WESTERN PACIFIC Jl[~J~p.,~Sls WP PLACES FIRST ORDER FOR NEW BUDD RAIL CAR Western P acific became the 'first" dome coaches in appearance, although railroad to place an order for one of the dome contains the engine cooling the new Budd rail diesel cars, when system r ather than observation seats. the passenger and express model, tech­ The engines are two 275-h .p. General nically referred to as the RDC- 2, was Motors diesels, and the power drive is purchased for delivery this spring, at provided by Allison torque converters, a cost of abou t $130,000. developed for heavy tank use during A similar car, the RDC- l , which the war. The six -cylinder, in-line en ­ No. 7 Vol. I FEBRUARY, 1950 differs only in the number of passen­ gines are mounted under the car floor. Departme nt of Public Relations, 526 Mission Street, San Francisco gers carried and does not include a All clearance requirements are met, Le e She rwood, Ed itor Arthur Lloyd, Jr., Associate Ed itor baggage compartment, made the first and at the same time there is no intr u­ Me mbe r A merican Railway Magazine Editors' Association actual scheduled revenue runs for this sion on revenue space. Moreover, this C ORRESPONDENTS type of cal' over Western P acifi c's east­ placement contributes to a low center Ruth C ra ne , Sacramento Northern Hazel Petersen, Oakland ern division during J anuary, operating of gravity-only 52.6 inches. The in­ Frank Lindee, Tid ewater Southern Bill McGrath, on the schedule of Trains 1 and 2. sta lla tion h as b een d esigned with Dudley Thickens, Jim Mills, Molly Fag an, Rita Conoll y, San Francisco During the five round trips between special consideration for simplifying Nevad a Michelson, El ko Gene Trace, Stockton P ortola and , passengers normal maintenance, preventive main­ Madg e Siaughtner, Irene Burton, Sacramento for points west of P ortola changed tenance, and ready replacement when Ro bert Munce, Jr., Los Angeles from this all-coach accommoda tion to overhaul schedules require. ....7 regular steam trains. The principle of the torque conver­ The Budd rail diesel car closely re­ ter, so widely employed in au tomotive INDEX Page sembles the vista- transportation, has been applied to WP P laces First Order for new Budd Rail Car 3, 4, 5 It May be for You ! 5 Caboosing 6,8, 9, 10, 13, 14,15, 16, 18, 20 The Bum's Rush . 9 That's a Good Question! 11 The Tax Bite . 11, 12 Consequences 13 Rail and Highway Overloads 15 Mileposts in Gold 16 Up the L adder 17 In Memoriam 19 Don't be HALF Safe! 20 An Employee's Train of Thought 21 WP Men Elected to Office 22 Sports 23 Railroad Lines 24 Cover: Ditcher removing snow from WP main line at Keddie. Just another of the many services performed by The 's demonstrator Diesel car, RD C-l, enters Yuba City from the east on the line of the and at the expense of the railroads to give the best transportation without the assistance of State Highway Sacramento N orthern Railway en route to Chico January 29, the first rail fan trip to be held with this type Department equi:r;ment or the taxpayer's money.-Photo by N . F. Roberts, Road Foreman of Engines. of car.-Photo by Arthur Lloyd, Jr. 2 MILEPO STS MILEPOST S 3 all head-end business had to be han­ It May Be for You! dled via the conventional vestibule A report from Ann H. Crowder, doors. The Railway Express Agency secretary for the Medical Department, assisted by diverting, wherever possi­ reveals that the following employees ble, shipments of unusual size or have recently answered that depart­ livestock. ment's call for blood donors for re­ With the cooperation of Budd Com­ plenishing the supply of the Irwin Me­ pany service engineers, a welded morial Blood Bank: stainless steel-sheathed pilot was General Office Employees designed and attached to the front George E. Bowers Virgil M. Haggard of the car. The original car carried Douglas J. Bruce Robert D. Hanson Pearl M. Cunha Harold F . Harrington only truck-mounted pilots which, while' Lu'ella Dickinson Anthony Jakenovich Doris A. Doherty Yen Louie satisfactory for commuter service, Denise D. DuPre Anne K. Malfa were unsuited for mainline service in Rosalie Enke Alice M. Mills Kathryn S. Fiscoe Alma Painter mountainous terrain. The wisdom of Carl H. Flaig Mary E. Rathburn Vernon W. Ged c. es Axel F. Rintala this installation was proven in subse­ Roland L. Gohmert Roberta Stearn quent encounters with snowdrifts and Richard A. Groves Clifford E. Warner And rocks during the course of the tests. R. W. Landon, brakeman-conductor Rail fans stop to visit Sacramento Northern's shops at Chico during Bay Area Electric Railroad Associ. All modifications of the car were Alfred Vrismo, engineer ation's excursion between Sacramento and Chico. Hundreds of people turned out at Sacramento, Chico and Yuba City to see the car.-Photo by Stanley Snook. handled at Western Pacific's Sacra­ A heartfelt gratitude goes out to mento shops, under the supervision of these employees of WP, who so gra­ power transmission. It operates during signed for railway car use by the E. E. Gleason, superintendent of mo­ ciously answered the call for blood acceleration up to a designated speed, Frigidaire Division of General Motors: tive power. donors in order that the life of a fellow at which point the transmission auto­ Its foam rubber seats provide comfort In the test, the RDC-l acted as a employee may possibly be ·saved. matically locks into direct drive. for 70 passengers at speeds up to 83 complete train and proved to be an A call to Miss Crowder will put your In addition to providing high miles per hour. Actual service on the adequate substitute for the usual name on the list with those who wish ,efficiency and reliability, the torque WP's eastern division provided opera­ steam-powered consisting of two or to make future donations. converter saves tons of weight, is ap­ tion at high speeds at long distances more conventional cars. preciably lower in price than other with few stops, and railroad men Traffic-wise, the Budd car presents portation, W. W. Nelson, who re­ ·drives, and gives unsurpassed flexibil­ throughout the country watched the an attractive appearance. Constructed marked that it was the smoothest ride ity and smoothness in operation. innovation with interest. throughout of stainless steel, it makes he had ever had over the line since its The Budd Railway Disc Brakes, Before putting the RDC-1 through a fitting supplement to the California inception in 1906. model CF, operate in conjunction with its paces, special arrangements were Zephyrs, and for this reason, Western Cost-wise, the car can be operated the Budd Rolokron anti-wheel-slide made with the Budd Company to tem~ Pacific has dubbed its new car "The for about one-half the cost of a con­ device, and have stopped a fully loaded porarily modify the demonstrator ." ventional train of equivalent appoint­ car, under service application, from model and to equip it for the test serv­ Following the test between Portola ments. In 6,000 miles of test service 85 miles-per-hour in 2,330 feet. To ice contemplated. Seats were removed and Salt Lake City, the car was made the car averaged 2.8 miles per gallon of increase rail adhesion the car is from one end and a temporary baggage available to the Bay Area Electric diesel fuel at a cost of slightly more equipped with both automatic and compartment was so constructed that Railroad Association, a local rail-fan than three cents per mile. Fuel cost for manual sanding devices. Wheels are 33 the interior trim and decorations of the organization in the San Francisco area, steam locomotives used in similar inches in diameter, and the disc is car were untouched. When the com­ for an excursion between Sacramento service averages 22 cents per mile. bolted to the inner face of each wheel. partment was removed only· minor and Chico over the once-electrified The Zephyrette is a logical solution The car is fully insulated against touching up was needed to restore the rails of the Sacramento Northern. The to the problem of local passenger heat, cold and noise, and is completely car to its original condition. Since the trip attracted 86 railroad enthusiasts service, and Western Pacific is looking air-conditioned by seven-ton, electro­ demonstrator model possessed no bag­ as well as many old "rails," including forward to inaugurating a "first" in mechanical equipment especially de- gage doors, for the period of the test, the retired Superintendent of Trans- passenger ·travel.

4 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 5 ea&oosing

Tidewater Southern JOE LEMONS and HAROLD CHALMERS WAR REN "BILL" TRUITT h angs up his started with the road in 1914 (when I lantern and retires March 15. Starting rode free and not on a pass) , FRANK with the Tidewater in 1935, Bill served EDGERTON in 1925, and SAM EVANS in as conductor during the fruit season 1928. Can Western Pacific produce a and brakeman during the winter cr ew that can total 130 years on the months. In looking over the winter same tracks? crew of the Tidewater, we find the Sacramento Northern youngest man in seniority is retiring. CHRISTINE WILKES, gen eral clerk , In fact, the 5-man crew has a total of Though traffic departments of neighboring railroads compete aggressively for Sacramento general office, is on a 90- business, their operating organizations are always ready to help out when the rival 130 years with the Tidewater, so they day leave of absence account illness could hardly be classed as a bunch of and has been replaced by GORDON HAL­ line has an emergency. Such is the tradition of the rails. "boomers." VORSEN. Gordon's ex-duties were assumed by These two. striking similar photographs illustrate the point. The top view shows the J ANE PORTALUPPI, whose most recent "City of San Francisco" detouring over Western Pacific at Wendover No doubt you will be surprised employment was with Universal In­ to find this issue of MILEPOSTS in when the S. P.line was blocked by the blizzard of FebrLIary, 1949. The other photo ternational Pictures, Inc., Universal your mailbox and we trust you is of the "California Zephyr" in a similar predicament behind an S. P. engine at City. will like the idea. Roseville last January, when a slide blocked the Feather River Canyon. Photo by We all wish Christine a speedy re­ ·We have felt all along that our covery and welcome Jane to our force. Alan Aske. magazine might be enjoyed by the families of Western Pacific GERALD K . LAUMER, superintendent Railroaders as well as by them­ of equipment, Chico shops, became a selves. We also believe that mail grandfather on January 25 to a baby distribution will insure delivery girl born to his daughter, Mrs. Hall. to each person in the quickest It was nice to see OTTO MEIER, former possible time, as there were shop foreman at Chico, who dropped in unavoidable d e lays in the old recently for a visit with h is old friends. method. Please let us know No. 144 underwent whether you agree. a major operation in the Chico shops, MILEPOSTS is for your enjoy­ but is well on the road to recovery. ment, and the only way by which MILT ZIEHN, ex-homeowner, is re­ the editor can judge how well he siding in his bachelor quarters in Del is succeeding is through verbal or Paso Heights. Milt recently sold his written suggestions voicing your home in Lafayette. likes and dislikes. Your coopera­ NEWELL PAYNE , bill-rate clerk, tion is solicited. Marysville, has taken over his new po­ sition as chief clerk at the Yuba City

MILEPOSTS freight office, vacated by LESLIE BROWN. to have closed the subject with "women Western Pacific feels a sense of satis­ faction. However, since the roundups, We r eceived a nice "thank you" note drivers would be as good as m en but consisting of 25 hoboes the first night, from ELEANOR McMURR AY, nee Olsen, for one thing- fenders." Many interesting, although slightly 17 the next night, 14 the ensuing morn­ of WP's freight traffic office, for the Weath er m an, wrong! .. . R ecently, exaggerated, stories have appeared in ing, and 56 on another day, WP has crystal sent her and h er husband, the weatherman predicted a cold wave the local press of late concerning the taken means to make the cars inacces­ Blaine, as a wedding present. would break upon th e city during the fastidious quarters established by sible to future gu ests, a m atter that will James, J r., the son of JAMES ABBAY , day, by coincidence the day assistant Western P acific for lonely "knights of traffic manager MCCARTHY and traffic no doubt encow'age these non-rev­ blacksmith, was married D ecember 24 the road" in the company's Oakland enu e passengers to route themselves to Betty Bak er. We wish them every representative KEN RANK were to coach yard. According to the press travel to suburban Aurora. All bun­ via other lines on future cross country happiness. clippings, Pullman cars after b eing tours. Chicago dled up, heavy overcoats, mufflers fly ­ serviced for the n ext day's run were ing, ear muffs in hand, warm boots and When G EOR GE WENIG , th e original placed on sidings and, being without probably longies, too, they h eaded locks or bars, were inviting to the worryman, goes before St. P eter to see bravely outdoors expecting the worst. Caboosing ... about getting "in," we can just hear bindle stiffs who immediately took up ( Continued from Page 8) That was the day the southern breezes lodgin gs therein and made themselves St. P eter saying, "Wenig, ah yes, the P articipants of the Accounting D e­ bested the northern freezes, and the right at home, sleeping in clean sheeted all-around answer man. We even have partment's Christm as Party very temperatures mounted to an all- time berths in a manner not usually asso­ transit problems up here, so come gen erously donated a generou s cash January high of 67. You have seen the ciated with citizens of their calibre. right on in!" Monday mornings m:e "old look" and the "new look," but collection to Children's Hospital, ac­ However, taking up from where the George's favorites. H e can hardly walt when Messrs. McCarthy and Rank re­ cording to an acknowledgment re­ press left off, it should be mentioned to get in the door to see what happened ported back , we h ad the "wilted look." ceived by gen eral auditor LEO GOSNEY over the weekend to worry about. that these so- called Pullman luxury I do . . . With all the talk about from Frances D. Losse, secretary for Geor ge will be pleased to know that cars were not placed on siding for famous bachelors taking the step in that organization's Board of Directors. his fellow workers are arranging for service, but were spotted on an isolated recent m onths, namely Barkley, Stew­ Incidentally, "Jingle Bells" (valua­ another telephone for his desk so h e storage track at Oakland yard only to art, Gable, O'Dwyer, how come they ble reproductions of California Mission can handle twice as many problems. accommodate the 's Bells loan ed by EMMETT DILLON, as­ left out the fellow that started the over- crowded Richmond shops, where Small world . . . A short while back, stampede, KEN STONEY, formerly of sistant auditor of payroll accounts) , BILL MCGRATH dropped in on the agent these old and unrepairable cars were and the Christmas records of organ Chicago and now back in San Fran ­ to be later reduced to scrap. With win­ of the Indiana H arbor B elt Railroad at cisco. Frankly we believe the oth ers, and chimes music loaned by LORIN Hammond, Indiana, W. D. Irish, who dows amiss, seats either gone or de­ upon seeing Ken settle down, must stroyed beyond all serviceable use, no identified himself as a brother- in-law h ave come to the conclusion that mar­ of BOB GONSALVES, ex-Chicagoan and running water or lights within, or any r ied life was here to stay. After all, other niceties usually found in deluxe very personable DPR at Salt Lake City. didn't someone make the sage ob ­ Later, in calling on J . K. Spencer, traffic equipment of this type, the cars were servation th at approximately half the far from being deluxe and only pro­ manager, Metal & Thermit Corp., East married people were men! Chicago, Indiana, discovered, he was vided shelter from the immediate out­ also a br other-in- law of Bob s. While San Francisco side cold. in Chicago, Bob's initials, R.E.G., gave MARGE and BOB BISIO, AF&PA, an­ The stories all began when Oakland birth to a nickname that used to make nounced the bir th of a daughter, Robin police started to search the local Bob turn Irish green, n am ely, "Reg­ Lancaster , J anuary 18, weighing in at jungles and railroad yards from which gie." Your host of Chicago friends say, 5 Ibs. 1 oz. these gentlemen of the road make their "H ello, Bob." Gondolas don't have running boards, ingress and egress, for a couple of To the point ... Understand ANN says BARNEY K ENNEY, yardmaster at known criminals. For having unknow ­ WEBER and JIM BAKER were talking K eddie, is recovering from two broken ingly assisted the constabulary by de­ about the merits of women drivers legs out at St. J oseph's Hospital. taining these uncensused citizens until versus the male, when J im is repor ted ( Continued on Page 9) such time as they could be rounded up, 8 MILEPOSTS RICKS , accounting department, added Guy says there is nothing exciting much to their enjoyment, as did the about a thyroid operation though. fine work of WILBUR HANSON, war bond GERTRUDE SHOUT had the pleasure clerk, who very generously donated his of a visit with MRS. LEE SHAEFFER, re­ free time and his excellent "home­ tired purchasing . department clerk, made" fireplace which had previously and reports she looks wonderful. Sends decorated the department for two her very best to all at WP and is weeks preceding Christmas. And WP spending most of her time reading de­ 10 Cooks and chefs ...... 34.600 was well represented in the "Pope," tective stories up Cotati way on thc One wayan editor finds out if his 10 Express messengers . 22.200 "Little Jim," and "Crocker" wards on Russian River. Life of Riley! magazine is being read is by asking and then there is­ NIABEL FENNELL, secretary to MR. questions of his readers. This we did in Engine repairs 271,500 Friday night and Sunday morning by and car repairs ... __ _ 191.600, the arrival of Santa Claus, a duplicate DOOLING of our law department, left the last issue of MILEPOSTS in a new and, of course, fueL . 259.000 column under this heading. The first of the sequence used at the accounting the company February 15 to join her TOTAL, SO FAR ...... $1.181.900 department's party. husband in Montana. Our loss. question received in our mail was: It must have been a tiny paint brush EDITOR, MILEPOSTS: Our total revenues for the train are Speaking of beau brummels, have that BETH DETHERAGE wielded around "How can the Royal Gorge go in the all spent and we are already $434,200 you noticed (how could you help it) h er apartment in getting those vivid red over $900,000 a year?" in the hole. But, there are additional th e c.lashy argyle socks, windsor knot canary yellow and Chinese green (Name withheld upon request) costs which must be charged to Trains ties and striped shirts worn by our 1 and 2 alone. They are: president's secretary, SID HENRIGKSEN! walls. We understand she received her ANSWER: painting lessons from HILDING NILLSON, D ining car supplies._. . .. .$ 80.100 Incidentally, SID is now wearing his Unfortunately, it's just a matter of Commissary expense.... . __ 26.200 a master at the art. Water, lubricants and supplies .. 13.200 20-year service pin. simple arithmetic. Gross revenues Engine house expenses 18. 500 Fifteen members of the freight claim Train supplies and expenses ... 55.200 If the manufacturers only knew it, from passengers, express, mail, dining Terminal expense ...... _...... ___ ... . 52.700 department had dinner at Luccas, D e­ cars, etc., have been $747,700 a year. Rent for passenger train cars .. _ 34.900 JOE VALERGA of the president's staff, 1s cember 29, celebrating Christmas and Payroll taxes ...... __ ...... -. 39.60.0 the finest advertisement for neckties That sounds like a sizeable sum, but Depreciation 100.700 New Year, then went to BILL PADEN'S what does it cost to run the train? Maintenance Way and Structures._._ 57,800 we have had the pleasure of seeing. home for entertainment and a buffet Well, take payrolls, for instance, the WHICH TOTALS ...... , .. $ 478.900 A group from the treasurer's office supper. Bill's son, of COUl'se, brought Adding the costs already largest item. Trains 1 and 2, only, re­ shown above _ . 1,181.900 went skiing over the weekend of Feb­ out his Spike Jones records and did a quire the following: Makes a grand total for ruary 3 to an unheard-of place called few turns on the ivory keyboard. 12 Engineers ... __ ...... _ ...... $ 93,800 Trains 1 and 2 ...... __...... $1.660,800 Waleswood, short way beyond Squaw HANK TELLER, freight claim depart­ 12 Firemen ._... . 81.300 And, after deducting revenues re- 9 Conductors ._ 61 ,600 ceived from these trains for one Valley on the road between Truckee ment, suffered a brain inflammation 18 Brakemen .... 102.300 year's operation 747 ,700 and Tahoe City, but old Jupiter Plu­ 6 Coach porters __ ...... 16.800 and spent two weeks at St. J oseph but 5 stewards .. . 19.100 the answer is a loss for one year's vius had other ideas. He was not in came home in time for Christmas. 10 Waiters ...... __ . __ ... __ 28,100 operation of .. . _ ...... $ 913,100 sympathy with ridel's of the waxed It must be catching, for BRUCE Mc­ boards. Making the trip were CHARLES CURDY, also a draftsman, just gave his THE T~x BI':E : . . From baby's powder to the family car, every item which goes to make RATHBURN and wife, MARY; JANE Hy­ up Amencan hVIng standards feels the impact of the tax collector. Some of the taxes are gal, Colleen Crabtree, a beautiful dia­ hidden, others appear r ight on the sales ticket. In either case they are heavy. Often the LAND and husband JACK; BOB AHLGRIM mond. She is manager of See's Candy part of the selling price which goes to supporting government is larger than what is left to and wife DONNA ; NORMAN JACKSON Store in Berkeley. pay for the wages. materials and plant used in producing the item. The levies on cigarettes and wife FRANCES; MINETTE POPE, LIL­ JAMES R. BROWN, delegate to U. S. and on alcoholIc beverages are outstanding examples of this class. In the case of gasoline LIAN CARLSON and TOMMY BALDWIN. and milk the share taken by the tax collector nearly equals what goes to the producers. Custom's House from 8th and Bran­ But r~gardless of the proportion, taxes today cut heavily into our living standards by STANLEY PROFFITT, retired purchas­ nan's steam desk, has been drafted for redUCIng the number of thIngs w.e can buy and enjoy. So long as the tax man takes any­ ing agent, drops in the office for an jury duty in the Superior Court pre­ where from 10 to 60 per cent of what we spend. our enjoyment of a full American living sided over by Judge Traverso in S.F . standard must suffer. And just so long will the measurement of income in terms of dollars occasional visit and reports all is well. be meaningless. Those living on fixed incomes have already felt the pinch of the tax collector GUY NESMITH, purchasing depart­ EVERETT ENGLAND, bill desk at the in reduced purchasing power. Those who aTe savin g for their old age will feel it in years ment, found out there is never a dull 8th & Brannan freight house, leads the to come unless economy In government halts the wild uprush of infiation.-From the New 'moment in St. Joseph's operating room. (Continued on Page 13) York Journal-American, January 10, 1950. (See n ext page.) 10 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 11 The Tax Bite What it Adds to Everyday Living Costs Caboosing ... ( Continued from Page 10.) TAXES 18* TAXES 5¢ We have published many letters re­ "'50 Vacation Parade" by taking the ~ I ceived by Western Pacific that were last two weeks in January. So while the extremely complimentary as to our rest of his co- workers were stocking services. Sometimes we get the other up on anti-freeze and antihistamines, tV kind, too. This one, with the name of Everett was enjoying life at home to BREAD lOt the writer omitted, is printed h ere as the tune of June in J anuary! a demonstration of the fact that there FRANCES ZIEGLER, switching desk , re­ are no unrela ted incidents on a rail­ turned to work recently after a three­ road. Results of errors are sometimes week siege with a virus infection. instantly apparent, sometimes not, but We regret that ROBERTA ARMSTRONG never can they be laughed off with the is still confined to her home. A broken thought, "well, that was a mistake, but wrist incurred two month s ago did not that's the end of it!" properly heal and had to be reset. Mr. Henry E. Poulterer, Vice-President LARRY GERRING, pickup and delivery The Compa ny 526 Mission Street desk, and ARNOLD SKOOTSKY, head ex­ San Francisco 5, Cali(om ia port clerk, ar e both house-hunting Dear Sir: The writer was a passenger' aboard Train No. these days. To properly engage in such 17 arriving in Oakland on December 20th, having c hosen to spend an extra day enl'oute to San Pedro a quest, each bought a car and as they in order to view the famed Feather River Canyon track down each lead, their combined [or the first time. Words fail to express my chagrin when No. 17 efforts materially increase S.F.'s Sun­ run through the train washer at Porto la in weather reported to be 8 ° below zero. A thick coat of ice day traffic. was formed covcl;ng all the train windows a s In order to devote his entire time to well as the Vista··domes, preventing a ny vision of the canyon until a lmost Orovill e. As a pros­ writing, JACK SHERIDAN left the AF&PA TAXES pective shipper who may be routing som e 10,000 carloads to California points from Central Utah department January 31. Having been 70* within a period of five years, your compa ny has recognized by publish ers (see MILE ­ not demonstrated its ability to handle assignments in the field. At Denver with a 6 ° above tempera­ POSTS Sept., 1949) , Jack is well on his ture, the Denver and Rio Gra nde Western wisely way and is working steadily on a new 1 suspended train washing. . ~-- There is very little I can do except protest the novel, and filling in his spare time with .-. ,.. .- " s illy" action of trying to wash a train in freez­ ing w eather, a lthough I was g reatly disappointed talks on journalism at Palo Alto and SHOVEl$1. 30 in not seeing the canyon, aspecially from a Vista­ Burlingame schools. Western Pacific dome. I can however ship our products by other lines, whose m a nagement I can depend upon. wishes Jack a glowing future. TAXES~3 Very truly yours , (nn.me withheld ) JOHN F. QUINN, valuation accountant To complete this particular story, it in the engineering department, is' an­ should be added that steps have been nouncing his engagem ent very soon. A taken to insure against a repetition of beautiful gem jade ring is being dis­ , ] the incident, and that the writer of the played by his fiancee, Frances P.Strate, letter, after a personal visit by a West ­ SHOES$o a graduate of University of Nebraska ern Pacific representative, has agreed and former war nurse. to 'restore us to his good graces. Retirement doesn't keep DICK GLOS ­ Not always do they end so happily. Effective January 23, 1950, The the Railroad Retirement Board TER away from WP. H e visits each Wed­ nesday to lunch with old friends, even San Francisco Regional Office was moved to 180 New Mont­ Stop, look and lessen grade crossing acci­ and District Manager's Office of gomery Street, San Francisco 5. dents. If the train gives a hoot for your life, though h e h as taken another job with so should you. -National Safety Council. Callaghan & Co., contractors.

12 M ILEP OSTS lII I LEPOSTS 13 Caboosing ... safe handling under the very capable ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS direction of Commander J. K. Webster, TRANSPORTAT ION BUIL DING CHARLIE STORY, assistant engineer in WASHINGTON 6 , D . C . S. G., USN. Because LEO DELVENTHAL, WILLIAM T . FARley charge of one of the engineering field PRESIDENT JR., transportation inspector, was un­ parties, not only knows his way around January 3, 1950 able to attend, Jimmy induced retired To the PRESS and RADIO: with a transit and blueprint, but is so transportation inspector, P. H. EMER­ Subject: RAIL AND HIGHWAY OVERLOADS successful at raising camellias that one SON, to be present and present his vast It was 120 years ago that a young civil engineer named of S.F.'s better florists is rumored to be Horatio Allen drove the first locomotive to run on tracks of a store of knowledge to the class. The thinking of going into the engineering transportation company in the United States. The engine proved too business! Navy served lunch, after which a tour heavy for the light wooden rails, and from that experience, as was made of WP diesel shops and well as from much experience since, the railroads have learned Prosperity! All green and all pur ­ yards. Twenty-three officers were in that they cannot afford to overload their tracks and bridges . chased on a Monday ... CLIFF NORDEN'S this year's graduating class. That is why the railroads apply the. very best engineering new Plymouth, GARDINER ROGERS' new research and skill to determine the loads and speeds at which they Buick and HAROLD DIRK'S new Hudson. The freight office at 3rd and Harrison can be carried without damage to tracks or bridges. Once these facts have been determined, the railroads permit no heavier trains And all in the same department! ??? Streets, and the Middle Harbor Road yard office, have been dressed up in a and no greater speeds than the roadbed and structures are built to A new Pontiac, too, for CLIFF GERST­ carry. If it becomes necessary to operate heavier cars and NER, draftsman, who is also entering a new coat of paint- light green at the locomotives over any stretch of track, then the railroads protect new field-matrimony, next April. top and dark green at the bottom of tracks and bridges by issuing and enforcing "slow orders." the side walls. The freight station also Highway engineers also have learned the same lesson. They Los Angeles received venetian blinds. The painters have found it is important to protect public highways from the effects of excessive loads and excessive speeds. Failure to JACK BERSCHENS has moved back to did a very neat job and are to be com­ the general office, trading locations protect them means damage and in many cases even destruction . mended for their fine spirit of coopera­ And that, in turn, results in added costs. with KEITH JOHNSO N, who went from tion during our working hours. Any damage to tracks and bridges caused by trains which are general office to L.A. to assist with A fine vaudeville show-shades of too heavy or too fast is paid fo·r by the railroad itself, and properly so. On the other hand, damage done to the public high­ office duties. Berschens' new title is the old Orpheum Circuit-was enjoyed special passenger representative, a ways by overloaded trucks is almost never paid for by the vehicles at the Auditorium Theatre Tuesday that cause the damage . Instead, the cost of this damage is borne newly created position. evening, F ebruary 14, when the Heath by the taxpayers and the motorists . We were interested to note that when Club, an organization of Oakland fire­ Besides being built to provide the nation with its essential KEN STONEY, A.G.F.A ., paid a visit here men and policemen, sponsored their mass transportation, the railroads were purposely constructed to recently he exhibited the good judg­ carry heavy loads -- loads that our public highways never were 34th annual vaudeville show. Among intended to carry. Sincerely yours, ment of an educated traveler by de­ those present were MESSRS . and MES­ positing his raincoat and vest in the DAMES LEO ENNIS, ERNEST EVANS, JIM office before making his rounds. DILLON, DON NAYLOR, FRED SAUNDERS, BOB MUNCE has been named pub­ JIM DILLON, JR., GEORGE RAAB, JACK WiV:---r.0''i licity chairman and editor of the official ROBERTS, RUSSELL BURCH, CHARLES publication of the Junior T raffic Club DAVIS and EDITH SUTTER and daughter. of Los Angeles for 1950. LESLIE McADAMS and LEO FRATAN­ Caboosing ... Store Department Oakland GELo are both back at Oakland again as Roy FALQUIST returned to work On November 8, agent JIM DILLON industry clerks. months old and weighed 17 pounds. A after a long siege of illness. Although was again invited to give a talk on han­ WALTER MERYMAN moved his family cute little fellow, he has a cleft chin he says he feels fine, Doc says take it dling, blocking and bracing of cargo, into their new home in Castro Valley just like dad. His grandfather, by the easy for a while. and the paper work connected with it, last week. Walter says the trip is long, way, is HARVEY NAYLOR, cashier at ED HAWKINS also returned to work to a class of commissioned officers of but worth it. Fruitvale. and has now transferred to Oakland as the U. S. Navy Cargo Handling School We must apologize to Chris, for not EVELYN EAGLE, demurrage clerk at relief storekeeper No.3. at the Oakland Naval Supply Center. saying hello when h e arrived, but his Oakland freight house, has a new tele­ JOE MARCHAND, purchasing agent, This school is conducted by the Navy parents, the DON NAYLORS, didn't re­ vision set with a 16-inch screen-a was a recent visitor to our department. in the interests of claim prevention and member to tell us until he was four Hoffman. RENO PICCHI returned from his trip

14 MILEPO STS MILEPOSTS 15 Up the Ladder MILEPOSTS IN GOLD Effective January 1, 1950, Fred 0 _ E. Elliott has been appointed division Crosgrove has been appointed valua­ engineer for the Tidewater Southern tion engineer, succeeding R. 1. Gloster, in charge of maintenace and capital who retired under the Company's Pro­ work, with office in the WP Building, Western Pacific congratulates the following employees to whom Service Pin visional Retirement Plan after more Sacramento. Awards were made during the month of J anuary 1950: than 28 years of railroad service. Elliott was born in San Rafael in 30-YEAR PINS Born in Jamestown, New York, No­ September 1900, and after graduation Ross Birdsall ...... _...... L ocomotive Engineer ...... __ ...... Eastern Division from high school attended UC and later Walter M. Bryant...... ,Chief Clerk...... 8. F. Freight Station vember 30, 1900, Crosgrove received Anthony B. Day ...... Chief Yard Clerk ...... O akland .,. his engineering training at the Case studied special courses at the Univer ­ Roy Dryden...... Conductor...... Western DIvISIon Mary W. L amberty._ ...... Secretary to Chief Clerk...... E astern Division School of Applied Sciences, Cleveland, sity's Extension School. Paul E. Meyer ...... ___ .Chief of Division B ur...... Traffic Department Ohio. In 1927 h e joined the engineering Between 1923 and 1948, Elliott was Bruce O. V ance . Engineer...... Western Division department of the Erie Railroad, work­ e mployed by the S outhern P acific 2S-YEAR PINS Raymond T. Ronan .. .. Roundhouse Foreman...... Or ovil1 e ing in New York and Ohio until 1941, Company and learned engineering the F red W . Thompson ...... yardmaster...... San Francisco when h e left to accept a position as har d way by holding various positions 20-YEAR PINS in field parties and working up through Stanley C. Gudmundson ...... ConductoL ...... Eastern Division the ranks to assistant engineer. William C. Kell y...... ,Conductor ...... Western Division Charles N. T ackett ...... T raffi c Representative ...... Spokane, W ashington H e came to Western Pacific as esti­ IS-YEAR PINS m ating engineer on F ebruary 16, 1948, William F. Boebert...... Asst. Chief S pecial Agent & Claims Age:lt ...... San Francisco followed by a promotion to division James J. Hickey...... General Passenger Agent...... San Francisco engineer July 1, 1949, with headquar­ IO-YEAR PINS William A. Bergman ...... Ass.:.stant Special Agent ...... Oakland ters at Sacramento. E lmer H. Carleton ...... Ass:stant Special Agent.. ... Elko Elliott is married and has two sons, Robert B. Ritchie ...... Traffic Representative ...... Chicago Dewey C. Staggs ...... Brakeman ...... W estern Division Richard, 21, and Robert, 16. John C. Nolan h as been promoted to the post of general eastern freight Caboosing ... gium, Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, agent, with headquarters at 500 Fifth Switzerland and Austria. That is really abroad, arriving home J anuary 14. Avenue in New York. getting around, and Reno has enter­ During his sojourn in Europe h e visited Born in Galesburg, Illinois, not too tained his fellow workers with m any Italy, France, Sweden , Denmark, Bel- long ago, Nolan spent about 10 years an interesting highlight of his trip. with the Santa F e before joining West­ MR. and MRS. ALTON DABBS and fam­ FRED O. CROSGROV E ern P acific on April 1, 1928. Starting ily have moved into a new home which valuation engineer for the Southern in the Chicago office he rose to position Al built. Located at McKinley Blvd. Railway, Louisville, K entucky, and the of AGPA in 1932 b efore taking over and Elvas Avenue, there ar e still a few K entucky & Indiana Terminal Rail­ those duties at New York. finishing touches to take up his leisure road Co., Washington, D. C_ A m ember of numerous traffic as­ time_ Coming to the Western P acific in _ sociations and clubs around New York, The Store D epartment has been September, 1948, as assistant valuation he is well known in Eastern shipping saddened by the sudden death of TOM­ engineer; Crosgrove has since been as­ circles. MY SHOWLER_ Although Tommy had signed to valuation work exclusively_ His pet story is how he won seniority been sick for the past few months, his H e is living in San Mateo with his over WP's only other assistant general condition from time to time was re­ wife and two sons, Donald, 19, and passenger agent, Ernst Gommer, who ported as on the upward grade; and his Robert, 25_ His headquarters are in also began service with the company passing has been a shock to all of us_ San Francisco_ on April 1, 1928, but on Pacific Stand­ TOMMY SHOWLER ( Continued on Page 18) Effective December 16, 1949, Chm-les ard Time!

16 MI L EPOSTS MILEPOS T S 17 lin ~r1Unria1U Bert Hazlett, 55, general agent at ary 1933, and is survived by his widow, Reno, died on January 25, after a gall Agnes, of Anchorage, Alaska. bladder operation. , , , Born November 5, 1894 at J ewett, The death of Wilber Eddie Hickey, Illinois, Bert entered WP service as laborer, who retired from service only cashier at Winnemucca June 8, 1923. a few days before, occurred on Decem­ He went to Elko about 1929 as traveling ber 27. freight and passenger agent and thence Hickey's service began in J anuary to Reno as general agent upon the 1946. He is survived by his widow, death of G. I. Martin in 1947. Mrs. Ossie Hickey, of Stockton. Besides his wife, H azlett is su rvived f , , by two sons, Phil of Tuscola, Illinois, ClU1·ence E. Mello1·, who retired from and Bill of Portola. H e had a host of the company in April 1939 as a black­ friends throughout the whole State of smith helper, died December 22. Nevada and will be greatly missed. Mellor entered service June 5, 1923. , , , , , , Alexande1· Lovass, who retired from A report of the death of Arthur C. WP service as boilermaker February Baugh, retired Sacramento Northern 8, 1947, died D ecember 24, 1949. conductor, on October 3, 1949, has just Model cable car designed by Russell Beith of Maywood, Illinois, after seeing W P's Chicago Railroad Fair been received. Employed with this exhi~it last ye:'lr, and ~ui.lt with the assistance of his pal Richard Jorgenson. Painted red and yellow, the car Mr. Lovass entered service J anuary ca.rrles magaztne ads. tnSl~e; measures 7 fee.t 4 inches in length, 3 feet 6 inches in width and is 6 feet high, company and its predecessors inter­ wIth a p~y load of SI":. P lctur e.s and storY.In the Maywood Herald brought nearby neighborhood children 22, 1920. o ~t for ndes-at a prtce! Pulhng the car IS George Pottinger, 12; crew and passengers are, left to right, mittently since May 20, 1908, Baugh Rtchard Jorgenson, 11 , assistant builder; Russell Beith, 11 . builder, designer and motorman; Kathleen and retired October 31, 1940. Ray Pesavnt. and Timmy Bohlander, passengers. Ge01·ge William Flynn, extra gang laborer, died recently, the exact date RICHARD M. ERWIN, western division sec­ tion laborer, died November 18, 1949. Mr. Caboosing ... more than $1,100 for the March of of his death being unknown. Erwin entered service with Western Pacific Flynn entered WP service in July April 4, 1946, and is survived by a son, R. C. (Continued from Page 16) Dimes. WP employees are happy for the opportunity of being a part of this 1942 and retired in January 1949. Erwin, of Los Angeles. Tommy was with WP since Nov. 19, splendid project and are deeply grate­ , , , SAM D. PERKINS, mechanical department 1923. Our heartfelt sympathy is ex­ laborer, died October 7, 1949. Mr. Perkins ful for the two-hour program dedi­ Trent Moody, carpenter, died D e­ tended to his wife and family. entered Western Pacific service April 8, cated to them. cember 25, 1949 after having retired 1944, and is survived by a son, Ausie D. Elko MRS. HANS JENSEN, wife of the Carlin from service in D ecember 1949 after Perkins, of Roxton, Texas. Roadmaster BILL ZENT has nearly signal maintainer, has had the cast re­ nearly eight years of service. JOHN D. FORD, formerly employed by West­ ern Pacific as brakeman, died December 16, overcome the lameness from a painful moved from her fractured right wrist, , f The death of Joseph Eppie Roberts, 1949. Mr. Ford retired from the company knee injury received several weeks ago suffered about six weeks ago. That's August 4,1947, after nearly five years service. but still suffers considerable pain. right good news, HANS! section laborer, on September 29, 1949, RALPH HARPER, 51, manager of Western MAXINE OLDHAM, FRANK'S wife, is re­ Congratulations to section foreman has been reported. Pacific's telegraph office in Elko, died cuperating satisfactorily following an GORDON SIGMON'S son, Norman, of EI­ EnteringWP service in January 1938, January 8 after a lingering illness. Before Roberts retired the same month in coming to the WP nine years ago, Mr. operation performed a short time ago. burz, for being judged safest of the Harper served as a telegrapher for the West­ It's nice to see HARRY YOE in the large number of safe teen- age drivers which he died. ern Union as well as for the Denver & Rio hallways again. Back in good health at Elko High. Norman was awarded Grande Western, Union Pacific and South­ again, he doesn't run up and down the car given by Carleson Motor Co. John A. McGovern, switchman, died ern Pacific railroads. He is survived by his November 25, 1949. widow, Edna; two brothers, H. S. Harper stairs so fast and so often now. and may we offer our sincerest con­ and Max S. Harper; three sisters, Mrs. S. T. Our sincere congratulations to the gratulations to Bob Carleson for the Retired since July of last year, Mc­ Bloomfield, Mrs. H. L. J ones and Mrs. H. A. staff at Station KELK for collecting (Continued on Page 20) Govern entered WP service in Febru- Singleton.

18 MILEPOSTS MILEPOST S 19 THE WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD CO . 1950 RAILROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN Don't Be HALF Sofe! ACCIDENTS TO EMPLOYEES PER MILLION MANHOURS 1940 TO 1950 There is satisfaction in the informa­ diligence if we are determined to do so, tion revealed in the graph on the oppo­ and to our mutual good. site page, indicating the downward Our goal is a ratio of "5 in '50" trend of accidents on our road since (5 reportable injuries per month). 1946. A substantial reduction has been CIl It can he achieved. a: made. During 1949 only one W.P. ::J Most failures are not due to a lack 0 employe was killed on duty. Our fatal­ I of ability; they result from insufficient Z ity ratio of .08 (number p er million ..: application. The likelihood of our L 20 manhours) is the lowest of which we achieving a ratio of "5 in '50" isn't Z have record. For this we are all su­ Q dependent on our ability -Western -.J premely grateful. Nevertheless, the Pacific m en have that ability- but it -.J graph further indicates that we have does pose the question as to whether L 15 a: r educed our total ratio to only a frac­ or not we will constantly and con­ w 11. tion of a point below our 1940 rate. scientiously apply those abilities to CIl Since 1940, large 'Sums of money have the goal to be reached. To achieve our f- Z been expended on physical facilities goal of "5 in '50," we must keep our w 0 that should make it easier to conduct reportable injuries (those resulting in l3 u our operations without accidents. Sig­ more than 3 days lost time) to not more ..: nal operation, A.B. brakes, dieseliza­ than five per month for the System. tion, and other improvements of less With the application of your skill and magnitude, should materially assist in care we are confident that it can be reducing our accident rate. With these done and earnestly solicit the help of improved facilities we 'Should, without every employee toward this end. The GOAL:- A RATIO OF " 5 IN 50 any increase in skill and care, be able life or limb you save may be your own. to operate with many less injuries than in 1940. I am sure that we will all agree AN EMPLOYEE'S TRAIN out of something an equivalent to what that we can exercise more care and we put in? We're humans; we've all ~~~ OF THOUGHT loafed on occasions, tried to get by with By WILLIAM F. McGRATH the least effort on other occasions, but Traffic Dept., Chicago being human, we're tied to our con­ Caboosing ... agent; and BERT HAZLETT, general agent If we're Americans in America, we're science. The WP has a right to expect (Continued from Page 18) and successor to G. !. Martin. We like thankful-some of us probably more only so much of us and we're not to think of them "up there" running so or more expressive than others. For interest he has shown in teenagers. regimented, regulated or driven, so St. Peter's Golden Zephyrs. That they every grief or unhappiness, there are why not tryout putting just a bit more MARJORIE BALDWIN is filling in for experienced difficulty in gaining en­ 99 pleasant factors to consider. than the minimum in our jobs. Oper­ LOIS MANCA who, with her husband, trance through the pearly gates we From the security standpoint, we ating a railroad today, and at a profit, engineer SETH MANCA, is spending 30 haven't a doubt, but long before this immediately think of WP. The WP is an ever-present headache to man­ days enjoying Florida. "Mike" and "G.!." will have worked sustains us just as we sustain the agement, yet management must appre­ During the last seven years many their way in. Through them, "Bert's" Western Pacific. Yet, how many of us ciate the makeup and material that competent railroad men have gone to entrance will have been made easier give only the minimum? Oh, yes, we constitutes the Western Pacific, and the Great Beyond, among which three and St. Peter's railroads will be infused put in eight hours a day five days a that's us! So, if each one of us "throws stand out in our mind as an unparal­ with a whirl of activity. But, most of week. Some work harder than others, in" a little extra, there'll be no stop­ leled combination-A. P . MICHELSON, all, we like to think of Mike, G .!" and perhaps of necessity, perhaps of desire. ping Western Pacific-and us. What do chief dispatcher; G. I. MARTIN, general Bert, having a wonderful time together. I'm no philosopher, but don't we get you think?

20 MILEPO S TS lVlILEPO S TS . 21 WP MEN ELECTED TO OFFICE Les H. Stoltzman, traffic representa- . were: W. E. Crawford, Chairman of tive, has been elected to ·serve as secre­ the Membership Committee; and L. A. ~ ___• ___ S_ P_O_R_T__ S ___ •____ ~ tary for the San Francisco Traffic Club Baker, Chairman of the Publicity of San Francisco during 1950. Committee. Crawford and Baker also Bowling watch Western Pacific's smoke in the According to Stoltzman, this organi­ are traffic representatives in the office Southern Pacific T ournament, in "The oldest league at the Downtown zation was formed about five years of J . H. Coupin, general agent. which Santa Fe teams, as well, will Bowl in San Francisco is the Western ago and monthly meetings are held by howl on the week- end of February 24, Pacific circuit of eight teams, which the membership of approximately 80 Joe Hamer, passenger traffic repre­ 25 and 26." junior traffic men, at which time vari­ sentative of Western P acifi c's Oakland rolls every Thursday night at seven (Editor's note: Results of this tournament play ous shipping problems are discussed city ticket office, was elected on Janu­ o'clock on the Golobic drives," writes will appear in the next issue of Mileposts. ) and acted upon to promote harmony ary 24 to serve as president of the Oak­ Ch1"onicle sports writer Leo Bunner in and good will among local industrial land P assenger Club for 1950. the February 1 issue of The Bay Cities Traffickers Win Playoff firms' traffic departments. Joe began service with Western P a ­ Bowle1", under the column 'Downtown To break the tie at the end of the Les joined Western Pacific in J anu­ cific in May 1935 in the Chicago traffic Hi-Lites'. first half (14 weeks) of bowling with ary 1942, after four years with the office, spent most of 1940 as chief clerk "Active for ten years, Western Pa­ 25 games won and 17 lost, the Traffick­ Rock Island Railroad at Lincoln, Ne­ in the Los Angeles office, and came cific started bowling at Bagdad in ers won out over Transportation in a braska, as chief clerk to our Omaha to the San Francisco city ticket office 1940 and after one season moved into playoff held February 16, 2393 to 2314 general agent. He came to San Fran­ in the fall of 1940 as city ticket agent. the Broadway-Van Ness. Then, in pins. Carl Rath rolled a 524 series, with cisco in November 1945 and served He transferred to the Oakland office April of 1942, Henry M. Golobic threw a 197 high game, for Transportation, as freight traffic agent until February in J anuary 1943. open the Downtown Bowl doors and while Jack Hyland led the Traffickers 1948. After a little over a year's serv­ Having a membership of approxi­ the first group to apply for a 'league with a 516 series and a 211 high game. ice as chief clerk to general agent J . H. mately 150 Oakland traffic representa­ spot' was Western P acific. The teams are now buckling down to Coupin, he again took over the duties tives, the organization is well known "Aithough there are no 'title holders' serious pin smashing competition. of traffic representative, in which po­ locally among traffic organizations. in the league, W. P . members make John Carven took this picture on the upper bay near Pittsburg in October 19 46 and shows, left to right, sition he is now employed. Elected to the vice-presidency at their presence felt in any event they back row: Mrs. Lee Brown, Mrs. Hal Heagney. Les is also a member of the Pacific the same meeting, was' Carl Bergantz, might enter. Outside of league play Center: Mrs. Art Petersen, Lee Brown, Hal Heag­ ney. the late Frank Asprer and Charlie Vincent. Traffic Association. chief clerk of Southern Pacific's city there are just a few who bowl in match Front: John Carven Jr. and Art Petersen. They all Other Western Pacific employees ticket office, while J oseph Eck, of game or tourney play. say, "I caught the fish!" appointed by the executive officers of Capwell's travel bureau, was made "Henry Donnelly, president of the the organization to serve during 1950 secretary -treasurer. league, with a 157 average, advises that Pete Casey is now leading the group with a 172 average. High series for this season belongs to Bob Ditty with 611, while Donnelly at 257 and Jack Ditty with 237, have posted the highest individual games. For teams, the Traf­ fickers are out in front with a 785 team average and the Engineers are next in line with 722. "Donnelly points out that as soon as the summer campaign draws to a close a group will join WP women bowlers for a mixed four event. "Secretary Spencer Lewis says to (Left) L . A. Baker, L. H. Stoltzman and W . E . Crawford. (Right) J. F. Hamer.

22 MILEPOSTS Sec. 34.66, P. l. & R. WESTERN PACIFIC MILEPOSTS U. S. POSTAGE 526 Mission St., San Francisco 5, Calif. PAID Return and Forwarding Postage Guaranteed San Francisco, Calif. Pe rm it No. 5371

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

Travelers on the Union Pacific's City of St. Louis, City of Portland, and Los Angeles Limited, are now riding in new equipment which cost more than $1,500,000.

The first long-haul Diesel run in Canadian railroad history took place on the Canadian National recently from· .Montreal . to and return. The Burlington has built in its Denver shops the country's first electric rotary 'snow- plow designed for use with Diesel locomotives. ,

The last of sixty-three new streamline cars ordered by the Central Railroad of Brazil has been shipped· . by the. Budd Company. Railroads placed more new locomotives in service in 1949 than in any similar period in 25 years. 1865 were installed,· .of which. 1808 were Diesel and 57 steam. "Operation: Fast Freight" is the title of a forthcoming Norfolk and Western Rail­ way motion picture to be released this· spring-runs. . 25 minutes in sound and color. The California-Nevada Railroad Historical Society is sponsoring its first excursion for 1950 through the historic Altamont Canyon route to Tracy and return via Brentwood and the San Ramon Valley via Southern Pacific using interesting mo- tive power. Date: March 26 . • The has announced a reduction in round-trip fares between many points on ·that . line . and New York. The Nevada Public Service Commission has granted the Virginia & Truckee Rail­ way permission to abandon. If the I.C.C. concurs, this historic old line will be a thing of the past.