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"Old Beck"
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Wikipedia Article
Old Beck was the nickname
of a train engine that ran on
Rock Island Railroad’s
25-mile branch between
Shawnee, Oklahoma
and
Asher, Oklahoma.
History of the
Branch
Three corporations operated the Shawnee-Asher branch during its
40-year history. The first five miles, from Shawnee to Tecumseh (which at this
time was the county seat), was built in 1896 by the Tecumseh Railway Co. Cost of
construction was not recorded. On
October 12, 1900 the
Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf (CO&G) bought the property and franchise for $12,000
and promptly built 20 more miles of railroad to extend the branch to Asher, up
to the bank of the South Canadian River. Cost of the extension is recorded as
$422,873. Rock Island took over operations on March 24, 1904. Total investment
in the branch over the years is estimated at $451,103.
Route
The branch began in Shawnee and traveled through Thackery,
Tecumseh, Romulus and Pearson before arriving in Asher. In its prime, Old Beck
would arrive in Asher at 4:00 each day carrying goods, groceries pharmaceuticals
and the like. The train would stay the night in Asher and leave early the next
morning carrying cotton, wood, cattle and passengers back to Shawnee.
Decline
In the oil boom days of 1927 through 1930, Old Beck ran every day
and freights shuttled as often as five times daily down to Tecumseh, Pearson and
Asher. However, starting in 1936, Rock Island reported operating deficits.
Passenger transportation dwindled, down to none in 1940.
The train schedule was reduced to three days a week until May 8,
1939, when only one weekly trip was made. Toward the end, the train only came
out on call—when enough freight accumulated or
there was a special
request. Service on the branch ended February 10, 1942.
Photo Gallery
Click each
thumbnail for a larger picture. Use your browsers back button to return to
this page.
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Dan Wycoff, Agent at Pearson |
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Wycoff recalled in an interview with The Oklahoman a day when his telegraph “buzzed all day long.” |
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Seven who know her best... |
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FH Grimes (shops night foreman), "Gus" Shock (engineer), Robert Archer (fireman), George Pretty (Supt. at Shawnee shops), JA Gordon (machinist), S Myton (conductor on Asher line), L Sterret (switchman)
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Rock Island Train Depot |
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Located on what is now U.S. Highway 177, between Main Street and State Highway 39. Mr. Rodgers was the Stationmaster. |
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References
1. "Old
Beck's Last Gasp", p. 62, The Oklahoman, 01 February 1942.
2.
"Looking Back...",
p. 2, Wanette Newsletter, January 1988.
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