A contributor to this rag was doing research last night and ran into a brick wall. She wrote to ask if I could help with some railroad information. She knows I have resources. I sent her request to Mike Wilson, Fred's son, who does the very popular Railroader Series about his father and what his father taught him. By the way, prepare yourself for Mike's Christmas story. Mike responded with the answer to her question plus his always added lagniappe. (can you believe my spell check had that!) Donella had requested clarity on a few job descriptions. Here's his return note.
Steve,
Usually the station porter did the odd jobs around the depot/station. He swept up, kept wood/coal for the stoves supplied, helped with Railway Express or baggage as needed. Usually they were older men who could no longer work on the track gangs. Some even had a place to sleep at the depot, as they had no family. Palmetto had Smokey Joe, a gray headed old black man, who was a favorite of the railroaders because he always waved to them as they passed by. His funeral in the late '50's was attended by many who had had contact with him over the years. He lived in a room off the freight shed, and folks helped him fix it up nice.
A section foreman was the supervisor of a track gang, and had responsibility for a defined 'section' of track, and all maintenance thereon. This was in the days before $5 million dollar track maintenance machines. All work was done by hand, from pulling spikes and ties, to laying new rail and ties. They did not do any work on bridges however. The section foreman was a fairly good job, and came with a nice house, and free coal oil for lanterns and coal for heat and cooking. Mr. L.Golmon was the section foreman for the stretch of T & P track from the south Alex yard limits to the LaMourie briidge. Mr H. Gremillion had the section from Lamourie to the east end of the Meeker siding, just past the Meeker mill. Both were super men, and treated their hands well.
ME: You can't get this stuff at Walmart. Priceless. Thanks, Mike.