Wm. K. Walthers sponsored a charter to the first post WW-II NMRA convention, Oakland California in 1947. Origin Chicago. Westbound via CB&Q, D&RGW, WP. Return by ATSF. Pullmans, including an observation for his-honor and VIPs, diner, one coach. At Denver, the lone coach passenger was given an upper bunk, and the coach wandered home.
Included was a day roundtrip to Marshall Pass.
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Bit of background. After following father around during the war, we returned to Seattle in Spring of 1945. I started delivering The Seattle Times, and discovered "money". Spent it on Lucious Beebe / Charles Clegg books. So I was ready for the Summer of 1947
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A Speed-Graphic type took several formal photos along the way. I bought a set and later gave then to the NMRA library in Chattanooga.
One shot was our locomotive for the day and all of us, on the covered turntable.
Another was the Pullman observation, plus many of us. Mr. Walthers is easy to spot. Yes, he wore full business formal every day. Wonder if Al Kalmbach was there?
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In Summer, 1949, I partook of RGS and D&RGW during a one-way very-long-ticket from Seattle to Machias, Maine college surveying school. I was the only passenger on the Goose that day.
The itch lay dormant until my retirement days.