Fifty Years on the Rail

Copyright 1912 by J. J. Thomas

The Knickerbocker Press, New York

To Frances
Who Made Me What I Am

CHAPTER I
EARLY DAYS. PLOUGHING THE ROOSTER

CHAPTER II
BEGINNING OF RAILROAD CAREER. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE

CHAPTER III
WAR INCIDENTS. INGENUITY AND MAKESHIFTS OF OUR SOUTHERN WOMEN

CHAPTER IV
WAR-TIME RAILROAD FARES AND OTHER KINDS OF FARES

CHAPTER V
PECULIAR ACCIDENTS. JOINS THE BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS

CHAPTER VI
A WRESTLING MATCH. NARROW ESCAPES

CHAPTER VII
"THE FLOOD." ELECTED CHIEF OF DIVISION AND DELEGATE TO GRAND INTERNATIONAL
DIVISION IN CHICAGO

CHAPTER VIII
MINES AND SNOW PEAKS OF COLORADO. THE WATER-BRAKE

CHAPTER IX
VISIT TO WESTINGHOUSE AIR-BRAKE SHOPS. ATLANTA AND ST. PAUL

CHAPTER X
RAILROAD RACES. GLIMPSES OF NEW YORK

CHAPTER XI
SIGHTSEEING IN CANADA; QUEBEC AND THE ST. LAWRENCE

CHAPTER XII
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY; HOBNOBBING WITH ROYALTY

CHAPTER XIII
YELLOW-FEVER SCARE. ST. LOUIS AND MILWAUKEE

CHAPTER XIV
ATTENDING A MASONIC CONCLAVE IN KENTUCKY. HISTORIC VIRGINIA

CHAPTER XV
LOS ANGELES CONVENTION; AN OCEAN GARDEN

CHAPTER XVI
MEMPHIS AND COLUMBUS. AT THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON

CHAPTER XVII
FRANCES ESTABLISHES A SCHOOL. SEA-SICKNESS NEARING HAVANA

CHAPTER XVIII
DETROIT AND NIAGARA. THE GOLDEN WEDDING

CHAPTER XIX
RETIREMENT. TRIBUTE TO BROTHER ENGINEERS

APPENDIX

SOME TECHNICAL POINTS EXPLAINED

SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNERS

ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ENGINEERS