WESTERN PACIFIC J~!!J~P'!JSls Vol. II , No.2 SEPTEMBER , 1950 Milepost No. 14 Department of Public Relations SACRAMENTO NORTHERN RAILWAY TIDEWATER SOUTHERN RAILWAY 52b Mission Street, San Francisco 5 lee "Fla sh" Sherwood, Editor Arthur lloyd, Jr., Associate Editor Member American Railway Magazine Editors' Association Little does the average dining car months ago. The greater part of the patron realize the planning, prepa­ building is one story high, -96 feet in INDEX ration and organization that has length and 86 feet wide. A second story, Page preceded his being seated before a 38 x 42 feet in area, is located above Last Call for Dinner. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 comfortable and attractively arranged the southwest corner of the building, 10,11, 12, 13 table, while traveling across the coun­ and houses the commissary offices. The Circus Train Time Again tryside on one of today's modern trains, concrete floor slabs vary in thickness Sacramento Northern Goes to Dinner 14,15, 16 such as the Zephyr. Such from five to seven inches, and rest on 17 matters as balanced menus, deft serv­ large rail- reinforced concrete beams, Mileposts in Gold ice, and other attributes to satisfy the which in turn rest upon a total of 69 Up the Ladder 18, 19,20 most critical gourmet, he takes for granted. But, not unlike any housewife, In Memoriam 20 the railroad commissary has many Carl W. Ellis Rctir s 21 problems, and the duties of the dining 21 car department's employees are nu­ WP Will Rem mb t" merous and varied. Don't B JIulr urI'! 22 Step behind the scenes for a moment, Caboo. ing . 23,24, 25,26,27,28, 29,30 where many hours and much effort Tho t '~ n .ood 1I1'st iOIl! 30 have been consumed in arranging to 31 feed a small army of travelers while New Til·ltl.' !, 'l'1'stl'd enroute. Western Pacific is fortunate in 11uilroncl 1.lIws 32 having a new and one of the most modern commissary buildings in the ~ . )111 M G nth Chicago' Michelsen, Elko; I ~()halt M unce Jr., Los CO'RRU:S " ~ I) I, N'T'S: 0 1 kl de.; ie'; Small O;oville' Fred Kreuger, Sacril ",<11 I

Irvin g Donnelly filling r qtli",l llolt tilt tt, II !I v hil It y III Ih. Top quality meat supplies are stored at 38 0 in commissary meat refrigerator. MILEPOSTS 4 MILEPOSTS 5 taste of the traveler, so that before the dinner call is sounded, your own pet dish is often already on the fire, or­ dered by a waiter who had served you before. Early on the run a checkup is made of through passengers so that the chef may know the probable number of meals he has to prepare. It always surprises the visitor to a dining car how so much food can be stowed and prepared in so small a space. The answer is-training. Each cook knows his j'ob thoroughly, and all his materials are close at hand. Much of the success of a dining car's service is due to its crew. They must be con­ genial people who can work together. After the last meal is served, and the Steward Stanley Gray checks his supplies as Shirley Smith prepares to transport them to diner. train is nearing its terminus, all hands turn to cleaning silver and counting

H erb~r t Scott "tops off" overhead diner ice bunkers Duhig, commissary buyer, and a care­ in all detail, the report is a 20- page prIor to departure of train from Oakland yard. George Caldwell (left) and W alter Simpson loading ful check is maintained to provide an book and gives a complete financial supplies for WP special. adequate stock at all times. and supply record of the particular trip. cash register. In addition to the above Sixteen pages are needed to record The building has spacious aisles for a dining car carries sufficient linen the dining car's supplies, each page t~ ease in handling the trucks, and wide serve one thousand guests. Crockery, showing aggregate quantity of each rolling doors make for easy ingress and glassware, silver service and kitchen commodity on hand, consumed or egress to and from the building when equipment that would do justice to any needed. Under the heading of m eat, trucking supplies direct to the dining first-class hotel dining room, are all poultry and fish, th~r e are 74 various cars in the yard. stored within a short space of some 25 items. Vegetables, from the lowly onion From the time the dining cars are feet. loaded and prepared for an outbound to the lordly truffle, account for 52 en­ The chef of a WP diner plans his train, wh ether it be the California tries; fruits cover 32 items. Then there day's meals, and befo re the first break­ Zephyr or one of the "specials" oper­ are 11 standard jams and jellies, 25 fast order is given, he has luncheon and ated by Western Pacific for convention different da iry produ ts, 12 bread en­ dinner menus well along in the process or other travel groups, the dining car tries, 275 individual "dry" groceries, of preparation. In the dining car proper, crews are busily engaged in making 20 beers, 22 w in s, 25 mineral waters, five to seven waiters lay the tables with preparations for the run. The steward, 35 whisk ys, brandies and cocktails, 10 fresh linen, silver and glasses, fill the in whose charge the diner is operated, brands or igars and 10 kinds of ciga­ water bottles and give the car that must keep a perpetual inventory of r Ues. By keel ing this perpetual in­ spick and span Western Pacific look. supplies and equipment so that when v ntory 'up to dat , the dining car As the passengers entrain at a station ordering h e knows not only what he stew,H'd mnl«'s up a "grocery order " the dining car crew watch them and wants, but how much. This inv ntory 'It th(' (' li d or hi s !'lin (or enough sup­ not from mere idle curiosity, either. also serves as a trip report or journal, pl i('s to \wing his kitchen up to stand­ For from long years on the same run recording number of meals serv d and nrd. !\ dining Cl1r's storeroom thus the good dining car crew studies the revenue involved. Prop rly /ill d out 1'('SPlllhl\" n W'I) 'NY store without a MILEPOSTS 7 6 MILEPOSTS linen to prepare it for the laundry, while the chef and steward check the stock and prepare the requisition for supplies. At the terminus, inspectors from the dining car department board the car to take over the stock and supplies still left and prepare to restock it for its next run. As every member of the crew well knows, there is far more to a din­ ing car meal than the mere eating. Western Pacific' dining car depart­ ment is under the supervision of Har­ old G. Wyman, superintendent, and Walter Brunberg, assistant superin­ tendent, who are assisted by dining car Waiter Larry Boggus greeting Eleanor Parker (Warner Bros. star) and companion on the Cali­ inspector Cecil Staley, and commissary fornia Zephyr. clerks Mason Gordon, Jr., Francis Johnson and Harold Hancock. Assistant superintendent Brunberg conducts school on subject of. table service. (From left) James Clark, Charles Watkins, Walter Simpson, George Caldwell, Robert Ttllman, Pete Bellamy. Lovelder Draper. • (Rear left) Charles Vaughn, Leroy Taylor.

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Commissary office staff. (From left) Florence Sut~on. Dorothy Storey (left corner), Louis Lopez, Howard Huffman and Evelyn Rykkeli (right corner).

Crew dispatcher Louis Lopez "signing in" waiter Assistant superintendent Brunberg enjoys a stogie Walter Simpson at sign-out office. after sampling one of WP's delicious dining car meals.

MILEPO ST S 9 Enroute to the circus, road foreman of engines V . H . Edwards at the switch. ( He didn't throw it, so no claims, please!)

Something new in railroading. The calliope is being Below: Just to make certain none would be miss­ operated with air from the locomotive. N otice the ing, each group of kids held onto a rope between Dawn at Winnemucca finds excited kids hastening to get aboard the circus train. hose which is hooked into the rear windshield wiper. the train and the big show.

Shortly after dawn on Wednesday, children, as well as innumerable cases August 16, 555 kids, happy and full of soda pop and admission to the circus of pep, piled aboard a train of gaily itself. Western Pacific supplied lunch painted cars behind a diesel locomotive and dinner for the Shriners in a lounge and a circus calliope at Winnemucca. car carried on the train, and free ice That night they returned happier than cream for the kids. ever, pep all used up, and laden down This year, as an added festive touch, with turtles, lizards, whips, trumpets, a circus calliope was mounted on the and glamorous memories. observation platform of the business It was the second annual Western car directly behind the engine and Pacific circus train, carrying the gram­ operated with compressed air from the mar school children from as far east diesel's rear windshield wiper. The as Battle Mountain to the Shrine Cir ­ blaring "steam piano" melodies from cus at Reno. The train, operated at a this instrument, its player in circus nominal fare to satisfy I. C. C. require­ clown costume, could be heard two ments, is furnished as a public service miles ahead of the train and caused by Western Pacific. quite a commotion as it pulled into The cost is paid by the Winnemucca Reno and the towns along the way. Shrine Club who, under the direction At the circus it was Judge Merwyn of President Ernest Damon, also fur­ H. Brown Day, in honor of the well nished box lunches and dinners to the known Winnemucca jurist, who three 10 MILEPOSTS •

A circus wouldn't be complete without clowns, as the expression on the kids' faces show .

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Kids whose birthday coincides with the circus train get a cake from \Vestern Pacific. H ere little Vir­ ginia Haber has just blown out all the candles on the cake, held by Al Green, dining car department, indicating her wish will be granted.

years ago was responsible for starting and the elephants. Returning to the Shrine Circus in Reno, and the Winnemucca on the California ZephY1·, movement for bringing vast numbers J ay said, "This'll probably be a day of children from far and wide to see it. I'll never forget." There would have been 556 kids, but Sometimes it pays to miss a train. 9 - year - old Jay Tidwell, riding into But Jay and the other 555 kids are Winnemucca on his bicycle, missed the already looking forward to next year's train. His gloom, however, was short­ Western Pacific Shrine circus train. lived. Western Pacific wishes no kid to WP officials who accompanied the miss the circus, and as a guest of the circus special included C. L. Droit, railroad he boarded the California secretary; Gilbert H. Kneiss, assistant Zephyr on Friday with traveling to president; Joseph G. Wheeler, pas­ freight and passenger agent C. C. Duck senger traffic manager; and Charles as escort, was met at Portola and Fischer, Reno general agent. During a motored over to Reno. Here he was brief ceremony en route, Shrine Poten­ given the courtesy of the presidential tate Laurance E. Layman presented suite by the Mapes Hotel, who also framed roll of honor certificates, in­ threw in a haircut and a shine, and scribed, to President Whitman and to then taken by Duck to the circus, Kneiss. Wheeler was similarly honored where he met Spike Jones, the clowns, last year.

MILEPOSTS 13 SACRAMENTO NORTHERN GOES TO DINNER

To further carry out President Whit­ Oakland terminus at Fortieth and man's desire to meet face to face every Shafter at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of employee on the Western Pacific Sys­ the dinner and, picking up the em­ tem, a letter was sent to all Sacramento ployees along the line, arrived in Northern employees by their presi­ Sacramento at 6 p.m., where a bus dent, R. T. Kearney, inviting them was waiting to transport the gang to to attend a "dinner on the boss" at the Senator. Sacramento's Senator Hotel on Thurs­ To bring those employees north of day evening, August 3. Similar to Sacramento to the dinner, special ar­ Western Pacific's "Operation Nose­ rangements were made to provide one bag" last April, at which time the boss of Western Pacific's new "Zephyr ­ met and fed company employees all ettes" (Budd car). L eaving Sacra­ along the main line from Salt Lake mento Northern's Haggin Yard at 12: 30 City to San Francisco, a special Sacra­ p.m., the car dead-headed over the line mento Northern electric car left the to Chico where, after gathering up the gang waiting there, it made its return to Sacramento, stopping along the way ( at Oroville Junction, Marysville, and • other Sacramento North stations for What better chance to get acquainted with your those who were able to make the trip. fellow workers can be provided than a "dinner on the boss" such as these SN employees are enjoying. Another bus was waiting upon arrival

SN employees board the Zephyrette at Chico for the trip to Sacramento. MILEPOSTS 15 MILEPOSTS IN GOLD

Western Pacific congratulates the following employees to whom Service Pin Awards were made during the month of August, 1950: 40-YEAR PIN Charles E. Renner ...... Conductor .. Eastern Division 3S-YEAR PIN Elmer ]. Campbell ...... Conductor ...... Eastern Division F . B. Whitman, R . T. Kearney, A. W . Harris and H . C. Munson enjoy dinner with the employees at the 30-YEAR PINS Senator Sampson Etchebehere ...... Stationary Engineer ...... Mechanical Dept. Glen B. Gorham...... Locomotive Engineer E astern Division Carl F . Hagen ...... Locomotive Engineer...... :::::::~::: Western Division of the Budd car in Sacramento, and Adolph' Loser...... Locomotive Engineer...... E astern Division Shelby J. Parry ...... Locomotive Engineer...... E astern Division the employees were hustled off to the Cecil G. Trumbo...... Locomotive Engineer...... E astern Division hotel, where dinner preparations were Leonidas T. Truro ...... Clerk ...... Westem Division in full swing. 2S-YEAR PINS Harry Gumm ...... Conductor ...... E astern Division Some 200 in all seated themselves in Frank S. Murphy...... Traffic Repr. . .. San Francisco the dining room for the dinner and Juan G. Pedroza ...... Hostler Helper...... Mechanical Dept. Mario Ragusa ...... Locomotive Engineer .. ..Western Division program which followed. Sharing the James L. Wilkinson .. Conductor ...... Western Division head table up in front were Arthur 20-YEAR PINS W. Harris, general chairman of the Mur90ck F. Manning ...... Yardman ..... E astern Division ... . T & T Maintainer ...... Telegraph Dept. Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen; C. N . Vetter.. IS-YEAR PINS Harry C. Munson, vice-president and Frank H. Cutright...... Section Foreman...... Western Division general manager for Western Pacific Wilbur C. Hardy .. David W. Lee...... -.... .-.- ...... -...... ~.-~.- ~~:~r. Car Maint ...... :::::::::::.::::::::::::.::::::::::::: ~~:!:~~ ~~~~:~~~ and vice-president of Sacramento Ralph Ott...... Rate Clerk...... Passenger Dept. Northern; and the two presidents, Charles D. Woods ...... Tavern Car Attend...... Dining Car Dept. Frederic B. Whitman and Rex T. IO-YEAR PINS James R. Clevenger...... Telegrapher ...... Western Division Kearney. Introductions were expertly Vincent Dycus ...... Check Clerk ...... Western D~v!s~on A group of employees wait to board the special at handled by master of ceremonies Frank W . Fritz...... Switchman ...... Western DlVlSlOn Spoonbill' ...... ••. • ..•.•. Wilbur H . Hanson...... War Bond Clerk ...... Auditor's Dept. Kearney, and short talks by Harris Albert H. Harper...... Switchman ...... Western Division and Munson were followed by the Murray E. Lindley ...... Roadway Clerk ...... Western Division Howard A. yetter...... Check Clerk...... Western Division • speaker of the evening, Whitman, who outlined the policies of the Company .• . and another group are picked up at West Pitts­ in relation to its employees, and told "Mr. Warren," the reporter re­ ing those periods when someone said burg, both stations on the Sacramento Northern Railway between Oakland-Sacramento. them of the future plans for the Sacra­ marked, "you are truly a self-made to me over the telephone, 'Just a mo­ mento Northern. man. You have educated yourself while m ent, please'!" Following the talks, a thirty-minute you fought your way up to success. - Santa Fe Magazine. ride from Chicago to San Francisco Tell me, how did you manage to get in In a night club one evening a very pretty girl was provided by means of the color all that reading during those busy was wearing, around her neck, a thin chain from which hung a tiny golden airplane. One of the picture, "," follow­ years?" young men in the party stared at it so that the girl finally asked him: ing which the employees were re­ "It was quite simple," Mr. Warren " Do you like my airplane?" turned by bus to the special cars for modestly explained. "I kept a good " As a matter of fact," he repEed, " I wasn't look. ing at it. I was really admiring the landing field." the ride back home. book open on my desk and read it dur- -Texas & Pacific Topics.

MILEPO S T S 17 UP THE LADDER Born at a mining camp in Amador County's Mother Lode in September, The appointment of C. C. Eldridge saw service overseas in an amphibian 1903, Charles H. Marchand's parents to position of assistant to general task force operation in the Aleutians later moved to Sacramento, where he manager, was announced August 1. and in a Railway Operating Battalion received his schooling, gradua ting from Born November 8,1919, in Yonkers, on the Alaska Railroad. Released from high school there in 1923. New York, Mr. Eldridge later moved active duty with the rank of Captain, Following two years employment to Detroit, Michigan. Following high he returned to the Burlington as a with the Telephone Company and other school education he attended Cornell locomotive designer in the Mechanical various jobs, Mr. Marchand came to University, graduating with the class Department at Chicago. He later was Western Pacific in J anuary, 1928, en­ of '41 with a degree in mechanical placed in charge of dynamometer car tering the company's store department engineering. He held three scholar­ testing for that railroad, and engaged at Sacramento. Except for a short time ships and was a member of Alpha Tau in testing locomotives in road service, between 19?9 and 1940 when he worked Omega Fraternity while at college. analyzing engine performance, calcu­ at timeke~ping , statistical and other Upon graduation, he entered the lating tonnage ratings and making duties in the Motive Power & Car De­ employ of the CB&Q, first working as schedule analyses. partment, he has gained his entire a lineman in the Telegraph Depart­ Mr. Eldridge came to Western Pacific experience with the Store Department. ment. Then followed 54 months of in October, 1947, as special assistant in At the time of his recent appointment active duty with the U. S. Army which the executive department, with prin­ to position of Assistant to General included service in the Signal Corps cipal activities pertaining to operating Auditor-Material and Supplies, Mr. and the Military Railway Service. He and mechanical subjects, as well as Marchand was chief clerk to the gen­ studies in economics, finance and traffic, eral storekeeper. much of which concerned operation of Married in Reno, Nevada, in 1934, he the California Zephyr trains. now resides in Sacramento with his Robert E. Witts Mr. Eldridge lives in San Francisco wife and 8-year-old daughter, Diane. with his wife and two daughters. Intelligence Service, serving in the South Pacific. With Western Pacific experience that Following his return to Western Pa­ goes back to J anuary 16, 1942, Robert cific after the war, service as statistical E. Witts was appointed traffic repre­ clerk, chief clerk to general agent C. R. sentative on July 10, 1950. Harmon at Sacramento, and a short Born in San Francisco on October while in the traffic department's rate 12, 1911, and following graduation from room, led to his most recent promotion. high school, Mr. Witts attended the Mr. Witts is an active member of the University of San Francisco for two Junior World Trade as well as the San years, following which he went to work Francisco Junior Chamber of Com­ for the Bank of America in 1929. In merce. As a dog fancier, much of Bob's 1938 he joined an advertising agency spare time is spent in training these working in that vocation until joining animals, specializing in Cocker Span­ the railroad as stenographer-clerk in iels. Married, Mr. Witts makes his home the Foreign Freight Department. After in Menlo Park. promotion to the position of statistical clerk in the General Agent's office, Mr. One should never trust a woman Witts spent nearly three years, between who tells her real age. A woman who 1943_and 1946, with the Army's Signal Colin C. Eldrid!;c would tell that would tell anything. Charles H. Marchand

18 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 19 Prior to his promotion on July 18 to lin t$lrmorinm position of assistant signal supervisor, [ARL W. ELLIS RETIRES Earl "Curley" A. Thompson worked as IVAN R. CRANSTON, retired conductor since July 30, 1941, died on July 16, 1950. Mr. Crans­ When Carl W. Ellis walked into the signal helper, assistant signalman, sig­ ton entered service with Western Pacific on signal engineer's office late in the af­ nal maintainer and general C.T.C. September 1, 1910. ternoon on August 1, everyone was FRIED M. FRITZ SCHE, formerly groundman maintainer in Western P acific's signal busy at their desk, though he no doubt department. in the telegraph department, died June 19, 1950. Mr. Fritzsche entered company service knew something was in the air. He Mr. Thompson was born in Winne­ November 20, 1918, and retired January 7, had no sooner exchanged a few hellos mucca, Nevada, on January 11, 1917, 1938. with his fellow workers when into the ROBERT F. GLAZIER, retired boilermaker offic e came those from the engineering since July 1, 1938, died on June 20, 1950. Mr. Glazier entered company service on department next door, along with August 20, 1918. other old time friends from various FREDERICK J . GRANT, brakeman, died on departments who had received word July 23, 1950. Mr . Grant entered Western tha t "Carl's here:" Pacific service November 1, 1943. He is sur­ vived by a son, Corporal Eugene S. Grant, Words came hard for Carl, when 491lth Air P olice Squadron, 4910 Air Base Maurice Notter presented him with a Group, Kirtland Air F orce Base, Albu­ shiny leather wallet filled to the burst­ querque, N. M. ing point with $131 in new crisp cur ­ ARTHUR JOHNSON, roundhouse foreman at rency, as the gang slowly gathered Elko until his retirement on February 11, 1950, died on July 21, 1950. around. F ew words were spoken, even PAUL J . PARSONS, brakeman, died July 1, by newly appointed signal engineer 1950. Mr. P arsons entered company service Fred A. Tegler and MW&S engineer Carl W. Ellis November 19, 1944. He is su rvived by a sis­ W. T. Richards, although everyone in ter, Miss Lela Parsons, of Memphis, Tenn. WILLIAM L. PERRY, formerly locomotive the room knew that the thought of position of signal engineer for the engineer, died recently, the date of his death leaving WP and his many friends was Western P acific on May 1, 1947, from being unknown. Mr. P erry came to Sacra­ uppermost in Carl's mind. which position he retired July 31, 1950. mento Northern on June 12, 1944, and re­ Born at Clinton Junction, Iowa, in tired May 1, 1946. Carl resides in Oakland with his ISAAC A. VANCUNDA, Sacramento Northern 1889, it wasn't until 1910 that Carl first wife, as does his married daughter, section laborer, retired since August 15, 1937, entered railroad work when he joined Mrs. C. C. Walker, who made his life died on June 27, 1950. Mr. Vangunda had the Southern P acific, first in the store happy with two fine grandchildren, Earl A. Thompson intermittent service with the company since department and then in the signal de­ David, 2, and Linda, age 1. and after attending high school in December, 1918. partment. In 1912, having worked for SAMUEL T. WESTWOOD, tel egrapher for Your host of WP friends wish you Sparks, Nevada, came to Western Pa­ Western P acific until his retirement on a period with the K ey System on many happy years ahead, Carl. cific on August 24, 1936. September 2, 1936, died on June 16, 1950. maintenance and construction, he went Married, the Thompsons have a Mr. Westwood entered compan y service East to the General Railway Signal daughter and a son, and intend to soon July 7, 1928. Company, with headquarters in Chi­ HORACE C. YEARY, extra gang laborer on WP WILL REMEMBER make their home in Livermore. They the Eastern Division, who retired April 15, cago. "When a man devotes his life to an industry he . have recently been staying in Sacra­ 1947, died on May 16, 1950. Mr. Yeary en­ Mr. Ellis followed this service by has truly paid that industry the greatest compliment possible." mento. tered company service on May 18, 1943. employment in the signal department ------of the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Now retired after serving Western Easing the engine to a stop at a water tank, the old engineer briefed his green Railway (now Sacramento Northern) , P acific well, are: young fireman. The fireman climbed to the tender, as per instructions, and man­ and in July, 1913, again entered the Robert H. Buckley, engineer, Sacra­ aged to bring the spout down all right. But somehow his foot tangled in the employ of the Southern Pacific. Reach­ mento Northern. chain and he floundered right into the tank. The engineer regarded him and his ing the position of signal office engineer B enjamin F. Smith, carman, Oroville. plight with a jaundiced eye. for that company in 1922, Carl re­ A1'chie H. Whitten, locomotive engi­ "Just fill the tank with water, Sonny, no need to tramp it down." mained there until his appointment to neer, Sacramento. 20 MILEPO STS M ILEPOSTS 21 eaboosing

An enjoyable vacation in Oregon , 117 estern Pacific employees en­ visiting P ortland and Albany and r e­ turning via the Oregon Coast route, tering the service of their co untry, was recently enjoyed by conductor including those sent on overseas J AMES L. WILKINSON and family. assignments, will regularly receive Another August vacationer was as­ l'f7estern Pacific MILEPOSTS by sistant car foreman W. H. WALD who, first class mail if they will keep the accompanied by his wife and daughters, editor advised of their military motored to Florida and South Carolina to visit with relatives. addresses. Proud parents are lineman W. R. BENEDICT and wife, who announced the birth of a son August 18 at Portola. Oroville R. W. LANG, son of agent W. W. LANG, Night diesel foreman WILLIAM J EN­ was recently employed as a brakeman, KINS has returned home from the Oro­ as was H. A. BERG, J R., son of "SNOOSE" ville Curran Hospital, where he spent BERG, engineer. Welcome to our family! ten days after submitting to surgery. - Photo by Harley W. Frederick, Sacramento. Other August vacationers were diesel He is getting along okay and has re­ foreman W. F. STEVENS and family, turned to work. who spent their time at Crater Lake, About 350 employees attended the Safety Parsons, roundhouse foreman, and W. H. Road foreman of engines, T. D . First Plaque presentation at Sacramento Lerner, car foreman, all at Elko. Oregon, while MRS. CORA MARIOTTA, HUNTER, left August 1 on his vacation Shops on July 26, conducted by O. H. Bryan, At Wendover, roundhouse foreman Robert roundhouse employee, traveled east to assistant to general manager. In the inset, Colvin, and road master Andy Thomson re­ which was spent on a sojourn to Fresno, Chicago. E. E. Gleason, superintendent of motive ceived similar awards, while W. J . Bradley, Los Angeles, San Francisco and points Tidewater Southern power, is shown presenting a plaque for car foreman at Winnemucca, also received in between, taking in all good baseball good performance to C. C. Bennett, black­ Promising to keep our Modesto office a plaque. Others on the Eastern Division games possible. smith, and chairman of the Sacramento Shop receiving similar plaques were R. W. Crump­ strictly on-the-beam is our new night Safety Committee, on behalf of the backer, roundhouse foreman, Portola, and Friends in Oroville have received employees. O. M. Beard, roundhouse foreman. On the cards from former Zephyrette JEAN Similar presentations were made at Elko, Western Division, plaques were presented WILLIAMS, who is touring Europe. Last July 18; Wendover, July 18; Winnemucca, at Oroville to R. T. Ronan, roundhouse fore­ heard from at Heidelburg, Germany, July 19; Por tola, July 20 ; Keddie, July 20; man, and E. C. Eager, car foreman; at Oroville, July 27; Stockton, July 25; and and having a wonderful time. Stockton to H. J . Kelly, roundhouse fore­ SEPTEMBER COVER Oakland, July 24. man, and C. L. Doane, car foreman; and at The death of brakeman FRED J . An award for the best division perform­ Oakland, to W. D. Good, roundhouse fore­ GRANT, killed when he fell from a train The big day has finalIy ance went to the Eastern Division, which in Tunnel 6, near Berry Creek, on arrived and the gang at was accepted by J. J. Duggan, superintend­ man, and W. E. Moss, car foreman. Gerlach rushes to board WP System's m echanical department July 23, was a shock to all who knew the WP special for the ent, and roadmaster H. H. Elliot received trip to Reno and the a plaque for the best maintenance of way placed third in all groups among 54 of the him. He is survived by two sons, ages Shrine Circus. Oh, to be performance on the Western Division. nation's largest railroads, and were first in 18 and 20, and both in the U. S . Army. a kid, again! Plaques for accident-free years were pre­ Group C (8 to 20 million man hours per His remains were sent to Michigan Sented to D. C. Charlebois, roadmaster, F . R. year), a very commendable performance. City, Indiana, for burial. 22 MILEPOSTS hospital with a heart ailment, we are LEVY of the industrial department, who dispatcher for the fruit season, C. H. around in a Buick convertible; and now glad to learn BILL FISCHER, build­ is a patient in the same room. BEAM, on leave from the WP at Sac­ signal foreman SCHULHOFF is enjoying ing superintendent, is now at home. Store Department ramento. his Buick sedan. Latest reports are that he will require JULIUS FRICK has returned from his Another newcomer is JESSE L. RASOR, San Francisco complete rest at home until the first of vacation which was spent at his uncle's JR., clerk at Modesto, who came to us the year. The gang misses you, Bill, ranch up in the mountains above MRS. MARTHA LEVY, steno-clerk in from the Southern Pacific, replacing and wishes you a speedy recovery. Jackson. the chief special agent's office, resigned K. C. CARROLL. When MARTIN COUGHLIN returned August 15 to accept a position in Oak­ What the mailman does on his day Vacation time meant trips for many from his vacation at , he land, located close to her home. off, DUDLEY THICKENS, traffic depart­ on the Tidewater. BILLY DAWSON, con­ ment, plans to do during his September was driving a new Chevrolet. What ductor, took a 5,000-mile drive through Martha's place has been filled by vacation. A train trip to the wilds­ luck, a vacation and a new Chevy, too! New Orleans and the East Coast, while MARY BOWLER, a newcomer to the and we do mean wilds-of Churchill, The only thing that marred THUR­ BILL ST. JOOR, roadmaster, drove general office. Born in Elko, she was Manitoba, will round out a 6,000-mile MAN MOZINGO'S vacation in Oklahoma through the Pacific Northwest, with employed in the superintendent's office tour! One ride will be on the "Flin was that it rained seven of the ten days good luck at salmon fishing at New­ there for a short time back in 1947. Flon Flyer," a Canadian local. he was there. Otherwise, the trip was port, Oregon. JACK KENADY, superin­ Mary is the daughter of the late WIL­ We hear-and so has the neighbor­ most enjoyable. LIAM BOWLER, who retired from service tendent, took a "shorty," traveling only hood-that a little jam session is held Moving into a new home keeps any as far as Monterey for some "nice fresh as locomotive engineer in 1938 and over at CARL RATH'S house occasionally, one busy, so JOHNNY DURAND took one passed away in 1941. salt air." ART TIBBETTS, agent at Esca­ with Carl breaking loose on the banjo week of his vacation just for that CARL GERMANN, assistant chief clerk, lon, also went to the coast, spending his accompanied by MAX FREGOSO on the purpose. engineering, was recently thanked for time at Santa Cruz. From pictures he mandolin, sax and any other instru­ Trying to get away from the Valley his donation of one of WP's scrapped brought back of a newly acquired home ment that might happen to be lying heat, GENO LAGOMARSINO went to Santa steam locomotive bells to Our Savior's on the ocean, complete with sea wall, around. We understand they use a Cruz for some ocean breezes, but came Lutheran Church at Lafayette, through he has many happy years ahead. L. A. telegrapher's key for a metronome. back reporting the weather man got "LINK" Hupp, agent at Turlock, made his daughter, Mrs. Pettis. One week each at Russian River and twisted around and Santa Cruz had a trip with his family to Greeley, Colo­ "Quite a place," says PETE CITRON, the heat. rado, where he tried his luck with the chief clerk, freight traffic, who spent Southern California including a day at Catalina and several in Hollywood Filling in around the office during rod and reel, but sadly relates, "the his vacation recently at Richardson vacation period is MARIE HARRIS. She big ones all got away." Springs. Wonder just what he meant? made a "perfect vacation" for CALI CALOMIRIS of the Law Department. is a busy girL We were sorry to learn of the death The arrival of Father Stork at the AL DABBS spent his vacation at home of the father of Roy COLLINS, clerk at home of ART LLOYD, public relations, That 9 pound 2 ounce bundle of joy which arrived at the home of FRANK catching up on the minor details of Turlock, while visiting with Roy and on Sunday, August 6, increased his finishing his new home, whiCh IS some­ SCHMALENBERGER, traffic department, his family. family to four. Daughter, Lynne, 3%, thing RALPH PHINNEY has to look says her new baby brother, eight on Sunday, August 27, has been named Sacramento Northern forward to when he moves into his new pounds six ounces and 21 inches long, Douglas Carter. home at 5000 59th Street in the near RUDY MAUS, joint SN-WP agent at is real cute but he keeps me awake. A sudden ruptured blood vessel sent future. Yuba City and Marysville, was sud­ "If at first you don't succeed, try and JIMMY CURREY to Room 234, St. A week in Los Angeles is enough, denly stricken ill, and has been tempo­ try again" ... quotes SALLY RIDEOUT, Joseph's Hospital, Saturday, Septem­ claims AGNES ASH and sister RITA. After rarily replaced by J. E. WALTON. We secretary to I. M. FERGUSON. After hob­ ber 2. On leave from duties as secre­ the smog, they were glad to get back trust your illness will not be serious, bling around for weeks with a cast on tary to Vice-President Poulterer, to Sacramento. (BOB MUNCE , JR., please Rudy, and wish you a speedy recovery. one leg which tried to beat the other Jimmy had been temporarily working take note!) The present prosperity of the Sacra­ one to the top of Badger Pass via the in Carl Mangum's Oakland office so as While GLADYS MORTON spent the mento Northern is reflected in the ski lift, she is just waiting for a winter to be nearer his mother who lives second week of her vacation at the owners of new cars by its employees. vacation for another try. Meanwhile, alone in Oakland. Jimmy reports he is Russian River, LEE WILLIS enjoyed a Telephone foreman, O. H . HOOK, is she toys with the idea of summer getting along fine, and has good com­ week at Lake Tahoe. sporting a new 88 OIds; ELSIE GON­ practice on water skis! pany in Al Levy, husband of MARVEL Just before RENO PICCHI left for his SALVES, Sacramento freight, is driving After nearly three months in the M ILEPO S T S 25 24 MILEPO S T S first prize of $50 for writing the first in Bascom Gardens, San Jose. The prize winning essay in an "I'll Remem­ worst part of it all, says Fred, is the ber Day Because . .." contest. waiting to move in. The RAY NIBLOCKS, marine mate, are Mrs. Laurine Carroll has completely very happy over the arrival of Mary recovered from a recent operation, and Elizabeth, 7 pounds 11 ounces, on Au­ JOHN PAUL has relinquished the apron gust 4. and frying pan. DIXIE GIBB ended August as Miss, Wendover and began September as Mrs. JOE We all welcomed J. C. DAVIS back to ULISSE, the wedding taking place in work switching, but his stay was a Oakland, very small but very beauti­ brief one, as J. C. has been called back ful, with a reception following at the to active military duty. At latest re­ home of Irma Piver, attended by port he is stationed in Spokane, Wash­ nearly every member of the Mechani­ ington. cal Department. DICK PFENNING has left our ranks It was nice visiting with PAUL and is breaking in as dispatcher in MURPHY, yardmaster, and switchmen Elko. We wish him lots of luck there, LATHROP, MAJOR and OLMSTEAD, at San and all, but our. telegraph instruments Jose. They were very courteous and will never shine again like they did gave us some delicious ice water to when Dick got out his silver polish and drink, it being one of the very hot days polishing cloth. of the year in San Jose. Also visited with telegrapher BUELL and Clerk BUD Due to Dick Pfenning's transfer, HI can't help it, Miss-this car was suddenly ordered back to the yards." SOULE, Engineers VERN BRAIN and RAY SHIRLEY LEE is now handling the MILE ­ POSTS' assignment for Wendover, re­ vacation he was presented with a mer­ countant, has taken over Hy's duties COPE, incapacitated, fireman BROKAW chandise order, a belated wedding gift. while away. and brakemen ALLRED and FARLEY. lieving FRANCIS DAVIS who pinch­ hitted for the August issue. Reno was married la~t December while Mechanical engineer, BILL W OLVER­ The busy little beavers have nothing Trainmaster I. L. KILGORE has just in Italy, and his bride arrived in Cali­ TON, now travels around in a new on MARGARET and ERNIE EVANS. They recently returned from a vacation to fornia in June. Chrysler, while Hy O'RULLIAN sports have been working for weeks on a Los Angeles and Las Vegas. H. J. MADISON has returned from a a new two-tone Pontiac, and your cor­ patio in the back yard of their home, trip to Chicago. Business and, we hope, There is quite a bit of controversy respondent a new Chevrolet. barbecue facilities and all. They will pleasure. over which is the better car, a Ford or MARY McKINNON, assistant AFE ac­ have earned their vacation the las1 a Chevvy. WALT UMSHLER, switchman, Sacra mento Shops countant, is back from a two-week part of September, which they expect and PRESTON NUFFER, a yard clerk, are Blessed events in our midst have vacation spent in Oregon, Los Angeles to spend in Salt Lake City. both driving the latter, while the LEE'S been the RAY SCHRIEFERS, shop engi­ and Vallejo. Understand she met some It was mighty nice having ED HEN­ have a new Ford CrestlineI'. I'm afraid neer, with a baby girl; and the BOB very nice gentlemen friends while NESSY in Oakland again, while HARRY we're outnumbered in the argument, CUNHAS, draftsman; with a baby boy. away. GLATT was enjoying his vacation. We although no one has ventured to race NORENE JOHNSON, former steno-clerk We have an idea most of JIM QUICK'S are only sorry Harry had to spend half us up "3-Mile Hill." . to master mechanic MORRIS, and now vacation will be spent at the State Fair his vacation in the hospital, but are on six months leave of absence, reports Speaking of racing, we enjoyed the horse races while away from his desk. happy to know he is once more hale the birth of a baby boy. hot rod races on the Bonneville Salt and hearty. Hy O'RULLIAN, chief clerk, is spend­ Oakland Flats in August. Alex Xydias from ing a long awaited vacation in Salt ANDY PICKENS, clerk, is a very happy San Jose California, set a new record of 210 Lake City, and B. W. JONES, chief ac- father. His daughter, Liane, 13, won Clerk FRED BRANDES has a new home m.p.h. on the measured mile. More

26 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 27 races were held over the Labor Day Los Angeles MARY LAMBEHTY, secretary to chief JAMES CALKINS, JR., who has been on weekend. E. J . FISHER, formerly assistant to clerk, is spending two months visiting files during the summer months, has The announcement that the Federal T. B. BARRY, and now Chief Examiner relatives in Paw Paw, West Virginia. departed for San Francisco to be pres­ Housing Project will maintain its for the Association of American Rail­ Vacations are the jinx for FLOHENCE ent at several pre-nuptial affairs prior apartments here was welcome news to roads' Freight Claim Division at Chi­ "SCOTTY" DUNCAN. Last summer she to his marriage to Dr. Patricia Hood on WP employees. We were all beginning cago, stopped by the office for a short fell down her basement stairs and September 9. He will re- enter Has­ to picture life in a tent on the salt beds. visit. spent her entire vacation nursing a tings Law School at the opening of the Telegrapher C. B. MORRIS, second V. R. EDHOLM, formerly of the gen­ pair of black eyes and a badly bruised F all term. BILL SMALES was the suc­ trick, Shafter, has pust returned from eral office, is now assistant traffic man­ and swollen nose, and this year's va­ cessful bidder on the position of file vacationing in Oregon around Crater ager at the Willys-Overland Motors cation was spent at the hospital with clerk. Lake. H e has lots of good fishing sto­ Inc., Los Angeles plant. He send~ her husband who was very ill. We're The re- established fourth assistant ries to tell now, and we wonder if he greetings to his former associates in happy to report that George is able to accountant's position has been filled by brought back one big enough to stump our northern province. be back at work. FRANK CLAWSON. We're always happy Lou GREBENC? Wouldn't be easy. The Engineers Club at Los Angeles FRED EGELSTON had the misfortune to welcome a new assistant accountant The old man of the mountains, was treated to a showing of the color to sprain his ankle while on a fishing - unless he gets wise to us, he gets namely "MOSE" CAVE NDER, is holding movie "California Zephyr" and a talk trip recently and is now painfully get­ blamed for all errors. down HARRY STEVENSON'S and CHARLIE on the Feather River Canyon by gen­ ting abount with the aid of a cane. The The July issue of RaUroad Engi­ RENNER'S places on No. 17 and No. 18 eral agent D. C. WILKENS recently. fact that he was forced to walk four neering and Maintenance contains an while those boys are on vacation. DEAR EDITOR : Your recent editorial miles to return to his car h elped article on "Using Grade Stakes for Nos. 17 and 18 must have lost some comment notwithstanding, a certain neither the pedialgia nor Fred's dispo­ Raising Tracks" by CHARLES MILLEH, of their glamour as GLEN E. Fox and MILEPOSTS' correspondent was very sition. assistant roadmaster. Chuck maintains W. C. THOMPSON are both back in East­ fortunate to have a bucket handy when J OHNNY ETCHEBEHERE and YE SCHIBE that grade stakes when used either ern Division freight service. Welcome recently in Chicago, as your windy have both returned to the accounting with on- track or off-track tie-tamping back, boys! city representative will vouch for if department to get "rested" after short equipment are a time saver for the foreman. A second article by Miller R etired conductor WADE BAKER he is man enough! ' but strenuous vacations. Etch spent on "Unloading Rail from a Flat Car stopped off to greet old friends on his his vacation feeding hungry workers Salt Lake City with Crane and Tongs" was given way West. Wade really looks fine and at the Fair Grounds and we spent ours space in the August issue of the same says that his wife keeps him from tak­ W. A. MENDENHALL, Traffic repre­ cleaning house. Oh, well! To each magazine. Elko residents will remem­ ing life too easy. sentative, now has one less mouth to his own! feed, as his daughter, Mary Lyle, was ber the Mechanical Man in the 1950 Former roundhouse foreman GEORGE JACK STHEETEH, yard clerk, and JACK married on May 31 and now lives in Stampede P arade, which was also LAMBERT got off No. 1 to greet old FOHD, ticket clerk, have once again an­ Mt. Pleasant, , where she had Chuck's brain child. friends. Looks as if Port01a really swered their country's call to arms. ELAINE GAMBRELL, secretary to divi­ agrees with him. been teaching prior to her marriage. Both boys were ordered to report to Hamilton Field, California. E HWIN sion engineer, has transferred to the Since OTTO ANDERSON, former waiter Elko Western Division where she will be­ in the Snack Bar, had to take off to go VAUGHAN, who has been secretary to Our apologies to STAN VELTMAN for superintendent for the past year and a come secretary to trainmaster BILL to school at Grantsville, MRS. THEAS failing in a most important duty, for HOWELL at Stockton. We hope Elaine half, has taken over ticket clerk du­ GARFIELD is the smiling personage that where young love is concerned extend­ will be very h appy in her new location. now waits on customers from four ing good wishes is our duty. Stan was ties, and JOSIE MARETOLI is secr etary until midnight. temporarily. Newcomers to the yard Our sincere congratulations and b est married on June 6 to Miss P atricia wishes to Alta R ickenbach, daughter H earty welcome is extended t o office are EVERETT KIMBALL and F AHIN J ackson of Condon, Oregon, and we of MR. and MRS . LEE LANPHEAR, whose ERNEST BREWER, CLAUDE HERNDON, and wish them much happiness. Stan is a ALLEN, while JAMES DOTSON is filling marriage to Keith Morse was the cul­ GEORGE REICHERT, switchman now em­ representative for the J . V. Moan Co. in for F RED EGELSTON at the freight mination of a friendship of long stand- ployed in Wendover yard service. and has his desk in our office. office. ( Continued on Page 30) 28 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 29 NEW TICKET TESTED Western )'ailroads are testing a new new form will be presented to all rail­ and simplift d form of railroad pas­ roads of the United States for adoption. senger ticket. "The 60-day test will be conducted Announced recently by E. B. Padrick, at five offices on the Milwaukee Road­ chairman of the Trans - Continental the city and depot ticket offices at Mil­ and Western passenger associations, waukee, Wis.; the city and depot ticket "the new form is clear, simple and com­ offices at Minneapolis, Minn.; and the Editor, MILEPOSTS: plete. It is a handy size, easy to read, city ticket office at St. Paul." Caboosing ... The new form is a booklet measuring No. 15 brake beams give a good deal ( Continued from Page 29) carries all the necessary information concerning the passenger's purchase, 3Y4 x 6% inches and containing dupli­ of trouble. Why are these not replaced ing. Alta will be remembered as Queen and should save time in buying tickets. cate sheets or coupons. One is the pas­ with a more modern type? of the Fair two years ago, and her senger's coupon which shows the fare many friends will also remember the "This new interlin ticket was de­ F.R. veloped by the W stern Lines' Com­ and tax, the cities from and to which days of anguish for all of us when she ANSWER: mittee for the Simplification of Ticket the passenger is traveling and the rail­ was seriously injured in an automobile Starting January 1, 1950, AAR re­ Forms to replace the long coupon ticket roads over which he is carried. Another quires that No. 18 brake beams, which accident while attending the Univer­ now in use. Started August 15, it will is the agent's coupon which is retained are much heavier than the No. 15 type, sity of Nevada last fall. The young be given a 60-day test, during which by the ticket seller. The other coupons be used entirely for replacements on couple will follow ranching in Wyo­ passengers will be requested to com­ are taken out of the book by the con­ ming. cars in interchange. ment upon the new form. As soon as ductors of each railroad over which the The following item appeared in J uly the results of the test are known, the passenger is routed. MILEPOSTS under the San J ose notes: "CARL NIPPER, general agent, was SECURITY! among those selected to act as escort on a Shrine Special. Imagine his hands Conferences between the Depart­ were full during the train's stopover ment of Defense and the Association at Elko." If Carl acted as escort on any of American Railroads since the Korean war began have resulted in of the Shrine Specials we saw, "full" the adoption of security measures didn't apply to his hands alone! similar to those in effect between WP baseball enthusiasts are deeply 1941 and 1945. grateful to R. C. "RED" ELLIS for the Precautions against possible sabo­ many hours of entertainment and the tage make it necessary to refuse ad­ good clean sportmanship they were mittance onto railroad property of privileged to watch dW'ing the summer unauthorized persons as visitors or months. Red will always be able to photographers. remember his 1950 baseball season No information as to the nature, with a feeling of satisfaction and pride volume or destination of military ma­ terial or personnel movements on the in having given the people of Elko a Western Pacific may be released by brand of sport distinctly "pro bono any employee. All queries on such publico." matters should be referred to Gilbert H. Kneiss, assistant to president­ POETRY public relations, 526 Mission Street I passed a cop without a fuss; I pa.ssed a load of hay; San Francisco. ' I tned to pass a swerving bus, And then I passed away. - Texas & Pacific Topics. "Lookit- a convertible yeti"

30 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 31 Sec. 34.66, P. L. & R. WESTERN PACIFIC MILEPOSTS U. S. POSTAGE 526 Mi ..ion St., San Francisco 5, Calif. PAID Return and Forwarding Posta&e Guaranteed San Francisco, Calif. Permit No. 53 71

POSTMASTER : If undeliverable for ANY REASON. notify sender, stating reason on Form 3547. postage for which is guaranteed by sender.

At a special meeting of the Member Railroads of the Association of American Railroads, held July 28 at Chicago, a five-fold program was adopted by the rail­ roads to meet the needs of commerce and national defense. Point 4 pledges the railroads to do all within their power to obtain the most efficient use of freight cars. This program will be accomplished through: (a) Avoiding delays in terminal movements. (b) Avoiding delays in road haul movements. (c) Prompt unloading of serviceable cars containing railroad company material. (d) Heavier loading of company material. (e) Prompt repair of equipment and avoidance of delay at repair tracks, par­ ticularly where light repairs are involved. (f) Prompt placement of embargoes where these are necessary to relieve rail­ road congestion. (g) Prompt placement of embargoes against consignees who have accumula­ tions and delayed cars. (h) Observance of Car Service Rules as a means of avoiding unnecessary empty mileage and assuring the car owners fair usage of cars provided.

" Grove" roomette-type sleepers have been added to Canadian Pacific Railway trains 7 and 8 operating between Montreal and Winnipeg.

O ne hundred and ninety-eight automatic electric safety devices are now in service on Boston and Maine highway grade crossings.

The world's largest double-tracked railway tunnel-the new Elkhorn bore, opened June 26, I I miles west of Bluefield, West Virginia, on the road of the Norfolk and W estern.