIEW
AND THE IRON HAND OF FATE MAY NOT HESITATE
TO MAKE A SWITCH TENDER OF YOU.



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Railroading 2007 Style










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