In answer to livestock train operation 1945 to 1955. I hired out as
a clerk on the Wymore Division extra board in 1956 when livestock
traffic had disappeared.
The territory listed is primarily on the former Wymore Division.
Wymore - Crete Handled by daily except Sunday freight Nos. 93-94
Fairmont - Helvey Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mixed train
Fairmont - Hebron Monday, Wednesday and Friday mixed train
Bemedict to Clay Center Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mixed from
Stromsburg (Lincoln Division)
Edgar to Nelson operated as Wymore-DeWitt-Edgar-Nelson mixed
train, tie up at Nelson Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Edgar-Holdrege tri-weekly mixed
Lincoln-Nebraska City, Nebraska-Tecumseh tri-weekly mixed
Locals handled all the traffic on these lines, doubtful if more than
1 to 3 loads of livestock were ever loaded at one time at any
stations on these lines, so it should have not been a problem to
handle. Grain was the largest commodity handled, often the
Holdrege-Dewitt train was double headed with 4-4-2s. All the other
lines were handled by 4-6-0's and 4-4-2s. I don't recall any one
ever discussing moving traffic from one train to another at
crossing points.
The line from Red Cloud through Superior and Wymore to St. Joseph
carried livestock trains until the early 1950's, mostly livestock
off the two Kansas branches. Red Cloud and Superior were probably
the most active along the line. The livestock trains over this line
were handled at passenger train speed and only picked up at several
stations. Empty stock cars were westbound the first part of every
week to be distributed, with loads eastbound the following weekend
to St. Joseph and Kansas City. Operation of these trains ended in
1952. There may have been a few livestock trains on the DeWitt to
Holdrege route, but I never heard anyone discussing it.
I went through the Wymore Authority For Expenditure (AFE) from 1917
to 1969 and noticed the railroad began tearing down livestock pens
at some of the smaller stations as early as the late 1930's as they
were no longer being used. Nearly every station had stock pens,
their size was dictated by the demand, cattle ranches were mainly
west of Superior in the early part of the century. Prior to better
roads cattle buyers working out of St. Joseph rode passenger trains
to the area raising cattle, rented a horse and buggy to reach the
farms to look over the cattle and bargain with the farmer on the
price. They were interested in building a solid train of livestock
which could be handled as easy as one or two cars on a local
freight. Mikados were generally used on these trains from Red Cloud
to St. Joseph.
Burlington Bulletin No. 25 carried an very interesting and
informative story on livestock traffic by Hol Wagner.
I hope this answers you inquiry, if not, please advise.
Richard Kistler
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