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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 01/30/1909

    1323 E. 5th St.

    Sedalia, Mo.

    January 30, 1909

    My Dear Son,

    …Well we have just got over a very severe cold blissard. It came the sudenest of anything I ever saw. At eight P.M. I went to sleep in bunk house with fine summer like weather. At 12:30 A.M. they called me with blissard rageing snowey and cold. The strongest wind I was ever in. I notified N.J. that engine 337 would not be able to make time on 5 against that strong cold wind. At Boonville agent came with message asking me if I would prefer the 284 or 473 to help me from Sedalia south. I told them 284 as she was passenger engine but they could not get her ready so I got the 473 to help us. But at Appleton City she got hot tank boxes. Had to stop and put in brass. Took 50 minutes in the cold strong winds so bad we could not keep torches light. After starting she got hot again and at Schell City we cut her out and left her their and went along to Parsons. Lost about 2 hours and 30 minutes on run. We done well alone considering the storm.

    At Nevada they had figured on giving us another helper. But could not get one in less then one hour. I thought I could beat that alone. I lost 30 minutes on run from there. Coming back we had Curtis with engine 288 to help us. She did not steam very good, but done well otherwise. We lost 20 minutes on run. He says it is the hardest run to make he ever saw.

    Mama says not to tell you about the cold spell. I presume she don't want you to know that she got left on its arrival as I had instructed her to always tell me when they was coming and I would lay off-that was once she was wrong.…

    We don't understand what you mean in your letter when you state you had better graduate 4 or 5 times and drain awer pocket book. Does getting an A.M. mean graduating and how much will it cost. But understand don't let the cost bother you. We are only to glad to pay it.…

    Your affectionate Father

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