Dave, no help but an offer of thanks to you and others who take the time to
write. I'm looking forward to being able someday to put down some of what I've
accumulated on Keokuk/K-line ops for public consumption.
Duncan
----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Lotz
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Cc: fgexbill@tampabay.rr.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 12:30 PM
Subject: [CBQ] BREX, WFE & FGE Info Sought
Dear Burlington Route enthusiasts:
I am in the process of writing what I hope will be the definitive history of
Burlington Refrigerator Express, Western Fruit Express, and Fruit Growers
Express from the steam era through the early diesel era culminating in 1957
when the last "Ice Bunker" cars were purchased. I have accumulated many
original source materials for both Western Fruit and Fruit Growers,
including Annual Reports, correspondence, and other kinds papers from FGE &
WFE's formation through 1957. Other materials include scans of "Teamwork,"
the FGE/WFE/BRE employee magazine first published in December 1949. I have
also collected about 800 photographs of FGE/WFE/BRE rolling stock and scenes
depicting their reefers operations.
Unfortunately, despite great help from people like Hol Wagner, Jim Singer,
Rich Townsend, and Al Hoffman, I am still lacking substantial original
source materials related to Burlington Refrigerator Express, thus limiting
what I can write about the history of BRE and their partnership with FGE and
WFE from the CB&Q/ BRE perspective. I do have the Burlington Bulletin issue
devoted to BRE but that is pretty much it. I have explored the Newberry
Library, Minnesota State Historical Archives, Northwestern University
Transportation Library etc. for information, mostly to no avail. With this
message, I am trying to cast my net in a new direction and reach out to
interested and knowledgeable individuals.
Among the resources I am trying to access are:
1.) CB&Q correspondence and other company materials related to the
considerations by company officials to form BRE circa 1921-1926
2.) Original BRE (and CB&Q related to BRE) materials from 1926 through 1957
including but not limited to Annual Reports, correspondence, Perishable
Schedules, maps, etc.
3.) Photographs of rolling stock, facilities, scenes of operations like
icing, installing heaters, loading and unloading refrigerator cars, etc,
from personal/private collections. I have gleaned the various archives,
libraries, and commercial venders for photographs and have left "no stone
unturned," but I am aware that there are people who may have items I have
never seen that would aid in telling the story of FGE/WFE/BRE. I hope these
people would allow me access to their collection for these treasures. Credit
will certainly be given.
My contact information is below if you can help me. Thank you for taking
time to read this message!
Best regards,
Bill Welch
2225 Nursery Road; #20-104
Clearwater, FL 33764-7622
727.470.9930
fgexbill@tampabay.rr.com <mailto:fgexbill@tampabay.rr.com>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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