One story I recall well was when a somewhat crusty-looking hogger was confronted by an over officious conductor when they went into clear for a meet eastbound to Lambton.

It was short of where the meet had been decided upon by said conductor. However, the old girl wasn’t performing well and to avoid trouble Steve McDermet went in the hole for the meet.

The engineer watched as the conductor (dressed in a partial uniform) hurriedly made his way up from the tailend, climbed into the cab and without asking why, began going up one side down the other telling the hogger that he was in charge and the meet was to be at XXX not here. Steve listened quietly and when he stopped ranting responded to conductor McCarthy “That’s right, you are in charge of the train from your little caboose, all the box cars, gons, etc. right up the drawbar on the back of MY tender and YOUR train goes where MY engine goes. If you want to stick a drawbar up your *** and pull YOUR train, go right ahead”. End of discussion. The conductor departed without another word!