The Altoona Tribune started in 1941 and was published weekly for several years. There were two columns relating to the railroad life. One was entitled "Past Events" and contained notes about events that the author, Ed. Semisch, had remembered. The second column was entitled "RailWays" and was considered the railway workers section of the newspaper. The following is from the "Past Events" column as printed in the Thursday, 30 October 1941 newspaper: Engineer William Babington, Sr., Fireman Sam Nelson, Conductor George Lamphear, and Head Brakeman Alfred Anders, with freight engine No. 317 were on second section time freight train No. 83 from Chicago on its way to Minneapolis, when engine No. 317 ran in on the N. W. Limited passenger engine No. 376 about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, 21 October 1919 on the west bound main line track east of the Altoona depot on the cross-over track. Engine No. 376 was backing down on its way to the coal shed. Engine No. 317 and a box car tipped over and the engine's tank was on the track. Engineer Babington and Fireman Sam Nelson were injured. Alfred Anderson fell into an empty gondola car but wasn't injured. Jake Jacobson, engine dispatcher was on passenger engine 376 but escaped injury. A side track had to be built so that trains could be moving east and west. Trains had to run from Fall Creek to Altoona on the east bound main line track until Friday afternoon, October 22nd. The St. Paul wrecker and the Altoona hand wrecker were called. Conductor John Bond, with freight engine No. 315 and caboose No. 6099 brought the St. Paul wrecker to Altoona. Both engines were taken to the St. Paul shops for repairs. Frank Walker, night yardmaster in Altoona for the Omaha R.R., was injured in the R.R. yards Friday night, 21 October 1927. There was a heavy snow storm in the state of Wisconsin, starting Saturday afternoon, 20 October 1917, and continued until Monday night, Oct. 22nd. A man was killed in Menomonie Junction on Friday morning, 21 October 1921, when he was struck by passenger engine No. 504 on local passenger train No. 16, on its way to Chicago. ++++++++++++ Does anyone know where Menomonie Junction is? -- Nance Sampson Eau Claire Co. Mail List Owner mailto:[email protected]