That's a good name for good 'old Parsons College. I have the experience of
attending that school from 5/65-2/67. One couldn't miss the town of Fairfield
with that large sign on the east lawn of the station. The positive thing I
remember is that I could ride 11/12 and 17/18 to and from Kewanee/Galesburg.
Since 17/18 was a reserved train, the conductor would let me ride in the
dome(s), instead of a regular coach seat. In winter the best seat was in the
obs dome where I could observe the signal lites(lights)(see how advertising has
affected the spelling of words) change from green to red and the motion of the
mars light! I even rode one Rock Island train to Rock Island, Il as a change of
scenery(only once, tho) but had to wait 3 hours for it to arrive. Now when I
ride Amtrak from Denver to Galesburg, and Galesburg to Denver, Fairfield, Ia is
just a wide spot on the road. The Parsons College sign and the Rock crossing
are both gone, but US 34 is still there. There was thick trees/weeds so was not
able to see if Gru Rue U was still standing.
----- Original Message -----
From: STEPHEN WYLDER
To: BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2002 9:57 PM
Subject: [BRHSlist] Albia depot and the "Capital City Limited."
I'm working on an article about a 24-hour trip I made in 1966, when I was 15:
RI No. 9, Iowa City-Des Moines; CB&Q mixed No. 28, Des Moines-Albia; Q No. 10,
Albia-Burlington; RI No. 201, Burlington-West Liberty; and back on No. 9 W.
Lib.-Iowa City.
The crew on board No. 28, the "Capital City Limited," told me that some of the
track I was riding on would soon be underwater. Were they right? I remember the
Albia station being red brick, but another source said it was wooden. The Albia
station made an impression on me because it appeared to be segregated--not by
race, but by sex--with the men's waiting room resembling the "colored" waiting
rooms of the South. I suspect this segregation wasn't enforced, but I wondered
whether a foreign anthropologist visiting the depot might have concluded that
America was a matriarchal society.
I recall a sign outside the Fairfield station proclaiming the town the "Home of
Parsons College--the notorious "Flunk-Out U." that later was sold to the
Maharishi.
Memory can play tricks after 35 years. I'd appreciate any help from the group.
Steve Wylder
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