Train-Master's Message Book of Yuma, Arizona

About this Item

Trainmaster's ledger in Yuma, Arizona along the Southern Pacific Line. Dated to 1891. Printed title pastedown on front board reads, "Train-Master's Message Book. (Private Correspondence) Look at the Bulletin Board" and underneath in manuscript is written "From September 1st to September 30th, 1891." Unpaginated but around 125 pages. Quarter leather binding with marbled paper boards; missing most of spine but boards are still attached; boards have heavy scratching and wear; text block has moderate toning and soiling. Previous owner (contemporary) tipped in newspaper articles on first page, and a handful of leaves have pencil marginalia. This message book contains entries concerning location, departure and arrival of trains, along with a handful of lists recording the contents of train cars and destination of the goods. Some are detailed such as one dated to 9/18 with origin and destination of goods: "Los Angeles 818am - 3rd section sunset spl No. 31 near Condi 615 has LW 12707 Beans SF [San Francisco] Austin, GW 12606 Beans SF San Antonio, GW 12613 Shingles SF New Orleans, LW 12763 Wine SF New Orleans…" Most entries are as such: "#12 Tuscon - All concerned - Train 21 due to leave Yuma Sept 3rd is cancelled on Gila Div." or "Gila Bend 9/3 - Spl West has for west of Yuma 13 steamer one time 2 cattle and 2 dead frt. left 1208pm" and is followed by the signature or initials of the operator who took the message. "The railroad operated many stations along its route in Arizona. The number of stations was determined more by the need for telegraph operators than by paying passengers. In the days before electronic signals and the telephone, train operations were controlled by order boards and hand-operated semaphores located at strategic intervals. At such stations, operators received instructions from dispatchers regarding the location of trains and where they should meet. Written orders were then handed to crews" ("Transcontinental Railroading in Arizona," Arizona SHPO, page 10). The names of the operators are written in manuscript on the endpapers and pastedowns: Geo. H. McInerny, day operator, T.J. O'Brien, night operator and Elmer Dimick, agent. Yuma grew substantially as a community in 1877 when the Southern Pacific brought the first railroad to Arizona from California. The mainline across Arizona was completed in 1880. This freight line connected Yuma to Los Angeles and the rest of California, and opened the area for agriculture, large mining operations, and tourists. This trainmaster's ledger spans only one month but has hundreds of entries and shows that it was a busy time in Arizona. ; 8" x 14".

Seller Inventory # 020229

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Train-Master's Message Book of Yuma, Arizona
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good