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September, 1950
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Glen Car Department Chalks Up Outstanding Safety Record
In this imposing group are shown 268 of the 615 employees of the Glen
Car Department staff, who, have worked 1,800,000 man hours without ranking injuries.
All about them swelled the sounds and movement of a large coach yard - tow
motors fretting past with provisions for the diners, the dull thud of ice blocks sliding into air conditioning
bunkers, the low rumble of trains being marshalled, the steady hum of busy diesels - this was the "Glen" in
Montreal, largest coach yard on the Canadian Pacific Railway.
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After changing a pair of wheels, Carman Tom Thornton is seen
repacking boxes in readiness for departure of a train.
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The older man touched the young employee - "the beginner" - on the arm and pointed at a sign that hung on
the shop wall. The numbers "365" stood out boldly in white chalk. "The boys here in the Car Department
are pretty proud of that record", he said. The lad read half aloud "This Department has worked 365 days
without a ranking injury".
Before he could say anything, the older employee continued. "A few minutes ago I noticed you cut across in front
of a train backing around the loop. Today you got away with it, tomorrow you may not. How about helping us keep our
accident slate clean?" The lad shifted the lunch pail he was carrying to the other hand. "I'll try",
he said, and he meant it. This is typical of a "first day" for a new employee. It is just one small
incident in the story of accident prevention being written daily by the 615 employees of the Glen Car Department, but
it illustrates the co-operation that helped these employees establish a brilliant record of no injuries
for a 365 day period while working 1,800,000 man hours.
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Large blocks of ice being pushed by Howard McDougall and Harry
Ilkuw into air conditioning bunkers before the departure of a train. White coveralls, safety rubber boots, and
gloves are always worn on this work.
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The story was not of glamour railroading - of mighty locomotives working through the mountains, or shiny diesels
standing in busy stations. Rather, it was the steady piling up of a proud record that meant happy families, full pay
envelopes, and the realization amongst the men that safety-conscious employees can and will work free
from painful, crippling injuries, that disable the man injured, and bring suffering to others at home.
To understand the magnitude of this accident free record, one must realize the various types of work performed by the
Car Department. An average of 320 cars are serviced at the Glen daily. Of these an average of 30 are sent to the
repair track.
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John Hughes and Bill McGee are about to place drinking water
tanks in the sterilizing plant to be steamed then rinsed in cold water. Rubber gloves and white overalls are
worn at all times while performing this work.
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During the icing season, air conditioned cars use approximately 21,260 tons of ice, or about 180 tons daily. A large
force of electricians is continuously employed checking and repairing the lighting and air conditioning systems on
cars while crews wash and clean each car as it comes in off the road.
Uppermost in the minds of all concerned at all times is the comfort and safety of the travelling public. Coaches and
sleepers are fumigated at regular intervals and when necessary, washed from ceiling to floor with various compounds
depending on what portion of the car is being cleaned. Before any draft departs for Windsor Station, the brakes are
tested with a portable air brake testing machine, while the department boasts of the most modern air brake room on
the system for testing of Universal Valves and air brake Triple valves.
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Agnes Leather, left, is the only woman Car Cleaner at the Glen.
No accidents since joining the service in 1916. Upholsterer Dominic A. Lanno, center, is the oldest employee,
45 years of service without an injury. Car Cleaner K. Johnson is the youngest employee. Other employees have
provided a good record for him to live up to.
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In the performance of these various duties, there is ample opportunity for serious personal injury if each employee
does not contribute that "little extra effort" required to do his job in a manner that lessens the
possibility of injury. In the Car Department, that "little extra effort" is obvious everywhere. A large
number of employees are wearing safety shoes. Goggles are worn where and when necessary - not left hanging around the
neck. Pant legs are tied above the shoes to eliminate tripping. Work under cars is done with the complete protection
of the blue flag.
All obstructions or tripping hazards in the yard such as water and air hose connections have been painted yellow.
Special refuse containers have been placed along the platforms as good housekeeping is stressed at all times.
Trestles for the washing of car tops are kept in first class condition and all ladders are inspected regularly for
defects.
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Air brake valves are tested after having been thoroughly cleaned.
Above we see Leading-Hand Howard Webb looking at the pressure gauges of the Universal Control test
rack.
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These could be looked upon as little things and individually of not too great importance, but Car Department
employees realize that it is the little things that, if not looked after, can cause just as serious an injury as the
more obvious unsafe conditions.
The education of new employees and the maintaining of interest in safety amongst the older men never ceases. Every
employee in the Car Department is a member of a safety sub-committee. These committees meet once a month
under the supervision of an assistant foreman and all matters insofar as they effect the shop concerned are discussed
at length.
Committee members place safety suggestions before the meeting and if no decision can be reached they are passed on
to the Division Safety Committee for action. Many improvements have been made in this manner.
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Glen Car Department has a compact well-stocked
first-aid room. Due to the Department's outstanding safety record, little use has been made of it
during the past year.
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The chairmen of the various sub-committees are appointed on a rotating basis for a period of six months
thus giving every employee the opportunity of filling the position at some time or other. This gives the men the
added incentive to join in the ways of safety with the realization that no one can be on the outside looking in, for
one careless or unthinking employee can mar a good safety record painstakingly built up by his fellow workers.
Machinery in the various shops of the Department has been modernized with safety shields provided where necessary.
The floors are kept free from grease and oil and once again good housekeeping is prominent.
A gleaming first-aid room is ready at all times to treat minor cuts and bruises and the men realize the
necessity of having these attended to immediately. Infection can be just as dangerous as a fall from the roof of a
building.
No single individual could, or would want to take credit for the Department's no accident record. All agree it has
been a collective effort, an effort that has and is paying rich dividends in happiness to the men and their
dependents. As a matter of fact, interest in the safety movement has prompted many of the Car Department employees to
attend Divisional monthly meetings at Park Avenue Station, in many instances a long haul from the family abode. Two
meetings were held during the year at the Glen, at which the employees' wives were welcomed, for safety can neither
be left at home or at work. It must be practiced all the time.
However, in the final analysis it has been the fine co-operation of supervisors, employees, and the
local representatives of labour that has done more than anything to preserve the Car Department record. These 615
employees have shown that it can be done. They may be rightly proud of what they have accomplished.
It Would Make a Long Train!
From 20 Jul 1949, to 20 Jul 1950, 118,903 cars were repaired, cleaned, or serviced at Glen
Yard, Montreal, representing 13,140 passenger trains that departed from Windsor Station during that period. The
figure 118,903 may not strike the casual reader as being particularly large, but let us suppose these cars were
marshalled into one train departing from Montreal for Vancouver.
The rear end would be in Windsor Station and the engine would be coupled onto the baggage cars in Herbert,
Saskatchewan, 1,888.5 miles from Montreal and just 28.4 miles east of Swift Current.
The following information gives a general idea of the work performed by the Glen Car Department during the past year
to keep these 118,903 cars rolling out on schedule. This is no small job...
Cars Repaired
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Air brakes adjusted
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23,004
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Journal boxes repacked
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36,480
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Air brakes cleaned
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492
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Journal wedges cleaned
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3,945
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Air hose changed
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982
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Shimmed cars
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1,150
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Couplers changed
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23
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Signal hose changed
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984
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Coupler knuckles changed
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169
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Brake valves cleaned/tested
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1,124
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Coupler yokes changed
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33
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Control valves changed
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286
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Drawbar pins changed
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114
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Triple valves changed
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232
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Elliptical springs changed
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325
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Filters cleaned/tested
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781
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Journal bearings changed
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7,538
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Journal boxes repacked
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1,334
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Wheels changed
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3,239
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Cars Serviced
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Batteries charged
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57,950
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Liquid soap qts.
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6,000
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Bon Ami cakes
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3,300
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Lye tins
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2,000
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Brooms
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2,300
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Mops
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7,800
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Cleaning cloth tons
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4
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Paper cups
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1,752,000
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Drinking tanks steamed out
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32,232
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Paper towels
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5,377,500
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Fumigated cars
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5,892
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Sponges
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1,600
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Bunker ice tons
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21,260
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Toilet soap bars
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139,560
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Whisks
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1,600
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Zoleo soap gals.
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1,600
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Cars Cleaned
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Buffet
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2,894
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Diners
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3,116
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Baggage mail and express
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20,093
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Sleepers
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15,868
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Baggage and smoker
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9,018
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Parlour cars
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6,455
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Cafe
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586
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Tourist
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1,696
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Coaches
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55,912
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Compartment
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3,265
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Total cars cleaned
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118,903
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This Canadian Pacific Spanner article
is copyright 1950 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with their
permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Company.
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