long ago memories
Posted by GAP
on 10/28/2018, 7:42 pm
In 1954 my aunt and uncle built a house north of Parchment. One Sunday when I was visiting them I heard a train whistle not too far away. My uncle pointed across a field and told me to keep watching. Soon I saw a small steam engine a few cars chugging past that open field. My uncle explained that it was the Chicago Kalamazoo & Saginaw line heading northeast toward Richland Junction and then on to Doster, Neeley and Hooper. I saw that train make its weekly run many times after that, either on Friday evening or Sunday afternoon always with just a few cars, four, maybe six at the most. Eventually the steamer, an 0-6-0, was replaced by an SW-1 and the sound of the steam whistle was replaced by the diesel horn. Alas, this is all gone now, but I am told that the lumber yard in Doster still has a weather worn sign warning brakemen of the close clearance between the track and the building.
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