Dots& Dashes • •••• • •••• • •••• • • • •• • • •• • • •• • •••• --What -- Hath-- -- God------Wrought - The Official Publication of the Morse Telegraph Club, Inc. Vol. 46, Issue No. 1 • Winter 2020-21 1858 Railroad Tunnel Opens as a Hiking Trail

early two decades were required to restore the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mile-long tunnel Nan abandoned railroad tunnel in Crozet, was constructed between 1849 and 1859 using Virginia. Just opened to the public in November crude methods of that era. 2020, this project adds to a national network The tunnel maintains temperatures of about of former railroad rights-of-way turned into 50 degrees year-round. With no interior lighting, public hiking and biking trails. These innovative visitors must bring their own flashlights, preferably programs have found successful funding and have head band flashlights. Because of ecological proved popular with the public. concerns, there are no plans to light the tunnel. The Nelson County, Virginia Department of Rail traffic closed in 1944 when larger engines Parks & Recreation just opened the Claudius could not fit through the tunnel. Another tunnel Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail system to bicyclists was built next to this one and it is still used today at Rockfish Gap in Aton, Virginia. This newly by the CSX Railroad. In 2007, CSX donated the restored tunnel trail lies more than 700 feet below abandoned tunnel to Nelson County. continued on page 4 *  In This Issue  Dots& Dashes Articles The official publication of 1858 Railroad Tunnel Opens The Morse Telegraph Club, Inc. as a Hiking Trail...... 1,4 Jim Wilson - Editor, Dots & Dashes Postal Telegraph Documentary Film 2742 Southern Hills Court • North Garden, VA 22959 By J. Chris Hausler...... 5-6 (434) 245-7041 • [email protected] Comments from a New Member By Lloyd P Trainor...... 7 www.morsetelegraphclub.com Going to Chatham www.facebook.com/morsetelegraphclub By John Springer...... 11-14 www.morsekob.org Tacoma Telegraph Operators Kept Trains On Track And On Time Dots & Dashes is published quarterly as a benefit of membership. By Craig Sailor...... 15-16 Nonmembers may subscribe at prevailing membership dues rates. Articles in Dots & Dashes (unless copyrighted or are themselves reprinted from other sources) may be reprinted, provided proper credit In Every Issue is given. A copy of the publication would be appreciated. Sidewire...... 3 MTC Contact Information President’s Line...... 3-4 Chapter News...... 7 Jim Wades J. Chris Hausler International President International Vice President Letters To The Editor...... 8-10 16041 Brookside Drive 100 Citation Drive Buchanan, MI 49107 Henrietta, NY 14467-9747 (269) 650-0215 (585) 334-4445 Welcome Aboard...... 16 [email protected] [email protected] Silent Keys...... 17-19 Lavina Shaw George J. Nixon, Jr. Past President Retired International Vice President Do You Know?...... 19 Mayfair Retirement Residence 19661 Woodside Drive Apartment 320 • 2267 Kelly Avenue New Lenox., IL 60451 Book & Movie Review...... 20-21 Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6N4 (708) 476-5896 (604) 942-2184 • [email protected] [email protected] House Track...... 22

If notifying MTC about a deceased Donations of telegraph instruments, member (Silent Key), please notify: telegraph ephemera, historical materials or requests for assistance Jim Wilson with museum exhibits, telegraph Editor, Dots & Dashes 2742 Southern Hills Ct. demonstrations, or other consultation North Garden, VA. 22959 should be directed to: [email protected] James Wades (434) 245-7041 International President, Note: If possible, please include a copy of Morse Telegraph Club, Inc. an obituary and other available information PO Box 192 about his/her career and relationship to Buchanan, MI. 49107 The next issue of Dots & Dashes is scheduled for th and/or the telegraph industry. [email protected] publication on March 30 , with submission (269) 548-8219 deadline three weeks prior to that date. General correspondence, which doesn’t fall into the above categories, should be directed * This ad runs routinely in the World Radio News: to the International Secretary/Treasurer: Richard Williams International Secretary-Treasurer PO Box 181591, Coronado, CA 92178 [email protected] Morse Telegraph Club (619) 818-9017 Landline Morse is Alive and well! Local Chapter Members: Members of local chapters should send all correspondence regarding address changes, membership renewals and Dots & Dashes newsletter similar information to their local Chapter Secretary/Treasurer. If you do not know your Chapter Secretary/Treasurer, please inquire with The Ace Holman national telegraph office & hub the International Secretary/Treasurer to obtain the necessary contact Telegraphy Railroad Telegraphy information. Your Articles and Stories: MTC is always looking for original Morse Telegraph demonstration photographs, stories and articles about your experiences in telegraphy or Learn more about the history of the telegraph or radiotelegraphy. Please send articles and news stories to the Editor of Dots & Dashes. simply enjoy using American Morse Code and Telegraph Talks and Demonstrations: If you or your local chapter authentic telegraph equipment. should schedule any demonstrations, talks or other special events, please notify the International President so he can publish your event in our on-line calendar. www.morsetelegraphclub.com

Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 2 Sidewire President’s Line Comments from the Jim Wades, President Editor of Dots & Dashes Morse Telegraph Club, Inc.

By Jim Wilson The year 2020 will go down in Holding our Own history as one of the worst years he world is not creating new Morse during our lifetimes. During 2020, Ttelegraph operators, but it is creating new the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic radiotelegraph operators, at least within the killed more than a million people Amateur Radio Service. worldwide, more than 300,000 When the various regulatory agencies began Americans and Canadians. Every day, eliminating the CW proficiency requirement more people are dying. for Amateur Radio licensing, many assumed Although several vaccines were developed, “CW” would quickly die away. Interestingly, tested and approved, the pandemic will remain the opposite appears to be happening. Amateur a threat well into the year 2021. So, let’s all Radio organizations that promote CW are continue to stay at home and wear masks when growing. The “CW Ops” organization is running we venture out into public spaces. And be sure a successful series of training classes for to get your coronavirus vaccination when it new operators. The demand for their classes becomes available. Most of us qualify as high remains consistently high and an extensive priority for the COVID-19 vaccinations due to mentorship program has been developed. our ages, above age 65. Organizations such as the “Straight Key Current challenges also include political Century Club” (SKCC) continue to grow with divisiveness, economic collapse, and permanent a current roster of 23,574 members as of damage to our global weather. December 2020! “FISTS” and other CW groups This issue of Dots & Dashes contains many are also holding their own. interesting Letters for your review. I am often During the “Cascadia Rising” disaster amazed at the variety of experiences and exercise conducted during June 2016, which valuable information offered by our readers as simulated a major earthquake and tsunami described in the Letters. If you have something affecting the Northwestern United States, you want to mention to D&D readers, please the Federal Government tested various send your own letter for publication. networks. Much to Thanks to the 59 MTC members who the chagrin of the then leadership of the donated extra cash along with their American Radio Relay League, the CW circuits 2021 dues. outperformed other modes of communications. Radio Relay International volunteers, then These amounts ranged from three to operating under the auspices of the former one hundred dollars. Your generosity “National Traffic System,” scored a 99.998 helps keep the Morse Telegraph Club percent accuracy rate against 10,220 data operating. points in simulated five-letter cipher group messages. The CW networks also scored a superior average message propagation time as measured from when a message was tendered for origination in Alaska, Idaho, Northern California, Oregon, Washington State to when the same message appeared in data stream at the FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. The average message propagation time for the CW circuits continued on next page *

Page 3 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 President’s Line continued from previous page ranged from approximately 10 to 13 minutes! always challenged to improve. For a certain core The Cascadia Rising event (and some of the group of people, this on-going opportunity for ugly politics that resulted in response to the high- growth and improvement holds a lasting appeal. level performance of CW nets) resulted in the Our goal is to reach out to these people. We creation of a new organization called “Radio Relay need to make then aware of the Morse Telegraph International,” which has done much to renew Club. If we want to keep MTC alive and preserve interest in CW traffic networks. Participation is our history, the Amateur Radio Service remains steadily increasing with increased visibility and a fertile ground for growing new members. overall success. During this past Christmas season, However, simply relying on the MTC web page and RRI promoted the origination of Christmas radio- Facebook Page are not enough to rise above the telegrams (radiograms), which were delivered on a noise floor. Maintaining or growing special “seasons greeting” telegram form much like our membership base requires some investment those used by Western Union, CN/CP, and similar on the part of all MTC members. We need to talk commercial telegraph companies. about MTC in conversations. When this issue One of the factors driving a renewed interest in of “Dots and Dashes” is received, mention it on radiotelegraphy is the fact that it is, ultimately, Facebook. Add a link to the MTC web page (www. an art form. Radio amateurs who have been using morsetelegraphclub.com) from your radio club web voice modes and digital modes that incorporate page or railroad museum web page. Take a couple a high degree of automation tend to get bored of old copies of Dots and Dashes to a meeting of quickly. Once the various boxes and equipment your historical society or ham radio club. are connected, many of these modes are about as If new radio amateurs are interested in learning interesting as operating a microwave oven. CW, on CW, undoubtedly some will also be interested in the other hand, is an opportunity for continuous the history of telegraphy. growth. It is an art form through which one is Let’s all do our part to promote MTC!

1858 Railroad Tunnel continued from front page The railroad tunnel was designed and engineered Blue Ridge Tunnel trail. Two parking lots service by French immigrant Claudius Crozet, a former visitors, one at each end of the newly opened tunnel. artillery officer in Napoleon’s army. The tunnel Mary E. Lyons has written four books about the was constructed by Irish immigrants and enslaved history of the railroad tunnel. Her book titles are: African Americans. At least 15 Irish men were The Blue Ridge Tunnel: A Remarkable Engineering accidentally blasted to bits while using dynamite. Feat in Antebellum, Virginia, Slave Labor on The tunnel Virginia’s Blue opened to Ridge Railroad, railroad traffic The Virginia on April 13, Blue Ridge 1858. At the Railroad, and time of its Crozet and the opening, this Blue Ridge remarkable Railroads: engineering Collective feat was the Letters. longest railroad tunnel in North Thanks to the America. Daily Progress During the newspaper first two weeks for research of opening, material used more than in this article 7,000 visitors flocked to the Claudius Crozet

Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 4 Postal Telegraph Documentary Film by J. Chris Hausler

ue to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Antique DWireless Association’s annual convention in 2020 was a virtual one with videos of the various presentations posted on-line. One of these presentations was a 1924 silent film, a documentary about 53 minutes long, titled, “The Pulse of the World”. It was presented courtesy of The Mackay System, better known as the “Postal Telegraph and Commercial Cable Company”. The film is a wonderful look at the workings of Postal’s vast communications network at that time. As was typical of such silent films this one is accompanied by an attractive musical soundtrack of mostly piano music. Note that this film has not been “restored” to In this section it mentions that the Canadian Pacific any great extent and so occasional faults are seen Railway lines were exclusively affiliated with the in it. The YouTube link to this film is: https://www. , a piece of information youtube.com/watch?v=6fu6-jrzOyM . I published this that I have never previously seen nor heard. link last fall on the MTC’s list server but for those of It then moves to their main office in New York you who missed it, here it is. first showing their customer facilities. This section The first part of the documentary addresses features views of their busy main operating room Postal’s world girdling undersea cable network. On and main switch board showing wire chiefs at their the completion of their trans-pacific cable in 1902, job testing the lines and patching around problems. U. S. President Teddy Roosevelt sent an around-the- As was common in such large city offices pneumatic world telegram to then Postal president Clarence tubes were not only connected to outlying offices but Mackay congratulating him, to which Mackay even between different parts of their main office and responded. Both telegrams are shown. this operation is shown as well. Images, film and information about their cable There is a section on multiplex operations are shown. Routing of the cables as well operation with much detail. I saw one error in this as photos of their various offices around the world section, the title says that Morse code is being and film of their cable operating rooms are included. punched onto a paper tape but it is clearly 5 level One short segment shows a Wheatstone Automatic code, not the Wheatstone Automatic 2 level Morse Morse code tape being read and its contents code as seen earlier in the film about their undersea transmitted onto a cable. cable operation. Finally there is a very interesting segment about Following is a section on Morse duplex operation the actual construction, laying and maintenance showing two operators, one sending and one of undersea cables. Film of an actual pick up and receiving. This section features a demonstration repair of an undersea cable is shown. of what the film calls a “wreck”, a dead tree falling The second part of the documentary addresses on the pole line and taking it down. Our duplex their land line operations. It starts with the operators notice the problem and summon the wire placing of poles and the stringing of new wire. It chief who in turn first patches around the problem, shows a man using a Postal KOB on a stump to then using a Wheatstone Bridge ascertains the keep in constant communications with their main location of the fault. With that information he office during this effort. I have one of these in my contacts the linemen in that area to go out and fix it. collection a photo of which I have included. The We see the linemen get in their small truck (which regular maintenance of existing lines is also shown. given the amount of smoke coming out of the tailpipe * Page 5 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 looks like it could use a ring job) and drive to the “wreck” site. This site is along a dusty country lane, just two strips of dirt paralleling the pole line. They immediately get to work, cutting the wires from underneath the tree and making temporary splices. To quote MTC member Ed Trump, “First time I’ve seen a good video of how we used to use the rope blocks and Chicago grips to pull up a downed wire and the use of a splicing clamp to wind a Western Union splice in an Iron wire...... Also the use of the ‘shotgun’ sleeves to splice a copper wire.” When done, one of the lineman climbs a pole and using his Postal lineman’s portable set calls the wire chief to report the repair the side of the box, from left to right, there is the key complete. This is the only imagery I have ever seen knob itself, the circuit closer knob, the key spring of one of these Postal portable sets in use. This was compression adjustment and finally the magnetic special to me as they are relatively rare and several circuit adjustment knob. Unlike all other circuit years ago I managed to acquire one for my collection. closers I’ve seen, this one is mechanical, turning a I have connected it to MorseKOB and it works fine. cam which forces the key lever against its contact. I’ve included two photos of this portable lineman’s Also the adjustment screw for the key lever spring set, the first one shows it with the lid to the compression has been broken off on mine. All you box open. This gave access to the lever travel see is the lock nut and the broken end of the screw. adjustments for both the key and sounder and to the Fortunately there was enough of the screw left spring tension adjustment for the sounder lever. The inside the box to provide sufficient compression for second photo shows the box with the lid closed. On operation of the key. It is not the easiest key to use, but it was never intended for long term sending, For the typical short messages a lineman would send from the top of a pole, it does the job very well. Finally, the film shows linemen replacing cross arms so to accomplish a more complete repair and finishes up with a few scenes of the outside of a large city Postal office and of Clarence Mackay working at his desk. I don’t think I have seen any other film about telegraphy half as fascinating as this one. I downloaded it to my laptop, burned it to a DVD-R and have watched it several times now, seeing something new each time. I think you too will find it fascinating, enjoy!

Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 6 Chapter News

ecause of the coronavirus pandemic, everyone has become isolated. All planned chapter Bevents have been cancelled. But some chapters have begun meeting via the Internet using the Zoom program. Check with your chapter to see if this is a possibility for you. ~Jim PS: It’s a new world out there.

Comments from a New Member

Good Morning, the train also going to the same job. He had more seniority than me so I dropped off a telegram to the I am retaining my membership I waited until chief. I got a message offering me the opportunity Lavina put out her email and a cheque went to go to the British Columbia North Line at forward on Dec 7th. Smithers, BC on loan. I worked all the operator I had a long railroad career 37 years with CN jobs and a lot of work trains. Mostly 12 to 16 then resigned to accept an appointment with the hours, sometimes 7 days a week, as they were very Canadian Transport Commission followed by the short of operators. A year or so later, I ended up in National Transportation agency and we ended up Ontario, then Hudson Bay Jct Sask., which was in Transport Canada headquartered in Vancouver. my last operator’s position. I spent 8 or I0 months Between CN Rail and the Canadian Govt for 52 at Hudson Bay Jct., including a couple weeks, I years. I worked many positions in all provinces had to take over the agency. The other agent was Quebec to British Columbia inclusive. I held many dismissed for money missing out of the till. The positions and took part in a number of special agent had an, “I owe the till $xxx”. The agent assignments. My first telegraph experience was knew the auditor was coming as he made a hotel heavy and taxed me to the limit. My first position reservation for him. I think Boose also paid a part was Sherridon Manitoba a mining town with no in the end result. I ended up with a staff of 11 and contact to the outside world except telegraph. I was the youngest of the bunch. After relieving the I worked it on the spare board at Sherridon for agent for a couple weeks I got called into Dauphin, close to 1 year. In 1947/48 most of the telegraph Manitoba to qualify as a train dispatcher. The messages were in code from the mine to the head Dauphin division was all Morse, no phones, quite office in Toronto. The various salesmen that a challenge. I qualified as a Train Dispatcher at showed up at least every second week also used Dauphin and after relieving several dispatchers for code like the Burns Meat fellow, he would have a their vacations. I worked at 5 different dispatching telegram with about 25 to 40 words I figured the offices so well know the greater part of Canada. word Butterfly likely meant pork chops and my I would say the highlight of my career for me guess on Rhinoceros was Bologna. We all worded was my first operator’s job, qualifying as a Train 6 days a week in those days so, each morning, I Dispatcher, Motive Power Control in Winnipeg, copied 50 quotations from a broker in Winnipeg then ending up as the Senior Chief Dispatcher in via the telegraph office for the local CIBC Bank. In Kamloops, BC. those days everything was handled by telegraph I had many more titles. I told my kids I just and, to be truthful, I was not that good an couldn’t seem to hold a job. The same opportunities operator. In early 1948 the soldiers were coming took place in my 14 years with the govt. I had to back from the second World War and one showed work hard to fill the positions but must confess I up at Sherridon to claim his operato’rs job I was thrived on the challenges. instructed to report to Canora Sask; a 14-hour train trip away. I ended up meeting an operator on Lloyd P Trainor

Page 7 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 Letters to the Editor happy holidays October 15th Baudot code. The current incantation of Baudot Greetings from MTC’s Evergreen Chapter in code is ITA2. This became the standard for Western Washington. Immediately following its encoding characters and was used for “teletype” semiannual business meeting on Saturday October communications by Western Union, the railroads 24th, the Evergreen Chapter hosted a virtual open and for other such use. An end user system called house for our fellow MTC members in neighboring was developed in Europe and TWX developed states and provinces. This event took place via in the US by AT&T. Both used 5 level “teletypes” Zoom on the Internet. (sometimes called “three row” for the number of International Vice President Chris Hausler rows of keys on the keyboard). The tape was 11/16 presented a slide show about his travels around inch wide. Some links, the second link is a “virtual the United States in a private railroad car. This tape punch” have fun: was an interesting presentation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudot_code Following the presentation by Chris, I provided http://www.kloth.net/services/ttypunch.php a brief update on the status of MorseKOB 4.0, the successor to MorseKOB 2.5. By the way, in case you’re an old computer geek like me, Kloth also has a virtual card punch to play MTC Member Less Kerr, with: http://www.kloth.net/services/cardpunch. Creator of the Morse KOB program php. Around 1960 the ASCII code, which was October 15th originally a 7 level code with a parity bit but While reading the summer issue of Dots & became an 8 level code, was developed. Whether Dashes, I noticed there was mention of perforated 7 or 8 level it used an 8 level tape an inch wide. It tape used at Windsor and St. Thomas. I used perf allowed for both upper and lower case and got rid tape with two teletypes before sending it online. of the “shift” characters “LTRS” and “FIGS” needed The primary use at Windsor, St. Thomas, and with the 5 level code. It became popular with the Fort Erie was Canadian and U.S. customs for the growing use of computers. I was using 8 level Wabash RR. teletypes (Teletype model 35’s and 33’s, sometimes Perf tape is a little talked about item that would also called “four row” again for the number of surely interest the public. Could you ask MTC rows of keys on their keyboards) starting in 1966 members how the code was punched and if there to communicate with computer systems and was any connection with the railway code? continued doing so up into the late 1970’s when MTC Member Robert Wear ASCII video terminals pretty much took over this [email protected] use. Although the ASCII code allowed for lower case letters, Teletypes did not. A link: Hi Robert, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCII There are a number of different sizes of paper When I got into hobby computing with the tape. To my knowledge the first was “two level” Motorola 6800 8 bit processors in the late 70’s used with the Wheatstone Automatic to encode I was using 8 level paper tape to save binary International Morse. Here’s some links on it: program images encoded as ASCII hexadecimal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatstone_system characters in a format known as “S Records”. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/ Although no longer punched on paper tape S b0/5c/bb/c23928efccc520/US2556220.pdf Records are still in use in some microcontroller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-KDUpvMZfA environments today. Next came “five level” tapes originally for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SREC_(file_format) * Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 8 Anyway Robert, I would suspect that the use October 29th of paper tape you mention was either 5 level or I just wanted let you to know that I received your 8 level depending on time frame. There are still box of the fall issue of Dots & Dashes yesterday. hobbyists which keep both formats in use for Thanks for keeping us in mind. I read it last night various purposes. and was pleasantly surprised to see the thank-you Please feel free to ask any further questions... note we sent to you reprinted on page 7. 73, Our museum is still closed due to COVID; ugh! J. Chris Hausler But we are now starting to open by appointment only for those who want to briefly come into the October 17th museum to purchase merchandise. People often Brothers and Sister Telegraphers. My race course like to buy our wooden HERNDON DEPOT signs passed this Northern Pacific RR depot. The depot and history books as holiday gifts. But no regular is yours for only 1.2 Million dollars. The price museum hours or tours for the time being. includes its very own telegraph office. I ran the 10k We normally close each year during January on the Northern Pacific RR trail in 1 hour and 9 and February anyway, so I think we will re-visit minutes, about 11 minutes per mile. Not bad for a the possibility of reopening in March, if COVID soon to be 85-year-old (November 13). conditions allow us to do that. Once we reopen, See you on Zoom soon. we will have to readvertise our telegraph exhibit, Richard Williams, since there was not much time last March for MTC International Secretary-Treasurer people to see it before we had to close down. This summer, I conducted some outdoor guided October 21st walking tours in downtown historic Herndon. Due to COVID, we limited it to 10 people in each tour Hi all! This is a moving, inspiring Seattle TV group, with masks and social distancing. This news video interview. Tania can not speak or write worked out well, but that’s about all we can do because of cerebral palsy. She uses Morse code for the time being, other than putting historical input via her lift-right Dit-Dash head switches stories, photos and announcements on our to program and conditions allow us to do that. Facebook page and website. This year will be one activate her computer and speech synthesizer. She for many future books. is very accomplished. Tania received this West coast “Remarkable Barbara Glakas, Woman” recognition and was to travel to New Herndon Historical Society York for her next level of honors, but COVID-19 November 23rd limitations to air travel that began last spring meant she couldn’t fly from Seattle. If you’ve seen this before, my apologies. But this Tania is truly brilliant, and worked closely with article and these photos and video of the Northern Google and our Adaptive Design Association NYM Pacific Railway Tacoma Morse telegraph station, collaborators on MC for development and release of about 100 years ago, are really the essence of the Google Gboard app. Gboard provides easy adapted Evergreen MTC Chapter. Note the 1941 picture Morse Code (MC) input and access via external of my dad copying train orders via Morse at the switches to computers, tablets and phones, along Ruston Way McCarver street station. Maybe with an excellent, engaging MC teaching program. Dots & Dashes would like to republish them with It is free for you to download. proper permission, acknowledgement to the News Tania, her son and her husband are seen in this Tribune. touching video from last spring in Seattle: MTC Member Garry Emmons https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Tania+ finlayson&docid=608030536076101795&mid= ABA67CA36AF7F73DA1DEABA67CA36AF7F 73DA1DE&view=detail&FORM=VIRE 73, MTC Members Tom WF9I & Debbi N9GLG * Page 9 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 November 28th November 30th Not sure if you can use these pictures, but I have many pictures to go with my story. It is wanted you to see them. very important to make sure at the end of my These show the Richard & Jane Williams stories that they appeared in the New York Central Awards. Historical Society’s magazine HEADLIGHT. Rich Richard Williams, Stoving, the editor of Headlight, goes over my MTC International Secretary Treasurer stories and asked me to make sure I note their previous printing. MTC Member John Springer See this article on page 11

December 4th MTC member Albert Gutz, age 99 of the CD Combs “FN” Chapter, called me from Columbus, Nebraska to say that he enjoys reding Dots & Dashes very much. Albert requested that a space be put between the secret message words at the top of each page. Albert said he has a hard time separating the words [which were run together]. He is a World War II veteran who served as a Radioman on a Navy warship. Richard Williams PS: In case you didn’t already hear, Richard Behrens of the FN Chapter said he and the chapter president, Charles McMillan, are going to close the CD Combs “FN” Chapter. MTC International President James Wades reluctantly concurs. These FN Chapter members will be reassigned as of January 1st to the Grand Chapter.

This is the 1914 KOB that I purchased in its original box at a local Hamfest. Recall that in the Fall 2020 issue of Dots & Dashes I promised to show you this item. I paid $110, but you can find a better deal in this issue’s Want Ads. Go ahead and snap it up! ~Editor Jim

Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 10 Going to Chatham By John Springer n the second half of the 1960s, I made a railroad museum where I now volunteer. Inumber of trips up the Harlem Division to During my visits to Chatham I got to meet the Chatham, New York. Chatham was at the northern two car knockers who took care of the equipment end (western end by timetable) of the Harlem when it came in, Junior Dallas and Kenny Cesare. Division, where the Harlem met the main line of Junior was a funny guy, always with a big smile the Boston & Albany Railroad. It was well over a on his face. Kenny was more reserved but always hundred miles north of home, so these trips were happy to see me. He came in on Saturday nights adventures for a kid in his early teens. and always had some time to chat with me about My first trip, in 1965, a was a simple one-day what was new, not that I had much new going on outing, up on a Sunday morning, and back in the other than waiting for a week of school to go by so I afternoon. My second trip was more adventurous, could spend time on the railroad with my dad and since it involved an overnight stay in Chatham. others. The plan was for me to sleep in the equipment One of the conductors I got to know well and during its layover in the yard, but things turned who was very friendly to me was Jack Mallon. He out quite differently. When I got to Chatham, I met owned a barber shop on Chatham’s Main Street, the station agent, Don McLean, who, like the rest and back then it was probably the only barber shop of the Chatham boys, was very friendly to me. He in America that was open on Sundays! Jack would said there would be no need for me to sleep in the come down and open his shop, and the crew that train, since I could sleep in what was once a bunk came in on No. 909 would come over almost every room on the east end of the station. And for several Sunday for haircuts. Jack would tell me to get in years after, I did just that on many weekends. the chair and he would also cut my hair while the On later trips I met the day agent, George Ford, guys all talked about the railroad. I have no idea who gave me my own key to this room. George took how much Jack charged to cut a kid’s hair, because a liking to me, and took me to the local bowling he never took any money from me. My dad would alley, where the Harlem Valley Railroad Club met send me up with money to pay for it since he did once a month. Sometimes, when I stayed over on a not like the idea that Jack did it for free. My dad Saturday, George took me to a little place around never met Jack, but a few times when I was going the corner from the station, Alvord’s Drug Store, west on Jack’s train, he would wave to my dad in for a hamburger lunch. He always treated me to Tower NW. As a matter of fact, that was the only this. When I was a kid, many of the other rails way towermen would know some of the trainmen would invite me out, and that’s why I do the same and engine crews, by a simple wave going by the for my young friends when we’re fishing or at the tower. *

Page 11 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 One time, because there was no school the next made stops along the way, but Pawling was the day, I was allowed to stay later and ride No. 960 next open block station, and we would look for the back east. The engineer was Ray Hart. Ray was a green light on the manual block signal pole. It was real nice guy, and when he asked who I was, and all manual block to Chatham, and we ran on paper I told him very proudly that I was the son of Jack from Brewster west. As a rule you would meet the Springer the second trick operator at NW. We Chatham traveling switcher at one of three places, made small talk and he invited me to ride down if not at Pawling then at Dover Plains (closed as I with him in the engine; it was the first of a number recall) and if not there, at Millerton. If the switcher of cab rides that I got on the Upper Harlem. I don’t was running late, I think Millerton would be open remember what we spoke about, but I do know when we got there, and we would have to get more most conversations were about my school work and orders. how I should do better and get a good education. We were way out in farm country above That is about the only thing in life I would agree Millerton. By this time Ray had several with but newspapers never followed rolled up and through on! tied with rags, Ray ran No. and he would 955 out of North blow the horn at White on Friday different places. nights, and People knew later I would he was coming, make it a point and would give to ride with a big wave to him whenever Ray, and he I could. I would throw would get on at off newspapers Holland Avenue, for them. This where the was how many trains changed people living power going in that area west, and he learned what always greeted was going on in me with a smile the big city. Ray and called me “Young Springer.” He would then told me that he and his wife would occasionally invite me up to the cab, in a few minutes when drive down to visit some of these people, and they the change of power was completed he would blow were fed big meals usually featuring fried chicken. twice on the horn when the conductor gave him a During summer Copake Falls could be a wave, and off we went, always blowing the horn busy stop because of the state park nearby. going by my dad in the tower, who would give The rest of the stops were N stops, only to us a big wave as we went by. We highballed to discharge passengers. If we got three toots on the Brewster on that train, but were always checking communication whistle we knew we had to stop, the timetable for cutouts. Unlike the stations and if the whistle wasn’t working, the engineer of today, with high-level platforms between the slowed down and looked back for a highball from tracks, the stations were on one side or the other, the conductor. and engineers had to make sure they did not pass One Friday night I went up on No. 955 in a a train standing in a station with the possibility of blizzard. Flash Fallon was the conductor. He killing a boarding or detraining passenger. always treated me like a grownup and, because he Upon arrival at Brewster, sometimes the was working alone and the train was loaded with firemen would swing off coming into the station passengers, he said he would be putting me to and run over to Bob’s Diner to get coffee for the work. This was very exciting stuff for a kid! Heavy trip. I always got a hot chocolate. We would get snow in the traps and doors made it very difficult our paperwork, and Jack Mallon would give Ray to keep them working. There was water from snow a bundle of newspapers. And off we would go. We melt all over the coaches and our passengers were *

Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 12 complaining about the “old” cars and how dirty replied that I didn’t drink soda. I’d never been in a they were, and how late the train was. bar, so I didn’t realize just how difficult my request I can still see Flash with his pipe in his mouth was. It took a long time, but when we finally got telling the people who were complaing, “You people our burgers, a glass of milk appeared at the bar for only ride this train in bad weather! Otherwise me. I have no idea where it came from. we would never see you! If you rode every week Since Flash did not have to work back, I’m pretty instead of driving your cars, we would have better sure he stayed at the bar all night because he told equipment, better track conditions, and more me not to go to the station, but to go to a room the trains!” The truth usually shut them up. Today, hotel had reserved for him. This was big stuff for a if an Amtrak or Metro North conductor spoke kid I must tell you – eating in a bar, working like a that way to passengers, they would take out their rear brakemen, and sleeping in an old hotel all on phones, take pictures and record the words, and the same day! the conductor would be fired, even though speaking On some of my later visits to Chatham, I the truth. Today’s conductors must keep saying returned home on Saturday morning on No. 922. how sorry they are for everything, even though It left a little bit after 7 a.m., and the only place to there would be nothing they could do. get something to eat before then was the Chatham That night with Flash, I became the rear Bakery, where the owner, Wally, would come in brakeman, and he had me go through the cars and after midnight to start baking. Sometimes the crew call out the stops. When we arrived at each station, would ask me walk over and get some goodies. I opened the door over the rear trap, and after the The fresh and very tasty hard rolls right out of the passengers got off at the one trap he kept open and oven were great. That bakery grew and expanded cleaned out, he gave me a wig-wag with his light, into a restaurant several years later, and on a and I returned the same. He then gave a highball later visit I couldn’t wait to get there to buy some to the engine crew and off we went to the next pumpkin bread – it was my favorite. Sad to say, station stop. they no longer sold it, and the quality of their food We got to Chatham very late, pulling up to the in general had gone downhill. The last I knew it station to drop off the remaining passengers. The became a Mexican restaurant. As they say, you can switches were all snowed in, but the station agent never go home again. * had them lined them for us. After we backed the train to the yard, Flash invited me to come to the Chatham House with him so he could buy me dinner for helping him get the train over the road. Dinner was only burgers, because it was very late. The place was pretty crowded, and everyone was talking of the big storm and about the train making it in. When the bar tender asked me what I wanted to drink, I asked for milk, and suddenly it got very quiet. “How about a coke?” he asked. I

Page 13 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 Everyone I have mentioned in this article is now on his porch waving to them when they went by gone. I was lucky to have experienced Chatham his home across the tracks. A friend of mine Ryan when I did; you would not recognize it now. The Strong who was the conductor on the Lake Shore Chatham station was saved and is now a bank. got to know Bill by his waving and dubbed him the It is listed as an historic place, and actually looks “Mayor of Chatham” was how I found out Bill was better now than it did fifty years ago. The building sick, Ryan had looked for Bill 3 times and noticed that I believe was the original passenger station that his car had not moved. So he contacted me at the east end of the yard still stands; it was to let me know something was not right. When always called the green shanty. I believe it became the Rutland RR convention was held in Chatham the office of the yardmaster and was where the several years ago Ryan came to meet the Mayor, Harlem crews signed up. At one time, Chatham Ryan although young and never worked for the was a very busy railroad center. The Rutland Milk Central knows the meaning of Brother Hood and came in over the Rut’s “Cork Screw” Division, and Family. On June 19th we buried Bill, when they several trains a day went down to Grand Central say the Lord works in mysteries ways their not Terminal. Some of these came over the B&A from kidding. As Bill was carried out of the funeral North Adams. home CSX freight came by blowing the horn for Bill Wood lives in Chatham and loves trains. We the 3 crossing. Then as the preacher was saying met when he was a conductor on Berkshire Scenic words and a sailor was playing taps over his casket Railroad. He has a small railroad museum in his at that exact moment another train came by its home that his wonderful wife Eddie let him have engines working hard going east blowing its horn built. Everything from conductor uniforms from for those 3 crossings. I hope you have enjoyed my some of the Chatham boys to scoops that were story, as I always say I am a story teller not a used by several engineers who fired steam out of writer most of what you have read took place over Chatham are on display. Bill saved almost every 50 years ago while I was growing up. article in two different newspapers about the fight that went on to keep the trains running to This article was originally published in Central Chatham. He lent them to me, and the information Headlight, the quarterly magazine of the New York would make a great book to go along with Lou Central System Historical Society. Grogan’s wonderful book, The Coming of the New York and Harlem Railroad. A story could be written based on what Bill saved and shared with me. I want to thank George Ford, Jr. for sharing some of his wonderful pictures with me for this story as well as information from timetables from 1965. Skip, as he is called, took many more pictures than I did, since he was older and was working. His dad was the operator who befriended me. I can see him even now, with a big cigar in his mouth. When he laughed it went up and down as did his belly, and his laugh came from his heart. He was the last operator at Chatham station when it closed after they lost the passenger train service in the early 70’s. From 1975 to 1985, I was on jobs running from New Haven, Connecticut to Selkirk. As I passed through Chatham, I thought of the men I have named in this story. In my mind, they all had big smiles and waved. They were proud that I had hired out and that I was doing well. I will never forget them. Since I wrote this my good friend Bill Wood has passed away. Bill was very well known by many crews both on Amtrak and CSX because he stood *

Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 14 Tacoma telegraph operators kept trains on track and on time by Craig Sailor [email protected]

ack before and advanced it opened in 1917, as did another station at Titlow Btechnology, railways communicated the old- Beach. fashioned way with telegraphy. Former operators “That lasted, maybe a year or two, and then faded Gary Emmons and Ed Berntsen demonstrate how the away,” Emmons said. messages were delivered at the old McCarver Street Staffed 24 hours a day, the station provided written train station in Old BY DREW PERINE orders for trains moving south to Portland. No train On April 6, 1962, the last employee to leave the could pass the station without receiving them. McCarver train station shut the door on a building Emmons worked unofficially and unpaid at the that had stood for 45 years in Old Town Tacoma. The station from the age of 11. His rogue status was time was 9 a.m. overlooked because Emmons’ father Bud also worked The station, built in 1917, was gone two hours later. at the station and supervised him. His grandfather Northern Pacific Railway bulldozed it and opened a Allen had worked the same job at the station in the high tech version at South 15th and Dock Streets the 1920s. same day. “I loved The low- railroading,” tech station Emmons said. the railway “By the time I demolished used was 14 or 15 I telegraph to kind of ran the accomplish its station.” task: delivering orders to trains. Around And “Now it’s Under Tacoma all done The McCarver electronically station was through opened three computerized years after the dispatching first passenger systems trains began controlled Northern Pacific Railway telegraph operator Carson Hickey, right, and NP facilities maintenance traveling on the from a central foreman Edward Allison observe the last train to receive written train orders from McCarver Point Defiance point,” said Street telegraph station April 6, 1962. Established in 1917, the station was staffed 24-hours a day route in 1914. by telegraphers who provided vital communications to every train leaving Tacoma for destinations former telegraph south. Bulldozers demolished the station—made obsolete by newer technology — two hours after The route was operator Ed this photo was taken. used both by Berntsen. JIM FREDRICKSON Northern Pacific Then, as now, NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION COLLECTION and Union train engineers Pacific railroads were given instructions on which track to use, sidings and in 1943 by Great Northern Railway. to wait on and information about other trains. Though trains had reached Tacoma in 1873, the “My roots are right here at McCarver Street,” fellow climb from the waterfront and into the Nalley Valley telegraph operator Gary Emmons said last week as on the Prairie Line was steep. Sound Transit uses the pair walked the street down to Ruston Way. the same route today for its Sounder trains. The Both 16-year-old Emmons and 20-year-old Berntsen locomotives automatically distribute sand on the rails were there the day the station was demolished. to increase traction on the grade, one of the steepest * McCarver station briefly loaded passengers when Page 15 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 in the passenger system. as a telegraph When the waterfront route opened in 1914, it operator for eliminated the climb by using the Nelson Bennett Northern Pacific Tunnel under Ruston, the shorter Ruston tunnel into his college underneath the smelter stack and the Tin Tunnel, years. which was between Stadium and Old Town. Gig Harbor In 1917, the Tin Tunnel was eliminated and a resident second track was added. A station at Stadium was Berntsen, 74, closed, and the McCarver station was opened. still works with The McCarver station was an important stop gap the railroad in the railroad’s safety system. A head-on collision, industry today especially in a tunnel deep under Ruston, would be a as a consultant. disaster. Emmons never Orders were transmitted from a dispatcher in really pursued a Bud Emmons (21 years-old at the time of Tacoma’s Union Station. The telegraph operators at career in trains. the photo), third trick (12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m.) McCarver would transcribe the orders and attach But aunts, telegraph operator at McCarver Street station, them to a gizmo railroaders called a “hoop.” uncles and other is seen copying a train order via Morse telegraph about 1:30 a.m. July 26, 1941. This The hoops, looking much like yard rakes missing relatives were train order would soon be delivered to the their tines, were placed on a pole called a hoop rack. all involved in engineer and conductor of an approaching The passing engineer and conductor would each the business. freight train “on the fly” when Emmons bound the orders in string and carefully secured them grab a set of orders by aiming their arms through the After a brief in a forked train order hoop. The freight train V-shape of the hoops. A string with the orders tied to stint as a was departing Tacoma for Portland. EMMONS it would slip out and loop aroundtheir arms. photographer FAMILY COURTESY And it was done while moving at 40 miles an hour. and writer “That’s where the term ‘hooping up orders’ came with The News Tribune, Emmons joined the U.S. Air from,” Berntsen said. Force, where he spent most of his career, retiring as The system was used by railroads all over North colonel. America for over a century. In some cases, the telegraph operator would have to hold the hoop A New Route himself as the train passed by. For the past 103 years, train passengers have seen “It might tell him to take a different track, a speed families picnicking along Ruston Way, golfers at restriction, a broken rail ahead.” Emmons said. “This Chambers Bay and the picture perfect views of Puget was important stuff.” Sound. And if an order was missed? Those 24 miles of track are the only expansive “If they dropped those orders, they had to stop and waterfront section of Amtrak’s Pacific coast route back the train up to McCarver Street,” Emmons said. between Seattle and Pismo Beach, California. “They couldn’t proceed without it.” Later this year those water views will be replaced Two-way radios were not used by railroads then with ones of Interstate 5, car dealerships on South because of their unreliability. The hoop system was so Tacoma Way, and Tacoma Golf & Country Club. indispensable to the railroad system, it was used into The Point Defiance Bypass project will send the 1980s. passenger trains from a new Amtrak station now While Emmons and Berntsen worked at the station, under construction at Freighthouse Square. Trains an average of 40 passenger and freight trains a day will roll south along the route Sound Transit would travel the route. currently uses for its Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood. From there, Amtrak Cascades and the Family Business Coast Starlight will continue south, paralleling I-5. Emmons, now 70 and a University Place resident, Just south of Mounts Road, the tracks cross I-5 and started hanging around McCarver station in 1957 rejoin the previous route in less than a mile on the when he was 11. His father taught him Morse code, edge of Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife how to telegraph and how to copy the train orders. Refuge. “By the time I was fourteen, I could perform all the Freight trains will continue to use the Point duties without much supervision although he was Defiance route, but it will mark the end of passenger always there to keep an eye on things,” Emmons said. service on the line. Just as he turned 16 and could be hired by the “It’s sad, but it’s a necessity,” Emmons said. railroad, the station closed. But Emmons worked Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 16 “30” Silent Keys News of our brothers and sisters who have closed the key Maple Leaf “ON” Chapter Thanks to Don Laycock, Secretary- Jessie Mary Kaye, age 97, passed away on Treasurer of the Maple Leaf Chapter for September 12, 2020. She was born in Kamloops, this 1information. British Columbia on June 29, 1923. When Jessie Don notes that Francis joined the Maple was a teenager, her brother Frank Haigh taught Leaf Chapter in April 1993 and that her telegraphy while he was an operator at Eston, he was very active in their Northern Skatchewan. Frank then became an Agent at Division and on the “slow wire.” Francis Lawson, SK, where the family eventually moved. had to drive 35 miles to attend a chapter Jessie was able to listen to the lines of commercial meeting, which showed his dedication to office traffic in Saskatoon, honing her skills as a the Maple Leaf Chapter! telegrapher. In 1945, she moved to Jasper, working as a telegrapher. In 1946 she married Capt. Don Ollie Blackburn “AT” Chapter Kaye, Chief Signals Officer for the Royal Canadian Wesley Ridgway, age 93, of Saint Charles, MO, Signals. Don knew the code used by the Armed passed away on November 2, 2020. Wes was born Forces, but he did not know the railroad code. Don in Montgomery City, MO. passed away in 2011 Wes was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Mae Despite Jessie contracting polio in 1947, she Jackson, of 57 years. Eva and Wes are survived by and Don raised four boys and one daughter. Their four children: Diane, Wesley, David, and Janet. daughter died in 2010. Wes worked as a telegrapher and train order In 1965, Jessie became involved with the Tibetan operator for the Nickel Plate RR, the Atlantic Aid Society. While working with the Society, for Coast Line RR, and the Burlington Route, which over 55 years, she helped sponsorship of numerous through mergers became the BN and now the children. BNSF Railroad. Wes especially enjoyed working in She also supported many other charities such as interlocking towers. Amnesty International, Tools for Peace, Doctors Wes retired in 1985 and then enjoyed Without Borders and Oxfam. photographing steam locomotives with his son- Thanks to Don Laycock, Secretary- in-law and pursuing stereo photography as well Treasurer of the Maple Leaf Chapter, for as collecting stereo pictures and old-time stereo this valuable information. Don notes that viewers. Jessie joined the Morse Telegraph Club Thanks to Mike Haper for this in February 1987. Don says Jessie will be information about Wes. missed by many people in the Maple Leaf Chapter. Winnipeg “WG” Chapter

Francis Therrien, age 89, passed away on October Jack Tessier, age 92, passed away on September 5, 2020. He was born on July 26, 1931. 19, 2020. He was born on August 15, 1928. As Francis learned telegraphy in 1951 at Ruthergien, a teenager, Jack joined the reserves, worked as Ontario. His career at a telegrapher began on a bellhop, set pins at a bowling alley and sold June 1, 1951 with the Canadian Pacific Railroad newspapers on the corner of Portage and Garry at Aylen, Ontario. From there, Francis worked at Street in Winnipeg. many northern Ontario stations, such as Bonfield, Jack began his railway career on April 30, Mattawa, Chalk River, Sault Ste. Marie and 1949 with the Canadian Pacific Railroad as night others. His longest position was at Mattawa, where operator at Dyment, Ontario. In 1951, Jack he worked from October 1959 to December 1985. married his sweetheart, Norma. He and Norma He retired in June 1986. Francis and his wife of 67 raised six children. years, Helen, raised two sons and one daughter. Working as a telegraph operator and station agent took Jack and his growing family to Portage *

Page 17 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 La Prairie, to Rathwell, Carberry and Altona. Raised in East Kildonan, Larry tried his hand Jack spent the last twenty years at La Rivire, at numerous jobs including delivering newspapers where because of the station closing, he took early for the Toronto Star, as a cook at CN, as a helper retirement. at Brooks’ Tires and at Watkins Pharmaceuticals, Jack’s long held dream was realized when, where he filled Kit Bags with dried eggs to be sent after flying lessons at Brandon, he received his overseas to the soldiers fighting in the Second pilot’s license. Then he joined the Manitou flying World War. Club and built a hangar for his Cessna at the Larry found his “forever job” with the Winnipeg community airport. There was little he and Norma Fire Department, dedicating 35 years of his life appreciated more than a morning flight to a fly-in to the City of Winnipeg and to his brothers and breakfast somewhere in southern Manitoba. Jack sisters at the WFD. At the time of his retirement, and Norma enjoyed travel to Britain and Mexico Larry held the position of Acting Chief. and also Wintering in Victoria. Thanks again to Bert Johnson, secretary- For a time after retirement, Jack flew his plane Treasurer of the Winnipeg Chapter, for to various areas of the province, where he repaired this information and to Larry’s son, who grain dryers. wrote his father’s newspaper obituary. Norma’s passing away at 68 years old brought sorrow and melancholy to the closing chapter of Memorial “TD” Chapter Jack’s sixth decade. Henry Quandt, age 85, passed away on September In 1999, a new and joyous chapter began for 28, 2020. He grew up with his four sisters on Jack when he married his new found love, Els. Quandt Farms in Allen Park, MI. Henry served Jack and Els enjoyed 21 years together with their in the U.S Army then worked as a railroad blended clan of children, grandchildren, and great telegrapher and later worked for the 3M Company. grandchildren. They took getaways to Europe, Henry learned Morse in the DT&I (Detroit, Toledo Mexico, British Columbia and Arizona. & Ironton) Tower in Detroit, MI from 1950 to 1952. While Jack was not one for accolades, he blessed [Henry Ford had his own rail system to service all the lives of many people. of his Ford auto plants in the SE Michigan area]. Thanks to Bert Johnson, Secretary- He worked the Extra Board, third trick, in Milan, Treasurer of the Winnipeg Chapter, for MI in 1952. Then Henry worked as a relief position this information. Bert comments that between Romulus, MI and the Oakland Junction Jack had a full life, that he met Jack and Oakland Yard until 1960. during the summer of 1949 while he Thanks to Al Skornicka, Secretary- (Bert) was, working as a track laborer at Treasurer for the Thomas Edison Dyment. “Our section crew dropped off Memorial Chapter for this brief notice. a keg of water weekly at the operator’s bunkhouse office, which was quite James Hill “SK” Chapter isolated with no hydro, drinking water, or road access. It was a two-mile trek down George A. Newell, age 85, passed away recently. the track to the closest habitation.” George was born in Spokane, WA on May 12, 1934. He attended grade school and high school in Valley, Edward Lawrence Sterzer, age 92, passed Washington, later earning a degree in law from La away on September 19, 2020. Larry was born on Salle University. In Detroit November 11, 1927. Larry met the love of his life, George learned telegraphy at the Spokane Margaret Morrow, whom he married on September Telegraph School then began his career as a 17, 1949. Larry and Margaret raised five children. telegrapher in 1953 with the Great Northern After pulling up stakes in Winnipeg, Larry and Railroad. He took time out to serve in the U.S. Margaret moved to Petersfield, Manitoba, where Navy from 1952 to 1963. George served as they raised Irish Setter dogs, Paint horses, cows telegrapher at various locations, moving to Havre, and goats on their hobby farm. Montana in 1968. In 1972, George became the The death of his lovely Margaret was an chief dispatcher for the Montana Division of the immeasurable and lasting blow. Larry then expressed Burlington Northern Railroad. Next, he became his love for Margaret through many written poems trainmaster in Glasgow, MT and Sheridan, WY. He and songs that he wrote in her memory. retired in June 1989. * Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 18 ? On June 21, 1954, George married the love of his positions. George was a proud member or the life, Betty Lou Kelly. George and Betty Lou raised Order of the Arrow. He also was skilled working in three sons, who are all now married with their own his wood shop, crafting useful and beautiful items families. for his friends and family. For most of his lifetime, George was active in the George appreciated the pleasures in life with United Methodist Church. As a servant of God, friends, family and his Christian community. He George traveled once a month between 1990 and said he knew he was blessed. 2003 to the Washington State Penitentiary as a Thanks to whomever forwarded George’s member of the prison ministry team. obituary to me (I’ve forgotten). George was also passionate about the Boy Scouts of America. He served in various leadership

Welcome Aboard! New Members of MTC

Dennis Brewer, Arlington, VA Ron Bunch, Concord, CA Kevin Jepson, Calgary AB Leland Hite, Maineville, OH Ronald Lee, Cary, NC Partick Malloy, Middletown, NY Leonard Nettles, Santa Ana, CA

DID YOU KNOW? Do you know when the coronavirus pandemic will end? he coronavirus first appeared in January 2020 in China and soon spread worldwide. T To date, the COVID-19 disease, caused by the coronavirus, has sickened millions of people and has killed 1.7 million people globally, including nearly 350,000 in the United States and nearly 15,000 people in Canada. Many hospitals are already overwhelmed and the daily death tolls continue rising. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. The approved vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna offer hope that this pandemic will come to an end during late 2021. The first vaccinations were administered in mid- December 2020 and will continue to be methodically administered worldwide as medical science comes to the rescue. Meanwhile, to avoid catching this highly contagious disease, continue to wear a face mask, to avoid crowds, to wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face. So far, no member of MTC has died of the pandemic. Let’s keep up the good work. ??Page? 19 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 J. Chris Hausler’s Book & Movie ReviewS

It’s time for a break from facts and figures so for requiring a battery. As the story takes place in 1877 this column I’m looking at a couple of stories which such a man as Page would likely be carrying a Civil are pure entertainment so to fend off cabin fever War era pocket relay or lineman’s set or even a box and keep you warm on these cold winter nights (at relay KOB which although larger isn’t at all heavy. least for us up here in the great white north). Both And of course we all know that such “sounding stories, one a book and one a film, are primarily relays” don’t require any local battery. Oh well, these “westerns” which have something (if limited) to do errors aside its a pretty good story. with the telegraph. The story lines for both have The story starts out with Mr. Page being sent them taking place in the mid 1870’s. out to investigate a report that the telegraph he first is a book, operators in the fictional town of Granite, NM are TCy Page, Western overcharging for telegrams. What he uncovers is a Union Man by C. J. good bit more. Just outside Granite he comes upon Petit. This book was a wagon train in need of water but being refused just published in July entry into Granite. On one of the wagons is a young 2020 and is available lady, Penny Enfield, who who had lost the rest of her both as a paperback family, her father and two brothers, just a couple and as a Kindle file. days previous when they tried to enter Granite. With I chose the Kindle no one else left she offers Cy a place to put his stuff version as it was in her wagon. Cy slowly takes a fancy to her and you quite inexpensive can guess how this is going to play out in the story. and the paperback However, if you want to learn what happens next is about $15. If you you’re going to have to acquire a copy for yourself. don’t have a Kindle Again, I found it an interesting read. but are comfortable he film I’m reading a book on your Treviewing this computer, Amazon has time came to me as a a free Kindle reader bit of serendipity. The which you can download to your computer and they November 2020 issue also have a “cloud” reader. Anyway, the ISBN-13 of Trains magazine has for the paperback version is: 979-8667594895. The an article about the author is very prolific and has been turning out multi-million dollar many westerns over the last several years. As of this return to steam of writing he has published several more since this one. narrow gauge “Ten- Mr. Cyrus Page is a telegraph “troubleshooter” Wheeler” #20 by the for Western Union, pretty good with his guns it Colorado Railroad seems. I suspect Western Union would have had Museum. The engine, special agents to investigate issues but whether they a staple of the storied would also be capable gunfighters is questionable Rio Grande Southern to me. Further, looking at the cover you will see an and an 1899 product immediate problem as it has “Cy Page” spelled out of the Schenectady Locomotive Works, went cold in International Morse. The author apparently didn’t with the demise of the RGS in 1951. The Rocky do much research and also has Mr. Page carrying Mountain Railroad Club, which had arranged for around a portable set which is said to be heavy and many excursions on the RGS behind #20, purchased * Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 20 the engine for about $2000 to save it from scrapping. Although #20 was an RGS engine, with the The engine remained on static display until a major exception of trestle shots, the film was made on the donation made this restoration possible. So last Durango & Silverton, their still extant Silverton summer after 69 years, RGS #20 steamed on its own depot standing in for the one at Epitaph. As the once again. real #20 would have been too heavy to be towed So much for the backstory. The article made overland on its own wheels, a very accurate full- mention of RGS #20 being used in a film released sized steel framed but mostly wooden replica was in 1950, A Ticket to Tomahawk. For this film the constructed for those scenes. This replica went on engine was dressed up as an 1870’s wood burner to have an interesting career of its own after this with a balloon stack, oil headlight, fancy paint job film, for a while in the 1960’s serving as a stand-in and named “Emma Sweeny”. The plot, such as it is, for the “Hooterville Cannonball” (really Sierra #3, involves the building of a railroad, the “Tomahawk & the “Movie Star Locomotive” and also recently back Western”, but due to a shortage of track it is not yet in steam) for in-studio shots for the TV program completed. However, in order to meet their charter “Petticoat Junction”. The replica was also recently they need to carry a paying passenger from what restored back into its “Emma Sweeny” garb and is appears to be their home base in fictional Epitaph, now on display in Santa Rita Park in Durango. CO to to the town of Tomahawk, sixty miles away, Well known supporting actor Walter Brennan by a certain date due in just a few days. Attempting plays the Emma Sweeny’s engineer and is just as I to thwart this effort is the owner of a stagecoach remember seeing him in films and TV shows when line, Colonel Dawson, played by Mauritz Hugo but I was a child. Marilyn Monroe has an uncredited uncredited, which would be put out of business by bit part as Clara, one of several showgirls, one of the completion of the railroad. His chief henchman, Marilyn’s earliest film appearances. The film, if you “Dakota” is played by Rory Calhoun. The rest of the haven’t already guessed, is a comedy, and although story is a comedy of errors and incongruities. not really a musical there is some singing and With no track for the first 40 miles out of Epitaph dancing in it. the engine is to be towed over land through hostile By now you must be asking, where’s the telegraph territory by a team of mules. Unwitting traveling in all this? Well, there’s not much, just a couple salesman Johnny Jameson, played by Dan Dailey, scenes at the Epitaph depot where you hear the not knowing there is no track has bought a ticket clicking of a telegraph sounder in the background to Tomahawk. As the railroad needs a paying as the actors are discussing received messages. passenger to complete its charter, when Johnny However, you never see any instruments. I suspect learns there’s no track and tries to get out of it that audiences of 1950, what with the depot as a he is tied on a chair to the side of the engine. The backdrop, would easily recognize the soundtrack as granddaughter of the marshal, tomboyish, knife- a telegraph sounder. But I also suspect that today’s wielding Kit Dodge Jr., played by Anne Baxter, has audiences would be clueless which is why all of you been deputized and is leading the effort to escort MTC members need to get out there and educate the engine. This despite apparently being entirely them! The cast did included a telegraph operator, unaware of her budding beauty. As this will be uncredited, played by William Self. Mr. Self became her first time out on her own, her grandfather, a producer and went on to have a very successful marshal Dodge played by veteran actor Will career in the entertainment industry, at one time Wright, tries to explain “the facts of life” to her becoming president of the CBS Theatrical Film but is too embarrassed to complete the task. Kit, Division. falsely thinking Johnny was involved in a shooting So, although there’s not much telegraph in which just injured her grandfather, making him the film, if you ignore this and put all the story unavailable to escort the train, has developed a incongruities aside, it’s quite an entertaining romp. strong dislike for him. But now she is disgusted to What’s more, although you can buy DVD’s of it, it learn that she must protect him to insure that he is also free to watch and download from YouTube. gets to Tomahawk, thus successfully fulfilling the I downloaded a copy and burned it to a DVD-R so railroad’s charter requirements. Needless to say, I can watch it any time I want on my large screen Kit and Johnny resolve their differences with a TV. The YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/ particularly funny twist right at the end of the film. watch?v=7f0DOXOrm94 . Enjoy! If this isn’t enough, the story gets even weirder yet but you’ll have to watch the film to learn the rest.

Page 21 • Dots & Dashes • Winter 2020-2021 Want Ad Section House Track For Morse Telegraph Club Members AVAILABLE: Book Tales of the AVAILABLE: Book. Hubert Jewell, American Telegraph. Issue #3 includes President of the Washington- a photo layout. John B. Ryan, 11017 E. Baltimore Chapter, offers us his Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA 99206. biography titled, Working on the WANTED: Re-enactors for Locust Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Grove, the Historic Site Railroad. This book is chalked full of in Poughkeepsie, NY. Please contact facts and descriptions of railroading Andrew Stock, Curator of Education and of Morse code communications. and Public Programs at a.stock@ Hubert’s book is available from the morsehistoricsite.org or (845) 454- RF&P Historical Society, Inc. PO Box 4500 x13 if you are a Signal Corps 9097, Fredericksburg, VA 22403-9097 re-enactor who may be interested in or from the web site www.frandp.org. participation in history of telegraphy, The price is only $25.15 postage paid. including the annual Civil War AVAILABLE: The equipment is part weekend. of a very large collection gathered over AVAILABLE: Period attire for 60 years. It was from a family member telegraph operators of any era. who has passed but was a very long Authentic reproduction hand crafted time and well known MTC member. clothing will be made to your exact fit I have included three pictures of the by a certified seamstress at reasonable hardware. I would like to sell it as a prices. Several MTC members already collection. There are several rare west have attire provided by this talented coast as well as many early rare pieces. and well educated lady. Contact $12,500. Dave Ball (408) 805-0065 Valerie Mathers at (410) 768-3162. AVAILABLE: Pen & ink railroad drawings on stretched canvas, frame print, art print and greeting cards. See these on the website of Dots & Dashes member Peter Hamel at Peter Hamel Fine Art American.com. Telephone (705) 472-8860.

AVAILABLE: Telegraph Set with hook- up box. Asking $75 Canadian. Contact Carmen Wallace at carmenwwlc@aol. com

Dots & Dashes • Winter-2020-2021 • Page 22 Ham Radio Web Sites eep in ouch K T ... For those of you who are amateur Your participation in Dots & Dashes is important. radio operators, here are four current We need your stories, club news, announcements web sites that I find useful: and reminisces to keep it lively and interesting for www.arnewsline.org everyone. www.usrepeaters.com Jim Wilson, Editor www.qth.com Dots & Dashes www.qrz.com 2742 Southern Hills Court North Garden, Virginia 22959 (434) 245-7041 E-mail: [email protected] For membership changes, address updates, Notices & Invitations dues and other information dealing with membership or with chapter operation, contact your local Chapter Secretary or: Morse Telegraph Club, Inc. Dial-Up Information Richard Williams International Secretary-Treasurer MORSE KOB PROGRAM PO Box 181591, Coronado, CA 92178 on the web at www.morsekob.org [email protected] DUES (619) 818-9017 U.S. First Class postage $20.00 E-mail delivery $15.00 Please do not send address changes for Canadian is now by chapter Dots & Dashes, dues renewals, etc., to the Editor. All mailing lists and membership Foreign Air Mail postage $26.00 rosters are prepared through the office of the International Secretary. Dots& Dashes • •••• • •••• • •••• • • • •• • • •• • • •• • •••• --What -- Hath-- -- God------Wrought - The Official Publication of the Morse Telegraph Club, Inc. Vol. 46, Issue No. 1 • Winter 2020-21