Window to the Past

By Robert Holdgreve, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, August 18, 2008 (3 months, 2 weeks ago)
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B. & O. Locomotives Are Dolled Up
Are railway locomotives to follow the example of the automobile industry in the matter of style and color? Will the various makes of locomotives vie with each other in the matter of lines and artistic decorations in the future?
Twenty new locomotives, which will be delivered to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad next week by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, will be painted olive green, striped with red and gold and put into service on the passenger trains between Washington and New York.
So far as is known, this is the only railroad to change in recent years of its locomotives from the usual somber black.
The new color scheme was adopted in order to have the whole train harmonize.
Delphos Herald, April 2, 1927

Defiance Wants Delphos Branch Extended North
The Defiance Crescent News sees possibilities as follows regarding the development of the Delphos branch of the C. H. & D. under the ownership of John Ringling:
“Some time ago, the old C. H. & D. Railroad Company passed out of existence, becoming the Toledo-Cincinnati division of the Baltimore & Ohio. A small branch extending from Dayton to Delphos was not purchased by the B. & O. Company. This was recently purchased by John Ringling, the circus man who has incorporated a new company under the title, Dayton, Toledo and Chicago Railway Company, and will operate the line independently.
“This branch of the C. H. & D. which now bears the new name, covers a considerable stretch of country between Dayton and Delphos, passing through Celina and a number of good towns. It extends north of Delphos almost to Oakwood. The section north of Delphos has been in bad condition for years, in fact the entire line has been in bad condition for years, in fact the entire branch has been allowed to decay, but the new owner expects to build it up and also operate the small piece from Delphos to Mandale.
“By looking at the map it can be seen that if this line was extended north just a few miles, it would reach Defiance. This would connect it with the B. & O. into Chicago and the Wabash into Toledo. It may be that the owner had this thought in view.
Delphos Herald, Sept. 21, 1917

Conductor Has Fight With Two Hobos
Geo. Maxham, a conductor on the west end of the Clover Leaf, is confined to his home in Charleston by injuries received in a fight with two hobos on his train a few nights ago. Mr. Maxham found two coal miners in a car at Donnelson and told them that he could not allow them to ride, as the company’s orders were very rigid in that line. They refused to leave and he went into the car to make them leave. One of the thugs struck him and Mr. Maxham returned the compliment by striking the fellow over his “think tank” with his lantern, breaking the glass. At this point, the other thug interfered, and the two picked Mr. Maxham up and threw him out the car onto the hard frozen ground and he rolled into a pool of water. The fall injured him severely, for while no bones were broken, he is very sore.
Delphos Herald, Feb. 25, 1905

Low Fares To Western States
Very low one-way colonists tickets to Western destinations on sale by agents of the Clover Leaf Route on Feb. 21 and March 21, 1905. Rates slightly in excess of one-half the regular one-way fare, plus $2.00 to points in Kansas, Missouri, Indian Territory, Oklahoma Territory, Texas, Louisiana and Colorado. Get information of agents of the Clover Leaf Route, or address W. L. Ross, General Passenger Agent, Toledo, Ohio.
Delphos Herald, Feb. 25, 1905

Visited Former Delphos Residents Out West
Joseph Droll, who has been visiting a number of former Delphos residents who are now in Oklahoma Territory, is home again. He called on the Ben German family and found them happy and contented in their new home. He also called on Mr. Hemphling and C. J. Lindeman. August Wehres has a fine farm and is doing well. He threshed 1,500 bushels of nice wheat. Mr. Lindeman is doing well in Oklahoma and is well pleased with his new home.
Delphos Herald, Aug. 29, 1901

Wood Used For Fire Starting at Clover Leaf Shop
If one could only realize how much kindling wood is used in a week’s time at a railroad shop, like that of the Clover Leaf in Delphos for starting fire under locomotive boilers, it would be a source of wonderment as to where all the wood came from. Until recently, the mills and factories in this area, were able to supply the necessary kindling for this purpose, but now it is necessary to transport wood from the south in the Mississippi territory where timber is more plentiful. At the Delphos shop fully a car load a week is used. Oak, hickory, ash, etc., is used. The Clover Leaf keeps several car loads on hand all the time.
Delphos Herald, Feb. 17, 1911

R. R. Hints of Splendid Improvement
Clover Leaf has $35,000 to $40,000 for a new depot. Master mechanic Michael Marea attended the meeting of the Commercial Club Friday evening and addressed the members on the subject of continued boosting for Delphos and getting things that will make for the continued improvement of the city.
At the very start he assured the members that he was not seeking a bonus or subsidy.
For many years, Delphos had dreams of a union depot proposition at Second and Washington streets, embracing the ground opposite the city building from the west and north alley to Washington and Second streets. At the present time the Ohio Electric Company (Traction Line) owns a part of the ground and the remainder occupied by small frame buildings, has been bought by parties who are ready to turn it over for depot purposes at the same figure they paid for it. The present owners bought the ground as an investment, having no idea of the union depot proposition.
Delphos Herald, Feb. 11, 1911

Pennsylvania Wreck About Two Miles West Of Delphos
Fourteen persons were hospitalized Sunday evening as a result of a train accident which took place about two miles west of Delphos on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The accident took place at about 6:20 p.m.
The accident occurred when the locomotive of the crack “Rainbow” passenger train crashed into the rear of the “Golden Arrow.” Both trains were going west at the time. Although both were behind schedule, neither was traveling fast at the time. The Rainbow had been on the sidetrack just before the accident to let the Golden Arrow go ahead.
The exact cause of the crash is not definitely known. Most of those who were taken to the hospital were patrons or workers in the dining cars. Three were taken to the Van Wert Hospital and 11 to St. Rita’s.
Since the trains were not traveling fast, the force of the impact was not great, and as a result, the wheel of only one car was derailed. An engine was sent out from Fort Wayne and pulled the Rainbow back into Delphos. Those who had minor injuries were examined and treated at the Beckman Hotel. A total of 62 persons were examined.
The Harter ambulance was called and Paul Harter, local Red Cross disaster chairman, called local physicians, members of the Delphos Civilian Defense Auxiliary Police and the State Highway patrol Auxiliary who went to aid in any way possible. The Jauman-Kolkmeyer ambulance was also used.
Removing the injured was a most difficult job. It was necessary to travel almost a mile through snowbound fields to get to the scene. Sightseers who attempted to get to the accident by automobile got stuck in snowdrifts and slowed up the rescue work considerably.
Miss Betty Myers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Myers, was a passenger on the Rainbow. She was returning to St. Marys College. She was not injured and returned to her home here.
Delphos Herald, Feb. 5, 1945

School Board Favors Underpass
The Board of Education of the Delphos City School District has passed a resolution favoring the construction of an underpass at one of the railroad crossings in the city. The board favors the proposed underpass as a means of protecting the lives of school children.
The resolution states that the school board operates four school buses that must cross the Pennsylvania twice each day with a load of 30 to 45 children. The underpass would provide a safe route for the buses traveling to and from schools in the city.
The underpass idea already has considerable support and every effort is being made to bring the matter to a definite head in the near future.
Delphos Herald, Feb. 1945

Canal Boats To Be Towed Through Delphos By Electricity
Construction work has been started on the Miami & Erie Canal Railway. This traction line, reference to which has been made earlier, is one of the most unique in the world. A number of men are at present grading the towpath along the canal and in a few days a portion of the track will be laid. The Miami & Erie Transportation Company that will operate this railway is largely made up of Cleveland men.
The canal traverses the entire state, connecting Toledo with Cincinnati. The country is thickly populated and there is consequently a large volume of freight to be handled. In the past the canal has been used to a limited extent only owing to the difficulties encountered in the old method of towing the boats.
The motor cars will not be handsome. They are built for service. They will be equipped with 150 horsepower motors and will be strong enough to haul ten heavily-loaded canal boats at a speed of ten miles per hour. This speed will not be maintained, however, as the state charter stipulates a uniform speed of four miles per hour. The two cars will be seven feet, ten inches long and will be about five feet, six inches from floor to roof. A brass railing will extend down both sides, by which operators may hang in safety when it is necessary to work outside the car.
The wheels will be of standard gauge and the rails will weigh 75 pounds to the yard. Eighteen of the cars described will be built at once. Contracts for two smaller cars will be used in pulling the boats under bridges in Cincinnati that are too low for the ordinary motor car.
Each of the larger cars will weigh 30 tons. They will receive power from the Edison Lighting Company and will be operated by them.
Delphos Herald, Aug. 27, 1901

Special Excursions to Landeck, Ohio
Special excursions to Landeck, Ohio via the Clover Leaf Route, Sunday, July 31, 1904. Catholic Church Dedication at Landeck, (between Delphos and Venedocia.)

William S. Alspach, a fireman on the P. F. Railroad, was recently sent from Fort Wayne to Cleveland where he will fire on the C. & P.

The Pennsylvania is short of locomotive firemen and is looking for good men for the vacancies. The old rule of not accepting experienced men will still be followed, the company being of the opinion that is can do better with men educated by its engineers.
Delphos Herald, July 27, 1904

The “Electric Mule”
Since the wrecking of the bulkhead yesterday, many are led to remark that perhaps the promoters of the ill-fated “electric mule” are back of the scheme to blow up the reservoir and thus have the way to its early abandonment, says the St. Marys Leader. Several things have happened along the canal of late, involving damages to the locks, aqueducts, etc., which would lead to this conclusion. Nothing would have a stronger tendency to bring the canal into disfavor with a legislative than a heavy bill for repairs, and what can produce the need for repairs at a livelier rate than dynamite?
We sincerely believe that should the identify of the man who used dynamite at the bulkhead ever be revealed, it will be found that he is in the employ of those who are bent upon stealing Ohio’s waterways.
Delphos Herald, May 6, 1905

Locomotive “Conversation”
The way locomotives “talk” is after this fashion:  If trainmen should hear two long blasts from the whistle, he would know it was a request for releasing the air brakes and that everything ahead was all right.
Four short blasts of about a quarter of a second each would be instructions to the car brakeman to go back with a red flag and protect his train from collision. Something had happened ahead which had required holding it up. While the flagman is making haste to the rear, he hears four long toots of the whistle, the engine telling him that the tracks have been cleared and that he is to return to the train as fast as his legs can carry him.
If a train on approaching a signal finds it at danger, the engineer comes to a stop, and after waiting a reasonable time for orders which did not come, he gives four short snorts of the whistle, which gets the attention of the towerman or others whose signal is holding the train up. Sometimes an engineer will become impatient and the first four blasts will be followed by four others, only a few seconds apart. He does not see why he should be kept waiting and shows this by way of the whistle.
Three long whistles, when the train is underway, tells that a coupler has broken and the train has been cut in two. This calls for hasty and careful attention. If the first section is stopped too suddenly, the rear one is liable to crash into it.
Delphos Herald, Jan. 19, 1911

The Rancher And The Railroad Lawyer
A big city lawyer was representing the railroad in a lawsuit filed by an old rancher over the loss of his prize bull. He only wanted to be paid the fair market value of the bull.
The attorney for the railroad cornered the rancher to get him to settle out of court. Finally the rancher agreed to settle for half the amount he asked for.
After the rancher signed the release and took the check, the young lawyer said, “I hate to tell you this, old man, but I put one over on you. When the train went through your ranch, the engineer was asleep. I could not have won.”
The old rancher replied, “Well, I was worried about winning the case myself, until that darned bull came home this morning.”

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