The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-13
SANTA FE OLD TIMERS
Interesting History Of Old Days Told
in TOpekans' Biographies.

A bit of interesting history of the
early day railroading Of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe railway, is told in
the sketches of two veteran Topeka
engineers, Amos Beeler and Charles E.
Jewell, which will appear tomorrow in
the Santa Fee magazine.
The articles read:
Amos Beeler. engineer, Eastern divi-
sion, has rounded out thirty-three years
of service with the Santa Fe, having
entered the company's employ in
March. 1881. in the water service de-
partment in Topeka. In June of the
same year he was transferred to the
store department., and in March, 1882,
he was transferred to the mechanical
department. He served as a wiper in
the roundhouse until June. 1882, at
which time he became Waterman of a
work train engine for the veteran en-
Sineer, Dan Finn, with whom he re-
manned until March. 1883. when he was
promoted to be a fireman.
Shortly after his promotion an order
was issued to take out of the service all
firemen who were minors and Beeler
gain was given the engine to watch
until he reached the age of twenty-One
years. the following September. He
service on the Topeka Niclzerson run.
en- engine Col. Holiday No. L. with
the well known engineer. Bill Rain,
with whom he worked until February
Is. 1887.
At that time Beeler was promoted to
the throttle and began running a switch
engine in the Topeka yards. The fol-
lowing July he was sent out on con-
struction train on the EnglewoOd
branch. When this branch was COM
pleted he was sent back to Topeka and
ran an engine until July, 1881, at which
time he began the work of "breaking
in overhauled and new engines. He
continued in that position until Novem-
Der, 1905, when he went into passenger
service on trains Nos 1. 2, and be-
tween Topeka and Marceline. Mo. At
present he is running trains Nos. and
6 from Kansas City to Newton.
Reelers experience as an engineer
commentaries the opening of the
Oklahoma territory. On February 21,
1889, he left the roundhOuse with an
engine recently overhauled, for Ar
kansas City, picking up seventeen
coaches at Florence. On the morning
OF the twenty-secOnd he arrived in
Arkansas City about o'clock. Nearly
mile away from the depot he was
stopped by string of trains ahead of
him, all filled with passengers who
were going to the promised land in
| Oklahoma. Before he got to the
depot the cars he had were loaded.
| even the tops of the coaches being
| filled with eager landseekers. Beeler
| says it was a great sight, one which he
never will forget
Beeler was porn on september b,
! 1862, in Canton, Ohio, going to Kansas
with his parents in February, 1870.
and he has resided in Topeka ever
since that time.
| Engineer Charles E. Jewell began
his railroad career with the Santa Fe
at Rock Creek, Kan. on January 1,
| 1879, as a section man. under Edward
Finton. 1t did not take long for the
men higher up to recognize his ability,
! for after one years time he was made
| section foreman at Meriden. Kan, un-
] der L. Norton, roadmaster. He served
| in this capacity from 1880 to 1883. On
July "a, 1888, he was transferred to
| Los Lunas, n. NJ, as foreman of an
extra gang, where he remained until
| August. 1884, when he entered the
! blacksmith shop in Topeka. In July,
! 1885. he was transferred to the round
| house as hostler. March, 1887, found
! him a locomotive fireman.
! After firing out of Topeka for one
| year Yewell was transferred to EN-
(; poria, where he fired for Engineer Bill
| Simpson two years. Later he was as
signed to passenger trains Nos. III