Münir Nevin, who retired in 1959 and spent his last years in the train station after serving 35 years as a fireman and a machinist for the railroads he entered in 1994, went on an endless journey.
You may have heard that tram drivers used to travel around on trams even on their days off. Münir Nevin, 80, whom some at TCDD called “Münir Ağabey”, some “Ustam” and some “Grandpa”, was just such a person. Everyone at TCDD’s Izmir facilities knew Münir Nevin from the most unskilled worker to the highest-level executives. Münir Nevin, who spent most of his day walking around the stations and chatting with the staff and executives, was happy to live like this and to be loved and respected by almost everyone. We had a chat with him at Alsancak Station, sitting on one of the benches at the entrance to the passenger lounge, right across from the Bandırma 17 Eylül Express, which was getting ready to depart. Münir Nevin stated that he was born in Denizli in 1936 and that he never returned after coming to Izmir at the age of 20 for his military service. He explained that he started working at the porch of the Alsancak Train Station in 1959 after his military service was over and said the following:
“I STARTED AS A FIREMAN”
“I started out as a fireman on the steam locomotive and threw coal into the steam boiler for exactly 12 years. Then I was assigned to Halkapınar Station. In 1972, I attended the mechanic course and became a mechanic at the end of the 4-month training. But they always entrusted me the freight trains instead of the passenger train. The first locomotive I used was the German-made steam machine, which we call 56 thousand. These locomotives, which were used during World War II, were given to TCDD when the war ended. I carried a load between Izmir and Denizli for two years. I made hundreds of trips with 2 thousand and 44 thousand locomotives. Then they made me a motor train driver. ”
Münir Nevin, who explained that he was a machinist for the 1960 model Fiat motor trains after his habit of steam locomotive for many years, said: “I brought passengers from Basmane to Söke and Partners, from Alsancak Station to Afyon and Bandırma, to Isparta. Motor trains were much easier to use than steam locomotives. But I liked the steam locomotives more. On the way from Izmir to Denizli, we were burning 4 tons of coal, the taste of the tea we brew in the flasks in the steam boiler is still in my palate. I really miss the whistle of those vapors, the sound of the swatch from the chimney, the "Chug-chuf" from the pistons. I was using a steam locomotive called 46105. I loved it so much that I was looking at it like my child, I was taking care of it. Those who saw my sparkling locomotive were enviable. I was my traveling companion. It took 12-14 hours to go from Izmir to Denizli in those years. But I didn't understand because I loved my job so much. ”
“ELIMİ ÖPSÜNLER ENOUGH”
Münir Nevin said that she learned what she had learned during her 1994 years of retirement until 35, when she matured in the profession, “When I entered Halkapınar after hours of travel, the workers who surrounded me asked for help in every issue they could not solve. The equivalent of this help was always fragrant tea, pre-brewed. I was teaching all I knew about that fatigue without breaking any of them. Some of the staff I helped with machines at that time still work in the station. It is enough for them to say how are you and kiss my hand. ”
“TRANSPORTATION IS VERY EASY”
Münir Nevin stated that TCDD and Metropolitan Municipality were very pleased with the breakthroughs in İzmir and that they reached Şirinyer in 10 minutes from Alsancak Station with İZBAN. you win. What could be more beautiful than this for a person living in the city. Using these trains is also very enjoyable to travel. Both the machinist and the passengers are not tired any more… ”
I asked Uncle Münir if he had interesting memories from his periods as a mechanic. While refreshing our tea brewed in wood fire in the Gar cafeteria, he said, "OK, not so much" and told a memory before saying goodbye:
“WE SEEKED THE COPPER LEG”
“1990's. We were going to Isparta by motor train. It was close to midnight. We passed Tepeköy, we are moving in the light of our headlights in pitch dark. I saw somebody walking wobbly on the banks of the tracks. I immediately pressed the whistle, warned him, and when he heard the sound, he pulled back a little from the rails but turned to the rails again. I hung on the brake. The motor train does not stop so quickly, as it slows down, there is a voice called 'plug' from the train's bumper. I said okay, I'm going to be crushed by myself. When the train stopped, we immediately got down and ran back. It lies on the banks of the rails, there is no leg. Staff landed, some passengers also landed, we started searching for the broken leg along the rails in the dark. We searched a lot but couldn't find it. We came back to the man we returned, not himself. He opened his eyes sometime. I said your leg was broken but we couldn't find it. Having difficulty talking about the effect of the drink, he said 'No', 'I am disabled, I lost my leg in another accident when I was a child. ” (the izmirgazete/ Engin YAVUZ)
