WESTERN PACIFIC Jl!!1f:p.,~Sls '59 Should Be a Betler Year I T IS GENERALLY agreed by reliable roadway projects and other desirable ilepoSls sources that 1959 will be a better improyements. Tentatively, a 1959 year than was 1958, which is good news budget of $21f2 million has been au­ Volume X, No.6 JANUARY, 1959 ' Milepost No. 114 for every Western Pacific railroader. thorized, but if conditions improve, the It is also predicted that the present up­ railroad expects to expand the budget turn in business, which began about beyond that figure. Department of Public Relations last mid-September, will continue even WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD beyond 1959. SACRAMENTO NORTHERN RY. More rolling stock Although final 1958 figures were not TIDEWATER SIUTHERN RY. The cash allocated for purchase of 526 Mission Street available as this issue went to press, San Francisco 5, California MILEPOSTS did learn that the company's new freight cars this year was also Lee "FI.sh" Sherwood. Editor estimated gross revenues for 1958 will curtailed to fit the cash available. With A. l. Lloyd. Associate Editor be about six percent less than for 1957. the upturn in business and prospects However, an encouraging sign was a for its continuance, the railroad hopes 9% percent increase in October's gross to expand its original plans in that cat­ figures compared with that same egory, so it will be in a position to month in 1957. handle all traffic available. Net operating revenues for the Jan­ Costs are sure to continue upward uary-October period were about $1% * Milepost No. 114: Cars as long as inflation lurks in the back­ on spot to serve Thornton million below that same period in 1957. ground. No one gains from an in­ Canning Company on creased income if it is necessary to main line at Thornton. Economy was necessary turn right around and payout that gain The decrease in traffic hauled over for increased costs of purchases. And, our railroad in 1958 was considerable, the additional tax on the increased in­ CONTENTS despite a concentrated effort by our come also reduces the value of the dol­ Page traffic department to prevent it. Freight lar. One way to curb inflation is to '59 Should be a Better year...... 3 rate increases could not be generally place a ceiling on wages and prices. Welded Rail for Oakland Terminal Railway .. 6 sought to offset this loss in tonnage, as This has been tried before, however, and it has never proven to be a satis­ Elko Station Not the Same...... 8 the general level of rates is already so factory answer to the problem. One Dolomite Rides Our Rails ...... 10 high that to raise them further might drive away business the railroad al­ better method is to increase produc­ Foresters Enjoyed Another Good Time ...... 12 ready had. The only other alternative tion without increasing the cost to pro­ Mileposts in Gold ...... 14 was for the railroad to economize duce, simply because of the balance Are You Entitled to this Tax Deduction? .. . 15 wherever possible by reducing ex­ between supply and demand. When Caboosing ...... 16 penses. Unfortunately, one necessity demand for products or service is

Sports .... c •••..••.••••.•••...••. . ••..•• • ••••••••• ••.•.•••••••••••.••..••.••• . •••••••••• •••••• ••••• . .• . . • •• . •.. . ••..•••••..•.•••.•..••. . 22 meant some reduction in forces. It was greater than supply, prices always in­ Railroad Lines...... 24 also necessary to defer the major por­ crease; they decrease when supply is tion of the improvement program greater than demand. COVER: Ten lengths of continuous welded rail stretch planned for the year. Everyone likes to receive a raise. around curve in distance at Oakland Yard. Measuring Pending actual results, it was also Unfortunately, someone is stuck to pay rails for cutting are Engineers A. C. Strickler, Fred Weller, Ed Dobbins, and Walter Klabo. Story on Page 6...... 7 necessary to again defer important the bill. The recent November wage

2 MILEPOSTS JANUARY, 1959 3 and cost-of-living increases received Railroads have a potential for a great the opmlOn that railroads should be by all employees, plus the added tax future if they can succeed in getting permitted to provide service by other on payrolls the railroad must pay, in­ out from under this blanket of over­ forms of transportation. creased the railroad's payroll about regulation and discrimination. $75,500 a month. This is equal to the Individual interest Diversification needed average net earnings on approximate­ Whatever success our railroad has in ly 1,800 cars of freight each month. One goal for the railroads is trans­ 1959 will be due only to the individual port diversification. Briefly, it will re­ efforts of its officers and employees. A New sales approach quire amendments to the Interstate good example was the recent interest Effective January 1, Western Pacific Commerce and the Civil Aeronautics shown by Engineman L. J. Clark. Mr. is revamping its entire sales organiza­ Acts to remove certain restrictions as Clark reported the possibility of locat­ tion. Railroad selling has become spe­ to who may engage in the business of ing on our line an industry that was cialized to the point of providing more motor carrier, water carrier, and air being forced to relocate. The matter carrier. Such action will provide equal was investigated immediately and, as individual service to fit each custom­ ~ \~1- er's needs. The new plan is aimed in P--.....~,IA~~ opportunity for all modes of transpor­ a result, the concern is now on WP ~~,,--;:,~ ->~ If}~ that direction. tation. The use of two or more modes rails. Although it will not give us a "Sure they pamper him. He routes all his great deal of traffic, every carload Briefly, Western Pacific's new sales of transportation, provided by a single freight over the W es tern Pacific." ownership, will give the shipper the counts. Mr. Clark's action does indi­ organization will be identified as "Mar­ cate that our people are very much keting Division." The marketing di­ most efficient transportation service dustries from which it can expect prof­ possible. That such a service would concerned in bringing more business vision will be divided into four itable traffic. to our railroad. His interest-and yours component groups-sales and service; prove popular is attested by a recent Western Pacific is a leader in devel­ -is most appreciated. pricing; industrial development; and editorial survey of the nation which oping special-purpose freight cars and showed approximately 80% expressed research. Each is designed to work in assisting shippers with their trans­ New Di rector closely with the other in performing a portation problems. This program will necessary function in the over-all pic­ be stressed in 1959. AN URGENT REMINDER Edwin V. Parker, of Philadelphia, ture. It is hoped that by the time Your railroad does not go along with was elected to the board of directors at MILEPOSTS' February issue goes to the position taken by some railroads a special meeting held in November. press a more complete report can be that passenger service cannot survive. Mr. Parker is a native of West Vir­ given. Our California Zephyr shows no sign ginia and received secondary educa­ One goal of the marketing program of losing its popularity, and it is ex­ tion in Philadelphia public schools. He will be to obtain an average of 120 more pected that the train will continue to graduated from Colgate University in 1928 with a B.S. degree in economics. cars a day in 1959 than was obtained operate-with good loads-far into the Following graduation he worked as an in 1958. This represents an increase of future. Ten years old this coming March, the popular cr oss-country insurance broker and later established about 20 per cent, which may seem to streamliner will soon be redecorated, the E. V. Parker Company, insurance be a sizeable task. Actually, such an and other new features are expected consultants. He was on active duty increase is less than nine per cent over to make it more popular than ever. with the U. S. Navy for three years what we did in 1957. Railroads have had a hard struggle, during World War II. The railroad is most optimistic about largely because of over-regulation and He is a Western Pacific shareholder. its industrial possibilites, principally over-taxation. The Transportation Act Mr. Parker replaces John D. Kerr, because of the increasing growth in the of 1959 was a good beginning toward who has resigned. Far West. WP has more than $21 mil­ overcoming some railroad problems, There has been no change in the lion invested in industrial acreage for and it is hoped that the Act will lead number of directors on the Board, sale, on which it is hoped to locate in- to even better solutions in the future. which remains at fifteen.

4 MILEPOSTS JANUARY, 1959 5 When welded rail leaves the Winnemucca weld­ ing plant each end is tapered so that it will skid easily on and off the cars. Welder C. W. Wilkins cuts off one end while Helper Raymond S. Gonzales stands ready with tank of water to extinguish any tire caused by flying sparks. The rails were then cut into lengths required for the job as previously marked by the engi­ neering party shown on this month's cover.

from 300 to 680 feet to meet the re­ quirements of the job. The longer length welded rail facilitated ship­ ment in one load rather than in four or five loads which would be required to ship standard 39-foot lengths. It was also less costly to weld the rail at Winnemucca because no such weld­ ing facilities are available in Oakland. Welded rail reduces the number of rail joints to a minimum, providing longer life, reduces pavement break­ age and noise from passing trains.

-Sacramento Bee photo by Paul Webster. S elf-supporting "invalid" Government figures can be dry, be­ most four-fifths of that $52.3 billion Welded rail for wildering, frightening; but the Com­ total for all construction will go for merce and Labor Departments re­ residential building and highways. In Oakland Terminal Railway leased some the other day that are other words, while the railroads are very significantly encouraging. A joint putting large sums of money into their MOVING around a curve at Keddie, Each of the 2,017-foot lengths con­ report indicated that in 1959 the rail­ own development in spite of all the ob­ in the picture above, are 10 sists of 39-foot rails, cut off 18 inches roads of the nation will spend $325 solete and discriminatory regulations lengths of continuous welded rail, at each end to eliminate any battered million for construction projects. This that hamper their ability to earn a fair stretched out over 39 flat cars. Averag­ ends in the second-hand rail. It was is an increase of 8 per cent over 1958. return on investment-their arch com­ ing about two-fifths of a mile in length, welded together at WP's welding plant By comparison, it is estimated that to­ petitors for the money- making freight the rails are the longest yet shipped at Winnemucca, and shipped from tal expenditures for new construction business, the truck lines, are getting a over our railroad. there on October 31. for all industrial and other purposes huge subsidy in the form of tax money Rail as long as this has a surprising The rail will be used by Oakland will rise 7 per cent to a record $52.3 bil­ spent to maintain and increase the amount of flexibility, even though it Terminal Railway (joint WP-SFe op­ lion-passing $50 billion for the first highways on which they operate. weighs 112 pounds per yard (railroads eration) to replace old Key System time. The railroads are ailing, largely today use rail ranging from 60 to 155 rails on Poplar and Louise streets, The railroads' greater percentage of through no fault of their own-but pounds per yard). Because of this, the Oakland, but not in the length it was increase is significant enough, but be­ they're still out there laying steel with special train had no trouble rounding shipped. Instead, it was cut up after comes even more impressive when their own financial muscles. even WP's 10-degree curves. arrival in Oakland into various lengths consideration is given the fact that al- -California Feature Service

6 MILEPOSTS JANUARY, 1959 7 ON'T think you're in the wrong D city when you step off the train at Elko. The familiar old depot is no more. Instead, you'll see a modern, one-story, brick-faced building which now serves as depot and office for di­ vision forces. The old, two-story, wooden struc­ ture, completed in 1909, was in con­ stant need of repair, provided poor lighting and heating for the occupants, and was old-fashioned in appearance. The new $127,000 building, officially dedicated at an "open house" on De­ cember 30, is in keeping with Elko's progress and our railroad's modern­ ization program in which Elko plays a A diagram showing the location of offices is shown on Page 10. part. WP is the largest employer in Elko with an annual payroll of around $1% million. The railroad paid $173,- "'Oh, come on. It'll take you only a couple of 883 in Elko city, school and county mi.nutes to paint this chair!" Elko station not the same taxes during fiscal 1958.

One of the biggest celebrations ever held at the old Elko depot was the observance of " Charles O. Sweetwood Day" In contrast to the on January 25, 1951, new depot pictured in honor of the first above, those who Nevada youth and rode Western Pacific's first W P employee to first passenger train lose his life on the i.n 1910 saw the Korea battlefield. depot as it is pictured here. Colorful ceremonies inaugurated the use of W piS business car 601 as a blood donor car, later made famous for its contri .. butions in time of need.

9 8 MILEPOSTS JANUARY, 1959 Elko station office location A-C.T.C. N- Divn. Engr. B- Dis patch er O-Chief Clerk y C- Telegraph P- General Office D- Special Agent Q- Asst. Road- E-Asst. Supt. mstr. ~:=tJ Western Pacific coy .. F- Secreta ry R- T&T Supervsr. ered hopper cars a re G-Supt. S- Signal Supvr. spout-loaded f rom H- Baggage T- Ya rd Office storage bins which straddle the track. I- Ticket Office U- Locker Room J-Waiting Rm. V- P.B.X. K- Men W- Furnace l-Women X- Dial Ap'aratus BASEMENT M - Engineering Y- Recrd. Storage UNDER ... z it: ...... it is further processed. Final processing p ~Q burned dolomite requirements of west­ M .... z ern steel markets, but also to produce involves the elevation of the product to "'::> 4t railroad ballast and commercial grades a pug-mill, where it is dedusted by ~ • of crushed stone. oiling. It is then distributed by a shuttle K The hard, slate- gray ore is mined conveyor to four shipping bins, having from an open pit 5,300 feet above sea a combined capacity of about 2,400 tons 8 level. Four end-dump quarry trucks, of the dead-burned product. The bins [oJ]FrFP~ each carrying about 15 tons, carry the straddle the loading track at consider­ mined ore downhill about one mile to able elevation, enabling the product to the plant located at an elevation of be spout-loaded by gravity at a rapid 4,900 feet. A series of crushers reduce rate into the covered-hopper cars Dolomite rides our rails the original "stone" to "chips" before beneath. Since June, 1958, a new industry lo­ ore, a calcium, magnesium carbonate cated about five miles northeast of (referred to by mining operators as Special Agent AI Hachquet took these Delle, Utah, has provided added reve­ "lime rock") in the Lakeside Moun­ pictures, this one of nue for our railroad, added employ­ tains of Utah's desert country of the Tooele Valley ment for local workers, and better Tooele County. Utah-Marblehe ad Local crew and Utah­ service in supplying refractory needs Lime Company erected a $3 million Marblehead superi .... tendents. From left for the U. S. Steel Corporation's mill mill, and a five-mile spur track was are Brakeman at Geneva, Utah. laid from the plant to Western Pacific's R. Saxton, Conductor From the time the Geneva steel mill main line. The Tooele Valley local now E. R. Sullivan, Supt. a nd Mgr. W. L. Petty began operation about 15 years ago, hauls carloads of the cr ushed ore a and Asst. Supt. and dead-burned dolomite, used to line short 105 miles between the plant and Mgr. Ray Mu rphy, En­ open hearth furnaces, was shipped by the Geneva mill. gineer W. F. Sieck­ Marblehead Lime Company from its There is enough of the pure dolomite man, Fireman A. E. plant at Thornton, Illinois, a distance Biggs, a nd Brakeman in the Lakeside Mountains for the com­ R. B. Perri. Th e of some 1,500 miles. pany to mine in excess of 20 million "pooch" is not Geopr ofessional Services, Inc., of tons. The plant's capacity will be suffi­ identifi ed. Salt Lake City, located a deposit of this cient to supply not only the dead-

10 M IL EP O STS J ANUARY, 19 59 11 Foresters enioyed la nother good time "The party gets better each year," which this year drew an attendance of iously, and it was well they did not. master of ceremonies for many years. was the consensus of opinion of forest 111, largest in recent years. Typical of the awards was the one "Peck" retired from the forest service service representatives as they left the As always it was a "stag" affair, and presented to E. L. "M ac" McCann, last year and is now manager of th e "Hideway Lodge" in Greenville around the program was shaped around the WP's division special agent and claim Plumas County Chamber of Com­ midnight on November 7. The remark presentation of 1958 awards for "serv­ agent at Oroville, who puts on the merce. was in appreciation of the 15th annual ice beyond, beneath or above the call show each year. "Mac" always enjoys a Enjoy ing the juicy 16-oz. steak din­ Western P acific-Forest Service dinner, of duty." No one took them too ser- good joke, even if it's on himself. His ner were representatives from the Cal­ award was a brakeshoe, brightly ifornia State Division of Forestry; N e­ painted in gold, and affectionately in­ vada State Division of Forestry; U. S . scribed. In receiving the award "Mac" Forest Service; California High way

"Maeu McCann, gets was informed that it was responsible Patrol; Plumas County Sheriff's office; a generous round of for a rather bad fire even though the State Division of Highways; Plumas applause as he ac­ shoe was found many, many miles from County Fair; other local individuals cepts his gilded any railroad. and hosts from Western Pacific. brakeshoe presented by Elmer Osterman, Sparking the evening's entertain­ The event is staged each year to State OJ.vision of ment was C. L. P eckinpah, popular celebrate the end of the fire season. Forestry, So. Cali­ fornia, on IIMac's" The dam burst, and the raging flood quickly or high water he was a ~ gonna mow the lawn right. At Elmer's forced the townspeople to flee to the hills. today." right is C. L. Peckin- , As they gazed sadly at their flooded homes pah, MC. Seated at In one of the larger San Francisco hotels re· they saw a straw hat float gently downstream Mac's left is Guerdon cently, an ope rator was about to close the doors for about 50 feet. Then it stopped, turned around Ellis, Supervisor EI of her crowded elevator when a well dressed and plowed slowly upstream agci_nst the rushing Dorado National but obviously tipsy gentleman pushed his way water. After 50 feet, it turned and moved down­ Forest. in. As the car started up he tried to turn around stream again. Then upstream again. Then down­ to face the door, but was wedged in so tightly he stream again. couldn't move. The other passeng,ers stared into IISay," said one of the townfolk, "what makes hi.s bleary eyes with growing embarrassment. that hat act so durn funny?" Finally, when the strain became quite painful, II Well, I ain't sartin sure/' spoke up a youth, the drunk cleared his throat and remarked, "1 IIbut last ni.ght I heard grampa swear-come hell expect you wonder why I called this meeting."

12 MilEPOSTS JANUARY, 1959 13 Are y ou entitled to this tax deduction?

MILEPOSTS IN GOLD Western Pacific railroaders who have Brew suggests that the following received sick pay benefits while off records be kept to justify these ex­ duty due to sickness or injury may be ceptions: MILEPOSTS congratulates the following railroaders who will be eligible for eligible to exclude from their taxable 1. Dates absent from work because Service Pin Awards during the month of January, 1959: income up to $100 per week, reports of sickness or injury. William D. Brew, assistant to general 30-YEAR PINS 2. Amount of pay received during auditor-taxes_ t~~~~~~~l,~:~~,~-~ ~~~:~~~~~~~~~~~~:::::::: :::::: ~~:~%~O~f!~~ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~a:c~~~i~\V~~Op~ . period of absence. This provision by the Internal Reve­ Auditor Equipment Service Accts...... __...... 8an Francisco 3. Name of doctor who gave treat­ nue Code, is subject .to the following 20-YEAR PINS ment. Frank G. Lindee...... Traffic Representative_____ ..... ___ .. __ .... __ ._ ...... __ ...... Stockton .. . limitations: Eugene L . Nielson...... Conductor ...... ___ ...... ___ ...... Eastern DlvlslOn 4_ If hospitalized, the dates of hos­ George J. Welch ...... __ Asst. Auditor of Revenues ...... __ ...... 8an Francisco 1_ Absence from work due to sick­ pitalization and name of the hos­ IS-YEAR PINS ness_ pital. H oward F . Brecht...... ____ .Assistant Roadmaster ...... ___ ...... Western Division (a) If absence from work is due 5_ Nature of injury, or diagnosis of ..J ...... •...... ,.,',',.,., .... '...... to sickness and no hospitali­ ire~Me;'deli;"e t· JFar1o~ M~b~ ...~~ ~~"".,.,... , .. ~~"~.,,,~,,,,,,,,,,,, .... ,,~~.. ,,,,~ Cl~~~~~wit.chF~n ... ~~~ .~an ...... :.:.:.:.:.:.:.::::::::::::::::::::::':':'.,'::::::::::::::::,,:::::::' ~':a~~:~:~~~rrn~nDgDiiiV1'~~tiS!Si~~~On~n sickness. Jacqueline M. RedanL...... Steno-Clerk... . zation is required, wages re­ Clarence E . Rowe...... Roundhouse Clerk...... Mechanical Dept. ceived while off duty, limited If you are eligible for sick pay ex­ to $100 per week, are exclud­ clusion benefits, obtain Internal Reve­ ~~~;1~~~i}fi: ;:·;;:';;:'·:~:-';::·::;.;"::_ ~f~}£~~r~e:~3:~~~ ~i~~ ::~ :et.t· ::,··,,~~~~··~~·- .. ·:~:,~: t~;~~t~~~~: able after the first seven days nue Service Form 2440 "Statement to E sther A. Witt...... _Yard Clerk (MILEPOSTS Correspondent) ...... Wendover of each absence. Support Exclusion of Sick Pay," and file it with your tax return_ IO-YEAR PINS (b) If absence from work is due Myron M. Christy..... __ ...... SuperintendenL...... Western Division to sickness, and hospitaliza­ First members named for tion is required for at least railroad " Hall of Fame" ~1?~~~;f€~~·: ··:::·:::::'::.:.:·:::·:::·:::: !~tNt.~iii;:£~~~;~~~l;tl~~:~.. ·;, ..:':·:-;.:-'.:':· .. :-::'::·.· f.~~¥#;~!ft:~~ one day during the sickness, John L . Rainer ...... _Paint Gang Foreman.. ... Western DIvISion Frank R . Woolford ...... Chief Engineer ...... San Francisco wages received while off duty, Abraham Lincoln, John Stevens, limited to $100 per week, are Horatio Allen and John Garrett have . excludable for the entire ab­ been named as the first members of Unemployment Insurance sence. the National Railroad Hall of Fame Clnd Museum. The Museum is located 2. If absence from work is due to in Portland, Oregon. contribution rate upped personal injury, all wages re­ ceived while off duty, limited to Described as a "shrine for railroad The Railroad Retirement Board has 864. Estimated payments for the last immortals," the plans for the Museum announced that the balance in the rail­ two months of 1958 are $69,773, making $100 per week, are excludable from taxable income. include a library, an extensive collec­ r oad unemployment insurance account an estimated 1958 yearly total of $418,- tion of miniatures and curios, and a dropped to $135,442,600.61 on Septem­ 637. Based on the new 3 per cent rate, sanctuary for some of railroads' rarest ber 30, 1958- As a result, according to it is estimated that the railroad's pay­ The sales manager was going over one of his items_ The Museum's Board of Di­ the provision in the Railroad Unem­ ments during 1959 will amount to salesmenls expense accounts. II Just look at this!" rectors will continue to operate The he demanded. "How can you spend $9 for food ployment Insurance Act, Western Pa­ $502,364, an inc!"ease of nearly $84,000_ Coach of Fame which stands on its own cific's unemployment insurance con­ Unemployment contributions are in a single day in Cedar Rapids?/I "Itl s easy/' the saleman answered cheerfully. tracks in the famous Travel Town of tribution rate for 1959 will jump from one of the employees' benefits paid " You just ski.p breakfast," Griffith Park in Los Angeles_ 272 to 3 per cent. entirely by the employer_ Payments C. J . "Jeff" Keenan, who started his For the first ten months of 1958 are based on compensation paid to Two camels trudged along side by side in a railroad career 73 years ago as a train Western Pacific paid into this account each employee up to a maximum of desert caravan_ Finally one of them looked around furtively and spoke: "I don't care what anybody boy at the age of 11, is the founder of for the benefit of its employees $348,- $350 a month. says, I'm thirsty!" the Museum_ 14 MILEPOSTS JAN UA RY, 1959 15 in competition against 26 other colleges NEW YORK CITY c>t Salt Lake City. James B. Hansen Engineer OSCAR H . HEARING made Traffic Representative ALAN HUD­ his last trip before retiring on Novem­ SON and his wife, Dorothy, announce ber 26. Our best wishes for the future. eaboosing that the stork will visit West Nyack Oroville employees regretted losing some time next summer-for the tenth Trainmaster L. W. BREINER to Stock­ time! ton, but, at the same time, welcome The entertainment committee was A Fall visitor to WENDOVER Trainmaster R. B. REDUS who comes N ew Orleans was headed by GILFORD RICE and ORSON here from Keddie. Esther Witt JOE MASON, com­ SHEPARD, and serving on the decorating Home for the holidays were Patricia Mrs. Georgia A. JyIcCarty, age 76, mercial agent. committee were Eva Pierce, Mrs. Col­ wife of retired Switchman CLARENCE Nuffer, daughter of Cashier and Mrs. General Agent man Caughey, Jr., Mrs. Gilbert Powers E. MCCARTY, died at Oroville on No­ PRESTON A. NUFFER, and Patricia and R. B. RITCHIE con­ and Mrs. Frank Thomas. vember 18. A native of Indiana she Donna Shea, daughters of T&T Line­ tinues to knock had lived in Oroville for five yea~·s. man and Mrs. THOMAS SHEA. The for­ Miss Nancy Long, daughter of Yard­ down the pins in B&B Foreman Roy 1. GROSSETH died mer is a student at Brigham Young master and Mrs. T. J. LONG, is a prize fine style, and h e is in P aradise on November 3. Funeral University, while the two Shea girls Joe Mason now planning to services were held at the Rose Chapel, attend St. Mary's of the Wasatch. pass on his secret to and burial was at Paradise. Thanksgiving guests in the home of his first grandchild, Robert Howard Retur ning here in October after General Clerk (at Warner) and Mrs. Ritchie, born November 12. three months in Scandinavia was NEIL HARVEY NAYLOR were their son Don HAGEN, retired car man. This was the Two ex-Stocktonites, JIM HANSEN and his wife and two children.' Do~ first visit to his homeland for Hagen and MERYLE REIGNER, regret the loss of NAYLOR is a Western P acific traffic since he left Norway in 1923. Hagen their friend, L. 1. McATEE, in Novem­ representative. traveled on Scandinavian Airlines over ber. the polar route, landing first in Copen­ STOCKTON OROVILLE hagen, D enmark. H e continued to Oslo Elaine Obenshain Helen R. Small, C. W. D'Arcy Norway, and then Trondheim Norway' where h e visited three broth~rs. Dur~ Best wishes are extended to Brake­ Over 350 attended the third annual man J ERRY E. NOWLIN and his new Oroville Federated Shop Crafts dinner ing September, he enjoyed reunions with friends and relatives in Sweden. bride, the former Vera Anderson. They meeting recently. Specialty acts and were married on November 8. dancing followed the full chicken din­ Meadow Valley Lumber Company New parents are Fireman and Mrs. ner which was completed with pies of Quincy was successful bidder in the VINCENT J . VALLARINO , J R., whose new and cakes baked by wives of members. auction sale of timber held recently in Plumas National Forest. The sale of son, David, was born on October 24. We enjoyed seeing the following re­ this timber amounts to about 12370 - Their other children are a daughter, tired members present: AL SCHYHARDT, 000 board feet. This is the first p~rti~n three and a half, and another son, 16 FRANK SEEGER, AL SMITH, GEORGE SALZ­ of over 160 million board feet of the months. MAN, BOB COLE, JIM TURNER, BILLY forest which will be sold and logged Our sympathy to the family of Crew DUNN, PAT LORENZANA, TED CLAYPOOL, Prize winning student, Nancy Long during the current fiscal year. In­ Clerk L. IVAN McATEE, who died on P. S. JACKSON and "WHITEY" DASELER. cluded are ponderosa, sugar pine, red November 24 after a short illness. GILBERT POWERS was chairman of the winner in a collegiate speech contest. and white fir, Douglas fir and incense Condolences are also sent to the party, assisted by STANLEY KISTER, Nancy, a student at Chico State Col­ cedar. family of retired Conductor JOHN VERNON SPROWL, LOREN THOMPSON, DON lege, placed first in the opening round QUINCY ADAMS who died on the same JACO, BUD GREEN, HERMAN LIGHTLE, held at the College of the Pacific and Mixed greens are good for you - especially day. The father of Engineer JESSE W. D. SCOTT and "WHITEY" DASELER. later received an honorable mention those fives, tens, and twenties. ADAMS of Stockton, the late Mr. Adams MILEPOSTS 16 JAN UARY, 1959 17 was 83 and had lived in Stockton since Francisco School of Nursing's honor tors, was elected to the executive com­ and his wife, who plan to live perma­ 1910. His other survivors include a roll again this year. Marian had a mittee of this board. nently in Oroville, and Fireman and daughter, Mrs. Ruby Morrison, and scholastic average of 3.57 for the sem­ Sharing first-place honors as win­ Mrs. J. E. LYNCH, who will continue to make their home in Keddie. two other sons, Victor D. and Walter ester out of a possible 4.00 (perfect). ners, with the best sets of horns, in the G., all of Stockton. She graduated in 1956 from Humboldt WPAC Annual Deer Derby were We are glad to hear that former High School. She is a member of the Blacksmith C. C. BENNETT and Car­ KEDDIE Trainmaster L. A. HENRY, who retired university's pep band and is affiliated man L. F. GIESER. Blacksmith G. W. Mrs. Elsie Hagen ROLLER placed second, while Black­ recently, is rapidly recovering from with the Tri Gamma sorority. Two new arrivals in December were smith R. L. PAULE was judged in third major surgery. Joretta Diane, infant daughter born to place. SACRAMENTO SHOPS Brakeman and Mrs. LEX PARKER, and a WINNEMUCCA Marcella G. Schultze WPAC's Annual Bass Derby was boy, Vernon Rex, son of Brakeman Ruth G. Smith won by Draftsman R. CUNHA with a Attending the 24th annual meeting and Mrs. VERN ROBLYER. 10-pounder. Carman J . A. PATTERSON On their recent four-week vacation, of the California Credit Union League On leave is Roy BARKSTROM, road­ placed second and Machinist D. REULE, Agent and Mrs. CECIL DUCK drove to in Sacramento recently, as delegates master clerk. Mrs. VIRGIL SIMPSON is third. Mexico City and back, stopping off on of the WP Sacramento Employees filling the job. the return trip to visit relatives in Federal Credit Union, were IRENE BUR­ HERMAN SCHULTZE and I were very JOE CLINTON, yardmaster, left De­ Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colo­ TON, LAVON ROBISON, M. T. PANTALONE, proud of our third son, Jeffrey, age cember 15 for a vacation in Council rado. Southward, the couple crossed C. P . ROLFE, E. E. EVERS, J. A. ANDER­ nine, when he was selected for "A Day Bluffs, Iowa, extending into this the border at Nogales, Arizona, taking SON and this reporter. at the Arden Fire Department" as a month. Spending the holidays in Illi­ the Pacific Highway in Mexico to winner in the recent Fire Prevention MRS. BURTON was in charge of deco­ nois were Mr. and Mrs. HERB WOMACK, Guadalajara, then east to Mexico City. Week Contest for children in Sacra­ rations for the convention, and ED who also left in mid-December. They returned via the Pan-American mento's North Area Fire Districts. The EVERS appeared as vocalist at the Sun­ Now moved into Keddie are Train­ Highway, re-entering the U. S. at children had the time of their lives, day Annual Breakfast. Ed, presently master W. W. GEIL and his family. being picked up and returned to school Laredo, Texas. serving on the League board of direc- Petie Hanley, who attends college in New parents are Welder and Mrs. by Fire Department cars, treated to Sacramento, was home for both the ALBERT J. RICKS, now stationed at lunch at the station and getting behind Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Winnemucca. Their son was born No­ the wheels of the big trucks. He is the son of Agent PETE HANLEY. vember 15 in the Humboldt General My thanks to Machinist M. VELA­ Charles Kenny, also studying away Hospital and has been named David SICH, Blacksmith C. C. BENNETT, La­ from home, was here for Christmas. Jeffery. borer H. W. PETTENGELL, and my hus­ Fireman JAMES E. LYNCH made his Albert James Woodward, son of re­ band, Sheet Metal Worker H. F. last run last month, ending a career of tired Engineer A. G. WOODWARD, has SCHULTZE, for all their news gathering nearly half a century, the last 16 years been promoted from Chief Teleman to in 1958. of which were with WP. Senior Chief Radioman in the U. S. Navy, in which he has served for 16 PORTOLA SACRAMENTO STORE years. Gladys K. Largan Irene Burton Assigned to the second shift me­ Mrs. Erva Lou Thomas, wife of chanical foreman's job at Winnemucca General Storekeeper and Mrs. H. J. Trainmaster L. E. THOMAS of Winne­ MADISON enjoyed a visit from their son, is WILLIAM J. LEAVY, formerly of Elko. mucca, was installed Worthy Matron Bill plans to move his wife and two James, last month, at the completion of Portola Chapter No. 321, OES, on of his Air Force duty at Fobisher Bay. children to Winnemucca as soon as he November 14. Worthy Patron for this can find a house. J. ANDY ROBERTS has He is now assigned to a base in Ari­ term is JAMES C. NICHOLSON, fireman zona. been assigned as his helper. and engineer. Marian O'Laughlin, daughter of JOSE CHAVEZ had a trans-Pacific chat "I didn't get to the bank with your pay­ Roadmaster and Mrs. DAN O'LAUGHLIN, Best wishes for happy retirement with his son, Jose, recently. Jose was check, dear, but look at these wonderful January years go to Engineer OSCAR HEARING, called to Mather Field to receive the was listed on the University of San sales!1I JANUARY, 1959 19 18 MILEPOSTS telephone call from his son, who is SAN FRANCISCO ART ALLEN, office manager traffic de­ stationed with the U. S. Air Force in George Bo wers, Doug Bruce, Kathleen Brunette, partment, reports that JIMMY CURREY, Korea. Rita Co nnolly, Eli zabeth Fagan, Lawrence head file clerk, has left St. Joseph's and SALT LAKE CITY Gerring, Carl Roth is now recuperating at home following DONALD E. NASH, engineer of track his recent coronary. Art says Jimmy J. B. Price layout, left Western Pacific December is again full of his usual fine wit and A speedy recovery is wished General 15, and is now working for Lockheed at feels sorry for all those who have to Traffic Agent H. R. "RAY" COULAM Sunnyvale. Russ VACARRO, valuation work for a living. who has been ill for some time. accountant, left October 1 for the East Condolences to LEO POPE, division The Christmas holidays in the home where he will receive training in prep­ analyst, on the loss of his mother who of Fireman and Mrs. KELLY C. NESI at'ation for work with the Interstate passed away from a heart attack in were made especially festive by the Commerce Commission. Kansas before Leo could be with her. presence of their new baby daughter JOE VALERGA, secretary to chief en­ JACK SHOBLOM, traffic department who was born on December 3. gineer, and BOB HULLMAN, secretary to Conductor and Mrs. ORVILLE F. HAYS secretary, left in December to spend vice president and general manager, the holidays in Montana. have returned from an extended tour sailed from San Francisco for Hawaii Another fine time was had by those of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and on December 21 and spent Christ­ Kansas where they visited relatives, mas on the high seas. who attended the accounting depart­ many of whom they had not seen for RUBY GUSTAFSON, purchasing, left in ment's annual Christmas get- together, many years. December for New York where she at the Leopard Cafe, highlighted by Engineer JOHN J. BROWN has an­ spent the holidays with her grand­ juicy steaks and Christmas carols by nounced the marriage of his daughter, children. WP's GLEE CLUB. Susan Jane, to Eddie A. Wood on Christmas Carols rang out through November 15. The young couple will Judy Hansen, IISw eethea rt of Sigma Ch illi general office on December 24, when hve in California. Our best wishes to Plan to attend s. F. Western Pacific's talented Glee Club them. "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" at the Credit Union meeting sang for approximately five minutes in University of Utah is Judy Hansen, the halls of each of the seven floors. daughter of Conductor and Mrs. R. L. All Western Pacific members HANSEN. Judy was selected during the of the San Francisco Employees' annual Sigma Chi Derby at the uni­ Credit Union are invited to at­ tend its annual meeting to be versity on November 22 and reigned held at 5: 10 p. m. in the Roof during a ball in the Hotel Utah's La­ Lounge on January 20. fayette ballroom. Eighteen years of Matters of concern to the age, Judy is a freshman at Utah and members will include the annual is affiliated with Delta Delta Delta reports of standing committees, sorority. She is an ROTC sponsor and annual financial report of the on the staff of the university yearbook. treasurer, election of officers, and voting on the dividend rate for He walked up to the box offi ce, bought a the year 1958. ticket a nd w e nt in. A few minutes later he re­ In addition to candidates for turned, bought another ticket, and again wen. into the theate r. He d id this three times, and office to be presented by a nomi­ by the fourth time the gal in the box offi ce nating committee, nominations couldn't he lp asking: " Why do you keep on for office will be received from buyi ng tickets?1I the floor. " It's not my fault," re plied the ma n. " Th ey Newlyw ed s, Eddie a nd Susa n Wood keep teari ng them up every time I go inside."

20 MILEP O STS J ANUARY, 1959 21 All shook up! Join the Ea rthquakes In March of Dimes Southern Region Sacramento Northern train­ master R. M. Verhaege of the Marysville office has been named Pictured below with Sandra Hoxsey, cheer­ Railroaders'sons leader, are members of the "Buckaroos/' cham­ assistant trainmaster of the West­ pionship football team of Winnemucca High ern Pacific Railroad at Milpitas­ star in football School, whose fathers are Western Pacific rail­ San Jose. roaders. From left to right are: Garry Tang, San­ Winnemucca's Buckaroos set an im­ dra Hoxsey, Garry Hoxsey, Delphi McDonald, Replacing Verhaege in Marys­ pressive record in finishing their 1958 Dennis Woodward, Paul McDonald, Danny ville will be J. E. (Jack) Kenady, season by sweeping eight straight O'Laughlin, Mike Stephenson and James O/laugh­ former trainmaster of Tidewater games. The only team to score against lin . Their coach, Gene Moylan, was not present for the picture. Southern Railway, Modesto. them was the Douglas Tigers, on a The changes became effective blocked punt in the final game of the today. year which Winnemucca romped through to a 78 to 7 victory. The Buck­ Also announced was the ap­ aroos were the only undefeated and pointment of L. D. Michelson to untied team in the State of Nevada. the new post of terminal train­ In setting their record, the team master for San Francisco-Oakland scored 361 points and gave up only and the designation of R. A. Hen­ Doreen is too young to understand that she seven to their opponents. has rheumatoid arthritis but she knows it hurts derson to the new post of San -it hurts bad. Yes, children have arthritis, too, Dan O'Laughlin, end, and his twin Francisco trainmaster. and they-like those crippled by polio and birth brother, Jim, a halfback, were named defects- need the trained care that can be pro­ vided by the March of Dimes. They all need to the Nevada State Journal's All­ your help! Northern Nevada "A" first team, and The above item which appeared in Gary Hoxsey, end, placed on the sec­ a Sacramento Valley newspaper on The hillbilly father was furious. " Wh ich one ond team. Dan and Jim are the sons December 1 must have been quite a of you pushed the out .. house into the creek?" of Roadmaster Dan O'Laughlin, and "shocker" to those of our railroaders he asked. Gary is the son of Conductor W. A. who are mentioned. liMe, paw," spoke up Zeke. Hoxsey. Leroy S. Field, CTC maintainer, re­ "Wal, boy, come into the woodshed. I'm gon", no tan your hide." MILEPOSTS, Individual honors in pass receiving ported it to as did another "But, paw," countered leke, "George Wash .. went to End Gary Hoxsey with 19, and unidentified railroader who wrote: "I ington's paw didn't lick him when he told the Jim O'Laughlin led the scoring with 10 know you will have this item, but did truth." you know it would cause such reper­ II Maybe not," replied the father, "but when he touchdowns and 14 extra points for a cut down that cherry tree, his old man wasn't total of 74 points. cussions in other regions?" settin' in the bronches!"

22 JANUARY, 1959 23 Sec. 34.66, P. L. & R. WESTERN PACIFIC MILEPOSTS U. S. POSTAGE 526 Mission St., San Franeisco 5, Calif. PAID Return Postage Guaranteed San Francisco, Calif. Permit No. 5371

y.~ . AL AN ASKE 181 SO . LINCOLN ST . ROSSVILLE . CAL I F.

Form 3547 Requested

RAILROAD LINES .' -=':;~~-;::' ~.:;,r-___~z,.-'~ -- -_"'=~_....::'"/~ - - ,';':__ --,;,. -----::;;-;-::;,.-.. ~ ..~~..- .-- ,,"""'-.. "f"'·· ··".;""'I U,· ~,... _-_:- - __ . / ;:."'" :.-- _.' .. ;~ . ~- ~ ."'.~ ~ ~" ...r";;; ' ", ... ~.g\ ,.,,~ . .~, ~ l'~ ,i...... , _~iiI. _~ii!!iiiIIl _~ ::...-; :: ( . . ;- ,.~ ( Inflated, king-sized, rubberized pillows used by New York Central for hauling guided missiles in their over-sized baggage-mail cars; claimed superior to an air­ plane ride and about. . 50 .per cent cheaper. Maine Central introduces piggyback to Maine.

An economic study of piggybacking under way by Railway Progress Institute.

Great Northern inaugurates 4,000-mile teletype network linking 18 cities; inter­ connects with on-line communications system. Latest merger talk-Norfolk. . &. Western and Virginian. Louisville & Nashville will dedicate $8112 million yard near Birmingham, Alabama, January 21; L&N's third major freight yard built in past five years.

More passenger business is aim of new series of high-impact Union Pacific ads beamed to traveling businessmen.

New York Central's Technical Research Center investigating use of new colors in signals.

Died in Jackson, Tenn., Janie Brady Jones, 92, widow of John Luther "Casey" Jones, engineer of railroad folksong .