Summary:
Moved to Louisville about 14, went to Louisville Polytechnical School run by the YMCA. After he joined the L&N in the Commerce Law and Traffic Department, he went to University of Louisville to take railroad law. Earlier worked in mimeograph department and as a clerk in mailing department. Depression hit and he moved to the Embargo Bureau. One of his main accomplishments was the updating of the tracking system. L&N was using a paper system and Harkleroad looked over other systems to find a better method. In 1965 with the use of telex and Western Union along with IBM, he was able to make needed modifications. Next in importance was to tie shippers into the system so that they could receive the information they needed but not receive restricted information. Final coup was to sell top officials on the importance of the system and the negotiation with the local union regarding the operation of the system. Positive aspects of real time, and the computerization of the train yards. Run through trains versus the unit train. Discussion of the workings of the Embargo Bureau and its involvement in moving people from Oklahoma to Baldwin County, Alabama. Observations on subjects surrounding working with car equipment: Car service items; car committee; special cars; shippers; car cleaning; constructive placement; cross-town switching; custom underframe car; rules for handling explosives; dunnage/wooden pallets to shipper.
Topic(s):
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company--Automation, Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company--Employees
