WESTERN PACIFIC J1,[~~p'~Sls In response to many queries re­ Pacific m ileposts the present editor's garding the pictures of Western P a­ worries would some day be over. cific's mileposts which have ap­ He was stumped, however, when peared in the first and second issues he recall ed that the first three mile­ of MILEPOSTS' masthead, we offer posts on the main line are out in San Vol. I OCTOBER , 1949 No . 3 this explanation. Francisco Bay. Inasmuch as our Department of Public Relation s, 526 Mi ss ion Street, San Francisco Much thought and consideration photographer did not have in his Lee Sherwood, Ed itor Arthur Lloyd , Jr., Associat. Editor was given to choosing a name for possession, or know how to use, a this little magazine, which first ap­ diving suit, the idea of coming up CORRESPONDENTS peared in August. From a long list Ruth Crane, Sacramento Northern . Hal.el Petersen,

2 M I LEPOSTS DON'T THROW YOUB S'S AWAY! SACRAMENTO NORTHERN PASSENGER BUSINESS SHOWS UPWARD TREND ... FOR TWO DAYS Of particular importance to all tation company if the shipment ar­ Sunday, S eptemb er 25, 1949, well as from Auburn, Fresno, Los Western Pacific railroaders, part of rives at its destination in poor con­ marked the first operation of a pas­ Angeles and Modesto. All were an address given by Mr. R. L. Goh­ dition. senger train on the Sacramento equipped with camer as of varying mert, assistant freight claim agent, "Not only must we furnish suit­ Northern Railway between Sacra­ shapes, sizes and dimensions, and a before the eastern division staff able equipment, but we must also mento and Chipps Island (east bank conservative estimate would set meeting held at Elko in September, keep records of inspections made Suisun Bay) since May 25, 1941. The each fan's exposure during the day is quoted below: before placement of the empty car. Bay Area Electric Rail road Associa ­ at five rolls of film. "For the month of July, 1949, Defects in equipment occur during tion chartered a two-car train which Western Pacific paid out of its treas­ The excursion operated over all of transit, and it is under such circum­ left Front Street a nd Capitol A ve­ ury the sum of $44,000 for payment the electrified trackage east of the stances that we want to be able to nue, Sacramento, at 10: 15 a. m. The of claims, an increase of $1,000 over Suisun Bay car ferry, and actually show that we made proper inspec­ party aboard numbered 69 railfans July, 1948. Between January and marked the first time a passenger tion of the empty and that we fur­ and three railfanettes. These dyed­ July, 1949, payments amounted to train had r un the length of the Hol­ nished a car clean and ready for in- the-wool railroad boosters came $353,000, a decrease of $15,000 for the land Branch or had operated on any loading. from points around the Bay Area as similar period of 1948. However, we portion of the Vacaville branch. can take little comfort from this re­ "One of our heaviest lines of traf­ On the 18th of September the duction of three percent, and we will fic is perishables, moving eastward, ( Continued from Page 4) Northern California Railroad Club hope for a still better reduction in and packing house products and of the best claim payment preven­ operated a one-car train from Oak­ the months ahead. dairy products westbound. Proper tions to keep in mind. land to Pittsburg, on the west side "All will agree that the spending refrigeration and.proper ventilation "We have one shipper on our line of the Suisun Bay ferry. This trip of half a million dollars annually is are two essentials which must not be who spends hundreds of thousands had a passenger list of 55 rail fans just too much good money to strew neglected. In the handling of toma­ of dollars in producing the finest and the two trips together operated along the right of way. During the toes, potatoes, and similar commodi­ broccoli and celery that good agri­ over the complete electrified portion war years and several years follow­ ties which move under ventilation, cultural methods afford. His brand of the Sacramento Northern Rail­ ing, business was not hard to find. proper manipulation of ventilators outsells other brands by as much as way with the exception of certain Today we need but to travel our im­ is most important, and proper main­ two to three dollars per package. pOl·tant highways to see who is tenance of records are the factors Imagine how that shipper will feel reaching into our tonnage. which decide carrier liability. if through delay or other mis-serv­ "Good service means making and "Another important detail is that ice by the railroads that quality of keeping friends, shippers and re­ of making schedules. If we miss the merchandise arrives in a decayed or ceivers who will want to favor the deadline for our eastbound move­ deteriorated condition. rail lines if we will handle their ments by as much as five minutes "Marketing values have dropped shipments with care. One of the first and our connections decide to run and their expenses have risen. If, on and fundamental jobs of good rail­ and leave the car for the next regu­ top of this condition in . the market roading is to see that the individual lar scheduled train, we are charged situation, the railroads mishandle shipper of carload traffic is furnished with a full day's delay. In the case shipments, the company's treasury a good sound car that will keep out of perishables you can just count in and your paycheck will suffer. the elements of moisture and dust. round figures on a loss of one hun­ "Your freight claim department If we do not keep a car properly dred dollars per car for delay claim will assist you with any help you cleaned, or repaired against leaks, payments. K eep 'em rolling, is one may need. Let's do a good job of rail­ the liability rests with the transpor- ( Continued on Page 5 ) roading."

4 MIL EPOSTS MILEPOSTS 5 "Railroad Hour" In its review of "Showboat," star­ ring Gordon MacRae, Dorothy K irs­ To Feature Musicals ten and Lucille Norman in the first The months of November and De­ broadcast of "The Railroad Hou r" cember will continue the parade of on the National Broadcasting Com­ great m usic and famous stars on pany network on October 3, this "The Railroad Hour." Righ t through weekly tradepaper of show business to the end of 1949, the audience will said : h ear such shows as "The Great "The Railroad Hou r is back on the Wa ltz," with J a rmila Novotna; air with its winter season of oper­ "The Mikado," with K enny Baker ettas and musical comedies, to add and Lucille Norman ; "The Student a lush, melodious half-hour of m usic Prince," with J ane P owell; "The to Monday evening's listening. With Desert Song," with Dorothy Sarnoff; first-rate artists, good supporting switching operations in Sacramento, road Association, and is one of seven "No, No, Nanette," with Doris Day; chor al and instrumental ensemble, Marysville, and Oroville. cars acquired by the club for preser­ "The Vagabond King," with Evelyn and top direction and production, The Sacramento Northern , long a vation. Case, F rancis X. Bushman and Lu­ the airer has flavor and appeal. " Details of the September outings cille Norman ; "Rose Marie," with favorite of electric railway enthusi­ By moving to NBC on Monday were worked out by the Excursion P a trice Munsel, and "Hansel and asts, discontinued all r egular inter­ nigh ts (8: 30 to 9 o'clock, PST; 9: 30 Committees of both clubs with Mr. Gretel," with J ane P ower. urban passenger service on July 12, to 10 o'clock MST; 7 to 7: 30 o'clock , Rex Kearney, president and general Because of the detailed schedul­ 1941, wh en about 30 rail fans and a CST; and 8 to 8: 30 o'clock, EST) , manager of the Sacramento North ­ ing n ecessary for top-fligh t a rtists handful of regular passengers made "The Railroad Hour" associated it­ ern . R e tired s uperintende n t of in making their stage, scr een, con ­ a final run from the San Francisco self with some of the best known transpor tation, W. W. Nelson, a long cert and radio appearances, the li st East Bay Terminal to Pittsburg and programs on the air such as the time favorite S. N. official of the rail­ of shows to be heard on "The Rail­ return aboard car No. 1014. As the "Firestone Hour" and the "Tele­ fans, and many former motormen r oad Hou r" in 1950 has not been car left the San F ran cisco Bridge phone Hour." Terminal the din of torpedoes min ­ a nd trainmen were on hand the 25th completed. F or equally impor tant gled with the blaring of its h orns, to see the special off on its r un. with the show itself are the casting and contracting for the best talent in was the end of a passenger service 1M the starring roles. This is what which commenced as the N6rthern V ariety meant when it said: "The Electric Railway in 1906, and the Railroad Hour has top directi on and RAILROAD Sacramento Northern entered a ca ­ production." reer of freight hauling only. HOUR The equipment of the excursion Up the Ladder special of September 18 was car No. The following appointments have 302, sole remaining passenger car. been announced : The following Sunday this car was W illm·d M. W orkman, gen eral used as well as a stranger to the rail­ agen t with h ead q u arters at 535 way - ex-observation car 751-of Smithfield Street, P ittsburgh 22, P a. the now defunct Salt Lake and Utah Spence,· Gibons, formerly Pitts­ Railroad. This latter car is the prop­ burgh general agent, has been as- erty of the Bay Area Electric Rail- signed to special duties. NETWO RK

6 MI LEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 7 Zephy r sure gets around these days. boys shine their flashlights in the air WP SPONSORS SAN FRANCISCO Now they have 'vista-domes' riding and the train crew fl ash back. Each CABLE CAR up and down California Street on boy considers it his personal signal. ca ble cars." On our hikes to Keddie the round­ The car was all decked out with Before a large noon-hour crowd Completing the program, which house is our objective. Messrs. Otto huge bouquets of flowers and carries at the foot of Cali fornia Street on was broadcast over the' entire Mu­ B eard, John Eage1' and Hal Pritchett a large sign on its top depicting three October 17, Western P acific formally tual Broadcasting System network a re three of the names I have from California Zeph yr vista- dome cars, dedicated California Street Cable of 520 stations, gripman Al Nielsen the boys as having gone out of their as well as colored photographs of Railroad's cable car No. 18, and began working on the gong to the way to show the boys the engines the sleek silver train in the F eather joined the San Francisco business delight of all present. F amous for his and roundhouse. From the letters River Canyon on each end of the firms sponsoring cars in an effort to "Cow-Wow Boogie," "P arade of the and cards the boys send home you cable car. retain these great local tourist at­ Wooden Soldiers," and "Bugle Call may be assured that your men are Following a brief talk by Presi­ tractions. Rag" tunes as maestro of the gong, doing a fine job of Public Relations. dent Frederic B. Whitman, Edith Aboard the little car, which car­ Nielsen, with a typical "hold on to On my trips to camp I have found Barry, president of the WP Em­ ries the same number as Western your seats" pulled back on the grip the Western P acific crews a friendly ployees' Club, properly and with Pacific's crack streamliner, the Cali­ handle, and with the popular "bar­ and courteous group, especially the m uch gusto smashed a bottle of fornia Zephyr , were several WP offi­ ber shop tune" ringing in the air, brakeman and the conductor of the champagne on the car's dash. Out cials, and a group of pretty girls pulled away from the dispersing coach that take over at Oroville. I of range of the showering cham­ representing the Western P acific crowd. did not get their names but they are Employees' Club. Behind the grip pagne, but adding much to the cere­ on the train that stops at Spanish was Al Nielsen, who won the gong mony, were club members Cali Creek around 3: 45 a. m. (Train No. ringing contest last May in San Calomiris, Rita Connolly, Lois Hei­ Kids Like WPTrainCrews 2) . They make every effort to make Francisco's Union Square and spent man, Dorothy Lee, Sally Rideout their passengers comfortable a nd J . J. McNally, trainmaster, Oro­ the summer in Chicago along with and Ruth Schneider. ar e especially attentive to young­ ville, received the following letter J ames Buskirk and Harry Bishop During the time photographers' sters. We have had a wonderful from Mr. George Engs, camp direc­ operating a San Francisco cable car flashbulbs were lighting up the camp season and hope to meet your tor, Oakland F eather River Camp, at Western P acific's Chicago Rail­ scene, someone in the crowd was men again next year." Spanish Creek, Plumas County, road F air exhibit. heard to remark : "This California California, dated August 4: "We at Kamp Kidd wish to thank lin ~l'llInrialll you and your men for the many William A. Burhans, retired brakeman things they have done for us this passed away at Winnemucca, October 25: summer. Many of our boys have Mr. Burhans entered Western Pacific only read abou t railroads and to service J uly 10, 1926, and after retiring them the railroads represent action in F ebruary. 1941, again temporarily en­ tered service as patrolman in September, and romance, the train crews are 1944, remaining in service until Septem­ more or less their heroes. You ber 30, 1945. should see them dash out of their Eastern division engineer, Robert A. cabins when they hear an approach­ Barclay passed away October 26, at Por­ ing train and the thrill they get out tola, after 25 years of service with WP. of the short blasts from the engine Mr. Barclay began railroading Septem­ plus the arm wave from the engine ber 24 , 1924, as fireman, later serving as hostler and fmally engineer, in which crew. The brakeman always waves position he was working at the time of as the caboose passes. At night the his death.

MILEPOSTS 9 For the Old-Timers Welcomes Mileposts days gone by, both good and bad, WP's 40th Anniversary and sometimes it makes you wish The following rules were found in As MILEPOSTS goes to press, Knowing that some of the old­ you were back in the old days. the Book of Rules of the old Talla­ final preparations have been timers might like to correspond with "To me, it is more than just mem­ hassee, P ensacola and Georgia Rail­ made for Western Pacific's former WP railroader Glenn Mor ­ ories. As I started with the WP road, dated April 3, 1858, and will be Ruby Jubilee Celebration to ton, the fo llowing letter was re­ when they began in J une 1906, and of interest to present-day train be held at Keddie, November ceived by the editor: was in continuou s ser v ice until crews. They were procured from the 1, re- enacting the dr iving of "I am more than pleased to receive March 30, 1948, working all along files of the Atlantic Coast Line's the last spike at that location the two copies of MIL EPOSTS which the line, and helped the old timers General Superintendent of Trans­ 40 years ago. arrived yesterday, and can't tell you leave a monument for the h ardships porta tion; and are See November MILEPOSTS how I enjoyed them and hope they we went through to overcome the " All engines unprovided with No.4 for full details. keep rolling along, as you know, I difficulties that were encountered in lamps, running at night out of time, get a little lonesome up h ere away building WP and put it up to the will be required to keep their damp­ from all m yoId friends on the WP standard it is today. It's lots of fun ers open to show a light." WP WILL REMEMBER .... that I worked with for 42 years be­ to go back and r ide on "Memory's "Rule 8. As a general r ule when "When a man devotes hi s life to an in · for e being retired March 30, 1948. Train" now a nd then , especially two trains meet between stations, d ustry he has truly paid t hat industry the after reading MILEPOSTS. the train nearest the turn will run greatest complime nt possible." "As you read through the MILE­ back. Any dispute as to which shall Now retired after serving Western POSTS, and the names of those you "Again let me thank you for re- retire shall be settled by the con­ P acific well, are: know and what is going on along the membering me. Richard J . B each, store helper, long trail I traveled over so many Respectfully yours, ductors without an y interference on Glenn M. Morton the part of the engineers. This rule Portola. times, it brings back memor ies of Route 2, Idaho Falls, Idaho," is required to be varied in favor of Frank Coyle, switchman, Oak­ the heaviest loaded train, if they land. The band had a great day when the first WP passenger train. a press special, passed through meet near the center." Clarence J. Disotel, conductor, Thornton, and the whole town turned out for the occasion. Sacramento. "Rule 12. Should a train r un off or Walter H. Evans, consulting engi­ for any cause be stopped on the neer , San Francisco. track at night, the red light must be Thomas Gallagher, B & B carpen­ instantly sent back to a safe distance ter, Sacramento. to stop a train approaching in the Olof Herman, blacksmith, Chico. rear . The green light will be in like Walter B. Hopkins, telegrapher, manner sent forward to stop a train approaching in the front. A half mile Carbona. Edwin M. Lee, carman, Wendover. each way from where the train is Hany A . Mitchell, president, San standing will be a safe distance. At Francisco. that point a fire must be built in the Thomas L. Phillips, chief engi­ middle of the track and a train hand neer, San F rancisco. stationed there who shall keep up William T. W eathe,·s, track la­ the fire and the red or green lights burning." borer, Sacramento. "Rule 16. The spark catcher or train on the first turnout and return chimney of an engine out of order so his engine to Tallahassee for re- as to endanger the safety of the paIrs.. " train , the Conductor must put his - Courtesy Atlantic Coast Line N ews. 10 MILEPOSTS ACCIDENT PREVENTIO N REPORT EMPLOYEE CA,SUALTIES AS REPORTED TO THE INTE~STATE COMMERCE COMMISSION ( Injuries resulting in more than 3 days' lost time must be reported) MAINTENANCE OF WAY! Ratio per Million Man Hours WESTERN DIVISION Man Hours Accidents Same Roadmasters District Sept. Year '49 Sept. Yr. ' 49 Sept. Year ' 49 P r d. ' 48 1 Third ...... 25.694 312.742 D. 2 0 6.39 21.62 2 Fourth . 14,116 148, 101 0 I 0 6.74 0 eaboosing 3 First ...... 25.294 259,8 73 0 2 0 7.69 9.83 4 Second .... 37,505 428,203 0 }O 0 23.35 12.32

T otals ...... __ ...... _-.... 102, 609 1, 148, 919 15 13.05 12_51 EAST ERN DIVISION Elko his family to San Francisco, where 1 Fifth ..... __ ...... -...... 24.044 193, 41 3 0 29.60 2 Fourth ... _ 12.730 160,494 0 0 . Fourth district roadmaster Dave Ernie Mueller, assistant timekeeper, 3 Third , ___ 25,059 206,964 4.83 0 and Theda Mueller, assistant super­ 4 First 18,0 19 185,086 5.40 5_31 Charlebois was selected to represent 5 Second":'::' 13.989 145.781 6_85 7.98 the eastern division at the annual intenden t's secretary, also spent Totals ...... 93,841 891.738 3.47 6_86 convention of roadmasters at Chi­ part of their two weeks, some of the MECHANICAL DEPT., time having been enjoyed in Fresno_ WESTERN DIVISION cago, and Gordon Switzer, assistant Roundhouse division engineer, attended the con­ Ma,'y Lnmberty visited her brother­ 1 Oroville 24.751 258.298 0 0 in-law and sister, Mr_ and Mrs. 2 O akland --- 19.252 221,841 0 21.53 vention of bridge and building su­ 3 Stockton --- 11 ,355 110,589 ~ 0 pervisors. This was the first time Lambert Henderson (formerly of 4 Keddie . _. 6,114 61.007 0 32.99 WP was represented at these con­ Elko) at their Los Angeles home. Totals .. __ .... 61.472 651,735 10.18 Carmen ventions and both Dave and Gordon Fay Strange ch anged Edith 1 Oakland 18,964 194.912 feel it was time well spent. They 2 Oroville ...... 9.490, 107.886 Ba tchelder 's name to something 3 Stockton 6.865 68.040 were accompanied by their wives very Strange, and they went to San T otals .... 35,319 370,838 and report having had a very enjoy­ Francisco for a short honeymoon. EAST ERN DIVISION able trip in spite of the rain. Roundhouse Both are members of the accounting Elko ______1 9.792 119, 208 0 Johnny Murphy, MW&S time­ department. 2 Portola 7,435 94.611 0 3 Wendo v~~··: ...... 4.258 46, 710 0 keeper, has returned from Reno Two positions have been added to 4 Winnemucca 3.320 46, 278 21.69 where he was called because of the the division engineer's office. Wel­ Totals .... 24.805 306,807 3.26 serious illness of his mother. While Carmen come to our happy family at Elko, 1 E lko 6.204 111 ,765 0 her condition is still serious, the Owen T erry, assistant engineer, and 2 Winnemucca 2. 156 29.957 0 operation was successful and we 3 Portola 5.2 14 55.4 17 18_02 Thurston Rutherfo"d, rodman_J im­ 4 Wendover . 360 19,411 51.51 hope for her complete recovery my Pea"ce, engineering party rod­ T otals ...... 13,924 216,650 9_22 soon_ man during the summer months, SACRAMENTO SHOPS, Shop Frank Oldham, assistant account­ has resumed studies in engineering I Car and Paint... 21.829 245.838 ant, reports his mother recovering (Paint) 2.040 a t Santa Clara University _ Machine 76, 108 satisfactorily from a fractured hip 7.180 0 0 While Johnny and Hnnna Etche­ Boiler 3.877 43.286 0 10_15 sustained when she tripped over the Sheet Metal ...... 2, 186 24,924 0 0 behere, assistant timekeeper and 5 Electric ...... 1.088 13.395 0 0 hose on the lawn_ 6 Frmn and Oilers... 3,928 43. 535 22_96 0 B&B clerk, respectively, spent their 7 Blacksmith 3.598 39.313 24_39 0 1 Karl Wragg, Ed Condon, and Jess two weeks' vacation house hunt­ Totals ...... 43 ,686 496.399 0 4.02 1.44 Doud, traveling accountants from ing, Florence Duncnn managed to DINING CAR DEPT_ _ 32.788 274.834 0, 10.91 18.59 San Francisco have been with us SYSTEM TOTALS, get herself a pair of shiners by fall­ Maintenance of Way... 196.450 2.040.657 18 8.82 9.81 during part of the summer months. ing down stairs while arranging Mechanical Department . 180,930 2.017.847 4 2.47 3.06 Anything missing, gentlemen? On October 7 the Western Division Mechanical Department (other than Sacramento Shops) completion of the basement in their finished a year without a reportable injury. During this t ime these roundhouse and car men worked Vacation time took Tony Pri­ more than 1.400,000 man hours. That is an accomplishment by every man in Master Mechanic new home. Meanwhile, her husband Morris's department' that is worthy of the highest commendation. A goose egg ratio for a year is meaux, personal record clerk, and (Continued on Page 16 ) really some achievement when you consider the nature of their work. They are the goose egg gang and we salute them. During the month of September there were no reportable injuries in e:ther the Maintenance of MIL E PO S T S 13 Way or the Mechanical Department on the System. Good work. It T I i By Eric Thomsen inches clea r of the center line of The California Zephyr arrives at track. Portola, California, at 7: 39 a.m., As the train passes under the after traversing Utah and Nevada first spray arch, it is given a light deserts by night on its westward application of a special cleaning so­ trip over the Western Pacific. Three lution. Under the second and third minutes later it leaves Portola for arches, it is subjected to baths of its scenic daylight run down the clear water, sprayed through fair­ beautiful F eather River Canyon. type nozzles which supply a very Anticipating that the outside of hard spray, having a severe cutting the train would get dusty on its action. The rinse arches discharge nocturnal flight through the desert, a total of 500 gallons per minute at WP has installed a unique brushless 95 pounds per square inch nozzle washer at Portola which gives the pressure. entire train a quick and thorough The primary purpose of the bath, leaving the windows and washer was, of course, to remove Vista-Domes clean and sparkling. any dust which would cause reflec­ While train washers are by now tions on the surface of the Vista­ quite common throughout the land, Dome and other windows, but it washing operation it pumps the and train signals. When all arches for servicing trains between runs, has been found that not only is the solution out to the spray arch. After are retracted, the floodlights are the Portola washer is loca ted on the dust removed, but all except the washing, the pump draws back the out and the signals display a lunar main line, has no brushes, and most obstinate foreign matter is solution remaining in the pipe line white indication. When one or more washes the train en route with also washed off. and returns it to the tank, then of the half-arches leaves the re­ passengers on board. The cleansing A small prefabricated building flushes out the line with clear water tracted position the six floodlights operation takes place immediately houses the control equipme nt, to prevent corrosive action in the light up and indications change to after the train leaves Portola sta­ pumps, and solution mixing facil­ pipes. All this is accomplished by purple. When unattended the half­ tion. P assengers are informed in ity. The cleaning solution is mixed means of three 3-way cocks. arches are padlocked in the r e­ advance over the public address cold in concentrated form in a The main booster pump is a 50- tracted position. system that the train will be washed drum. It is then pumped by hand h.p. 500-gallon per minute single The washer is arranged to wash and many of them step up to the into an open storage tank about unit machine. west-bound trains only, as east­ Vista -Domes to watch the novel four inches in diameter and seven The problem of eliminating the bound California Zephyrs leave operation. inches in length, where it is diluted large quantity of water from the Oakland fresh and clean, climb up The washer itself consists of three to proper strength. A three horse­ roadbed after washing was solved the Feather River Canyon, and ar­ pairs of hinged half-arches, each power centrifugal pump is con­ by providing a large concrete basin rive at Portola in the late afternoon. pair of which forms a complete nected in a manner that permits it under the track. This basin is filled The washer was designed and spray- arch over the tracks when to perform various duties. During with ballast and the water disap­ constructed by WP forces under in operating position, with the spray the mixing operation, the pump pears into the ballast as fast as it the direction of T. L. Phillips, re­ nozzles within 20 inches of the sur­ draws solution out of the bottom runs from the cars, being then car­ tired chief engineer. Special steel face of the car. In the retracted or of the storage tank and discharges ried to a manhole and out via drains. fabrication and welding was done non-operating position, the entire back into the top of the tank, caus­ Movement of trains through the under contract by Acme Welding washing device is eight feet six ing an agitating action. During the washer is provided by floodlights Co. of Oakland.

14 MILEPOSTS ~{l LEPO S TS 15 FAIR ENOUGH? Caboosing . . . Between April 15 and 28 of this ( Continued from Page 13 ) year the Opinion Research Corpora­ George was working the slot ma­ tion made a survey of public opinion chine overtime to the tune of $15. for the Association of American Both the shiners and the $15 have Railroads, based on 2,510 personal disappeared. interviews with a representative na­ A wonderful trip touring Canada tionwide cross section of the voting was enjoyed by Caroline Wolf, gen­ public. In reply to the question "just eral clerk. as a rough guess, what per cent of President Frederic B. Whitman profi t or rate of return on their in­ was guest speaker at the Commer­ vestment would you say the ra il­ cial Hotel Lounge recently while at­ roads are making now?" those ques­ tending a banquet given by mem­ tioned w er e of the following bers of the Salt Lake City Chamber opinion: of Commerce good will tour. Mr. Whitman's speech was broadcast Per Cent of Profit 1946 1947 1948 1949 over station KELK. 5 % or less', 8% 14 %. 19 % 17% WP bowlers are again being spon­ 6% to 9% .... 5 8 5 7 BOX CABS BELONG ON TRACKS 10 % to 14 % .. 8 9 8 sored by Bla tz Beer. The team this 15 % to 19 % ...... year consists of Frank Oldham, Early in the morning of Septem­ trucks are loaded with material 20 % or more .. ... ·24 24 16 13 Johnny Murphy, Loren Ames, Ernie ber 23 the driver of a heavy truck which in itself is dangerous. Don't know ...... 50 41 50 51 Mueller, Al Glenn and Bill Zent. A verage esti~ate 15''/0 12% 10 % 10 % and trailer loaded with a 70-foot "With propel' legisla tion, the BRT Tom Cla1'k does not expect to bowl steel beam lost control of his high­ and the standard rail labor groups The survey also revealed that with the team but we do expect to way box cal' and rode it into the propose to rid the highways of this most people who have any idea on heal' of him from time to time in side of a passing Western P acific hazard." the subject think that 6% 01' more connection with his Silver Stage freight in East Oakla nd. Three box The BRT and oth er brotherhoods would be a fair profit for the rail­ Theater group activities. cars wer e derailed, some trackage have the strength of thousands. But roads. The average estimate of what James Calkins, Jr., L eland Ford shifted, and traffic stalled on the Mrs. Kathie Zahn of Albany, Cali­ would be a fail' profit is 8%. and James F01'd, J r., have r eturned WP and parallel SP main lines for fornia, showed that the efforts of to school after working most of the By way of compa rison with the five hours. The driver was critically even a single housewife can be ef­ summer with WP. They ar e study­ above figures, our auditing depart­ injured. fective in this campaign. Mrs. Zahn ing law, civil engineering and den­ ment has furnished the following The swelling tide of similar mis­ wrote a letter to the .California tistry, respectively. figures on the rate of r eturn received haps, many leaving a grim toll of Public Utilities Commission pro­ by Western P acific on its n et invest­ dead and injured railroaders, has testing against unsafe trucks and ment, over the past five years. Oakland ca used the railroad labor orga n i­ buses and asked for a formal in­ zati ons to join in the campaign to Net Rate of Bob McIlveen, road foreman of vestiga tion of these vehicles that Railway Return engines, has a two-way mobile radio enforce safety measures. As Train­ N et Operating on N et "either go too fast or too slow." The I nvestment Income Investment installed in his automobile which man News, Brotherhood of Railway PUC replied with orders for an im­ 19 49 .... 123,166.834 1.570,015 1.27% operates on 10 and 11 meters. His Trainmen weekly, puts it: (1st 6 mos.) call number is W6BCN. Bob re­ "Large truck trailers are a high­ mediate comprehensive state-wide 1948 .. 122,732.431 4,940.897 4.03 ceived his Class C amateur license way menace even when loaded with investigation, including public 1947 ...... 118.998.353 5.085,593 4. 27 hearings by all concerned with safe 1946 ... 117,817,768 4. 500.293 3.82 while working as fi reman at P ortola ordinary materials. The menace is 1945 ..... 119.711,995 5,202,282 4.35 ( Continued on Page 18) many times multiplied when the use of the highways.

16 MILEPOSTS M ILEPOSTS 17 Cahoosillg ... Ed H ennessy, assistant chief clerk ( Continued from Page 16) at Sacramento, is relieving in the Models' Society terminal trainmaster's office at Oak­ in 1923 and is now the holde r of a land while Har ry Glatt is recuper­ Formed Class A a mateur li cense. While most ating. F ollowing completion of a course of his activity in radio has been con­ It's a new Dodge for A rt Roke, at the Estelle Compton School of fined to two- way telegraphic com­ interchange clel'k ; a new Plymouth Modeling which she attended during munication on the 40 - meter ama­ for Ed Quinn, telegraph er, and a her spare time, May Gee, a young teur band, th e mobile set now in use new Oldsmobile for "Sol" Salomon, and pretty Chinese girl now em­ fu rnishes very satisfactory two- way yardmaster. ployed in the cal' record department commun ication w ith the U n ited San J ose reports that Jane W ade, at Western P acific, formed and is States, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, and stenographer , is on vacation and is president of the fi rst Chinese Mod­ Alaska. He has also established two­ being relieved by Ethel Fletcher els' Society in San F rancisco. way communication with New Zea­ Miller. The group, besides Miss Gee, who la nd a nd the various South P acific Margaret Evans, bill clerk, and hails fr om New Orleans and brought is lands. Bob reports, "with the mo­ Ernie Evans, industry, have been on with her all the charm of the "old bile outfit on the 10-meter band, vacation also, dividing their time South," includes P enny L ee Wong long distance communication is ideal between Yosemite and Carmel. "Miss Chinatown of 1948," Vanita when confi ned to low power such as Isabelle MacL eod has taken a 90- Fong and Terry May J ee, University is necessary in mobile communica­ day leave of absence account ill of California students, Mable L ee, tion." health, and her man y fr iends on the Mary Dong and Louise Wong. Employees hospitalized r ecently system wish her a speedy recovery. All r esidents of San F rancisco's were agen t G. D. K ey es at Com­ Switchman R. J . Eby retired in famed Chinatown, largest of its kind munity Service Hospital in San September after man y years of outside the native land, the group J ose; switchman G. W. B oushey, service with the railroad. has been called upon many times to check clerk C. A. Klump, also W. Sacrame nto Northern appear at important festivals, style Combs and Harry Glatt, all at P ro­ shows, celebrations and fairs, to in P ortsmouth Square, San Fran­ The good humor and pleasant per­ vidence Hospital in Oakland. model styled clothing, swimming cisco's 1949 War Bond Drive, and sonality of Glen McDaniel, division apparel, casual wear, as well as the San Mateo F iesta. accountant, will be missed. Glenn treasures from the F ar East. A few While no definite plans have been has resigned fo r new work in F resno of their more important appearances made for the future of the group, and we wish him good fortune in­ have been a t the P ortola F estival, they intend to continue their inter­ deed. the 1949 California State F air, the esting work aside from their r egular Chief clerk, A ndy A nde1'sen's ci­ Gold Rush Centennial Celebration vocations. gars and candy were enjoyed by all. Andy now knows all about home "I wouldn't worry too much ," diaper service since his wife Francis "TICKET, PLEASE!" Sheepishly, the commuter looked sympathized the conductor. "Wher e presented him with a son. are you going?" Milton Ziehn, pinch-hitting for up at the suburban train conductor. The passenger named his station . Ruth Crane in reporting for MILE ­ "I find myself in an embarr assing The conductor removed his hat POSTS, is mighty glad to see Ruth position," he confessed. "This morn­ and scratched his head. "Add this to back from her vacation in the south. ing I left my monthly commutation ( Continued on Page 23) ticket in my other suit, and tonight your grief," he said slowly. "This F ro m left : C. L. Droit, C. F. Craig, and A lta I seem to have left my wallet at the train doesn't stop there." Spivock, vice-president's office, May 1911. offic e. I have no ticket, no money." S. P. S.-Au ror. , II I.

18 MILEPOST S M I LEPOSTS 19 San Francisco the foul line and from deep in the October 11 was "Western P acific corners. Their fine looping shots Night" at K ezar P avilion, when the soon ran up their side of the score railroad's basketball team met the board, and the heat was on. young and fast Anglo California Trying as best they could, the National Bank quintet in another transportati on cr ew just couldn't round of San Francisco's Industrial find the basket, and many "ringers" League. r immed the basket only to fall the The turnout was excellent, the wrong way. Too, the fast pace set cr owd had a lot of exciting fun and by the bankers in the closing min­ thrills watching the game, but the utes of the final half left little doubt team left the fl oor for the showers that the game was going their way. at the end of the game on the losing Dave Mariani, playing his usual end of a 48 to 41 score. L eading at fi ne game, led the losers with 17 half time, a nd with a lot of "steam" points, while Tommy Doyle paced still behind them, the second half the bankers with 19. started out with plenty of action. During half time, a drawing was From the press box it looked as if held for pr izes donated by Western the railroaders might be able to hold P acific. Tickets wer e passed out at onto their small lead, but it wasn't the door before the game by Cali long before the fast breaking Anglo Calomiris of th e Law Department, Bank team picked up where West­ and Ka therine Means, and with the SACRAMENTO CHAMPIONS ern Pacific left off. While the bank­ assistance of Winnifrede Barton , ers did manage at times to work the George Welch, and Arthur P etersen, P ictured above is the Western P acifi c Athletic Club's night softball ball into the hole for easy setup Bill Levy (all of the AF&PA office) team which won 17 of its 20 games this summer to clinch the leagu e's night shots, a large majority of their bas­ became "donator" of the donations. softball crown. Although in the finals each year, it was the Club's first kets were scored from out behind First prize of two r ound trip ti ck - championship since 1944. L eft to r ight are, front row, Jim Musillani, Axel P aschane, Al Stadler, Mon te Latino and Hy O'Rullian, manager. Back row, Bert Finchley, Bob Cunha, George Nye, Horace Latona, Ken Gull and J ack Schen k. In the for eground is the certificate presented to the club by the Sacra­ mento Department of Recreation.

Won't Be Long Now P reparations a re now under way for week-end trips to the snow coun try when "King Winter" takes over again. With Saturdays free, bigger and better snow trips will be welcomed by WP ski enthusiasts. Ha rd working F rank Rauwolf, chair man of the excursion committee, is already busy preparing schedules and low cost "all inclusive" fares. Wa tch for further announcements in MILEPOSTS, as well as special bul­ letins. In the meantime start the snow- ball rolling by making plans to join the gang.

20 MILEPOSTS MI LEPO STS 21 ets to Stockton on the California ries in a recent bowling match as his Zephyr were won by Mildred But­ Caboosing ... ( Continued from Page 18 ) team annexed first place in the WP terfield, AF&PA, while second prize bowling league in Sacramento. of a single passage on the stream­ Incidentally, Milton says his new green Dodge has a fine pickup! Pretty steno-clerk Vi Tucker is liner to Stockton and return was having nightmares. It's annual pass drawn for Emma McClure, law de­ Wonder just what he means? Christine W ilkes back after a time and she says she dreams of partment. them nightly. leave of absence in the general Another half dozen consolation Mel Graham, formerly in the pas­ prizes, consisting of a set of Western clerk-stenographer position, capa­ bly handled by Yvonne Dunisch senger traffic department at Salt Pacific playing cards and an ash Lake City, is now working in the tray, went to the next six winners during her absence. Clm'ence Moser did. Al Fippin division superintendent's office at and it was then time for the second Sacramento. half of the game. didn't. Well, you know how it is, some deer are lucky, some aren't. Former superintendent of motive power William J. O'Neill is an occa­ WP Drops a Close One Nelda DelPonte is now mainte­ nance of way timekeeper, and Betty sional visitor at Sacramento Shops. After two fine starts in the Indus­ Jones has returned after a leave of While in his retirement, Mr. O'Neill trial League, by winning from Rem­ Lanky Cliff Gerstner gathered 13 absence. is acting as vice-president of AlIen­ leI' Radio and Standard Oil, Western O'Neill Associates of San Francisco. Pacific dropped their third contest points for Western Pacific for high Sacramento point honors. Fine defensive work At this writing Mrs. Irene Burton, Colin C. Eldridge, assistant in the to Bank of California's five 30 to 29 president's office, San Francisco, Friday, October 7th, at K~zar. ' by guards Bob Alhgrim and Jim MILEPOST reporter from the store Mills kept the "Cal" team from get­ department, is enjoying a well de­ was a Saturday visitor at Sacra­ Up against a team having won mento Shops recently. four straight games without a loss ting many "set" shots, and while the served vacation traveling through Approximately 35 Sacramento the railroaders were never in floor work of the entire WP team the states of California, Arizona, th~ Shop employes and officers attended lead, although the bankers were was periodically smooth and fast, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. the annual Sacramento meeting of hard pressed to keep on the leading several "cooling off" periods failed Steno- clerk Vince MacMillan has the Pacific Railway Club. WP at­ end of the scoreboard. to do anything toward warming up left the services of the Western Pa­ the score. Jack Ditty, usually cific to follow a journalistic career tendance was headed by superin­ blessed with an eye for baskets, just in Southern California. tendent of motive power E. E. Glea­ couldn't find the net. Accountant James Musillani is a son, assistant superintdent Ed T. As the score indicates, the game regular customer at the Berkeley Cuyler, master mechanic L . M. Mor­ was nip and tuck all the way and Memorial Stadium this year (Oh ris, mechanical engineer Wm. Wol­ good hard playing was evident on you Bears!) while sportsman Jim verton, electrical supervisor Rich­ the part of both teams. Norm Jack­ Quick makes Bay Meadows, Golden ard Carter, and shop superintendent son, alternating at the forward and Gate, and all points south his stomp- Dave R. Sal' bach. guard positions, left the game early ing grounds. . The pleasant voice of Eileen Frost with two cracked ribs, but will be Shop painter Monte Latino finally is again occasionally heard over the ready for action again after a few broke the ice and brought in a fine Sacramento PBX. Others on the weeks layoff. catch of striped bass last week. His PBX are dependable Marion Sellers, Coach Johnny Suseoff lined the 91J2 pounder won for him second Barbara McDonald and Jean Smith. boys up for a little practice work place honors in the WPAC Bass Roundhouse foreman Ray Ronan before the next game and spent most Derby. from Oroville and car foreman W. E. of the time working pass plays and Machinist Al Stadler came Moss from Oakland were Sacra­ shooting baskets. through with an impressive 598 se- mento visitors recently.

22 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 23 Grand Central Terminal in New York City began its own broadcasting service October I with news, music, weather, time and sports programs interspersed with train announcements.

Pennsylvania Railroad's 4,142 locomotives interestingly described in new 24-page booklet entitled "Modern Power for Today's Trains."

Both Texas and Pacific and Erie polls among employees show vast majority of workers happy they cast their lots with the railroads.

Central of Georgia provides small fry traveling on their streamliners "Man­ O'-War" and "Nancy Hanks II" with especially designed plastic bibs.

Russian locomotive engineers often make through runs of over 2,000 miles, two men taking alternate shifts.

Railroad Fair closed with 2,732,618 visitors, 231,805 more than last year.

Organized school train tours sponsored by Atlantic Coast Line, Texas and Pacific, and Milwaukee, are helping to educate the younger generation in rail transportation value.

In addition to the taxes which they themselves pay, the railroads, at great expense to the carriers, collect for the Federal Government more than one billion dollars annually, levied by the Government on income of railroad employees, retirement tax withheld from employees' wages, and the tax levied on passenger and freight transportation.

Pennsylvania Railroad announces a newall-Pullman train, "Spirit of St. Louis," to operate between New York, Washington and St. Louis.

24 MILEPOSTS