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electric_blue68

(26,710 posts)

12. Wow! How interesting! Sometimes it *is* a small world. And you'll like this other little story...

Sun Nov 13, 2022, 06:08 PM

Nov 2022

I still have cousins living in northern NJ, and those who did live in Tenefly.
My sis and I still take the train (not since Covid) to Ramsey. Then we have only a 1/3+ walk to their house.

It sure seems that it would certainly be a Sperry Rand Rail car, seen they worked for Sperry Rand. 👍

Anyway so my dad when they (the Armed Forces, I think, unless the GI Bill) asked him what he wanted to be-
he said...
"An engineer.".

However he meant a train engineer! They thought a regular engineer. He ended up graduating as an electronic engineer.

But he loved trains. So we'd see trains on different vacations. Plus I loved looking at model train set ups he'd take me to for the train runs, and the scenery. I loved playing with wooden train tracks/trains. I also am an artist, and love landscapes so the scenery aspect also really appealed to me.

Thanks for sharing your story. 👍

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Highlight:

While Veterans Day is still in our minds I'd like to share both my parents fairly unique efforts... [View all] electric_blue68 Nov 2022 OP

I fully read your story. It's wonderful. lamp_shade Nov 2022 #1

TY! electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #7

What interesting experiences they had! I think we all wish we had asked more Tanuki Nov 2022 #2

I asked a few good questions over the years, but yeah more would have been good.... electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #8

Great story. blm Nov 2022 #3

Aww! Blush! And Ty! electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #9

Sounds like dad was working a Sperry Rail Car. DEbluedude Nov 2022 #4

Wow! How interesting! Sometimes it *is* a small world. And you'll like this other little story... electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #12

My grandfather joined the Army Air Corp hoping to be a pilot... hunter Nov 2022 #29

I know you must be so proud of your parents! lucca18 Nov 2022 #5

TY! electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #13

Great story. Thanks for sharing. dameatball Nov 2022 #6

Thank you! electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #14

My father and his father worked the Wausau yards. Tetrachloride Nov 2022 #10

Cool! This is in Wisconsin? electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #16

yes. I was able to read the Census records Tetrachloride Nov 2022 #19

Research is your friend. 👍 Cool. electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #27

Research is your friend. 👍 Cool. electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #28

''The G Men of the Rails'' Donkees Nov 2022 #11

Oh! Look at this! Thank you! 👍🧡 Will share w my sis,too. electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #15

This type of inspection car became known as a "doodlebug." :) Donkees Nov 2022 #17

TY! "Doodlebug" sounds vaguely familiar. 👍 I wonder liguisticaly whether it morphed into a slang... electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #20

I'm guessing those wiggly lines on the readout tape were called doodles :) Donkees Nov 2022 #22

Actually... (there's several terms, and slang)... electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #24

ETA: This actually looks like the article - but different bc it's got the added lighter blue color! electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #18

They mention it's a reprint in a new format from Popular Mechanics May 1943 ... Donkees Nov 2022 #21

TY! I might be able to grab something at the link and be able send the it to my sis... electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #23

I also looked at the Popular Mechanics magazine from 1943 where the story appeared... Donkees Nov 2022 #25

Oh, interesting, even just from a illustration graphical POV. TY 👍 electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #26