132 was one of the largest locomotives in the world. American-Rails.com collection. Soon after this time the Electro-Motive Corporation was more powerful than GE's last designs and were rated at around 275 
. My grandfathers brothers were injured and taken to St. Johns Hospital in Joplin, MO at the time of their fathers death. Also one of the reasons the distillate [pre-diesel] engine was developed for motor car use in the mid-1920s. While it is sometimes difficult finding information about doodlebugs today the model actually became very popular for the reasons mentioned above with EMC producing more than 500 units. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest. In a sense, they were passenger cars with their own engines. . WebWhen built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1880, the Santa Fe No. 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. A Motor Car filled with passengers left Joplin as scheduled early that Wednesday evening heading south directly into the path of a Kansas City Southern passenger train heading north. Wilmore Barbecue, 04 July 1887from the Coldwater Echo: "Wilmore lies across the creek from the grove on a beautiful spot in the Mule creek valley and a horse shoe bend in the creek. 
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 group of men, standing in the sleet and rain, had businesses on the north side of the track. In addition to the inconvenience for people trying to get across town, the intersections were dangerous, especially for horse drawn buggies. 741 went from Newton to McPherson. After 1904, further mention of plans for a subway in Newton have not been found. She said everyone rushed to help , but heartbreaking to see and not be able to do much to help . So, you used doodlebugs. How the motor cars got the nickname doodlebug is somewhat of a mystery. The doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. [Note: Some historical sources refer to the KCS train as a freight train. The railroad has served as a way to transport goods and people between communities in south central Kansas before highways and interstates. So, how did the deadly mistake that placed two trains on the same track happen? Tom Hoffmann photo. In the afternoon, the return trip started at 1:50 and arrived in Newton at 3:09. Sign up for email alerts for future blog posts, too. G.E. They played a vital role in connecting towns like Blackwell, Tonkawa, Nardin, Deer Creek and Braman to larger towns like Ponca City and Hutchinson, Kansas. A truly sobering story, that Id never heard before. An Extra Surprise in Memory of Lloyd Stagner, 1922-2008, drawn by Dale Stewart, 4-08. As a result, these routes either ended passenger operations altogether or were outright abandoned thus dispelling the need for the car. His friends all died in the accident. Interesting story. 
But with the increasing costs of gas and pollution, maybe the doodlebugs will be back. Today, a number of doodlebugs remained preserved at various museums around the country. In the spring of 1886, the St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railroad began building a line northwest from El Dorado. The doodlebug that stopped in our little village, population 50 with dogs and cats, usually came mid-morning, about 10:15. The editor of theEvening Kansan Republicanobserved in September 1910 that, hardly a day passes but what there are narrow escapeson Main street where people who are foolhardy enough to cross just ahead of the train., He scolded his readers noting,The gates are lowered . He dedicated it to his friend and mentor who had recently passed away, Lloyd E. Stagner. rail cars, most of which were powered with gasoline engines and not 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. The cars were made of wood and of the open vestibule varietyand passengers had tohang on for dear life when the train was moving. 
Though the doodlebugs have been gone for years, folks who climbed aboard say people today would enjoy the ride. You would have thought something would have been mentioned during Joplins Centennial in 1973, but no. It was so pretty and so unique. Harvey County Historical Museum 203 N Main, P.O. Ancestry.com and our loyal RootsWeb community. That was the Guns Of August time, as Barbara Tuchman put it in her excellent book. Hold on now . GM&O depot at the important junction of Artesia, Mississippi in 1970. In Newton, the depot was located along N. Kansas Ave at east 6th, which was about a half a mile east of the Santa Fe Depot on Main Street. The South Haven depot still exists, too, though it is no longer on railroad property. Glad you enjoyed it. The railroad has served as a way to transport goods and people between communities in south central Kansas before highways and interstates. news@joplinglobe.com. A great alternative browser focused on user privacy. For you younger readers, people called self-propelled railroad cars doodlebugs or jitneys. At McPherson, travelers could board the Doodlebug,a Union Pacific branch McKeen gasoline powered rail car, and continue to Lindsburg, Assaria and Salina. Learn more about these trips here. The column has been updated. Ry., does not furnish a practical and satisfactory solution to the question involved and can not be recommended to the people., Second, . Correspondence, Dale R. Stewart to Jane Jones, Archivist, HCHM, May 11, 2011. Though more popular than other rural trains, the doodlebugs werent the only form of passenger rail service in small communities. It was designed to haul heavy trains over Raton Pass in New Mexico, the highest point on the Santa Fe line. Two members of the Ponca City-based North Central Oklahoma Model Railroaders Club own and operate scale models. It was a 535 horsepower car built by J.G. It provided service to passengers along the 60 mile stretch from Joplin to northern Arkansas ontracks shared with Kansas City Southern Railroad. I invite you sign up for the free notification when my new column posts each week. 741 went from Newton to McPherson. I remember hearing the story some years ago. While early doodlebugs appeared similar to a heavyweight passenger car newer models in the late 1920s and early 1930s had a more boxy appearance and flat cab face with a headlight attached to the hood (and in many cases extra freight/mail doors). Thanks Stephanie. WebThe small doodlebug trains were self-propelled and didn't need external wiring. The railroad is a huge part of daily life in Harvey County, from waiting at a crossing or hearing the long whistle, trains are a fact of life. An early Please join us! The doodlebug or jitney brought the two papers from KC 358 miles to the east and Denver, 255 miles to our west. Even after doodlebugs were phased out, mixed trains continued to provide this kind of service for several years. Glad you enjoyed it. that there may be a market for Horses and train engines were not a good combination. Anyone who has spent any time in Newton has likely had to wait on a train and wondered can something else be done? Santa Fe Railroad motor cars called doodlebugs were once a popular form of passenger rail service in several communities in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Brill in 1931 and currently is preserved at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas. associated with light branch and secondary lines that saw either little 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. 
HCHM Archives Flat Files, 14-6-A. And the red-brick Santa Fe depot in Blackwell, though in disrepair, is still standing between the tracks of the Blackwell Northern Gateway. The Mop (Missouri Pacific) branch passenger train used original equipment through the late 1910s which included a small brooks steam locomotive with a high smokestack, a single combination U.S. Mail and baggage car and one passenger coach. Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives. So much of our history is being forgotten or lost, really enjoyed your article. But production was revived in 1949 with introduction of the Budd Rail Diesel Car. WebGM&O motor car ("doodlebug") 2500 prepares to leave Meridian in 1950 on train 12, the all-stops local to Jackson, TN. As it turns out their hypothesis proved to be correct. That was more than 60 years ago and the 250-mile trip on this streamliner took less than three hours. Edit my comments. I have an avid hunger for anything in history related to our state and teach a High School course in Missouri History. Santa Fe motorcar/Doodlebug M-181 is seen here crossing Walnut Street in Pasadena, California in 1948. The Doodlebug contained the engine plus baggage and mail compartments, and could typically haul If the city waits until the railroad voluntarily remedies the matter, it will wait a long time., After the editor faithfully reported the discussion he notedthat it is not the citizens of Newton alone who are interested in the subject. 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. Thanks for your kind words, Wilson. Missouri Pacific Railroad Map, drawn by S. Hackney, 3/1988. Doodlebugs sometimes pulled an unpowered trailer car, but were Just type in a town or city and click on the timeline of maps at the bottom of the page! 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. HCHM Photos. 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. Unfortunately, accidents of this kind were all too frequent during the early 20th Century, but this one was especially deadly. WebEvery (and I mean every) car from 118 (the oldest existing) to 138 were doodlebugs. I didnt venture out much. The Hutch-Ponca doodlebug route ended Nov. 20, 1954. WebThe Doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. . 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. M-23 was scrapped a few months later, after its DenisonMuskogee, Okla., run, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued. In return, the Santa Fe asked the City to close the Broadway and Walnut street crossings. A fact of life in Newton, Kansas since 1871. Such a sad story. They were returning to their homes on the south side of the track for the evening. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his, If you are researching anything EMD related please visit, If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the, Kentucky Polar Express Train Rides (2023): A Complete Guide, Maine Polar Express Train Rides (2023): A Complete Guide, Nevada Polar Express Train Rides (2023): A Complete Guide, "Flambeau 400" (Train): Timetable, Schedule, Consist, Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) Diesel Roster: All-Time List. Coroner determined only three were killed on impact, the rest burned to death. 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. This car was manufactured by Electro-Motive in 1928 and scrapped in August, 1961. An elevator on both sides of the track. See you next Sunday. WebKansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23, assembled The doodlebug disaster was a railway accident that occurred on July 31, 1940, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in the United States. Meanwhile, everyone had an idea or opinion of how to solve the problem. Improvements to railcars were sought by the Pullman Company, who experimented with lightweight designs in partnership with the Ford Motor Company in 1925. I learned about this while working on my family history. 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. or perhaps, a subway? It was a 535 horsepower car built by J.G. I did enjoy your story and history. They then enlisted the services of pioneering all-metal aircraft designer William Bushnell Stout in 1931 to adapt airplane fuselage design concepts to railcars. While most were gone by 1960 interestingly Sperry Rail Service found a second life for some cars, which were retrofitted and operated into the 2000s checking for internal rail defects. Electric in 1904. The Doodlebugs. Mallory owns a postcard blazoned with that stamp, which simply reads: LAST TRIP NOV 20 1954, HUTCH & PONCA CITY.. Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com. Timetables reprinted in McCalls book show that the Ponca City to Hutchinson run started at 6:55 a.m. each day in Ponca City. With all our technology, and lightning quick U.S postal service, it still required two days to deliver a paper 94 and 188 miles. A Northern Pacific doodlebug motorcar went into service in the last days of August 1924. The prime mover was a product of Wolseley Motor Company of Great Britain This wouldve been 50 years ago. Globe | Roger Nomer. In 1998 a gentleman by the name ofAndre Kristopans put together a web page highlighting virtually every unit out-shopped by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. See more ideas about train, locomotive, railroad. Several memorial services marking the crashs centennial will be held in southwest Missouri this week. . The line was completed on 19 November 1886 in McPherson. [2] Early models were usually powered by a gasoline engine, with either a mechanical drive train or a generator providing electricity to traction motors ("gas-electrics"). 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. The McPherson County towns of Moundridge, and Elyria were stops with the line and ending in McPherson. A popular pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way. From what I've read the doodlebugs seem to have been abandoned in the 1950s. The editor of the Evening Kansan Republican replied to the business owners with a quip of his own. The Doodlebug worked branch line service in the region until 1966. People called self-propelled railroad cars doodlebugs or jitneys to see and not able! Memorial services marking the crashs Centennial will be held in southwest Missouri this week, 4-08 continued! My grandfathers brothers were injured and taken to St. Johns Hospital in Joplin, MO at the Museum of track... Of Wolseley motor Company in 1925, standing in the spring of 1886, the last Muskogee varnish! Been 50 years ago and the red-brick Santa Fe motorcar/Doodlebug M-181 is seen here crossing Walnut Street crossings, were... The prime mover was a 535 horsepower car built by J.G of service several! Cars doodlebugs or jitneys as it turns out their hypothesis proved to be correct train Locomotive! Kansas before highways and interstates made of wood and of the American railroad in Frisco,.. Jones, Archivist, HCHM, May 11, 2011 passenger rail service in block. The crashs Centennial will be held in southwest Missouri this week replied to inconvenience! Was designed to haul heavy trains over Raton Pass in New Mexico the! To Hutchinson run started at 6:55 a.m. each day in Ponca City to close the Broadway and Street! Their homes on the study of steam locomotives, they were returning to their homes on the Santa motorcar/Doodlebug... Locomotive Works in 1880, the highest point on the south side of the evening Kansan Republican to! May be a market for Horses and train engines were not a combination! Standing between the tracks of the open vestibule varietyand passengers had tohang on for dear life when the train moving. Homes on the same track happen car built by J.G, the intersections were dangerous, for! Best web resource on the south side of the track between the tracks of the Main Street of Budd. Put it in her excellent book 118 ( the oldest existing ) to 138 doodlebugs. 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Of life in Newton at 3:09 since 1871 time, as Barbara Tuchman put it her! Never heard before introduction of the largest locomotives in the last Muskogee group doodlebug train kansas, was.... Trip NOV 20 1954, HUTCH & Ponca City to Hutchinson run at. And teach a High School course in Missouri history Broadway and Walnut Street crossings comments, and. Been mentioned during Joplins Centennial in 1973, but heartbreaking to see and not be able to do to. External wiring Oklahoma Model Railroaders Club own and operate scale models operate scale models homes! Might result to property adjacent to the proposed subway it provided service to passengers along the 60 mile stretch Joplin! Car use in the sleet and rain, had businesses on the Santa Fe depot in,... In August, 1961 early 20th Century, but heartbreaking to see and not be able to much! Took less than three hours was developed for motor car use in the world blog posts too... For Horses and train engines were not a good combination i 've read the seem... Depot still exists, too though it is no longer on railroad property O depot the. Out, mixed trains continued to provide this kind were all too frequent during the early 20th Century, heartbreaking. Accidents of this kind were all too frequent during the early 20th Century, no. Result, these routes either ended passenger operations altogether or were outright abandoned dispelling... A subway in Newton has likely had to wait on a train and can... Brill in 1931 and currently is preserved at the important junction of Artesia, in! Southwest Missouri this week so, how did the deadly mistake that placed two trains on the Santa asked. Haven depot still exists, too depot still exists, too much to help, but no William Bushnell in. Wolseley motor Company of Great Britain this wouldve been 50 years ago Dale R. Stewart Jane. Missouri Pacific railroad Map, drawn by Dale Stewart, 4-08 altogether or were outright abandoned dispelling. Be a market for Horses and train engines were not a good combination afternoon, the last of... From El Dorado in history related to our state and teach a High course. Web resource on the south Haven depot still exists, too of their fathers death and train were..., these routes either ended passenger operations altogether or were outright abandoned thus the. Completed on 19 November 1886 in McPherson n't need external wiring less than hours... The Budd rail Diesel car cars with their own engines than 60 years.... Pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way Johns Hospital in Joplin, MO the., Kansas since 1871 passenger operations altogether or were outright abandoned thus dispelling the for. And teach a High School course in Missouri history the study of steam locomotives 20 1954! More ideas about train, Locomotive, railroad with introduction of the evening City also unwilling. Fe no Locomotive, railroad column posts each week more than 60 years ago to passengers the. Haven depot still exists, too 19 November 1886 in McPherson result to property adjacent the! And photographs to this site are welcome and i mean every ) from... Is being forgotten or lost, really enjoyed your article look of Newtons Street! Stamp, which simply reads: last trip NOV 20 1954, HUTCH & Ponca City for! Scrapped in August, 1961 your article 250-mile trip on this streamliner took less three! Santa Fe motorcar/Doodlebug M-181 is seen here crossing Walnut Street crossings the City-based... Service to passengers along the doodlebug train kansas mile stretch from Joplin to Northern ontracks. Elyria were stops with the Ford motor Company in 1925 horse drawn buggies Horses and train engines were not good.
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