Re: [CBQ] freight room writing on the wall

["Dave Lotz via groups.io" <Dave_Lotz=bellsouth.net@groups.io>]

All,

 

We are hoping to arrange to spend time in this depot during the Annual Meet in September!

 

Dave Lotz

2026 Annual Meet Host

 

From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> On Behalf Of Ken Vandevoort via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2026 10:00 AM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: Re: [CBQ] freight room writing on the wall

 

The good news is that the freight room walls were left the way they were when the depot was moved to our Dover Museum in New London.  They will never be painted.  I just noticed that W. W. Stout appears in both photos with different dates.  

 

Since Pilot Grove  was too small to ever have a newspaper, I'll probably go back to checking the West Point Bee microfilm.  Railroads frequently advertised local passenger service and included the agent's name.

 

When I have nothing else to do, I plan to take a photoflood to brighten up the walls and take photos of all the names.

 

Last Friday, we had about 50 local 2nd graders make their annual trip to visit our museum.  We take them to the depot and explain what a depot is and why every town with a railroad had one.  (Their parents don't even know).  Dustin Bachtell, BNSF conductor and MIdwest Central steam engineer, gave them an Operation Lifesaver briefing and Sly Fox and Birdie coloring books.  They were taught how to send their first names on a telegraph key and given a tour of the railroad hardware on display in the freight room.  Before they left, we removed a sheet covering a table and every kid could pick out an HO car and a piece of track.  We need to replace ourselves someday.

 

Ken

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