Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company

Father with L&N as master mechanic. Early experience as roadman, then as special apprentice in the South Louisville shops. Description of the South Louisville shops, JW Adams and the Roundhouse. Areas of interest included the dynamonica car and car equipment. Differences in the division terrain and the movement of engineers to divisions. Description of different round houses. Involvement in shipping material for war. Return to Louisville in 1948 as assistant master mechanic and promotion to general master mechanic. Building period in 1948 to make changes from war years. Changes to be made in car shop facilities and diesel repair. Boilermakers disappeared and electricians increased. Thoughts on the railroad fraternity, the sharing of knowledge and the competition among manufacturers of diesel locomotives. This tape deals with various innovations and types of cars needed for the more modern railroad, derailment considerations, test track, suppliers and the AAR (American Association of Railroads).

Educated in Virginia, newspaper experience in Lynchburg and Richmond. Work with the Associated Press in Richmond, New York, Nashville, and Washington, D.C, including administrative experience as AP Bureau Chief for Tennessee. Administrative assistant to Senator A. William Robertson of Virginia for the period 1947-1960. Reasons for moving to L&N in 1960: challenge in organizing the railroad's first public relations department. Expansion of public relations' functions to include a news bureau manned by Edison Thomas and Charles Castner. Promotion projects including production of films on L&N history and on the historic locomotive "The General." Use of The General for public service combined with emphasis on L&N progress. Innovative public relations projects: Use of The General, Kentucky arts and crafts train, films. Role of the public relations department in varied company activities: labor relations, government relations, community relations. Special events such as Lady Bird Special political train, special trains for inspection by company directors and business leaders. Rebuilding advertising programs as passenger service dwindled and disappeared. New emphasis on freight sales, promotion, and on corporate image. Cooperation with traffic department in developing advertising. Comments on public relations aspects of L&N expansion and mergers with NC&StL, the C&I, the Tennessee Central and the Monon railroads: media and community leader contacts. Changes in mission of L&N Magazine content aimed at customers and community leaders as well as employees, circulation split with "family section" going only to employees. Public relations' functions relating to company annual report, stockholders' meeting and special presentation of information. Positive aspects of L&N development and service during the 1960-1970 decade.

Clarence Monin was general chairman of the Engine Service Employees of L&N System & Affiliated Lines (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers). Main topics: family background and education; apprentice locomotive engineer program; specific articles in the BLE agreements such as hours of service; explanation of the National Manning Agreement and the Reserve Engineer Agreement; present and future trends in the training of locomotive engineering personnel; effect of civil rights and equal opportunity legislation; BLE grievance procedure; legislative concerns of the BLE; changes in union membership, attitude and trends for the future; comments on the 1955 strike against L&N railroad; positive changes in the management of the L&N Railroad.

Moore is retired from the L&N Railroad having served most of his years of employment with both the L&N and the NC&StL Railroads in the areas of personnel and labor relations. Main topics: background prior to employment with the L&N Railroad; World War II years and the effects on hiring and promotional procedures; labor problems and agreements from 1949 including merger consideration; Moore's transfer to Louisville and the differences in his work; procedures for handling labor disputes; massive re-education program for management and reclassification of jobs through setting descriptions for all jobs and crafts; changes in labor force due to improved technology; railroad labor organization; background on the operating and nonoperating crafts; insights into specific unions such as Brotherhood of Railroad and Airline Clerks; racial and minority considerations in personnel; the importance of unions today and future trends for training skilled personnel.

Nicholson discusses his experiences with the railroad; WWII and his tenure with the National Railroad Historical Society are also discussed.

Interviewee describes her family background. Description of cold water flat and father's position as brakeman, flagman, and bagman for L&N. Working hours and types of people father worked with. Layoff from L&N and the financial hardships following. Father's work with WPA during Depression.

The narrator's conception of the major consideration for the development of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Main topics: American Railway Engineering Association; reorganization of the work force for track maintenance; hurricane repair repair experience; changes in: responsibilities on location, weight of loads, types of rails and scheduling bridge repairs; maintenance topics: modernization of bridge gangs and construction considerations; Osborn Yard construction; Critical Path Method; coal traffic by region; present and future trends; additional information on the American Railway Engineering Association.

This tape includes the material covered by Mary D. Bobo in a telephone interview with Mr. Boyles of the Kentucky News Press for radio news release on Dec. 31, 1980. Restrictions: none

Family connections with the L&N including Mrs. RoBards's father who was a Diamond Button man. The old L&N Magazine, the importance of its relation to the L&N family. The importance of the L&N to the growth of the following: industry (coal), institutions (colleges), and agriculture (South). RoBards deals with these items in great detail. Role of public relations and the L&N Magazine was to show how these industries relate: various colleges and universities, people of the South and the history of the railroad in the early years, and publicity of "The General" locomotive. Additional information of special trains include: Mammoth Cave trips, Friendly Service (safety emphasis), Kentucky Derby trains and the Bond Rollers. Various topics include: TOTE, dieselization of the railroad, the role of railroads in World War II, and the effects of trucking on the railroad system.

Curtis and Ernest Rollings trace their family history with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The interview also covers such topics as changes in technology, company policy, labor relations and Louisville's role as a rail transportation center in the state and the nation.