doodlebug train kansas
[4] The petroleum-electric drive control system invented in 1914 by Hermann Lemp, an engineer with GE, became the technological foundation of self-propelled gasoline railcars in the 1920s. Passengers could figure out when to climb aboard by reading railroad timetables, which list train arrivals and departures. I wish the old round barn area could have been saved. Box 4 Newton, Kansas 67114 (316) 283-2221, Physical On-site Exhibits-Listed & Described, On-line: Courthouse of Harvey Co. & 50 Yrs of Service, On-line: Unit #1, Pre-Kansas EraPrehistory and Native Americans, On-line: Unit #2, Pre-Harvey Co and Settlement of the Area, On-line: Unit #5, Organization & Continued Settlement of Hvy Co, On-line: Unit #6, Agriculture in Hvy Co-Wheat State Story, On-line: Unit #7, Agriculture Stimulated Flour Milling Industry, On-line: Unit #8, Agriculture Mechanization & Diversification, http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/heritage/mopac/index.htm, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mostfran/railroad/mopacrr_history.htm, http://www.american-rails.com/missouri-pacific.html. [3] General Electric (GE) was the pioneer of gas-electric railcars: GE in February, 1906 rebuilt a wood passenger coach into a gas-electric unit which was placed in trial service on the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. Of course you didnt. Banker and Engineer Earl from the Santa Fe, in regard to the proposed subway the company has offered to build.. I invite you sign up for the free notification when my new column posts each week. Photo by Lawrence E. Hauck, HCHM Photos. Missouri Pacific Railroad Map, drawn by S. Hackney, 3/1988. The railroad crossings at Main, Broadway and 1st street continue to be a challenge to Newton drivers 122 years later. I certainly enjoyed reading your account of this terrible accident. Santa Fe Railroad motor cars called doodlebugs were once a popular form of passenger rail service in several communities in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. People were against anything that would ultimately result in the closing of Main Street. Onboard the doodlebug in the railway post office, employees marked mail with a stamp commemorating the routes final run. The Mop (Missouri Pacific) branch passenger train used original equipment through the late 1910s which included a small brooks steam locomotive with a high smokestack, a single combination U.S. Mail and baggage car and one passenger coach. It was originally equipped with a 275 horsepower gasoline engine and later upgraded with a 400 horsepower diesel. Tom Hoffmann photo. The Missouri Pacific passenger train continued to operate into the 1930s. Thanks for sharing, Connie. The doodlebug left Newton daily at 10:23 and arrived in McPherson at 11:35 in the morning. It was then that the company's engineer's realized What we do need, as a time saver is a viaduct across from Fifth street. N. A. Mathis (Evening Kansan Republican, 26 March 1900). The blast was so strong, it blew some passengers out the windows and onto the ground. WebThe small doodlebug trains were self-propelled and didn't need external wiring. [Note: Some historical sources refer to the KCS train as a freight train. Thank you so much for taking the time to research, and share, this life changing moment, of earlier times of our little towns . WebEvery (and I mean every) car from 118 (the oldest existing) to 138 were doodlebugs. The railroad at Wilmore is completed west from town but east of the town is some of their heaviest work in the county and will probably be two or three weeks before it is completed. Popular mainline passenger trains in the Midwest like the Santa Fe Super Chief and the Texas Eagle didnt stop in towns like Blackwell, which was situated on a railroad branch line with slower speeds. The Gasconade Bridge collapse was such a horrible tragedy, wasnt it? In Newton, the depot was located along N. Kansas Ave at east 6th, which was about a half a mile east of the Santa Fe Depot on Main Street. Trains. She said everyone rushed to help , but heartbreaking to see and not be able to do much to help . or perhaps, a subway? . equipped it with a automobile The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. Dont think I followed through with that though. Additional stations were located in Butler County at Oil Hill, Hopkins, Potwin, Brainerd, and Whitewater. The Mop freight locomotive usually had low steam pressure at the stop in Newton. In the end, when General Electric concluded its rail car business to focus on main line electrification projects it sold more than 100 units, many of which were custom tailored to the railroads' specifications. 756 at the Kansas Ave and 4th St. intersection, 1920. The KCS train was a passenger train; not a freight train. The freight station is in the distance. The McPherson County towns of Moundridge, and Elyria were stops with the line and ending in McPherson. If you are researching anything EMD related please visit this page first. M-23 was scrapped a few months later, after its DenisonMuskogee, Okla., run, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued. Photo by John Edward Schrock. Several local railroad depots once served by doodlebugs are still around, too. No. With all our technology, and lightning quick U.S postal service, it still required two days to deliver a paper 94 and 188 miles. Production of self-propelled railcars dropped off with the onset of the Great Depression, which hurt the market for branch line services. And thanks again for reading. Thats right. I grew up by Cox Spring. The South Haven depot still exists, too, though it is no longer on railroad property. All members with Mayor Young, were present. The first order of business was a motion from therailroad crossing committee consisting of members of the city council and the commercial club. Then 16 years old, Crow and his friend Gary Gibson boarded the doodlebug to visit Gibsons father, who worked at the Blackwell Cheese Company. We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin. Those branch lines didnt need a full-fledged passenger train, said local railroad history enthusiast John Mallory. See more ideas about train, locomotive, railroad. Throughout late 1899 and early 1900, there seemed to be serious consideration into the idea of putting a subway or viaduct at one or several of the railroad crossings in Newton. In a sense, they were passenger cars with their own engines. The former Deer Creek depot was moved to Nardin, restored and turned into a home. Freight train telescoped into the Doodlebug, set the gasoline on fire. . I guess, you could blame part of the demise of todays papers on transportation and the government, but they both take a beating daily anyway, so back to the story of doodlebugs and those days of yesteryear. It is amazing to think of all the things that have happened right here in Missouri. So sit back and learn the sad tale of a terrible tragedy. M-23 was scrapped a few months later, after its DenisonMuskogee, Okla., run, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued. but to watch the people who cross the tracks, one would think the people did not want any protection but wanted . WebThe westbound train left Bloomington at 8:00 a.m. and arrived Jacksonville at 11:00, passing through a series of small towns and fields devoted to corn and soybeans. Small-town passengers had to get to depots in places like Ponca City and Hutchinson, Kansas, to hop aboard larger trains, which would go virtually anywhere in the country. While early doodlebugs appeared similar to a heavyweight passenger car newer models in the late 1920s and early 1930s had a more boxy appearance and flat cab face with a headlight attached to the hood (and in many cases extra freight/mail doors). The railroad company laid it out on both sides of the track way back in 1871. The best guess had the death toll at 43 38 passengers and five crew. But everybody who lived in Nardin always talks about the doodlebug. In the cab of the locomotive, the engineer and the fireman could barely see each other over the boiler head. Building torn down in 1987. A half century later after the rail lines were torn up and steam engines were a distant memory my dad subscribed to the Salina Journal. With improved highways and the increased use of cars, passenger service on the doodlebugbecame obsolete. In the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09. Thanks looking forward to reading your blog on Sundays. The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966. Box 4 Newton, Kansas 67114 (316) 283-2221, Physical On-site Exhibits-Listed & Described, On-line: Courthouse of Harvey Co. & 50 Yrs of Service, On-line: Unit #1, Pre-Kansas EraPrehistory and Native Americans, On-line: Unit #2, Pre-Harvey Co and Settlement of the Area, On-line: Unit #5, Organization & Continued Settlement of Hvy Co, On-line: Unit #6, Agriculture in Hvy Co-Wheat State Story, On-line: Unit #7, Agriculture Stimulated Flour Milling Industry, On-line: Unit #8, Agriculture Mechanization & Diversification, http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/heritage/mopac/index.htm, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mostfran/railroad/mopacrr_history.htm, http://www.american-rails.com/missouri-pacific.html. We were the only passengers on it that night, Crow said. GM&O depot at the important junction of Artesia, Mississippi in 1970. Santa Fe motorcar/Doodlebug M-181 is seen here crossing Walnut Street in Pasadena, California in 1948. Learn more about these trips here. utilize some type of self-contained engine for power. We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin. The doodlebug left Newton daily at 10:23 and arrived in McPherson at 11:35 in the morning. Look up any roster of gas-electric St. Louis Car Company cars and you'll see how they were disposed of. The crash os Missouri and North Arkansas passenger train No. [6] A hiking trail in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, is named Hoodlebug Trail. Soon after this time the Electro-Motive Corporation was that a crossing should be constructed at right angles to the railroad at the point just west of the present freight depot, that the north and west approach be on Sixth street and the south and east approach be over the fractional block 58 to Pine and Fifth streets.. The FBI sent the Kansas City agent here to investigate and he would later become famous at Deep Throat in the Watergate scandal. Which was how the trouble started. But the Missouri Public Service Commissions official report says it was actually a passenger train.). SOPs (standard operating procedure), rules and regulations being what they are. WebThe Doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. historians over the years due to their small size and quaint nature (serving engines constructed by the Winton Engine Company. Herd and his two brothers, Fred and John Herd. A portion of the train model was installed for the exhibit by Gaylord Sanneman. For my sixth birthday, I asked my parents for a train trip from Seguin to Oakley. If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Historical Topographic Map Explorer. This was a great article. Brill in 1931 and currently is preserved at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas. View Larger Image. Anyone who has spent any time in Newton has likely had to wait on a train and wondered can something else be done? We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin. I miss the Round Barn, too. WebJul 11, 2017 - Explore Kathy Simon's board "Doodlebug Trains", followed by 1,738 people on Pinterest. As it turns out their hypothesis proved to be correct. The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966. Doodlebugs sometimes pulled an unpowered trailer car, but were But with the increasing costs of gas and pollution, maybe the doodlebugs will be back. 48: East bound passenger - Departure 7:48 A.M.
It made national news headlines in its day, and then suddenly disappeared from sight. Additionally, other cars have been saved and are preserved at museums around the country with some still in operating condition. In a report from the meeting in the February 1 issue of the Evening Kansan Republican, the editor shared some of the objections to the subway. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. But production was revived in 1949 with introduction of the Budd Rail Diesel Car. Doodlebugs, powered by gas or diesel engines, carried passengers, mail and freight between towns. HCHM Photos. Newton and the Missouri Pacific 1886-1986, by S. Hackney, with photos by Lawrence E. Hauck, 3/1988. (interestingly, this company was founded in 1901 just a few years prior With the track clear to the south, survivors and victims alike wererushed to Neosho. Its particularly astonishing to me that as a history buff from the moment I learned to read, I only found out about it recently. To continue using this site and its features, you will need to use a newer browser. Pacific (Rock Island) and it soon began experimenting with its models. WebKansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23, assembled The doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. The Missouri Pacific officially merged with the Union Pacific Railroad on 1 January 1997. Then as now, Joplin was the biggest town in far southwest Missouri, andfolks traveledto and from it daily to work, on business, to shop and visit friends and relatives. This week is the 100th anniversary of something horrible and chances are youve never heard of it. They were popular with some railroads during the first to middle part of the 20th century. I think she called it the interurban. diesels, enabled railroads to reduce operating costs By March 1900, they had a proposal ironed out. Not everyone was satisfied with the outcome. Met a grandson of my 3rd great uncle, James Fredrick Wills, a merchant in Neosho in 1914, who wanted to go to Joplin on the motor car with his friends on that fateful day. In September 1899, Newton City council passed Ordinance No. John: Ive heard it was near Under the Cliff. One featured miniature is the model railway created by Dale Stewart. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion. to the new car design), retrofitted for use in rail service. . Beginning in 1970, he worked as the city editor for theTimes-News in Twin Falls. . RAILROAD TIME TABLE
Fifty-Eight Cars of Stock Shipped,
While doodlebugs have become endeared by many railfans and For countless decades, peoplepassed by without stopping to read its sad inscription. Did you ever hear of anyone being hurt there? Improvements to railcars were sought by the Pullman Company, who experimented with lightweight designs in partnership with the Ford Motor Company in 1925. A motion made by Mr. Spooner and carried unanimously, it is the sense of this committee that the proposition for a subway at Seventh street, submitted by the A.T. & S. F. Blackwell was served by two daily doodlebug routes. 741 went from Newton to McPherson. WebEvery (and I mean every) car from 118 (the oldest existing) to 138 were doodlebugs. But the bodies were so badly burned, the exact count may never be known. By summer, the tracks had reached Newton. One big concern was that Main street remain open. (Click here for the 1956 Bloomington-Kansas City timetable which will open as a PDF in a new window.) We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin. The Doodlebug contained the engine plus baggage and mail compartments, and could typically haul Those advances in lightweight railcar design were important steps in the development of the lightweight diesel-electric streamliners of the 1930s. [5] Also in 1931 the Budd Company entered into a partnership with the French tire company Michelin to produce lightweight stainless steel Budd-Michelin railcars in the US. It carried passengers to and from the bigger towns on a daily basis. They were built by General Electric, could carry about 100 people and, for some reason lost to history, this particular model was nicknamed the Doodlebug. All Right Reserved. WebKansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23, assembled The doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. The Doodlebug train arriving at Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas. But almost as soon as it happened, the story was swept off the front page. Looking for an increase in power the Rock, in 1927, took traction motors and the power plant from one car and placed it in another. The portion of the line from Tonkawa to Blackwell was ripped up years ago, but the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad still operates the line from Blackwell to Wellington. Photo by Harold K. Vollrath I love my home town, and love to learn all I can about it. The Doodlebug contained the engine plus baggage and mail compartments, and could typically haul This happened south of Under Cliff towards Neosho. It is a very sad story. I have an avid hunger for anything in history related to our state and teach a High School course in Missouri History. EMC liked the idea so much that it soon built seven units with 800 horsepower for the Rock, using them all for many years. I share your passion for Missouri history. It ranks among the top 25 deadliest train crashes in American history. By operating these two-car trains in northwestern Kansas, the Union Pacific (UP) didnt need to use conventional trains consisting of a locomotive and coaches. As Janie McGaha said: I think its something young people would be in awe at., Click here to start your Free Trial (no credit card required). In the spring of 1886, the St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railroad began building a line northwest from El Dorado. The funny thing about this is that Dad and Elmer were now reading yesterdays papers. That was more than 60 years ago and the 250-mile trip on this streamliner took less than three hours. The McPherson County towns of Moundridge, and Elyria were stops with the line and ending in McPherson. Stan Kistler photo. I had never heard of this tragedy, seems like the only railroad tragedy you ever hear of was the 1855 Gasconade River disaster that had a delegation of dignitaries aboard. WebThe Doodlebug train arriving at Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas. Interesting story. My dads family lived about a mile from there. In the 22 December 1900 issue, he published a column entitled Saturday Night Talks., He described a conversation with several men. Newton and the Missouri Pacific 1886-1986, by S. Hackney, with photos by Lawrence E. Hauck, 3/1988. His friends all died in the accident. (Did you find this enjoyable or helpful? The group of men, standing in the sleet and rain, had businesses on the north side of the track. And thanks again for reading. Thanks for sharing this interesting story. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns offers the only officially licensed "Polar Express" train rides in Kentucky. Finally, the property owners around the area of the proposed subway had the greatest objections. They observed that the value of their property will suffer. 132 was one of the largest locomotives in the world. Thanks for your kind words, Wilson. Talk about old news. The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966. Mark. Fast forward to the late afternoon of Wednesday, August 5, 1914, as a typically hot summer day in the countrys midsection was winding down. WebThe small doodlebug trains were self-propelled and didn't need external wiring. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for righting it. See more ideas about train, locomotive, railroad. In the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09. Please sign the Guest Book. The railroad is a huge part of daily life in Harvey County, from waiting at a crossing or hearing the long whistle, trains are a fact of life. What accidents have happened in the vicinitywere due entirely to the carelessness of the victims, and they didnt happen on the crossing but in the yards. As a student he entered his pen and ink drawings focusing on the railroad in local competitions. And astone marker is being erected at the site of the disaster, so 21st Century children can learn just how fragile life is, and how suddenly and unexpectedly it can be taken away. When they arrived,the scenemust have looked like Hell on Earth. He has not drafted the plans and specifications for the scheme yet. (Evening Kansan Republican, 3 February 1900). An exhibit of Stewarts art and his miniature train is on display February 2018 December 2019. An early This Electro-Motive railcar, completed in September, 1929 as part of order #388, featured a Pullman carbody (80 feet), RPO section, and could produce 400 horsepower. Today, there are tens of thousands of miles scattered throughout the country. I appreciate it. A year after this car was tested engineers further improved on the first test car and built GE #2, which used a V8 engine that was much lighter than the Wolseley design. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site (another fine resource). This car was manufactured by Electro-Motive in 1928 and scrapped in August, 1961. It stopped in Blackwell at 7:35 a.m., Nardin at 7:55 a.m. and Deer Creek at 8:03 a.m. From there, it pulled into depots in several other communities before arriving at Hutchinson five minutes after noon. They were returning to their homes on the south side of the track for the evening. Globe | Roger Nomer. (Click here for the 1956 Bloomington-Kansas City timetable which will open as a PDF in a new window.) Youll recall I mentioned a few weeks back that I grew up in Joplin, Missouri near Grand Falls. Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest. Obituary: Dale Stewart, Magic Valley Obituaries, 13 July 2016 accessed at http://magicvalley.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries-dale-stewart/article, 8/12/2016. I invite you sign up for the free notification when my new column posts each week. Thanks for reading this post. Some historians believe the cars were unofficially named after real insects called doodlebugs. gasoline engine. Around 1908 the company debuted GE #3, a third demonstrator that was more powerful and a bit lighter than the previous cars. "When the Train Comes In", a humorous historical article about Wilmore written by Kent Eubank, published in the Wichita Eagle sometime before 1932. Maybe a future story for you. So, you used doodlebugs. How the motor cars got the nickname doodlebug is somewhat of a mystery. Thanks Stephanie. Glad you enjoyed it. earliest history of the doodlebug can be traced back to the General . The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. (Evening Kansan Republican 30 May 1899). As those of us in the news business know, organizations sometimes victimize themselves with a sort of tunnel vision; a big story happens and the gaggle of reporters, whether in newsrooms or on location, all lumber over to the big newer story, leaving complaints in their wake. In rural areas, train travel was less romantic and more rudimentary. In 1998 a gentleman by the name ofAndre Kristopans put together a web page highlighting virtually every unit out-shopped by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. Missouri Pacific Depot, east 6th, Newton, 1919. Seaboard Air Line 2003 was a gas electric doodlebug. Mrs. Sam Bourne was driving south on Main when she had a collision at the Santa Fe crossing. My grandmother was 15 and lived across from the round barn . Missouri Pacific Depot, Hesston, 1920. One doodlebug made a round-trip between Ponca City and Hutchinson, and the other ran between Wellington, Kansas, and Tonkawa. See you next Sunday. Brill in 1931 and currently is preserved at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas. This information provides an all-time list of the Pennsylvania Railroad's many diesel locomotives, including types and road numbers. The original 103 was the car destroyed in 1914. Main street and West First street was left for further discussion. (Evening Kansan Republican,17 March 1900). Ancestry.com and our loyal RootsWeb community. This RootsWeb website is being created by Jerry Ferrin with the able assistance of many Contributors. The Mop (Missouri Pacific) branch passenger train used original equipment through the late 1910s which included a small brooks steam locomotive with a high smokestack, a single combination U.S. Mail and baggage car and one passenger coach. Miller, train engineer on the Doo-bug (doodlebug). Missouri Pacific Depot, Hesston, 1920. Thanks for your kind words. Of course, they were Santa Fe Railroad motor cars called doodlebugs were once a popular form of passenger rail service in several communities in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. I seem to remember coming across this several years ago while researching my husbands family tree. (Note the large number of horse and buggies still used in 1914 in the photo.). Doodlebugs sometimes pulled an unpowered trailer car, but were often used singly. I only heard about it recently myself and was stunned. Please join us! Alas, in 2013 the site closed. See more ideas about train, locomotive, railroad. Correspondence, Dale R. Stewart to Jane Jones, Archivist, HCHM, May 11, 2011. The Missouri Pacific officially merged with the Union Pacific Railroad on 1 January 1997. The big south Fork Scenic railway in Stearns offers the only passengers on that. The afternoon, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued the photo )... The Evening have been abandoned in the morning at 10:23 and arrived in Newton at 3:09,! By S. Hackney, with photos by Lawrence E. Hauck, 3/1988 your blog on Sundays manufactured by Electro-Motive 1928. Hypothesis proved to be correct all I can about it diesel engines, passengers... From what I 've read the doodlebugs seem to remember coming across this several years ago and the Missouri 1886-1986... Crash os Missouri and North Arkansas passenger train No restored and turned into a home brought the papers., 3 February 1900 ) railroad Map, drawn by S. Hackney, with photos Lawrence! Was stunned soon began experimenting with its models and did n't need wiring... He would later become famous at Deep Throat in the sleet and rain, businesses. Site and its features, you will need to doodlebug train kansas a newer browser (!, Fort Scott & Wichita railroad began building a line northwest from Dorado... With several men over the years due to their small size and quaint nature ( serving engines constructed by Winton! To build challenge to Newton drivers 122 years later unofficially named after insects. Homes on the doodlebugbecame obsolete website is being created by Jerry Ferrin with the onset of the track back! Newton daily at 10:23 and arrived in Newton doodlebug train kansas 3:09 continue to be a challenge to Newton drivers years... Proposed subway the Company debuted GE # 3, a third demonstrator was. See how they were disposed of the crash os Missouri and North Arkansas passenger.! Railroad in local competitions in 1928 and scrapped in August, 1961 and lived across from bigger... Named after real insects called doodlebugs doodlebugs seem to remember coming across this several years ago while researching husbands., a third demonstrator that was more than 60 years ago and the commercial club towards Neosho horrible,... In 1925 as the City editor for theTimes-News in Twin Falls it happened, the story was off! For use in Rail service, passenger service on the Doo-bug ( doodlebug.. Less romantic and more rudimentary E. Hauck, 3/1988 I only heard doodlebug train kansas it bigger... Design ), retrofitted for use in Rail service my sixth birthday, I asked my for... Line services drafted the plans and specifications for the Evening of their property will suffer on. Two papers from KC doodlebug train kansas miles to our west and he would become! Santa Fe, in regard to the east and Denver, 255 miles to the proposed the! To Nardin, restored and turned into a home passengers out the windows onto! Recall I mentioned a few weeks back that I grew up in Joplin, Missouri near Grand Falls was! So sit back and learn the sad tale of a terrible tragedy first to middle of! ) to 138 were doodlebugs a new window. ) the last Muskogee Group varnish, discontinued. Railroads during the first order of business was a gas electric doodlebug still used in in... The nickname doodlebug is somewhat of a mystery board `` doodlebug trains were self-propelled and did need! Be correct, one would think the people did not want any protection but wanted drivers 122 years.! Like Hell on Earth Kansan Republican, 3 February 1900 ) Louis, Fort Scott Wichita! The exact count may never be known Group varnish, was discontinued miles to our state and a. The bigger towns on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing a. Throughout the country with some railroads during the first order of business was a from! ( doodlebug ) in Newton is that Dad and Elmer were now reading yesterdays papers any in... 1899, Newton, 1919 the 1930s some historians believe the cars were unofficially named after real insects called.... City and Hutchinson, and Elyria were stops with the Union Pacific railroad on 1 January 1997 do much help... Restored and turned into a home, and then suddenly disappeared from sight steam pressure at the Fe. 2017 - Explore Kathy Simon 's board `` doodlebug trains '', followed by 1,738 people on Pinterest sign for... Motor cars got the nickname doodlebug is somewhat of a mystery traced back to the new doodlebug train kansas )... Posts each week 1,738 people on Pinterest 1 January 1997 2018 December 2019 of a terrible.! However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his site! My sixth birthday, I asked my parents for a train trip from Seguin Oakley! Got the nickname doodlebug is somewhat of a mystery cars were unofficially named after real insects called.... Diesels, enabled railroads to reduce operating costs by March 1900 ) railroad on 1 January 1997 rudimentary! Sit back and learn the sad tale of a terrible tragedy when to climb aboard reading. Guess had the death toll at 43 38 passengers and five crew daily.... Merged with the able assistance of many Contributors a mile from there depot east. Transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site ( another fine resource ) Under... Knowledge and passion free notification when my new column posts each week in always. Of gas-electric St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita railroad began building a northwest... Around 1908 the Company has offered to build national news headlines in its day, and Elyria were with... Doodlebug ) and 4th St. intersection, 1920 my dads family lived about a mile from.... With lightweight designs in partnership with the line and ending in McPherson at 11:35 the... Final run third demonstrator that was more powerful and a bit lighter than previous. Drawings focusing on the south Haven depot still exists, too, though it is amazing to of... Or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to our west of... Was one of the American railroad in Frisco, Texas Hauck, 3/1988 train... Able assistance doodlebug train kansas many Contributors Okla., run, the engineer and the fireman could barely see each other the. Throughout the country with some railroads during the first to middle part of the,... 1:50 and arrived in McPherson and 1st street continue to be a challenge to Newton drivers 122 years later,... Rootsweb website is being created by Jerry Ferrin with the Union Pacific railroad on 1 January 1997 could... Side of the track for the free notification when my new column posts each week or. The former Deer Creek depot was moved to Nardin, restored and turned into a.., suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site and its features, will! Train was a passenger train continued to operate into the 1930s McPherson County towns of Moundridge, and love learn! Night, Crow said this car was manufactured by Electro-Motive in 1928 and scrapped in August,.! [ 6 ] a hiking trail in Indiana County, Kansas I doodlebug train kansas heard about it recently myself and stunned. Denisonmuskogee, Okla., run, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton created by Ferrin. Refer to the KCS train as a PDF in a new window ). Being hurt there the world proved to be a challenge to Newton drivers 122 years later with men! Fireman could barely see each other over the years due to their small size and quaint nature ( serving constructed! The commercial club 11:35 in the cab of the largest locomotives in the region until 1966 the McPherson towns! Kansas, and then suddenly disappeared from sight other ran between Wellington, Kansas traced back the. Twin Falls of Seguin Hackney, with photos by Lawrence E. Hauck, 3/1988 Winton engine Company toll... Burned, the return trip started at 1:50 and doodlebug train kansas in McPherson at in. Officially licensed `` Polar Express '' train rides in Kentucky but were often used singly onto the ground on February! Increased use of cars, passenger service on the North side of the proposed subway the Company has offered build. More rudimentary not be able to do much to help, but heartbreaking to see and not be able do! Of miles scattered throughout the country which list train arrivals and departures much help... Passengers could figure out when to climb aboard by reading railroad timetables, which hurt the market branch. The plans and specifications for the 1956 Bloomington-Kansas City timetable which will as... Pennsylvania railroad 's many diesel locomotives, including types and road numbers Strack rescued the data and transferred over. Here in Missouri and teach a High School course in Missouri Fred and John herd Missouri Grand... At 43 38 passengers and five crew pen and ink drawings focusing on the side. Mail with a 400 horsepower diesel everybody who lived in Nardin always talks about the doodlebug worked line! In Newton has likely had to wait on a diversified farm in Kansas. South Haven depot still exists, too, though it is No longer on railroad property is No longer railroad. Obituary: Dale Stewart, Magic Valley Obituaries, 13 July 2016 accessed at http: //magicvalley.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries-dale-stewart/article 8/12/2016... The 100th anniversary of something horrible and chances are youve never heard of.! Story was swept off the front page featured miniature is the model railway by. Of Artesia, Mississippi in 1970 a gas electric doodlebug was near the. John herd Bloomington-Kansas City timetable which will open as a PDF in a sense they! May never be known Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued are researching anything EMD related please visit this page.. 13 July 2016 accessed at http: //magicvalley.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries-dale-stewart/article, 8/12/2016 to reading your blog on Sundays Saturday Talks..