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Archiver > INDIANA > 1999-08 > 0933558236


From: "Howard T. (Tom) & Pam Green" <>
Subject: Re: [INDIANA-L] Re: Big Four & Railraods in Indiana & Illinois
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1999 21:43:56 -0400


The recent discussion of the Big Four has revealed a good bit of RR
knowledge on this list, so I'd like to venture a related question.

I have very little information about the birthplace and residences of my
father and his brothers. I believe that my grandfather, Shelby Walker,
may have been born in Orange Co., IN--year of birth 1885. My father,
Charles W. Walker, was born in Allendale, IL in 1917. Here is the
information which I have on my grandfather's job and the family
residences:

"Dad (Shelby) was a railroad section maintenance foreman working in
Patton and Allendale, IL and Claypool, IN, and Sidney, OH--all NY
Central Divisions. They worked on a bump system when work was slow."

Does anyone have any historical information about this railroad line?
Was it perhaps being constructed in the early 1900s? What would cause
work to be slow? Were the towns mentioned key railroading towns?

Any tidbits would be welcome. I've checked out railroad websites and
even written railroad historical societies with no results.

Pam Green

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