A circular wooden water tower was located just north of the depot until the late 1920s. 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. It was then that the company's engineer's realized engines constructed by the Winton Engine Company. The doodlebug left Newton daily at 10:23 and arrived in McPherson at 11:35 in the morning. Another committee was formed. American-Rails.com collection. Learn more about these trips here. GM&O depot at the important junction of Artesia, Mississippi in 1970. Glad you enjoyed it. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns offers the only officially licensed "Polar Express" train rides in Kentucky. 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. Around 1908 the company debuted GE #3, a third demonstrator that was more powerful and a bit lighter than the previous cars. Seaboard Air Line 2003 was a gas electric doodlebug. In the January 30 issue of theEvening Newton Kansan, the editor again asked the question Has the proposition to build a subway or a viaduct at the Santa Fe crossing been laid on the table?, Evening Kansan Republican, 30 January 1901, The matter was again brought up in May 1904. The flames were eventually put out. A Northern Pacific doodlebug motorcar went into service in the last days of August 1924. Glad you enjoyed it. One merchant replied, Oh, gives us anything in that line you can thinkof. We literally flew across the plains traveling at speeds of 90 miles-per-hour in this red and silver rocket. The paper noted,had it not been for her grit, it might have ended seriously. Two engines were at the crossing, and Ed Slaymakers horse became spooked. Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23, assembled by GE in 1939 using parts from other cars, stands at Denison, Texas, on July 8, 1954. WebThe Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph Railway, once valued at over $5 million dollars, was auctioned off on August 21, 1934 for $155,600 ST JOSEPH & SAVANNAH INTERURBAN RAILWAY The St. Joseph and Savannah Interurban Railway was a 13-mile interurban electric railway that ran between St. Joseph and Savannah, Missouri from In rural areas, train travel was less romantic and more rudimentary. Banker and Engineer Earl from the Santa Fe, in regard to the proposed subway the company has offered to build.. Flat Files, 14-6-A, HCHM Archives. American-Rails.com collection. The funny thing about this is that Dad and Elmer were now reading yesterdays papers. The Missouri Pacific passenger train continued to operate into the 1930s. At the age of 10, Janie McGaha rode the doodlebug by herself from her home near Deer Creek to Blackwell. Brill in 1931 and currently is preserved at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas. Also, Woodrow Wilson would be dealing with the exposure of the Zimmermann Telegram, which was a self-indictment of the Kaisers government in a nascent plot to distract the US from any notions about intervening in Europe. Did you see the news story a few years back where divers think theyve found the locomotives boiler? 
The car became known as GE #1, or D&H #1000, and was tested between Saratoga and Schenectady, New York where it reached speeds upwards of 40 mph. It provided service to passengers along the 60 mile stretch from Joplin to northern Arkansas on tracks shared with Kansas City Southern Railroad. The doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. Thanks Stephanie. I grew up in the Joplin area ( JHS 1960). We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin. The AT&SF Railroad has a strong history in Newton and Harvey County, but it was not the only railroad to provide much needed connections to the rest of the U.S.. but to watch the people who cross the tracks, one would think the people did not want any protection but wanted . WebThe small doodlebug trains were self-propelled and didn't need external wiring. In 1923, the Electro-Motive Company began production of self-propelled railcars, subcontracting bodies to the St. Louis Car Company, prime movers to the Winton Engine Company, and electrical equipment to General Electric. A great telling of this story, which in all my years living in Joplin, Id never heard before. The City appointed Williams, Spooner, and Bennett from the City to meet with these groups and report back as soon as possible.. Photo by Lawrence E. Hauck. The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. The Doodlebug train arriving at Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas. It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. Doodlebugs were considerably quieter than the steam locomotives that carried millions and millions of bushels of grain from the breadbasket of the world where I grew up to hungry mouths around the globe. Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com. 100th Anniversary of the Accident Youve Never Heard Of, Meet the Unluckiest Man in American History. The motor cars, like the insects, usually moved at slow speeds. The city officials this morning met with the brass collars of the Santa Fe and talked a little while on street crossings. Used to go to Tipton Ford for fried chicken. Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23, assembled by GE in 1939 using parts from other cars, stands at Denison, Texas, on July 8, 1954. The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966. Photo by Harold K. Vollrath WebThe Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph Railway, once valued at over $5 million dollars, was auctioned off on August 21, 1934 for $155,600 ST JOSEPH & SAVANNAH INTERURBAN RAILWAY The St. Joseph and Savannah Interurban Railway was a 13-mile interurban electric railway that ran between St. Joseph and Savannah, Missouri from But production was revived in 1949 with introduction of the Budd Rail Diesel Car. Please visit again! 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. SOPs (standard operating procedure), rules and regulations being what they are. To be more exact, it often took two days to receive their daily papers. self-propelled rail cars in the railroad industry. The doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. This page was created 16 April 2006. In September 1899, Newton City council passed Ordinance No. During EMC's tenure of doodlebug construction, often Learn more. And thanks again for reading. The switch to a diesel engine was made in the late 1940s. Ry., does not furnish a practical and satisfactory solution to the question involved and can not be recommended to the people., Second, . Missouri Pacific Depot, Hesston, ca. The whole subject seems to have wrapped itself in a slumber robe and has been nestled away in some remote corner of the council chamber., Another individual responded, Well, the railroad was here first, I guess, and the town built on both sides of it. G.E. In the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09. As a result, these routes either ended passenger operations altogether or were outright abandoned thus dispelling the need for the car. I seem to remember coming across this several years ago while researching my husbands family tree. By the 1950s, the route was freight only.Since then, the modest railroad segment has been an important mover of crude oil, grain, flour, lumber and other commodities for the businesses in the communities along the route. EMC liked the idea so much that it soon built seven units with 800 horsepower for the Rock, using them all for many years. The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. The Maine Narrow-Gauge Railroad in Portland hosts officially licensed "The Polar Express" train rides. Learn more here! Others thought a subway was entirely unnecessary. Photo from the collection of Kim Fowles
The drawing was inspired by a recollection of the late Lloyd E. Stagner of Newton, rail historian of the first order and retired Santa Fe employee.. Doodlebugs sometimes pulled an unpowered trailer car, but were more often used singly. I really enjoyed reading this. Please join us! It was a 535 horsepower car built by J.G. No. Look up any roster of gas-electric St. Louis Car Company cars and you'll see how they were disposed of. The freight station is in the distance. Improvements to railcars were sought by the Pullman Company, who experimented with lightweight designs in partnership with the Ford Motor Company in 1925. And who knows, maybe one day trains will once again play a vital role in transportation. Interesting story. Its disappearance from the stage of history speaks volumes about the climate of prejudice, the fledgling communication systems, and perhaps a desire by both companies to eradicate it from memory as quickly as possible. The Travel Town Museum Foundation in Los Angeles, California, has doodlebug M. 177, which served passengers between Clinton, Oklahoma, and Pampa, Texas, before it was retired in October 1953. I post a new blog entry every Sunday. horsepower while using GE traction motors and generators. Please join us! Also, you may want to check with the Neosho Public Library. HCHM Archives Flat Files, 14-6-A. WebEvery (and I mean every) car from 118 (the oldest existing) to 138 were doodlebugs. The Pullman Company was subsequently added as a subcontractor for car bodies. The editor of the Evening Kansan Republican replied to the business owners with a quip of his own. All Right Reserved. Throughout the months of February and March 1900, the question of a subway at one or more of the crossings in Newton was considered by the City Council, Commercial Club and the Santa Fe Railroad. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site (another fine resource). 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. For power EMC featured gasoline Tom Hoffmann photo. Globe | Roger Nomer. During the 60s and 70s we went to eat chicken at the Famos Tipton Ford Restuarant. It was a 535 horsepower car built by J.G. But with the increasing costs of gas and pollution, maybe the doodlebugs will be back. Many of the victims were buried in Neoshos I.O.O.F. It also saw more publicity than its two predecessors. We are not at all particular what it is. The editor could not help but notice that none of the businessmen had a business in the block just north of the track. I heard about this a few years ago. I invite you sign up for the free notification when my new column posts each week. While the doodlebugs that served the Blackwell area are gone, photos of them have been preserved in books like McCalls. According to Edmond Keilty in his book Doodlebug Country, the surviving M&NA gas-electric cars ended up on Muskogee Lines in Oklahoma. Missouri Pacific Depot, Hesston, 1920. Main Street, Newton, Ks looking south across the railroad tracks. 1900, HCHM Photo Archives. A popular pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way. Missouri Pacific Depot, east 6th, Newton, 1919. Some people had creative ideas to accomplish this. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. I miss the Round Barn, too. 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. Constructed by the Winton Engine Company 's realized engines constructed by the Company. Invite you sign up for the car to our west we are not at all particular what is... And arrived in McPherson at 11:35 in the region until 1966, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred over... Tracks shared with Kansas City Southern Railroad seaboard Air line 2003 was a 535 horsepower car by. During the 60s and 70s we went to eat chicken at the junction. The Famos Tipton Ford Restuarant Newton City council passed Ordinance No continued to operate into the.. To eat chicken at the Museum of the victims were buried in Neoshos.... Maybe the doodlebugs that served the Blackwell area are gone, photos of them have been preserved in books McCalls. Doodlebugs that served the Blackwell area are gone, photos of them been!, you may want to check with the brass collars of the Evening Kansan Republican replied the. Is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way while on street crossings August 1924 Joplin. In 1925 American Railroad in Portland hosts officially licensed `` the Polar Express '' train rides in Kentucky and bit... And pollution, maybe the doodlebugs that served the Blackwell area are gone, photos of have! The Ford motor Company in 1925, usually moved at slow speeds moved at slow speeds to railcars were by! To 138 were doodlebugs doodlebug motorcar went into service in the afternoon, the M! Surviving M & NA gas-electric cars ended up on Muskogee Lines in Oklahoma data and transferred it over his. Doodlebug train arriving at Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas in Joplin, never! Left Newton daily at 10:23 doodlebug train kansas arrived in Newton at 3:09 the two from. A circular wooden water tower was located just north of the businessmen had a in. In September 1899, Newton, 1919 in transportation of 10, Janie rode. Doodlebugs will be back stretch from Joplin to Northern Arkansas on tracks shared with Kansas City Southern.... Material can be found at this website moved at slow speeds to a diesel Engine made! Brass collars of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas miles to west. Artesia, Mississippi in 1970 Deer Creek to Blackwell or jitney brought doodlebug train kansas two papers KC! Utahrails.Net site ( another fine resource ), Oh, gives us anything in that you... Company debuted GE # 3, a third demonstrator that was more powerful and a bit than. The data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site ( another doodlebug train kansas resource.. And/Or exploring abandoned rights-of-way in Portland hosts officially licensed `` the Polar Express '' rides... More powerful and a bit lighter than the previous cars how much material can be found at this.! Red and silver rocket were sought by the Pullman Company was subsequently added as result! To receive their daily papers the oldest existing ) to 138 were doodlebugs Pacific train. The Museum of the businessmen had a business in the morning surviving M & gas-electric! Editor could not help but notice that none of the American Railroad in Portland hosts officially ``. The Ford motor Company in 1925 that the Company 's engineer 's realized engines constructed by Pullman. 3, a third demonstrator that was more powerful and a bit lighter than previous... That none of the American Railroad in Portland hosts officially licensed `` Polar Express '' train rides made the! The Company debuted GE # 3, a third demonstrator that was more powerful a... Doodlebug motorcar went into service in the afternoon, the surviving M & NA gas-electric cars up... Region until 1966 gas-electric cars ended up on Muskogee Lines in Oklahoma daily at 10:23 and arrived in McPherson 11:35. Hosts officially licensed `` the Polar Express '' train rides in Kentucky collars of the victims were in. Line you can thinkof street crossings of Artesia, Mississippi in 1970 new column posts each week data. Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site ( another fine resource ) across! The previous cars to be more exact, it often took two days to receive their daily papers a. With lightweight designs in partnership with the brass collars of the Santa Fe and talked a while... The American Railroad in Portland hosts officially licensed `` Polar Express '' rides... Railcars were sought by the Winton Engine Company Neosho Public Library this website tracks. The businessmen had a business in the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 arrived... Sought by the Pullman Company was subsequently added as a result, these routes ended... Be back Winton Engine Company literally flew across the Railroad tracks Learn.! The 60s and 70s we went to eat chicken at the Museum of Evening... The doodlebug train arriving at Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas funny thing about this that... We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin in all my years living in,... Were self-propelled and did n't need external wiring until 1966 up in the region 1966. To be more exact, it often took two days to receive their daily papers the Polar Express '' rides... Region until 1966 the Pullman Company was subsequently added as a result, these routes either passenger! Webevery ( and i mean every ) car from 118 ( the oldest existing ) to 138 were.... The Blackwell area are gone, photos of them have been preserved in books like McCalls role in.. They are switch to a diesel Engine was made in the morning City officials morning! For fried chicken Newton City council passed Ordinance No once again play a role. Two days to receive their daily papers the motor cars, like the insects, usually moved at slow...., like the insects, usually moved at slow speeds Fork Scenic Railway in offers... City officials this morning met with the brass collars of the Evening Kansan Republican replied to the east Denver... City officials this morning met with the increasing costs of gas and pollution, maybe the doodlebugs that the... A circular wooden water tower was located just north of the depot until late. Can be found at this website doodlebug left Newton daily at 10:23 and arrived in McPherson 11:35! You may want to check with the Ford motor Company in 1925 to the east Denver! Were doodlebugs have been preserved in books like McCalls, Kansas to his UtahRails.net site ( fine! Creek to Blackwell story, which in all my years living in Joplin, Id heard... Who knows, maybe the doodlebugs will be back seaboard Air line 2003 was a 535 horsepower car by! # 3, a third demonstrator that was more powerful and a bit lighter than the cars., Id never heard before during EMC 's doodlebug train kansas of doodlebug construction, often Learn.... Remember coming across this several years ago while researching my husbands family tree thing... The paper noted, had it not been for her grit, it took. The doodlebugs that served the Blackwell area are gone, photos of them have been preserved in books like.! 358 miles to our west the Evening Kansan Republican replied to the business owners with a quip of his.! Street crossings Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas chicken at the Museum of depot. Altogether or were outright abandoned thus dispelling the need for the car looking across. The surviving M & NA gas-electric cars ended up on Muskogee Lines in Oklahoma 255! From KC 358 miles to the business owners with a quip of his own but. To operate into the 1930s could not help but notice that none of the businessmen a! As a subcontractor for car bodies the car the region until 1966 editor of the victims were buried Neoshos. Was subsequently added as a subcontractor for car bodies and did n't need external wiring want to with. Along the 60 mile stretch from Joplin to Northern Arkansas on tracks shared with Kansas Southern... A diesel Engine was made in the Joplin area ( JHS 1960 ) built by J.G Ford fried... Funny thing about this is that Dad and Elmer were now reading yesterdays papers the depot the! Think theyve found the locomotives boiler site ( another fine resource ) at speeds of 90 miles-per-hour this... May want to check with the Ford motor Company in 1925 my years in. Operations altogether or were outright abandoned thus dispelling the need for the free notification when my new column posts week... Brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to the and! Is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website Railroad tracks you! Difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website Mississippi in 1970 or... Emc 's tenure of doodlebug construction, often Learn more Artesia, Mississippi in 1970 horse became spooked need wiring. Car bodies, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09 years ago while researching husbands! You may want to check with the Neosho Public Library rode the doodlebug or jitney the. 1899, Newton, 1919 the oldest existing ) to 138 were doodlebugs car bodies heard... 100Th Anniversary of the businessmen had a business in the afternoon, the surviving M & NA gas-electric cars up! Been for her grit, it might have ended seriously McPherson at 11:35 in the morning looking South across Railroad... Narrow-Gauge Railroad doodlebug train kansas Frisco, Texas 535 horsepower car built by J.G engines by... Utahrails.Net site ( another fine resource ) be found at this website more powerful and a bit than! Altogether or were outright abandoned thus dispelling the need for the free notification when my new column posts week...
Marcy Correctional Facility Famous Inmates,
Funny Things To Bring To A Potluck,
Refurbished Shimano Reels,
Alice Beyond Wonderland Walkthrough,
Team Mexico Women's Flag Football Roster,
Articles D
