However, I later became involved in a affair that occurred at the engine terminal in Cincinnati. Steam locomotives from several railroads had complained of mistreatment by a man at the terminal, and I had heard the N&W management was making a investigation into the matter, on account of the complaints made by the locomotives. I, being due to make a run to Cincinnati, would soon be able to investigate the matter myself.
Upon arrival in Cincinnati, I was soon taken to the engine terminal, where I found a man roaming the terminal with what I found out later was a hunting whip. He saw me and walked toward me, tapping the whip on his leg. I backed away, whistling in fear. I found a open switch, and moved toward it, and ran past him, whistling loudly. I ran across the terminal, and hid behind a few other locomotives, quieting down as I stopped. The man looked around, tapping something on the ground (which I supposed to be the whip.) By the time he found me, his rate of breathing told me he was very angry. I sat still and allowed him to come up to me, but when he began tapping my rods with the whip, I ran over to the other side of the terminal, with him struggling to keep pace with me. He came up and threw the whip out, its lash touching my wheels. I whistled angrily and one of my safety valves lifted. He coiled the whip back as he came near me, but at the moment I sensed him behind my eccentric crank, I slipped intentionally and caused my eccentric crank to hit him on the leg. The man fell back, screaming some unspeakable words, as I ran over to several other steam locomotives, who kindly gathered around me to protect me. But I was not harassed further, and was able to complete my scheduled service in peace.
I later found out this man had left service at the engine terminal, and had been proved to be a individual who, knowing we steam locomotives were alive, had enjoyed tormenting us, from which he had been removed from service. For this reason, many steam locomotives offered their thanks to me, for which I kindly accepted. As for the J's, I was asked to appear before Mama to render my version of the matter, but nothing else was done about it afterward. I could return to my work knowing I had removed the aggravation that had so recently plagued my fellow steam locomotives.
The rest of 1950 passed without incident, only in December being involved in an accident, where I hit a automobile at a crossing in Ohio. I was barely hurt at all, my pilot being sore for several days. I had to go to Roanoke for inspection, but was soon cleared to return to service without any further problems.
At this time, I was often plagued with what I learned later was depression. I would cry for unknown reasons, and feel that no one liked me. My crews did not know what to do with me, and I feared that I would be removed from service. This made me cry more often, and my fellow J's were distressed at what to do with me. However, that would come out of the Roanoke Shops that month (January 1951) someone that would prove of great assistance to me. This would be Y6b 2194, whom I would soon meet. For the moment, I was counseled by 1228 and Y6b 2184, and several mixtures of herb tea were tried to see what would be the best use for me. An effective mixture was found, which proved to be of relief to my crews, as I was able to make runs without crying. As it was soon learned that 2194 was making studies in counseling, I was sent to him on occasion as a student case. I found 2194 to be friendly and encouraging, and very useful as a counselor. I improved under his attention, and in the meanwhile making local passenger runs from Roanoke to Bluefield so I can visit 2194, observed at the love affair developing between 2194 and 2184.
It was here that I learned about love, and that a locomotive can love another. I talked to 2194 and 2184 often about this, and I often wondered if another locomotive could love me. I saw myself as practically unlovable, though 2194 assured me that male locomotives would think differently, and he was sure that quite a few of them would be attracted to me. I was soon to see this, as at Shaffers Crossing, quite a few A's would greet me and I was sure they were watching me as I moved about the yard. Since my scheduled time with 2194 (three months) was soon up, I returned to regular runs with rare occasions to see 2194. Though, 2194 and 2184 would often stop by me when I stopped at stations in Bluefield or Williamson, and checked up on how I was doing.
I worked in regular service for several months without interruption, until late 1951, when I had another short spell of depression. It was soon cured by herb tea and counseling, and as I returned to service, I was told of my oldest sister 600 (who was named Mama) who had paired off with Class A 1201. I was also aware of my older sisters getting attention from A's as well, and on a few occasions, a few of these A's would give me attention as well.
Upon arrival in Cincinnati, I was soon taken to the engine terminal, where I found a man roaming the terminal with what I found out later was a hunting whip. He saw me and walked toward me, tapping the whip on his leg. I backed away, whistling in fear. I found a open switch, and moved toward it, and ran past him, whistling loudly. I ran across the terminal, and hid behind a few other locomotives, quieting down as I stopped. The man looked around, tapping something on the ground (which I supposed to be the whip.) By the time he found me, his rate of breathing told me he was very angry. I sat still and allowed him to come up to me, but when he began tapping my rods with the whip, I ran over to the other side of the terminal, with him struggling to keep pace with me. He came up and threw the whip out, its lash touching my wheels. I whistled angrily and one of my safety valves lifted. He coiled the whip back as he came near me, but at the moment I sensed him behind my eccentric crank, I slipped intentionally and caused my eccentric crank to hit him on the leg. The man fell back, screaming some unspeakable words, as I ran over to several other steam locomotives, who kindly gathered around me to protect me. But I was not harassed further, and was able to complete my scheduled service in peace.
I later found out this man had left service at the engine terminal, and had been proved to be a individual who, knowing we steam locomotives were alive, had enjoyed tormenting us, from which he had been removed from service. For this reason, many steam locomotives offered their thanks to me, for which I kindly accepted. As for the J's, I was asked to appear before Mama to render my version of the matter, but nothing else was done about it afterward. I could return to my work knowing I had removed the aggravation that had so recently plagued my fellow steam locomotives.
The rest of 1950 passed without incident, only in December being involved in an accident, where I hit a automobile at a crossing in Ohio. I was barely hurt at all, my pilot being sore for several days. I had to go to Roanoke for inspection, but was soon cleared to return to service without any further problems.
At this time, I was often plagued with what I learned later was depression. I would cry for unknown reasons, and feel that no one liked me. My crews did not know what to do with me, and I feared that I would be removed from service. This made me cry more often, and my fellow J's were distressed at what to do with me. However, that would come out of the Roanoke Shops that month (January 1951) someone that would prove of great assistance to me. This would be Y6b 2194, whom I would soon meet. For the moment, I was counseled by 1228 and Y6b 2184, and several mixtures of herb tea were tried to see what would be the best use for me. An effective mixture was found, which proved to be of relief to my crews, as I was able to make runs without crying. As it was soon learned that 2194 was making studies in counseling, I was sent to him on occasion as a student case. I found 2194 to be friendly and encouraging, and very useful as a counselor. I improved under his attention, and in the meanwhile making local passenger runs from Roanoke to Bluefield so I can visit 2194, observed at the love affair developing between 2194 and 2184.
It was here that I learned about love, and that a locomotive can love another. I talked to 2194 and 2184 often about this, and I often wondered if another locomotive could love me. I saw myself as practically unlovable, though 2194 assured me that male locomotives would think differently, and he was sure that quite a few of them would be attracted to me. I was soon to see this, as at Shaffers Crossing, quite a few A's would greet me and I was sure they were watching me as I moved about the yard. Since my scheduled time with 2194 (three months) was soon up, I returned to regular runs with rare occasions to see 2194. Though, 2194 and 2184 would often stop by me when I stopped at stations in Bluefield or Williamson, and checked up on how I was doing.
I worked in regular service for several months without interruption, until late 1951, when I had another short spell of depression. It was soon cured by herb tea and counseling, and as I returned to service, I was told of my oldest sister 600 (who was named Mama) who had paired off with Class A 1201. I was also aware of my older sisters getting attention from A's as well, and on a few occasions, a few of these A's would give me attention as well.
