May 2006                                                                The Megaphone                                                                    Page 8

A Smile in My Memory

by Gurtha Cabbage

  While I was walking one sunny day, she caught my eye with her smile. She was sitting on the ground, and looked up and smiled as I walked closer. I could not help but approach her warmly. Her pleasant childhood was apparent in her face. A face which appeared happy, funny, and a little dirty. She must have been playing in the sand. So she is a child of fun.

  
  She moved her lips as if to say something to me, then tucked her little head as she grinned. She then moved her left hand to emphasize a point, towards the playground where slides, swings, and monkey bars stood urbanized in the sand. I was pleased to see her smiling at me. I patted her head for sharing
her happy day with me.

  
  This inspiring event happened this Spring. A time when flowers are in bloom. It is a time of awakening. A little girl's smile forever in my memory.

Gurtha Cabbage

Southern Indiana

HO Gauge LE&W

by Bob Hinshaw

  With the mention of a new model railroad club in Yuma, Arizona, Bob Hinshaw sent several posts about his HO gauge layout from years ago. He consented to allowing them to be published in the Megaphone. Thanx, Bob. 

 You brought back memories of an HO layout I had In Elwood. It was 4'x8' of the Elwood Nickel Plate RR depot, switching tracks, etc., with the Pennsylvania RR crossing. 

  At that time everything was "Hand Built" from kits by Mantua, passenger, freight cars, locomotives, etc., switches were "Hand Built" which was fun. I had a 0-4-0 switcher, I called it my little Puffer, also a 4-8-4 Baldwin, the likes of which the Nickel line nor the people of Elwood would every see, but it hauled the freight thru Elwood and the little Puffer would do the switching and make-up different freight cars for the next trip thru Elwood. I had a diesel locomotive to haul the passenger cars, which occupied a spur on the Pennsy tracks. That Baldwin had a brass boiler and was a beauty. 

  My line was called the "LE&W" (Leave Early and Walk) which at one time the Nickel RR was called. The spurs had pop-ups to uncouple the cars and that was fun. Gosh, what memories!!! I just wish I could be with your club and you to help with that layout. If possible and time permits, keep me posted.

  I can see Howard Cavan, the station agent, standing outside the station and holding messages on a long stick, that was picked off the stick by the engineer or fireman depending which way the train was going. I forgot to say that Howard smoked a pipe and used Bull Durham tobacco. As I said before. "What memories."

  My layout I had a hill blocking out Copher's, that's where I hid the passenger train while switching the freight cars. Gee Gosh -- that was fun.

  I HAD some pictures but they were lost when we moved from Elwood. You might add this -- I mentioned that I had the Pennsy track (one track) with a Y interchange with LE&W -- it was so I could take the east bound trains behind the "hill" and use the "puffer" to pull freight cars from the north side of the Pennsy track into the switching area. If my rambling on about my RR makes any sense, be my guest and a BIG thanks to you.

The Ol' Pillroller,

Bob Hinshaw '40   

The Senior Prom

by Frank Jameson, Jr.

  Does the Elwood High School have the Senior prom in May? The High Schools around our area are talking about the Senior proms and I remember our Senior Prom and I have a picture of me and my date for the big night. As hard as I could talk, her father said she had to be home by midnight, I said I was a good driver and didn't drink and would take good care of her. Finally he said they were leaving for Chicago early the next morning.

  We went to the dinner and dance in the Panther Den then the movie and I drove her home around midnight.

After I drove her home I went to the Elwood Country Club for the all night dance where some of my buddies and there dates were having a good time.

  One buddy was drinking and  getting drunk and his girl was getting mad at him, so I talked him into letting me drive him home, (dad was mad when I rang the door bell around 3:00). After I got him home I went back to the dance to take his girl home who lived in Frankton and after a few dances I drove her home. We were to become very close friend and we would write while I was in the Navy and date when home on leave, I did receive the Dear John letter when I was oversea.

  Best go for now. Hope the picture comes thru OK.

Frank Jameson Jr & Ardella Shipley, 1956 Senior Prom

Frank Jameson, Jr. '56

Woodburn, OR

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