The recent slew of postings about Ziel's "Twilight of Steam" and 1960s steam tourist lines, brought to mind to softcover, horizontal format booklets published in the 1960s by a man named J.A. Stowe. One is "Steam Pikes Along the Turnpikes" about northeastern lines and the other is "Smoke Trails in Rebel Land." They feature listings like the steam passenger directory of old but also give a little more texture and history than that publication. And there are neat picture in each of the operations.
They were great daydream material for me in the 1960s and now they're a great historical reference about the early doings of the WK&S, DO, Stone Mt. Scenic, etc.

Stowe also did booklets on the CB&Q steam program "The Northern and the Mike," "The Silverton" and "Rails to Possum Trot" about the Reader in Arkansas. I dont' have copies of those but if someone has an extra set, I'd love to talk with you about purchasing them. Jim

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

> The recent slew of postings about Ziel's
> "Twilight of Steam" and 1960s
> steam tourist lines, brought to mind to
> softcover, horizontal format booklets
> published in the 1960s by a man named J.A.
> Stowe. One is "Steam Pikes Along the
> Turnpikes" about northeastern lines and
> the other is "Smoke Trails in Rebel
> Land." They feature listings like the
> steam passenger directory of old but also
> give a little more texture and history than
> that publication. And there are neat picture
> in each of the operations.
> They were great daydream material for me in
> the 1960s and now they're a great historical
> reference about the early doings of the
> WK&S, DO, Stone Mt. Scenic, etc.

> Stowe also did booklets on the CB&Q
> steam program "The Northern and the
> Mike," "The Silverton" and
> "Rails to Possum Trot" about the
> Reader in Arkansas. I dont' have copies of
> those but if someone has an extra set, I'd
> love to talk with you about purchasing them.
> Jim

As I recall, "J. A. Stowe" was actually Rock Island PR man Ed Wojitas (sp?). A fairly-well known steam photographer during the late 50s-mid 60s era, he managed to raise the stakes in the Freeman Hubbard-Railroad Magazine "girly-photo-sweepstakes" with an infamous, purported to be "candid-from-a-dutch-door" shot of a young female "nature buff". Ol' Freeman published it, too! I heard he passed away in the late 1980s.

hpincus@mindspring.com

> As I recall, "J. A. Stowe" was
> actually Rock Island PR man Ed Wojitas
> (sp?). A fairly-well known steam
> photographer during the late 50s-mid 60s
> era, he managed to raise the stakes in the
> Freeman Hubbard-Railroad Magazine
> "girly-photo-sweepstakes" with an
> infamous, purported to be
> "candid-from-a-dutch-door" shot of
> a young female "nature buff". Ol'
> Freeman published it, too! I heard he passed
> away in the late 1980s.

Howard,
You are right with your identification of Ed Wojtas. He also served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the old Illini Railroad Club which was headquartered in Champaign, IL, and was founded and operated by the late Maury Klebolt. I believe that Ed also did a stint in PR for Amtrak early on. Ah for the good old days of riding in the "Chief Illini" behind 5632 somewhere on the "Q"......
Don C.

> Howard,
> You are right with your identification of Ed
> Wojtas. He also served as the
> Secretary/Treasurer of the old Illini
> Railroad Club which was headquartered in
> Champaign, IL, and was founded and operated
> by the late Maury Klebolt. I believe that Ed
> also did a stint in PR for Amtrak early on.
> Ah for the good old days of riding in the
> "Chief Illini" behind 5632
> somewhere on the "Q"......
> Don C.

Speaking of booklets on the Burlington steam excursion program, I recall a young man who published a booklet on the various steam locomotives used on fantrips by the Q up through the 4960/5632 era. Seems to me his first name was Jim but I could be wrong. A very nice booklet; my copy somehow has disappeared through the years. Anyone out there know about this booklet/author/availability?

Thanks!

Les Beckman (HVRM)

midlandblb@cs.com

The booklet I have is "The Northern and the Mike A tale of two locomotives", soft cover, printed by the Illini RR Club, J.A. Stowe author. Copyrighted 1966

Smokebox

"orhf dot org"

> The booklet I have is "The Northern and
> the Mike A tale of two locomotives",
> soft cover, printed by the Illini RR Club,
> J.A. Stowe author. Copyrighted 1966

> Smokebox

I remember that particular booklet but it is not the one I am talking about. The other one listed all of the steam locomotives used on diesel-era Burlington fantrips pre-dating the exclusive use of 4-8-4 #5632 and Mike #4960. It would have included at least one 4-6-0, a couple of Hudsons (including "Big Alice #4000), at least one other Northern and some other locomotives I believe. It IS possible it was also written by Mr. Stowe but that name does not ring a bell with me. Any other riders of the Q trips during that era remember?

Les


midlandblb@cs.com

> I remember that particular booklet but it is
> not the one I am talking about. The other
> one listed all of the steam locomotives used
> on diesel-era Burlington fantrips pre-dating
> the exclusive use of 4-8-4 #5632 and Mike
> #4960. It would have included at least one
> 4-6-0, a couple of Hudsons (including
> "Big Alice #4000), at least one other
> Northern and some other locomotives I
> believe. It IS possible it was also written
> by Mr. Stowe but that name does not ring a
> bell with me. Any other riders of the Q
> trips during that era remember?

> Les

Les,
I have one like you describe that was done by Harold Edmonson. He did one on the "Q" engines, a couple of more on the last days of regular service steam (mostly midwestern subjects) and "Mainline Mexico" which whetted my interest in Mexican steam. I think the title of one of the other booklets was something like "Steam's Way --- Across the Midwest" or something like that. I'll check when I get home tonight and try to post before I head to work on Saturday. The Burlington booklet was entitled "Steam on Q".
Don C.

milw261@comcast.net

> Les,
> I have one like you describe that was done
> by Harold Edmonson. He did one on the
> "Q" engines, a couple of more on
> the last days of regular service steam
> (mostly midwestern subjects) and
> "Mainline Mexico" which whetted my
> interest in Mexican steam. I think the title
> of one of the other booklets was something
> like "Steam's Way --- Across the
> Midwest" or something like that. I'll
> check when I get home tonight and try to
> post before I head to work on Saturday. The
> Burlington booklet was entitled "Steam
> on Q".
> Don C.

Don:

You are correct! Harold Edmonson was the author. Thank you very much for jarring my memory. Is Mr. Edmonson still around?

Les


midlandblb@cs.com

He is still around. In 2001 he was on the 2719 photo charter sponsered by Steve Glischinski (Mr. Edmonson helped me paint out all the white trip to make 2719 appear more authentic.) He also showed up for Glischinski's Diesel Railfan Weekend at the North Shore Scenic Railroad this past September.

Jeff Terry

> He is still around. In 2001 he was on the
> 2719 photo charter sponsered by Steve
> Glischinski (Mr. Edmonson helped me paint
> out all the white trip to make 2719 appear
> more authentic.) He also showed up for
> Glischinski's Diesel Railfan Weekend at the
> North Shore Scenic Railroad this past
> September.

> Jeff Terry

Les,
As Jeff said early, yes, Harold is still around and very much active in photographing steam. I see him several times a summer when one engine or another is out operating. Listed below are the titles that are in my library:

"Steam On Q"
copyright 1960

"Steam's Way ... across the midwest"
copyright 1961

"The Steam Fan Trip ... across the midwest"
copyright 1962

"Mainline Mexico"
copyright 1963

The list for the photo credits is a who's who of steam rail photographers:
Harold (of course), Frank Barry, Ray Buhrmaster, Burdell Bulgrin, Robert Collins, James Farrell, Charles Felstead, Victor Hand, Walter Krawiec, Fred Sankoff, Harry Stirton, Jim Boyd, Robert Caflisch, William Kratville, J. P. Lamb, Kenneth Zurn, Jim Scribbins, Ed Wojtas, Douglas Miller and on and on.

They are nifty little books, well written and very informative. I'm glad I "conned" my Dad out of a couple of extra bucks on the "Q" trips so that could purchase them.

Don C.

milw261@comcast.com