Grant Rumple, who was a yardmaster at Eola was previously a motorman on the
CA&E. Heard second-hand, from switch foreman/conductor Wade Gorman, that he
was the motorman on the new St. Louis cars (# 451-#460 delivered in 1946)
when they went on a shake down cruise on the Aurora branch prior to entering
regular revenue service. One of the officials riding the train was
interested in seeing what the new cars could do, so Grant showed them, west
of Warrenville - reported in excess of 100 MPH when they finally backed-off
due to rough track! I'll bet that was a thrill!
Bob
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