Summary:
Background prior to coming to L&N. Apprenticeship with L&N and rise through the ranks to Vice-President for Operations. Wiggins' father's experience with L&N, 1922; Decatur, 1937: to Louisville. Apprenticeship program. Change in types of craftsmen needed by the railroad. Loyalty to steam and threat to coal interest as the diesels took hold. War period: machinists and other craftsmen not drafted. Craftsmen and atmosphere of work at the South Louisville shops, safety emphasis. Reflections on role of Mr. Wiggins' generation, innovation and modernization, reduction on the amount of labor required for certain jobs and centralized traffic control. Discussion of microwave, computers. Modernization of train yards such as Osborn Yard. In-depth analysis of reasons for diesel superiority over steam engines: maintenance, manpower, air pollution. Freight cars, roller bearing improvement, hot box, car shaker, unit train operation. Coal transfer process and unit train, Paradise, Kentucky mine to mouth operation unloading improvements, air cylinder and door mechanism. South Louisville shops, importance in relation to other shops in the system, reflections of great railroad families: EO Rollings, Curtis Rollings, EO Rollings, Jr. Last ten years with L&N and the consolidation with the Family Lines System. Reflections on leadership.
Topic(s):
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company--Management, Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company--Employees, Railroads--Management
