Life on "The Valley." The Oral History Norman Cole Sr and Anthony Gallagher

Two retired Lehigh Valley Railroad employees discuss life as a railroader, the impact the job had on employees and families; and relate some tales of their years on the rails. This is part of an ongoing Oral History Project by the Phillipsburg Railroad Historians, a non-profit organization in Phillipsburg New Jersey. WWW.PRRH.ORG

[@iblskeith]

I remember working with Tony at South Plainfield and Allentown. And I was running a train on the other side of the Lehigh River on the L&S area mainline when Norman's caboose went in the river at Caty. Two good railroaders and fine gentlemen.

[@rrsteamer]

Norm Cole ran engines for me while at Steamtown. A gentleman and always a pleasure to work. A good ‘Rail’. RIP Norm.

[@thomaskosa6918]

My Grandfather is Norm, I am very happy I stumbled across this tonight. The wreck in the caboose in Catty that went into the river was even more traumatic than my grandfather is letting on. You see he could not swim. Imagine being bounced around like getting burnt on the stove buried under the contents of the caboose and water all around you.

[@samanthab1923]

He's lucky to have survived! What a lovely gentleman. You're very lucky to have such a grandfather. Thanks for filling us in.

[@richardbutterworth1751]

Norm was a good man and I'm a better person for having known him. Yes, I remember him telling me the story of that wreck and it definitely shook him up.

[@johnnyjames7139]

I never grow board listening to oral history. Thank you for posting.

[@gilvogt4440]

My Fraternal Great grandfather worked for the Pennsylvania R.R....He got pinched between two cars in the Phillipsburg yard in 1925, he died two days after the accident at his mother's home in Easton. He died at age 27, my Grandfather was just 3 years old. I've searched many years for more info on the incident, to no avail....His name was George Rexford Vogt.

[@patricknoveski6409]

These guys built America 🇺🇸. Thank you Train men and Women ! Heros.

[@bobsnyder3309]

My grandfather, Norman Mendsen was an fireman then engineer on the LVRR. I rode with him on "Apollo 1" from Jersey City to Lehighton. I wish he could see this video.

[@MissRailfan]

My great uncle and great grandparents on my moms side were LV rr men. I just missed meeting my great uncle by few months before he passed. They all worked out of Sayre yard.

[@cvgeeps]

This was great I could listen to this stuff all day Got any more ?

[@xenaphile815]

What a wonderful look back. We have it so much easier today.

[@lawrencegolba2244]

Thank you for sharing. As a kid during the later years of the LV in the 60's, our school bus would get stopped by the morning train coming from the Buffalo yard passing through Depew up to the north suburbs. In the last year the train could only go about 5mph and rocked like crazy. Those railroaders really worked hard.

[@rayinpau.s.a.6351]

I truly enjoyed watching this video , these men remind me of my Uncle that worked for the Montour Railroad here in Pennsylvania . Ernest Ward... God Bless his Soul . I appreciate you sharing this video for all to learn from . Ray in Pa.

[@CharlieRicker24]

Thanks for posting this........very enjoyable!

[@williamstrassner7609]

Norman I knew on and off the property, super gent ! Great stories !

[@keithgray5525]

this is another great video, thanks so much for documenting this and posting it.

[@hunter48820]

That was really enjoyable. Thank you much for putting it together and posting it. Best, Andy K.

[@eddie_wolf_]

Great vid.Loved it.

[@patricknoveski6409]

Amazing

[@yrunaked4]

i gotta know how Sticky got his nickname. 🤣

[@danvolker3475]

Do you have any more interviews of Mr. DeMassi?

[@rydereaston6464]

When was this recorded?

[@PeterInPa]

April 2003

[@THOMAS81Z]

are these 2 gentlemen still alive ??

[@PeterInPa]

Yes.