Hi,
Recently over at RyPN, I finally found out about a book describing the MRS (Military Railway Service) of the US Army in WWII. It made no sense to me that all the military logistics were handled by trucks.
In the book
Railroading in Eighteen Countries 1953 by Carl R Gray Jr, I found out something that I'd seen before but never really noticed. The White Pass & Yukon always advertised itself as the White Pass and Yukon
Route not railroad or railway. Apparently the White Pass and Yukon Route was the holding company for three separate companies. The Pacific and Arctic Railway and Navigation Company in Alaska (a West Virginia Company), the British Columbia Yukon Railway Company in BC, Canada corporation for the British Columbia portion), and the British Yukon Railway Company Company (Canada) for the Yukon Territories portion. The White Pass and Yukon Route Company was a London, England company.
International railroading at its best.
When the MRS of the US Army (Transportation Corp) wanted to lease the WP&Y, Canadian Law prohibited foreign companies from doing business in Canada. Apparently a lot of juggling was done in Ottowa, CA which "legalized an illegal action."
We all know (more or less) that seven D&RGW K28s went to the White Pass. What I did not realize was another Colorado connection to the White Pass - "A very experienced Colorado & Southern narrow gauge operating Superintendent, Lieutenant Colonel W. P. Wilson, was chosen to command" the White Pass MRS operation.
Fascinating (raise one eyebrow).
I wonder what Wilson thought about when he saw the USA 250's working on the White Pass and if he had any thought about what mikes on the C&S narrow gauge would have done.
Doug vV
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Carrie Fisher quotes:
Instant gratification takes too long.
I was street smart, but unfortunately the street was Rodeo Drive.
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Luna Lovelace (Harry Potter):
I sleepwalk you know that's why I wear shoes to bed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2017 06:46AM by dougvv.
