[no subject]

[<tumbleweed@santel.net>]

Hello all,
I have been on the sidelines watching and reading with interest all the 
discussion on seat belts and accidents, etc......pretty scary stuff! I am new 
to 
the hobby, however I was raised on the old Northern Pacific Railroad.....my 
father was a Section Foreman with over 44 years in at retirement, and that has 
been close to forty years ago....I had the privelege of going with him on the 
"motorcar" from when I was about 10 years old, and also worked for him for 
three 
years during my late teens, which launched my own railroad career......

I remember my father hauling upwards of 100 "gandies" to a work site on gang 
cars 
and trailers......I remember my father hauling loads of ties and rails on a 
pushcar.....I remember my father leaving for work on the "motorcar" during -30 
degree weather.....I remember my father slowing the "motorcar" to a crawl 
before 
going over a grade crossing....I remember my father slowing the "motorcar" to a 
crawl before going over a frog or a diamond or other hazard.....I remember my 
father "setting flags" at a work site even though there were no scheduled 
trains 
due until the next day.....

I don't remember my father ever "opening up" the "motorcar" to see how fast it 
would go.....I don't remeber my father ever being involved in a accident or 
even 
a mishap with the "motorcar".....

I remember my father as a "common sense" type of person who put safety of his 
crew and company property high on his list of priorities....

These memories bring into focus the original purpose of these machines that are 
a 
part of our heritage, and the tremendous responsibility that was assumed by 
people that made their living by operating them....

I won't offer my opinion on seat belts and other safety add-ons.....it would be 
just another opinion....I do hope these thoughts help to establish the 
importance 
of safety, and what can be accomplished by using common sense....

Larry Munson
Proud owner of a ex-NP M19F