Bio pages on CPRR Museum

From: "littlechoochoo81" littlechoochoo81@netzero.net

... Should you get inquiries about any questions on [the biography] pages I will be most happy to clarify what the original looks like.  One other thing: ... Robert Fulton's middle name should be "Laird" not "Lardin".  He wrote a book, I am informed by Ed Strobridge who has such book, but both Ed and I have questions about his reminiscenses as he is in error about the three locos sent over the Sierra before the tunnels were completed.  The first loco, the San Mateo, was sent over in August of 1867 while the other two were hauled over the next winter.  But when Hollywood tried to replicate the winter move they could not!  Those old boys in the 19th century knew things we have a hard time of doing today, if indeed we can do them at all.  Again, congratulations on your fantastic work with cprr Museum.  The pages all seem to be there from my collection but don't hesitate to ask questions.  I'll try my best to answer them. I'll be 83 in August so don't delay too long.  Lynn 

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See: CPRR Biographical Notes from the Lynn D. Farrar Collection.

Plush upholstery

From: "Larry Mullaly" lmullaly@jeffnet.org

Recently I came across an interesting description of a passenger coach in service between San Francisco and San Jose in 1877. The British author, speaks red plush upholstery and interior blinds. Would these features be typical of SP/CP passenger cars on what was basically a commute line? Would such a car of a higher quality than usual? The full quotation reads:

"One of our hosts lived out an hour and a half from the city, southwards, at a place called Menlow [sic] Park. As we write the name, the scene again is present before us.

We are in a long car again, with all the blinds drawn down of the windows on the side on which the sun is glaring: the red plush of the cushions looks as hot as it feels to the touch. A good deal of white dust eddies in at the open door at the farther end. The car is well filled, a number of the rich citizens return after a very short day’s work a their offices, their wives and daughters, in cool muslin or Holland dresses and light veils, taking home their purchases."

Wallis Nash , Oregon: There and Back in 1877 (reprinted by Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, 1976), p.253.

Larry Mullaly

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