John W. Orr

In Set Up Running, John W. Orr tells the story of his father’s long career as a locomotive engineer on the Williamsport Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. As a boy growing up in Ralston, PA the author developed a fascination for railroads fueled by his observation of railroad activity and his father’s railroading stories. His special relationship with his father, Oscar P. Orr, enabled him to experience his father’s working life through those stories, conversations, and detailed discussions until O.P. died in 1954. This oral history is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. It presents incredible details about the daily work routines and experiences of this long-time steam locomotive engineer. It depicts a hard-working, skilled, engineman who was loyal to the Pennsy. However it also reveals the hardships and difficult life styles that were required of enginemen during the first half of the 20th century. It presents an abundance of detailed information about the operation and capabilities of the various steam locomotives that were used. Oscar P. Orr was born on in 1883 near Bellefonte, PA. He took his first job firing the stationary boilers at a steam heating plant in Bellefonte in 1902. O.P. began his PRR career as a fireman on the Williamsport Division in 1904. In 1909 O.P. was “set up running” as an engineer of a Class R H3 locomotive on a yard crew. Over the next 40 years O.P. would operate almost every type of stream locomotive (and every run) that ran on the Williamsport Division. His run assignments as an engineer included Williamsport Yards (1909-1910), Ralston to Tyrone (1910-1930), Southport to Altoona (1930-1931), Altoona to Wilkes-Barre (1931-1933), Altoona to Harrisburg (1933-1934), Lykons to Millersburg (1935-1936), Southport to Enola (1936-1937), Williamsport Yards (1937-1947), and Williamsport to Renovo (1947-1949). He much preferred over-the-road runs where he could “let the horses have their head” and run better than 80 miles an hour on selected sections of track. He clocked himself by timing mileposts at 93 miles an hour at times. However those over-the-road runs often prevented O.P. from getting home each night, so he took yard assignments, which enabled him to spend more time at home with his family. This book puts the reader in the cab where they can experience the complexity of these mighty steam locomotives, hear the conversations between the train crew, and witness the hardships and dangers that they endured. It also reveals the relationships between the train crews, the dispatchers, and the administration. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable and very informative read. Included are a few maps, track diagrams, and photographs, a glossary of terms, and a short list of other books and videotapes.… (mer)