While doing some research, I came across this; it is taken from the January 10, 1918 edition of the Racine Journal-Star.
What really amazed me in reading these old newspapers, was how much railroads were involved in so many aspects of daily life. And if there were problems on the railroad, most everyone was affected, and quite soon.
There was a story about a big blizzard that struck the area recently, and how so many businesses were shutting down because they had no coal for heat, and how stores were running out of food because the trains were not running, and about how farmers had to store or dump their milk because the milk-trains could not run. There were stories about how some trains were “lost” in the field because station agents could not get to work to report train positions, and the trains were stuck in drifts.
And in almost every daily paper I read, there were small articles about which railroads around the country had a wreck, and how many people were killed. Almost every day!! Dozens killed, and it rates only a one-inch article! Such were the realities of railroad operations back then.
The main railroad-related story back then was about how the government was taking over the railroads (due to the war). There were many articles written concerning various reasons why the government should or should not take over the railroads. The pro-takeovers claimed that the privately-run railroads were incapable of handling the vast increase levels of transportation needed back then for the war effort. The against-takeover supporters claimes that the railroads needed to be privately held in order to insure continued investment. Of course, the arguments for both sides were far more detailed that I am relating here; I just wanted to touch on them to give you a ‘flavor’ of the thinking back then.
While I did not have the time to read all of the articles (some were multi-page long!), it was quite interesting reading all the spin from both sides, an
Ah yes, the days of “can we afford coal for our house” has turned into “can we afford gas for our house”. Funny how things really never change, before you read those old papers, you think their world was vastly different. but then you read them and find they were worrying about the same things we are today, just in a different reference point. “Should the governement take over the railroadfs” to todays “should the governement take over the airlines”.
The more things change, the more they stay the same, can’r recall who said it, but he sure was right.
Isn’t it the truth about the reference points. It used to be that if there was a derailment somewhere, it was front page news, with the names of the crew members prominently displayed. No such thing today.
I had the opportunity to go through some old Wabash employee records from the turn of the last century a few years ago and was absolutely amazed to see how many employees records were closed due to being killed on the job.
Any old newspapers I’ve looked at generally had a passenger train schedule for the town somewhere within its pages. I don’t know if these were paid advertisements or printed as information to the public.
I regularly visit the website of the Galesburg Register Mail. They carry a pretty fair amount of railroad news because the BNSF is such a major factor/employer in that city
By the way recently they had an article suggesting that an equipment display may be returning to the 2005 Galesburg Railroad Days. That would be good news for those of us who go to RR Days for the great swap meet, the great railfanning (not just there, but on the trip there and back), the museum and RR hall of fame, and the chance to see like-minded old friends. The equipment displays will never be what they once were because the tracks were removed but even having one GE locomotive to tour is a good inventive.
Dave Nelson
While doing some research, I came across this; it is taken from the January 10, 1918 edition of the Racine Journal-Star.
What really amazed me in reading these old newspapers, was how much railroads were involved in so many aspects of daily life. And if there were problems on the railroad, most everyone was affected, and quite soon.
There was a story about a big blizzard that struck the area recently, and how so many businesses were shutting down because they had no coal for heat, and how stores were running out of food because the trains were not running, and about how farmers had to store or dump their milk because the milk-trains could not run. There were stories about how some trains were “lost” in the field because station agents could not get to work to report train positions, and the trains were stuck in drifts.
And in almost every daily paper I read, there were small articles about which railroads around the country had a wreck, and how many people were killed. Almost every day!! Dozens killed, and it rates only a one-inch article! Such were the realities of railroad operations back then.
The main railroad-related story back then was about how the government was taking over the railroads (due to the war). There were many articles written concerning various reasons why the government should or should not take over the railroads. The pro-takeovers claimed that the privately-run railroads were incapable of handling the vast increase levels of transportation needed back then for the war effort. The against-takeover supporters claimes that the railroads needed to be privately held in order to insure continued investment. Of course, the arguments for both sides were far more detailed that I am relating here; I just wanted to touch on them to give you a ‘flavor’ of the thinking back then.
While I did not have the time to read all of the articles (some were multi-page long!), it w
There is also a very awesome musuem and restaurant in Jackson , Tn. Its called Casey Jones Village and the restaurant is actually a award winning restaurant call The Old Country Store. Casey Jones home and railroad musuem is a must see - the entire village is dedicated to him & the railroad!
Jackson,Tn is the where Casey JOnes was living with his wife and children when he was killed in 1900…
The Casey Jones Village holds several events during the year honoring him, his family & the railroad. Like thier Hobo Gathering where real hobos from around the country come to gather for a week - its a sight to see…