People

By Guy D. Garcia

"Folks, this is Pearl," boomed the familiar voice after Amtrak's Chicago-to-New York train collided last week in the middle of the night with a stalled truck and derailed near Mansfield, Ohio. The unofficial conductor was Pearl Bailey, 67, traveling to Manhattan to chair the opening of the 1985 Christmas Seal ceremonies. Talking through a loudspeaker, the veteran singer soothed jangled nerves among the 425 passengers. After two more days of traveling, Bailey hit a traffic jam outside New York City. Christmas Seal officials who had spotted Dolly Parton, 39, having lunch asked her to stand in for Pearlie Mae. As Parton did her part, Bailey showed up. A splendid pair of bosom buddies, said a fan. "No," Bailey corrected him. "I make a nice pair. Dolly makes lots of nice pairs."