HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-02-12, Page 21BOOK REVIEW
"
Retired CPR engineer records 49 years'
experience in book called I Remember
By Elizabeth A. Kettiewell
Everyone loves a love story, particularly
if at the ending, they all "live happily ever
after." And if the story is about real, down
to earth people, it's even more appealing!
AikOver 80 years ago a love story began when
young mother and her little boy stood hand
tri hand on the platform bf the Sligo railway'
station in Ireland, waiting for a train to take
them down to Belfast. The boy was enthrall-
, ed by the steam locOmotives chuffing noisily
through town every day, and he looked up at
his mother and said,i'Someday, I will drive
an engine like that", and she replied, "I
know you will, my son."
And he did! For almost half a century
Herbert Stitt was employed by Canadian
Pacific Railways, and most of those years
were spent at the throttle of those wonderful
old steam locomotives. It wasn't just a job
... it was a 'love affair' with the railway.
Each day brought unforgettable ex-
periences for Herb Stitt. Seldom did he com-
plain about the long hours, or the times he
was hungry, cold, and weary in every bone.
1 When the Stitt family emigratedxeto
to
Canada in 1907, money was
scarce. Each son had to work to help sup-
; port this family of 10 children. Schooling
j was for the very young members only.
Herbert had to leave school after com-
pieting third grade, but in that short time he
1 a• cquired a passion for reading the classics,
and is still an avid reader. He haunted the
r• ailway yards in Toronto, gaining ex
-
I pperience with locomotives from, his brother
Fred who worked at the CPR round house.
In October 1916 that long awaited day ar-
rived when CPR offered him a job wiping
a engines at 16 cents an hour for a 10 hour day.
Eight months later he was promoted to a
a fireman's jots in the locomotive, earning
g' 25
cents an hour for a 10 hour day. was
deed on his way up on the CPR ladder.
In that same year, Herbert Stitt enlisted
in the army, and in early 1917 was fighting in
Pthe front line trenches in France. His job
• with the railway, and his fiancee Molly Auld
were waiting for him when he returned
• home in 1919.
• Everything Herbert Stitt ever dreamed of
1 4.
became a;reality. He survived trench war-
fare. He was happily married, with five
1 children ... the job he had dreamed of as a
little boy in Ireland was his at last ... when
I the time came for retirement, he and Molly
were able to live comfortably, and were
blessed with good health.
1 Then after 62 years of marriage, his belov-
ed Molly died. Now, the purpose in life was shoppers lineup to meet hue.
gone for Herb. He became acutely i11 with a plow through the packed drifts! He describ Now in his 90th year, he shares his
sstomach disorder, and lacked the incentive ed the lusty meals of stacks' of bacon, eggs, publishing Noin succ i ss with his new wife,hs his
to recover. cans of beans, and toast all cooked on the
While he was in hospital, he was persuad- coal shovel . resting in. „the fire box. Level e.
Together they t tired Europe last summer,
1 ed to begin his memoirs,of 49 years with the crossing accidents, were depressing events. and visited his old home in Ireland. He at-
' railway. The very thought of trying to write for train crews, and most of these accidents tends meetings of� the, CPR Pensioners
impatient. motorists.. - Association, slid'plt t'b` siC'EjiPo '86 Pensioners a book is frightening for anyone, but for a were caused by imp,
sick, unhappy man who had no previous The night of Hurricane Hazel was an tfti year. +' '+
il4
writing experience, it must have been terri- forgettable nightmare for Herbert Stitt fying.Could any love stbry he more complete?when he wrote about bringing in the Peter- Herbert Stilt's book 1 Remember is now
t Highlights of his experiences gradually borough train. The approach to Goderich available in Clinton at Sandy's Gift •and
3 returned, and he copied them down in along the CPR line was a constant thrill for Card Shop and also at Saga Gift Shop m
longhand. As his enthusiasm grew for the railway men, and Mr. Stitt was delighted to Blyth. -i
CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12,1986 Page 21
aut lady
FASHIONS
43 ALBERT STREET, CLINTON 482-7872
Herbert Stitt, recalls many memories in his book, I Remember. Here the retired CPR
engineer visits an old railway crossing guard shanty at the Toronto yards. (Elizabeth
Kettlewell photo)
task, his physical condition j reproved, and find a locomotive he had frequently driven,
soon he was able to return home to continue had become a permanent exhibit at the
Goderich museum.
his writing. These stories and many more, make up
He described the thrilling moment when the book which Herbert Stitt titled I
his locomotive's speedometer registered 100 Remember. It was immediately recognized,,
miles per hour as he sped towards London as awinner' by John McBain of McBain
on a New Year's Eve. He recalled the in- Publications Incorporated of Kitchener,
credible storm near Teeswater when the who published it for Herbert Stitt.
passenger train was stuck in the snow for I Remember was a success, and is now in
three days, and how the crew prepared a its second printing. And a new life began
bridal suite in the baggage car for a newly- this courageous little man. He has cha
wed couple on board. And the storm of 1944 his way through television and radio inter -
in Huron County piled up drifts which called views, and has appeared on several televi-
for seven big locomotives to push the snow• cion commercials. At autographing parties,
r
ed
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