Lehigh Valley Trail #12 - Victor to East Mendon LbNA #22147
Owner: | Adoptable |
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Plant date: | May 12, 2006 |
Location: | |
City: | Mendon |
County: | Monroe |
State: | New York |
Boxes: | 1 |
Planted by: | dipperwhippers |
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Found by: | Jiggs |
Last found: | May 9, 2010 |
Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFF |
Last edited: | May 12, 2006 |
The Lehigh Valley Trail, upon which this series is based, includes mile markers numbered from West to East. This series follows the mile markers (included in the titles) but in the opposite direction – from East to West. To follow the story properly, please read from the largest number (e.g., #12) to the smallest (e.g., #9).
Thursday August 31, 1911 – 9:20PM
A cool breeze made its way past the heavily oiled coat and down the sweat drenched back of Engineer Fred Kirchgraber as he leaned out of the cab window looking for the East Mendon crossing. The relief was short lived as heavy smoke cascaded over the front of the engine bringing with it the acrid smell of burning coal and a shower of steamy hot cinders.
The Sayre built 4-6-0 steamer was pulling the prestigious “Black Diamond Express.” A train consisting of a mammoth sixty-seven foot combination baggage and cafe car, a dining car, two Pullman day coaches and a magnificent Pullman Palace Car with wicker chairs, figured mahogany panels and inlaid beveled French plate mirrors. The train had pulled out of Victor station only 20 minutes ago and was on the end of a straight easy run into East Mendon.
The Firebox door clanged open as Fireman Johnny lux stepped on the control and threw in a shovel full of coal.
“Is that the last of it then?”
“That’s all she wrote ‘till we hit the Junction Freddie. We’ve got a good head of steam... we won't make no speed records...”
Fred squeezed the handle of the Johnson Bar, releasing the catch, and eased it back a notch – shortening the power stroke of the massive engine. At the same time his gloved left hand lovingly caressed the worn brass Regulator Handle, pulling back slightly to ease the applied boiler pressure. The coordinated movements resulting in the gradual slowing of the 100ton train.
He’d been counting road crossings since their departure…Phillips, Wangum, Old Dutch. He glanced out the fireman’s window to see a moonlit ribbon of brown road snake up the slight incline. “That would be Mile square…,” he said in a voice that barely broke through the sound of the reciprocating steel machinery. He gave a tug on the Whistle cord and the deep “Whooooo, Woot” broke the evening silence.
The Engine rumbled past three Railroad ties planted upright on the South Side of the track. Their purpose - to keep farm traffic (mostly wagons) from using the railroad bed as an easy, and most direct, path to the center of town. Looking south over the tops of the uprights, he caught a glimpse of a small campfire on the crest of the bank that bordered the rail bed. The flickering flames lit several faces and what appeared to be an abandoned circular stone well 6 steps to the left of the uprights. He saw figures move quickly – dousing the flames and gathering bundles. In the midst of this chaos, a tall skinny figure rose to his feet. He moved carefully towards the well. The moonlight revealed a shinny object held in his outstretched hands. He leaned low over the side of the well for several seconds. Then he stood up, looking around nervously. Fred noticed his hands were free of their burden… The man bent to pick up a satchel and raced in the direction of the passing train.
Johnny slammed the Firebox dampener shut, “This is going to have to be a quick stop if we’re going to make it…”