Post by dunbar on Jun 14, 2018 13:29:10 GMT -5
I'm bringing my 90 year old father to PA to visit the haunts of his father's family. His grandfather was an Engineer on the PS&LE who died in 1895 driving Engine No. 32 a Ten Wheeler at Elk Creek Gorge. His great grandfather was an Engineer for the Erie for over 50 years and survived his son. I'm picking my dad up in Cleveland at the airport and we will go to Conneaut RR Museum and Harbor to start our tour. We will go to Girard to see where the track crosses Elk Creek Gorge. His family lived in Meadville and we will see the house they lived in. My dad helped move out of the house when his grandmother dies in 1948 and we have lots of furniture from the house. We will see the cemetery where our ancestors are interred there too. Dad remembers going to a relatives place on Conneaut Lake where his dad cut ice in the winter as a boy. Of course we will go to Greenville where his grandfather lived at the time of his death in 1895. We will see the museum there and as much as we can of the shops and old roundhouse from public roads. With the demise of the message board I'm reaching out to you guys who smartly joined here. I sure wish others had migrated here too before it's crash but I guess they are too old fashioned to appreciate a modern forum. Please contact me with suggestions on rail-fanning the B&LE as we will have at least 2 days in the vicinity.
Does anyone know if the Greenville museum has records from the B&LE? My father plans to call to see if staff can research anything pertaining to his grandfather. Attached is the front page of the Shenango Valley News with the article of my great grandfathers death. Top center titled, "Died at his Post". Also attached is the telegram to his relation in Meadville about sending a special to bring family to Greenville the day of the wreck. My dad tells the story he was told years ago by his father. His grandfather, George Frank Dunbar the PS&LE engineer, told his wife that he was testing new equipment on the newly acquired Pittsburg Locomotive Works engine No 32 that was designed to help it take curves at higher speed. I have seen doubtful looks when I have mentioned this before but know no reason why his widow would make us such a story. No 32 was involved in 2 accidents in which the engineers died. It was renumbered later to No 42 and scrapped in 1923 as seen on Fallen Flags steam roster. B&LE Steam
Who can I contact by email or phone that could help me with info that can help plan this trip? I'll give my email and phone in private message to avoid spam storms.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
David Dunbar
Does anyone know if the Greenville museum has records from the B&LE? My father plans to call to see if staff can research anything pertaining to his grandfather. Attached is the front page of the Shenango Valley News with the article of my great grandfathers death. Top center titled, "Died at his Post". Also attached is the telegram to his relation in Meadville about sending a special to bring family to Greenville the day of the wreck. My dad tells the story he was told years ago by his father. His grandfather, George Frank Dunbar the PS&LE engineer, told his wife that he was testing new equipment on the newly acquired Pittsburg Locomotive Works engine No 32 that was designed to help it take curves at higher speed. I have seen doubtful looks when I have mentioned this before but know no reason why his widow would make us such a story. No 32 was involved in 2 accidents in which the engineers died. It was renumbered later to No 42 and scrapped in 1923 as seen on Fallen Flags steam roster. B&LE Steam
Who can I contact by email or phone that could help me with info that can help plan this trip? I'll give my email and phone in private message to avoid spam storms.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
David Dunbar
