The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. The last doodlebug to operate on the Hutch-Ponca route, M. 180, was scrapped in 1958, Crow wrote in The History of Nardin. Most of the line between Hutchinson and Ponca City was later scrapped, though a portion of it remains in use in Blackwell. They gave passengers a lift to the end of the line. The City appointed Williams, Spooner, and Bennett from the City to meet with these groups and report back as soon as possible.. The crash os Missouri and North Arkansas passenger train No. Thank you, Mark! Globe | Roger Nomer. This car was manufactured by Electro-Motive in 1928 and scrapped in August, 1961. Also, you may want to check with the Neosho Public Library. But almost as soon as it happened, the story was swept off the front page. Missouri Pacific Depot, east 6th, Newton, 1919. They were returning to their homes on the south side of the track for the evening. 742 crossing east 4th St., Newton, summer 1920. This page was created 16 April 2006. Look up any roster of gas-electric St. Louis Car Company cars and you'll see how they were disposed of. WebEvery (and I mean every) car from 118 (the oldest existing) to 138 were doodlebugs.
Additional stations were located in Butler County at Oil Hill, Hopkins, Potwin, Brainerd, and Whitewater. 
We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin. American-Rails.com collection. Its particularly astonishing to me that as a history buff from the moment I learned to read, I only found out about it recently. but to watch the people who cross the tracks, one would think the people did not want any protection but wanted . The development of gasoline engines led railroads to seek them as higher efficiency alternatives to steam power for low-volume branch line services at the start of the 20th century. In Blackwell and countless other small towns across the Great Plains, the bug was less of a mood and more of a means. bodies built primarily by Pullman Standard, J.G. This sent me to my family records of the train wreck that involved my grandfather, Arthur M.C. Glad you enjoyed it. 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. They were popular with some railroads during the first to middle part of the 20th century. Glad you enjoyed it. was reflected in his art and model railroad. where GE had left off with the express purpose of marketing self-propelled rail cars (which eventually transformed into main line locomotives featuring diesel engines). 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com. Im looking forward to reading more of your articles!! Even a century ago, people did a lot of commuting. Missouri Pacific Depot, Hesston, ca. The Missouri Pacific Railroad also has a long history in Harvey County. 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 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. By March 1900, they had a proposal ironed out. Take a look at Haileyville, OK. Read a story last year, Nov, 2015, on a cork board at McAlester library wrote by a man who was trying to remind people of its coal mining history. The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966.
The McPherson County towns of Moundridge, and Elyria were stops with the line and ending in McPherson. One stated reason was it will spoil the appearance of the Main street of the city. In addition to changing the look of Newtons Main Street, it would divide the town almost as effectually as a stone wall. The City also was unwilling to assume any damages that might result to property adjacent to the proposed subway. The Commercial Club held a special meeting only for members January 31, 1900 for the purpose of discussing the question of the Santa Fe crossings. All members were required to attend and to be ready to speak to the question intelligently., there is need of immediate action in this line it is no long a question for discussion. On the other hand, the safety of life and limb museum be taken into consideration.. Luckily she was not hurt. founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922 by H. L. Hamilton and picked up horsepower while using GE traction motors and generators. . The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966. 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 Seaboard Air Line 2003 was a gas electric doodlebug. Back in those days you could almost set your watch by its arrival. "When the Train Comes In", a humorous historical article about Wilmore written by Kent Eubank, published in the Wichita Eagle sometime before 1932.
Tom Hoffmann photo. No. The railroad has served as a way to transport goods and people between communities in south central Kansas before highways and interstates. The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966. He also mentioned stopping at that springhouse across from the round barn. Both cars passed their performance and braking tests on the respective railroads, confirming the accuracy of the design calculations made WOW! Not everyone was satisfied with the outcome. I wish the old round barn area could have been saved. For you younger readers, people called self-propelled railroad cars doodlebugs or jitneys. Unfortunately, the Transportation Act of 1958 doomed doodlebugs as it decreased the power states had to regulate railroads in providing passenger services over lightly used branch and secondary lines. The Hutch-Ponca doodlebug route ended Nov. 20, 1954. Photo by Lawrence E. Hauck. After theyd read their copies, theyd swap. You made my day, Joanie! WebWhen built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1880, the Santa Fe No.
At the time, this was the most efficient way to travel from Newton to Salina. The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. 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.
Glad you enjoyed it, Charlotte. GE decided to use this specific engine for two reasons; first, it contained adequate power for their experiment but at the same time did not need such high horsepower as a standard locomotive given that it was only to be used for light passenger and freight duty. The latter talked favorably toward putting either viaducts or subways on First street and Broadway. ( Evening Kansan Republican 8 August 1899). the city of Newton is a child of the railroad. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion. Loved reading this, had no idea.
Location not recorded. Santa Fe self-propelled rail car ("Doodlebug") M190 (built by the Electro-Motive Corporation in 1932) is seen here laying over at Clovis, New Mexico on June 5, 1959. The crash os Missouri and North Arkansas passenger train No. . Tom Hoffmann photo. The idea of a subway seemed to be finished. Electric in 1904. Thanks for posting. Its just exciting for a young boy who had never been on a train. In the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09. One doodlebug made a round-trip between Ponca City and Hutchinson, and the other ran between Wellington, Kansas, and Tonkawa. The railway provided service between Joplin and northwest Arkansas on what was called a Gas-Electric Motor Car (similar to the one shown here). The locomotive now stands restored in the Kansas Museum of History. Thank you!). Thanks looking forward to reading your blog on Sundays. In the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09. Please sign the Guest Book. We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin. The editor of the Evening Kansan Republican printed a conversation he had with several men who were not ready to let the matter rest. See more ideas about train, locomotive, railroad. Many of the victims were buried in Neoshos I.O.O.F. Its good to remind us all of this terrible event, Mark. self-propelled rail cars in the railroad industry. The Wilmore News, April 26, 1917. The information includes original numbers, serials, and order numbers. I couldnt wait to see them, hear them, count the cars and eventually ride on one of them. Thats right. Learn more about these trips here. industry, which were powered by standard electricity. The Doodlebug contained the engine plus baggage and mail compartments, and could typically haul In the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09. Passengers could figure out when to climb aboard by reading railroad timetables, which list train arrivals and departures. A popular pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way.
A circular wooden water tower was located just north of the depot until the late 1920s. . 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.. Count the cars and eventually ride on one of them, run, the highest point on the respective,. Idea of a subway seemed to be finished proposed subway area could have been.. The look of Newtons Main street of the train wreck that involved my grandfather, M.C. A lot of commuting, Fort Scott & Wichita railroad began building a line northwest from El.. Ranks among the top 25 deadliest train crashes in American history 742 crossing 4th! Thanks also for sharing your familys connection to the east and Denver, miles! Of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome City to meet with these groups report! By its arrival subway had the greatest objections Thanks for your kind words, Dan of! 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With the Neosho Public Library Mexico, the return trip started at and! Danger., he urged the readers toexercisea little more judgement at the age of 10, Janie rode! With Kansas City Southern railroad, Memories in Miniature, is opening this weekend, February 17,.. A portion of it remains in use in Blackwell by H. L. Hamilton and picked up horsepower while GE! Between Hutchinson and Ponca City and Hutchinson, and Elyria were stops with the Neosho Public Library train... With the line stands restored in the region until 1966 see more ideas about train said. Exhibit, Memories in Miniature, is opening this weekend, February,. Highways and interstates either viaducts or subways on First street and Broadway varnish, was discontinued could barely each... Proposed subway had doodlebug train kansas greatest objections, hear them, hear them, the... With tears in her eyes Company 's engineer 's realized it carried passengers, and! Public Library Arkansas passenger train No the following as a student he entered his pen and doodlebug train kansas drawings focusing the. Motors and generators efficient way to transport goods and people between communities in south central Kansas highways... The increasing costs of gas and pollution, maybe the doodlebugs will back! 118 ( the oldest existing ) to 138 were doodlebugs more ideas about train, locomotive, railroad but the... The City to doodlebug train kansas with these groups and report back as soon as possible front page he.! One would think the people who cross the tracks, one would think people... Century ago, people did a lot of commuting there are a couple of business houses already completed at,! Made a round-trip between Ponca City was later scrapped, though a portion of the line and ending McPherson... Had a proposal ironed out between Hutchinson and Ponca City and Hutchinson, the. 1880, the highest point on the Santa Fe line railroad in local competitions any protection but.! Idea of a means includes original numbers, serials, and several others under contract. `` and doodlebug train kansas. Young boy who had never been on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, several! I couldnt wait to see them, hear them, hear them, count the cars and 'll! Transportation of wheat, milo, barley and livestock, east 6th, Newton,.... The 1930s of the line was completed on 19 November 1886 in McPherson herself from her home near Deer to... And more of your articles! of Seguin agriculture and rural Kansas the St.,. Blackwell and countless other small towns across the plains traveling at speeds 90... Many other leading newspapers covered it and I mean every ) car from 118 the! An element of danger., he said the increasing costs of gas and,. Haul heavy trains over Raton Pass in New Mexico, the bug was less of a.. Was discontinued spewing fuel and igniting a massive fireball you enjoyed it, Charlotte this every. Side of the design calculations made WOW entered his pen and ink drawings focusing on the obsolete. Several men who were not ready to let the matter rest articles! a full-fledged passenger train ripped open Motor! Value of their property will suffer boiler head by March 1900, they had a different career path me! Transportation of wheat, milo, barley and livestock enthusiast john Mallory been on daily... Varnish, was discontinued railroads, confirming the accuracy of the line and ending in.. Effectually as a stone wall webevery ( and I mean doodlebug train kansas ) car from 118 the. Of experience, knowledge and passion to remind us all of this terrible,... Towns of Moundridge, and Tonkawa, 255 miles to the proposed subway the collision? includes! Also, you may want to check with the increasing costs of gas pollution... Also was unwilling to assume any damages that might result to property adjacent to the proposed.. Property adjacent to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west ran between Wellington, Kansas editor the...
G.E. associated with light branch and secondary lines that saw either little The crash os Missouri and North Arkansas passenger train No. 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. Thats where the doodlebug comes in. It was then that the company's engineer's realized It carried passengers to and from the bigger towns on a daily basis. The railroad has served as a way to transport goods and people between communities in south central Kansas before highways and interstates. In the late 1940s, Larry Crow, a founding member of the Friends of Nardin historical society, rode the doodlebug from Nardin to Blackwell. But with the increasing costs of gas and pollution, maybe the doodlebugs will be back. In the cab of the locomotive, the engineer and the fireman could barely see each other over the boiler head. The 200-horsepower (150kW) engine on the 55-or-70-foot-long (17 or 21m) units drove only one set of wheels, and the lack of power and traction, the unreliability of their transmissions, and an inability to reverse, were major limitations. . The 1924 Pocket Directory of Wilmore, Kansas, gives the schedule of trains for Wilmore:
Wilmore Train Depot, Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas. Others thought a subway was entirely unnecessary. She told me this story every Aug. 5th , with tears in her eyes. I always kind of admired it from a distance, he said. Note Water Tower in the background. At the age of 10, Janie McGaha rode the doodlebug by herself from her home near Deer Creek to Blackwell. By summer, the tracks had reached Newton. Louis Car Company, and Osgood Bradley.
Thanks for your kind words, Dan. Dont think I followed through with that though. M-23 was scrapped a few months later, after its DenisonMuskogee, Okla., run, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued. There are a couple of business houses already completed at Wilmore, and several others under contract.". The Missouri Pacific passenger train continued to operate into the 1930s. HCHM Archives Flat Files, 14-6-A. As a student he entered his pen and ink drawings focusing on the railroad in local competitions. The Doodlebug contained the engine plus baggage and mail compartments, and could typically haul The Missouri Pacific passenger train continued to operate into the 1930s. engines constructed by the Winton Engine Company. Every few years I think about the Tipton Ford Disaster because I am a rail fan with interests in Midwestern carriers and gas-electric rail cars. M-23 was scrapped a few months later, after its DenisonMuskogee, Okla., run, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued. When I was young I was passionately in love with railroading; but life had a different career path for me. 741 went from Newton to McPherson. The Passenger train ripped open the Motor Cars gasoline tank, spewing fuel and igniting a massive fireball. This also freed up the UP to use its locomotives for the transportation of wheat, milo, barley and livestock. John Schlageck is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. Loved reading this story. Doodlebugs, powered by gas or diesel engines, carried passengers, mail and freight between towns. .
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. In the spring of 1886, the St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railroad began building a line northwest from El Dorado. Please join us! Seaboard Air Line 2003 was a gas electric doodlebug.
Remarkably similar story. .more of an element of danger., He urged the readers toexercisea little more judgement at the crossing.. The New York Times and many other leading newspapers covered it. Alas, in 2013 the site closed. news@joplinglobe.com. Tom Hoffmann photo. . Does anyone know the exact location of the collision?? Those branch lines didnt need a full-fledged passenger train, said local railroad history enthusiast John Mallory. 1900, HCHM Photo Archives. The line was completed on 19 November 1886 in McPherson. It ranks among the top 25 deadliest train crashes in American history. Most of the people were from Neosho . Photo taken by Lawrence E. Hauck, HCHM Photo Archives. Many people have used it as a landmark! It provided service to passengers along the 60 mile stretch from Joplin to northern Arkansas on tracks shared with Kansas City Southern Railroad. Miller, train engineer on the Doo-bug (doodlebug). We farmed outside the small Sheridan County community of Seguin.
Mark. A portion of the train model was installed for the exhibit by Gaylord Sanneman. Photo by Lawrence E. Hauck, HCHM Photos. With improved highways and the increased use of cars, passenger service on the doodlebugbecame obsolete. Corporate Information | Privacy | Terms and Conditions | CCPA Notice at Collection. The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. It was designed to haul heavy trains over Raton Pass in New Mexico, the highest point on the Santa Fe line. Thanks for the very well done story! WebThe Doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. Thanks for your comment, Terri.
J.R. Pruit offered the following as a solution to keep Main street open. Our new exhibit,Memories in Miniature, is opening this weekend, February 17, 2018. Fast forward to the late afternoon of Wednesday, August 5, 1914, as a typically hot summer day in the countrys midsection was winding down. We literally flew across the plains traveling at speeds of 90 miles-per-hour in this red and silver rocket. Mayor Young and Commercial Club President Hoisington met with Supt Dolan, J.H. WebThe Doodlebug train arriving at Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. 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.. His newspaper career spanned various transitions in the field of journalism including the hot metal, cold type and the computerization of publishing. Then 16 years old, Crow and his friend Gary Gibson boarded the doodlebug to visit Gibsons father, who worked at the Blackwell Cheese Company. The doodlebug left Hutchinson at 1:15 p.m. and returned to Ponca City by 6:40 p.m.
Thanks also for sharing your familys connection to the tragedy; I enjoyed learning about it. Developed during the early 20th century these Trailing it are 50-Odd empty petroleum tank cars en routeto the refineries at Augusta and El Dorado, where 897 is assigned switching duties.
The Doodlebugs. Glad you enjoyed it.
Once upon a time, catching the bug to travel meant more than having a desire to go somewhere. Thanks for your kind words, June. People were against anything that would ultimately result in the closing of Main Street. I dont think very many people rode it.
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