Quite honestly folks, Ghosts 4 was slated to reflect on times past at Southview, that was until a short time ago, at a few minutes till Noon as the Postman, brought to me a wonderful Christmas gift.
The title of today's Ghosts belongs to one of us. A person who I've know for quite a long time and who shares the same passion in this Montour RR as I do. I hadn't originally thought of dedicating a Ghosts to him...or for that matter, anyone in particular, but today, it is only fitting.
Many years ago, while in the employ of the Montour RR in their maintenance of way department, Section Gang #1, Foreman R. Maga and company were instructed to surface and replace the bad ties in Geary Curve. Geary Curve, located just East of the East End of Russell, between Mile Posts 15 and 16, and as it's name implies is part of a 6 degree curve as well as being the place where the 1.31 gradient from Champion ends and the 1.30 percent ascent up through Shaw Mine and #9 begins, was a place I spent many weeks of my first summer working on a Montour RR track gang.
Being employed on a section gang on the Montour RR was a tough task. There wasn't a thing you did that was easy. Nearly every tool a laborer used in those days was heavy. From claw bars to spike mauls...track jacks to lining bars, bolt wrenches to spike kegs, they were all heavy.
Surfacing track in those days was a art and a part of daily life with Section Gang #1.. It was my opinion back then, our Foreman was a bit rusty in this art. Being one of those old heads as they are called, his skills at surfacing (raising) track was not up to par as it should of. Needless to say, the responsibility in raising track so not to have a uneven surface was left to another old head, and prominent employee of the Montour RR, M. Sacco.
Marshall Sacco was not a stocky section hand as one would imagine. He was average build and average height, and for being a senior employee, not like many of us younger, still wet behind the ears know it alls, he could outwork anyone who cared to challenge him.
Most of the guys on Section Gang #1 respected Marshall, and for the most part, no one wanted stuck with working with Marshall on the surfacing projects. During each raise of the main track, it was typically common to raise roughly 2 rail lengths at a time, thus allowing Marshall to sight the rail, keeping it as even as possible with the last raise, but making sure the furthest raise point wasn't raised to high so the next raise would have to be compensated that would lead to unevenness.
Raising track in a curve, where gradients change required attentiveness. During one particular week while Marshall was on vacation, our Foreman did the sighting, which later lead to a hump in the main track which required another raise in the effected raise, and the ballast removed so the roadbed would settle into more of a even surface...not a fun thing to redo.
As time progressed during those summer months, Geary Curve was transformed into a nearly brand new road bed that began about the WestBound Yard Board there at Russell, extending east of the underpass up to a point where the 2 homes sit accross Route 980 from the Geary Barn.
During those couple of weeks Section Gang #1 spent at Geary Curve, hundreds of new ties were installed. New ballast was brought out by rail and spread allowing gang #1 to do a second-lighter tamp on the weak spots that had settled as work progressed. We finalized our work at Geary Curve by edging the outside ballast on both sides of the right of way trying to keep the defined area of ballast separate from that of the dirt and cinders, before moving East to Shaw Mine where our next surfacing project would commence.
But in 2 years time, I found myself looking at Geary Curve from a different perspective. No longer was I a section hand with the Montour RR. Personality differences between the afternoon Champion Yardmaster and Superintendent J.E.S. created a vacancy in that afternoon slot. The job was available if I wanted it, but it was not a no strings attached promotion as I had to fill in as Train Dispatcher when there was the need.
With a new job came new hours. More time was again available to rediscover photography and go back to documenting the characteristics of the Montour RR instead of, after a long tiring day on the track gang, heading home to take a nap.
Just across the highway from the Montour RR main track was the Geary Farm and Barn. You couldn't miss that gigantic white barn with its brillant red roof, and those gigantic identifying letters on its front that added so much beauty to the land.
I had often wanted to hike out into the opposite field wanting to record a passing coal train right there at the Geary Farm. Or up there in the field behind the barn affording one a panoramic view of the farm, the barn and just beyond...the Montour RR.
The beauty and splendor of Geary Curve was there at hand. But time...could be your worst enemy. The inexperience of a young cameraman had caught up to me. The mines were in trouble...and the Montour RR was in trouble.
The photographs I had visioned were there, just waiting. There was so much there to record. The angles...the landscape, I had much to do. The transition from wanting to be on board with train crews had been redefined. I had ridden nearly every mile of the Montour. But now, it was time to record the physical characteristics of the Montour RR.
But one of the characteristics of the Montour RR I hadn't taken into account, would be its demise. There was no formal announcement...No television ads or radio spots. A simple conversation announced the SW-9's were up for sale...#4 was flooded and Champion and Westland were adjusting operations. Furlough notices went out and life forever changed.
And thus this past December 5th, the Geary Farm was re-visited by a cold cameraman, seeking to record its silent beauty, and there in the distance, how inspiring the portrait could of been...
Years later, at a gathering in Cecil, anothers presentation of the Montour RR brought fond memories of the Geary Farm. There rounding the lengthy curve, westbound, 3 SW-9's with Champion Coal and me requesting a copy
of that scenic splendor, that arrived this Christmas Eve...
T.J.S., a Merry Christmas to You, and to all a Good Night.
