December 1954 page 2

KEEPING TRACK

NINE P&N LOCOMOTIVES are headed for
the bone yard. The locomotives are among
the last electric owned by the railroad and
were displaced recently on the North Carolina
Division by diesels. The following numbers
are involved: 5100, 5102, 5104, 5105,
5601, 5602, 5610, 5611, 5612. They were
sold to Southern Metals Company of Charlotte
and were shipped on their own wheels
to Glassport, Pa., for dismantling. Final
disposition of these engines will bring a
twinge or sorrow to the old-timers who are
familiar with the serive they have given.

COPIES OF SEMAPHORE for 1954 will be
bound free of charge as in past years for
employees who return their twelve issues
to the editor prior to February 15, 1955.
Please arrange the issues in proper order
beginning with the January issue on top,
then place a sheet of paper with yoour name
and address on top, and mail to Editor,
SEMAPHORE, P&N Railway, Charlotte,
N.C. Bound issues will be ready in March.

CHRISTMAS MAIL in record volume was
moved by the railroads this year. It took
the equivalent of 5,000 trains consisting of
12 standard mail cars each to transport
more than 5.5 billion pieces of holiday mail.
That is enough mail to give every American,
Canadian and Mexican at least 25 letters
or cards each.

THE COMPANY MAGAZINE is nearing its
tenth birthday. In fact, this issue rounds
out ten years during which 119 issues were
published. The magazine was a wartime
baby born in January, 1945, as the P&N
and D&S Magazine. In March, 1951, the
name was changed to SEMAPHORE and a
new format adopted. The format was again
changed in January, 1953, at which time
the magazine became pocket-sized. The
forthcoming January number will be a
tenth-birthday issue.

Semaphore
Volume 10 Number 12
DECEMBER, 1954

Published by the Piedmont & Northern
Railway Company. Address all communica-
tions to Editor, Sempahore, P. O. Box 480,
Charlotte, N. C.

EDITOR
THOMAS G. LYNCH
Director of Industrial Development
and Public Relations

CORRESPONDENTS

Ye Merry Gentlemen gathered
around the lamp post for a lusty
song seem to typify the spirit of
the season -- Christmas and New
Year's Eve combined. No doubt
they have stopped at a few taverns
on their rounds to fortify them-
selves against the snowy night . . .
but now they seem more intent on
spreading good cheer with their
songs. SEMAPHORE wishes each
and every one a season full of joy
and the best of New Years.