I’ve decided that I wasn’t hard enough on that dog of a book I read last time.  Especially since reading this latest book by Dennis Boyer, Prairie Whistles: Tales of Midwest Railroading, published by Trails Books, Black Earth, Wisconsin, 2001.  Now here we get fun to read stories with information and ideas that we can use.

 The author says, “Many rail families treat their rail stories like treasured heirlooms, preserving them with reverence and pride.”  He has gone around the upper Midwest and harvested these gems from retired railroad employees, their families and friends.  And the eras and equipment run the gamut.

One story (Pay attention, Dan, here’s an operating session idea.) is about how a drunken yard worker takes a GP on a early morning joyride out of LaCrosse on a dare from his date.  Then there’s a great description of handling livestock and the role and development of the Drovers caboose.  There’s Red Joe, who made a career out of working at a tie plant in the U. P.  His story is basically the history of Escanaba.  “You might say tie makers and tie handlers were the original Yoopers, if’n you don’t count Chippewas, which’n you better.”

You can always hear the story-teller’s own voice; it’s very personal.  So let’s “sit down on the bench outside of the Manitowoc Maritime Museum” and listen to their tales.  This book is very refreshing, or, as Red Joe would put it, “like the second coming of Jesus on the ice cream truck.”

 For all of you Green Bay & Western fans, and who of you ain’t, the inaugural issue of The Route from the new Green Bay & Western Preservation Group has been received by yours truly.  They’ve got a good thing started.  The newsletter introduces us to the editors and the goals of the Group.  They include articles giving histories of the Green Bay Route, particular pieces of equipment, and modeling tips and ideas.  Through their affiliation with the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society, they already have a car available.  I’m enjoying this group and feel that it is well worth subscription.  I hope that I’ll get to see and meet them at future shows and meets.