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about their switcher requirements as a preliminary to starting a diesel-electric switcher fleet. They asked GE to undertake such a study in and around the city of New Haven as a starter. This was the assignment that I got early in 1934.

During the years 1934 through 1938, I did a lot of work on the New Haven--there were the two studies on diesels,the order for the ten diesel switchers, 0901-0910, and the order for the six passenger locomotives, 0361-0366. During this period I became acquainted with a lot of people in the New Haven engineering, maintenance and operating organizations. I find 57 names in my New Haven notebook. My problem now is to decide just which ones worked on what jobs in a few cases. For this reason I must confess that there might be a few inaccuracies in this regard here and there but nothing that's serious. They're all New Haven people and in general I think I've got them properly spotted. I found them to be a fine crowd of men and I enjoyed both working and occasionally playing with a number of them.

The diesel study of 1934 is the area where I am on the shakiest ground regarding the personnel with whom I worked. However, the top man whom I contacted periodically and who I believe now was responsible for the study being made and for its guidance, was Don M. Neiswanger, Manager, Statistics & Research Dept., located in the Yellow Building at New Haven. The Yellow Building was the headquarters of the railroad. Don was a native of Kansas, had gotten a Bachelor's degree out there somewhere, was a Phi Delt, and had come east and gotten an advanced degree from Harvard. He was not an engineer but an economics specialist, I should judge. He was in his mid-40s but was afflicted with some sort of nervous trouble which made his voice quaver and his handwriting shaky. He was solidly built, had a close-clipped moustache and resembled Thornton Wilder. He and I established a fine rapport and we exchanged Christmas cards containing long notes for the next 34 years when suddenly Don's stopped and I assumed he had died--he'd been in retirement in California at the time. At the time of his retirement, I believe he was Assistant to the President. His last note to be was on his 1968 Christmas card and I'm quoting it in full below because it gives some interesting comments on the New Haven organization of the 1930s:

Dear Forie:

Thank you for your card, particularly your note. The thirties on the NHRR were somewhat disorganized. Pelly had come in as president, Droege had been pensioned at 70 (he lived to be 100 and passed on only a few years ago) and was succeeded by R. L. Pearson (as VP and GM) whose experience had been entirely in maintenance of way. He couldn't make decisions on operating matters. You remember A. L. Ralston, General Mechanical Superintendent. I was in his office one  

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