Re: Tall tales (and true)

["Michael McDonald" <michael.and.colleen.mcdonald@xtra.co.nz>]

Chris Stratton <stratton.chris.cp@nospam.bhp.com.au> wrote in message
8bbcc4$d5a$1@gossamer.itmel.bhp.com.au">news:8bbcc4$d5a$1@gossamer.itmel.bhp.com.au...
> "Derick Wuen" <cullend@webone.com.au> wrote in message
> 38d8ab66@iridium.webone.com.au">news:38d8ab66@iridium.webone.com.au...
> >
> > Paul wrote in message <01bf918f$47c050c0$d2d68ec6@mpx.mpx.com.au>...
> > >Anybody got any good "tall stories"
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > There we were on the night shift at Darling Harbour and Pyrmont in the
> > 1950's, riding the shunter's trucks and directing the crew of the 19
class
> > put and take trucks from all over the yard, including the wharf tracks.
It
> > was a cold dark damp night and the yard lighting was on the murky side
of
> > dim. Towards the end of the shift we had to shunt a loaded S truck onto
> > Pyrmont No 21. It was uncoupled and given a shove by the 19. It rolled
> onto
> > the wharf, when the shunter designated to apply the yard brake tripped
on
> > some junk and fell over, thankfully clear of the wheels. The S truck
> rolled
> > on, and oh s**t over the stop block at the end of the wharf and into the
> > water.
> >
> > Shunters, driver, fireman all gathered around the end of the wharf
> > unhappily. None of us could work out how to explain the disappearance of
a
> > loaded S truck, or pass it off as a mere trifle. Nothing for it.... it
was
> > reported to the SM's office.
> >
> > Next day we gathered around the end of No 21 to watch the diver (rubber
> > suit, metal helmet, airlines, pumping gear, lead boots and all) who had
> been
> > sent to "ascertain the whereabouts" of the errant S truck. He descended
> all
> > bubbly into the oily murk which passed for water in Darling Harbour. He
> was
> > down for about 5 minutes when he reappeared. We helped haul him out and
> > opened the little window on his helmet.... well? we all asked did you
find
> > it?
> >
> > What number was your S truck?  he asked. Why the effing hell do you need
> to
> > know that? we replied. Well, he said I need to know the number to tell
> yours
> > from the other three which are down there.
> >
> >
> If you substitute Port Kembla and No6 Jetty for Pyrmont and No21, I've
heard
> the exact same story.
> --
> Regards,
> Chris Stratton
> Wollongong, NSW, Australia
> Remove NOSPAM if replying.

And I'm sure I've heard the same for Pt Chalmers here in NZ!
There must be lot of slack shunters out there

Cheers
Michael