RE: (erielack) Incident at Friendship

["Michael Connor" <mjconnor_rr_@_hotmail.com>]

I believe I wrote that article based on some Erie and PS&N correspondance I 
was able to review.  The incident occured in the early 1920's.  At 
Friendship the Erie and PS&N had a connecting track.  The PS&N had a Water 
Tank at Friendship for watering locomotives while the Erie had none.  A 
joint agreement existed permitting  Erie engines to come onto the PS&N and 
take water in the unlikely event they needed water (the Erie had tanks at  
several locations east and west of Friendship).  On the date in question the 
Erie local freight was delayed en route and needed to take water on the PS&N 
which they did.  The problem arose in that the Erie crew was required to 
provide flag protection so that a PS&N train wouldn't hit them.  (I don't 
recall whather the Erie crew was required to have permission of the PS&N 
Dispatcher, but I think not).  It was the opinion of the PS&N Superintendent 
that the Erie crew failed to flag (based principally on the word of the PS&N 
Agent at Friendship who had a pretty good view of scene).  The ensuing 
informal investigation by the Erie Trainmaster was unable to establish the 
guilt of the Erie crew though the Erie promised to reiterate flagging 
instructions.  The PS&N then considered the matter closed.  The Erie file, 
however, has a pencil notation by the Erie Superintendent to the effect that 
he believed "our" (Erie) crew was guilty.  M. J. Connor

to

>From: jon.liles_@_us.schneider-electric.com
>Reply-To: jon.liles_@_us.schneider-electric.com
>To: erielack_@_lists.railfan.net
>Subject: (erielack) Incident at Friendship
>Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 16:25:07 -0500
>
>List,
>
>I just recently purchased some back issues of The Diamond. In issue 2.2 
>there was an article
>entitled "Incident at Friendship" which presents some communications 
>between the Shawmut and
>Erie railroads about an incident that occurred, strangely enough, at 
>Friendship, N.Y.  Just out
>of curiosity, what did happen?
>
>Jon Liles
>ELHS # 3158
>NMRA # 125464
>CVRHS # 195
>

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