Special movement, Kirkwood 1969

[princessclyne69]

There’s a slide on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Original-Slides-1969-C-EI-Chicago-Eastern-Illinois-43-Passenger-Train-MoPac/124132218604?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225074%26meid%3De68d6c2b90f146159f4ac07102cc9acc%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D124132380104%26itm%3D124132218604%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A66bb6716-7227-11ea-a5d8-74dbd180d0fa%7Cparentrq%3A2918a85b1710a9c45a3e0c5bfff8e392%7Ciid%3A1

Engine 43 is leading, with both extra lights illuminated and with flags. Headed westbound. I see at least nine coaches in the picture. Judging by the cars everywhere, there must have been a lot of boardings at Kirkwood.

Can anyone identify this special movement?

RG7

[princessclyne69]

Clarifying my own post, a set of eight slides, March 1969 on one slide mount.

RG7

[Brian Flynn]

This was the “George Washington Capitol Special” run on President’s Day 1969. Arranged by the American Association of Railroaders group run by Rich Eichhorst. Ran STL to Jefferson City with boarding available at KWD. 13 cars, all coaches. There were several hours at JEF to go up to the Capitol for a tour & see other sites around the area. Probably the last use of many of these cars before they went to Mexico or elsewhere. They just ran the power around the train at Jeff City and turned the seats in the train, those that worked.
Somewhere in the crowd at KWD is me at 13 years old preparing to board. Food was box lunch provided by the group, railroad was not involved. The lunches included an apple or orange. I can vouch from an empirical study conducted onboard with others that at 70 MPH an orange flushed down the toilet on the rear coach will bounce 2-3 times before disintegrating while an apple atomizes immediately upon impact with the roadbed.

[attachment=0:2dzfizix]IMG_9213.JPG[/attachment:2dzfizix]

Cliff Kierstead
MP 13 UP Jeff City Sub
Kirkwood, MO

[Bud Moss]

Cliff, do you know if this train possibly stopped at Washington? When I saw this photo I thought it might be the George Washington special, but was not sure. One time, and I do not recall the year, this special did stop in Washington and my brother and I helped my Dad, the Chamber of Commerce Executive VP, distribute a flyer about the city of Washington. I distinctly remember a fellow dressed up as George Washington. Jerry Michels

[Tony Cook]

I, too, rode the special from St. Louis Union station. Outbound, we were in the last coach. During the return trip we were in the first car behind the power. I can still remember watching the E unit’s upper headlight bounce around thru the door window of the coach. The coach was riding much smoother. Here is a pic that I took while the train laid over at Jeff City.

[Brian Flynn]

Cliff, do you know if this train possibly stopped at Washington? When I saw this photo I thought it might be the George Washington special, but was not sure. One time, and I do not recall the year, this special did stop in Washington and my brother and I helped my Dad, the Chamber of Commerce Executive VP, distribute a flyer about the city of Washington. I distinctly remember a fellow dressed up as George Washington. Jerry Michels

Yes, the train did stop in Washington and passengers had the opportunity to tour the corn cob pipe factory. I think they also had several musicians including an accordion that went throughout the train playing in each car and leading a singalong.

I can’t specifically remember for this trip but Rich often included a signature “Cannonball sundae” with his trips. Velvet Freeze dixie cups packed in dry ice, a splash of Hersheys chocolate syrup and a Maraschino cherry. Fun times!

[Author]

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