Miner Dave wrote:
I came across an old bag in the basement, and I was told that it was a "grip" from the steam days. What would generally be in it?
I'm not certain what a US engineer might carry but I had the following in my bag...
RuleBook, Working Timetable, Locomotive Staff Operating Instructions Handbook, Overhead Traction Electrical Handbook, Semi-Permanent Train Advices, assorted favourite magazines, Not-To-Run cards, Train Consist forms, spare WHB O-rings, Pliers, two adjustable spanners, 3 sizes of screwdriver, pipe wrench, cold chisel, ball-pein hammer, square key(for doors), torch, woolen hat, gloves, cup, spoon, knife, and a thousand mile lunch. On the shunt, I only carried magazines and the lunch. Never went without a lunch, Anywhere!!
Walking home from work one night around 4-am after a long shift a patrolcar pulled alongside and the officer got out. He asked me can he look in my bag, I said no, he then asked what's in the bag so I rattled it all off for him less the lunch, he said don't be a smartarse so I opened the bag and showed him. He was quite taken back when I started to bring out the various rulebooks listed above then asked why I carried the tools: I said because I knew how to use them, unlike "some" others.
Chris
in New Zealand