CPRR Discussion Group

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Naming Reno, Nevada

From: "SW Kolterman" sw.kolterman@att.net

[Is it true as stated in Nothing Like it in the World, by Stephen Ambrose] that Charles Crocker named 'Reno' by pulling the name out of hat? I'm researching Myron Lake, Reno's founder, and I'd like to nail this down or not. …

—Steve Kolterman, Reno, Nevada

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Abandoned Northwestern Pacific Railway land

From: "Casia Dodson" casia@comcast.net

Can I purchase land from the abandoned Northwestern Pacific Railway that touches my land on both sides of the track?

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Combined UPRR-CPRR baggage tag

Has anyone seen a combined UPRR-CPRR baggage tag before?

Here is another CPRR only baggage tag.

Friday, December 19, 2008

New Book: History of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, a Railroad History

From: traincrazyjohn@sbcglobal.net

I recently published a new book titled, The History of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, a Railroad History. It is a summary history of 216 pages with photos and maps and covers all of the valley lines between Fresno and Bakersfield with chapters on the Bakersfield and Kern Electric, the Fresno Interurban as well as the various lines that cris-crossed the Southern San Joquin Valley. ... I am including ... a scan of the dustjacket for anyone interested in what the cover looks like. ...

The book is self published by the author (John Bergman) and is available direct for $70.00 which includes tax in Calif. + P & H. The Limited Edition (numbered, autographed, maroon embossed hard back, and 8" x 10" Color print of the cover painting by John Winfield) is available for $80.00 and includes P & H & Tax. It is available for immediate shipment from the author at:

John F. Bergman
4901 W. Modoc Ct.,
Visalia, CA 93291
Tel. 559-627-3291

It is also available from Karen's Books in San Marcos, CA, McMillan Publishing in Colorado, and other online sources as well as some local hobby and book stores. Other dealer requests are welcomed. ...

—John Bergman

The "Last Rail"

From: "Scott Neel" brasstop@yahoo.com

Does anyone in this discussion group have documentation of what happened to the actual "last rail" laid at Promontory? The section at CSRM from the Central Pacific's last rail laid claims to be from the last rail laid by the CP, but wasn't the actual "last rail" laid by Union Pacific crews on the morning of May 10th. Does anyone know if either railroad recovered a piece of that rail, sectioned it, and issued souvenirs?

The attached three photographs form the basis for the question. The head, web, and height dimensions appear to match UP construction rail. The base has been altered long ago for an unknown reason.

Any help in determining or speculating on the authenticity of this would be very interesting.

—Scott

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

BMLRR update from the Brooks Preservation Society

From: "Joe Feero" jfeero@fairpoint.net

Joe Feero here at the Brooks Preservation Society ... I’m not sure what information you’ve gotten regarding the recent history of the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad. We purchased locomotive 50 as well as 53. We used locomotive 50 to move B&ML 25 Open Air car to Brooks in November. Great day, first train down here in a while. The Preservation Society also has huge amounts of records that were in the “Southerns” in Unity. I’m not sure if you keep your history of the B&ML updated, however I wanted to let you in on some of the events briefly.

Joe Feero
Executive Director
Brooks Preservation Society
31 Veterans Highway
Brooks, ME 04921
207-991-1635

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Art Work

From: "Art Solis" amsbmx@hotmail.com

I am with the City of Burbank Heritage Commission and the city is interested in creating a piece of artwork that creates and exemplifies the contributions that railroads made in developing Burbank. We recently had our first meeting, titled the Chandler Art Committee. I am contacting you on behalf of the Chandler Art Committee and we are trying to find out what other cities and entities have done. We would also like to incorporate an aspect of the agricultural history of Burbank, and how the railroads and agriculture served in the cities development.

Arthur M. Solis
Commissioner
Burbank Heritage Commission

CITY OF BURBANK
275 EAST OLIVE AVENUE
P.O. BOX 6459
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA 91510-6459

Sunday, December 14, 2008

"U.S. Postal Service’s bumpy beginnings"

"U.S. Postal Service’s bumpy beginnings" by Dan Krieger, Professor Emeritus of History at Cal Poly, © San Luis Obispo Tribune, Dec. 13, 2008. (News Article)

"... 'The best seat inside a stage is the one next to the driver. Even if you have a tendency to seasickness when riding backward — you’ll get over it and will get less jolts and jostling.' That’s what the Omaha Herald advised its readers in a series of tips for riding the stagecoaches linked to the Union and Central Pacific railways in 1877. Most of the regional service stages were manufactured in Concord, N.H., along the classic 'Concord Coach' lines. They had padded leather seats, a thoroughly braced suspension to buffer the bumps of the harsh, unpaved roads and an improved braking system. These stages were luxurious compared to the first transcontinental stages that went into service two decades earlier. ... " [More]

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Visit the Grand Canyon by rail

"Riding the rails: Train travel becoming popular again" by GLORIA WILLIS, © THE COLORADOAN, DECEMBER 7, 2008. (News Article)

"... It was the train that gave rise to the relatively modern concept of vacations. ... the Grand Canyon Railway was reborn in 1989 ... The train was the lifeline to Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park in the early 20th century. It was the railroad, along with the Fred Harvey Company, that commissioned and built most of the historic structures that still exist today along the canyon's South Rim. In 1901, a handful of Grand Canyon village residents watched the first train roll to a stop at the rim, and the train became the lifeline to Grand Canyon National Park. Instead of a day or two of bouncing around in a stagecoach, a person could ride to the canyon in the relative comfort of the train in three hours. ... " [More]

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]