by mitch kennedy
Hi-I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Mitch Kennedy, and I lived a half block from the Clementon branch from birth (1956) until I got married in 1986. Moved to Maine in '88 and have worked the last past 10 years for a 200 mile regional line in northern New England (No- NOT GUILFORD!), working up to present position as Senior Freight Agent (more database administrator than railroad job...) I grew up watching the Clementon RDC made its daily passage and later rode many a CA299 around the Owens Corning plant. When Conrail came about, I rode CM90 (later WPCA-whatever) with Charlie Laird, Robbie, et al, met Al Eldridge,a living PRSL legacy when he'd show up at Tuckahoe-he's still volunteering at th Pa RR Museum in Strasburg and shows up as movement director up here at the Conway Scenic in New Hampshire for Railfan Weekend in October. I have a question for the fellow signing on as WL Avis, block operator. Was Lee Avis a relative of yours? I did the captioning for a DVD put out by a fellow from Virginia that was MAJOR PRSL mojo from the 50's all filmed by Lee Avis. Lastly, a while back someone inquired about the crew pool symbols. It was a PRR system based on divisions the crew was assigned, lasting til Conrail. Non-interdivisional freights were assigned "A" for Amboy division, CB for Camden and Burlington County, PT for Phila Term , S for Schuylkill div, B for BelDel, CA for Camden and Atlantic and WY for West Jersey ,etc.(NOT an all-inclusive list!). CM was a Rdg (ACRR) designation. Look forward to hearing from all you PRSL folk!