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jetrock, thanks for your prompt response. I had mistakenly been calling the "silk service" a "hot shot." (priority express freight). I seem to remember white matker flags on the loco hauling such "express" runs. Now, I realize the isolated cattle pens along the right-of-way served more than the purpose of merely loading livestock. Often these pens seemed to appear at (or near) R.R. loco watering towers in the desert Southwest. I suppose the "drovers/crew" caboose accomodated the cattle handlers on the train. <br /> <br />Would an uncoupling ramp serve the purpose of a brakeman?" No doubt, the loco would need to make a panic "locked-up stop" to disengage [not satisfactory]. The only option would be to manually close the couplers before making the sprint over the facing point turnout [also, not satifactory]. This might be possible in the larger gauges but not practical in HO. Oh well, uncoupling ramps are ugly and who needs the inevitable damage to rolling stock, right? <br /> <br />Yes, I held my breath when I witnessed the "poling maneuver" in Kansas. Thanks again for the history lesson on R.R. terminology. Regards.
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