"It was an honor for men to handle silk trains. A high degree of competition prevailed among the crews to see who could do the best job. This excellent morale and pride in doing a good job is still much in evidence today. Many and varied are the individual stories from this period of railroad history. Some of them are hair raising and others humorous. This was railroading at is best. It separated the men from the boys. The entire overall movement was handled in such a manner that all who shared in this tradition can be and should be justly proud."
- W.B. Jones, Chief Dispatcher, "Silk Trains - A Record of Achievement", April, 1961, The Cascadian.
Train One Crews
Cascade Division
2512, P-2
Conductor: D.G. Dodd
Brakemen: D. Putman, F.L. Bates, G.P. Kalakosky
Engineer: J.D. Crowley
Fireman: Chester Canning
1101, F-5s (Helper)
Conductor: L. Svartengren
Brakemen: H.J. Haguewood, B.E. Olson
Engineer: A. Blomeke
Fireman: E.L. Tucker
5000, 5001, 5002 5003, B-B, Electrics
Conductor: H. Burns
Brakeman: B.J. Nowak
Engineer: Sidney Stauffer, Jake Beattinger
Fireman: B. Lang, S. Antio, I.E Johnson
Spokane Division
2506, P-2
Conductor: P.J. McGuire
Brakemen: V. Franklin, P.R. Malore, H.B. Heier
Engineer: H.H. Dean
Fireman: H.A. Andrews
1442, H-4
Conductor: M.P. Madden
Brakemen: J.A. Towey, A.F. Schlegel
Engineer: W. Boehme
Fireman: Frank Long
Kalispell Division
1459, H-4
Conductor: L.H. Good
Brakemen: G.C. Dooley, O.C. Crutchfield
Engineer: Chas. Brawley
Fireman: S.B. Darnell
1000, E-10 (Helper)
Engineer: R.L. Labyer
Fireman: H.F. Tieson
2505, P-2
Conductor: Fred. Bangeman
Brakemen: Blair Letcher, W. Sabin
Engineer: S. Deputy
Fireman: Ed. Harris
1713, H-6 (Helper)
Engineer: A.L. Wright
Fireman: Roy Bethel
Montana Division
1491, H-5
Conductor: J.S. Boyer
Brakemen: Wm. Reis, M.E. Ashline
Engineer: W.A. Schroeder
Fireman: Lee Kazar
1706, K-1s
Conductor: Ray VanBuskirk
Brakemen: E.W. Lamere, H.M. Doles
Engineer: Tom Pierce
Fireman: Al. Engelson
1446, H-4
Conductor: Roy Stover
Brakemen: M.S. Funk, Otto Norenberg
Engineer: Frank Kaluza
Fireman: Earl F. Merryman
Minot Division
2521, P-2
Conductor: H. Walker
Brakemen: O.N. Harkleroad, J.S. Golka
Engineer: M.J. Richardson
Fireman: A. Larson
Breckenridge Division
1449, H-4 (Crew One)
Conductor: W.H. Gavin
Brakemen: W.A Mills, C.R. Jones
Engineer: Ben Mowers
Fireman: Geo. Zeitler
Crew change at New Rockford
1449, H-4 (Crew Two)
Conductor: C.H. Holmes
Brakemen: M.C. Kern, P.R. Kuehn, C.M. Johnson
Engineer: C.L. Pepper
Fireman: J.H. Burke
Willmar Division to Twin Cities Terminal
1473, H-4 (Crew One)
Conductor: J.E. West
Brakemen: C.S. Samuelson, Geo. Tucker
Engineer: P. Meyers
Fireman: A.H. Borgan
1473, H-4 (Crew Two)
Conductor: H.S. Phillips
Brakemen: F.D. Conway, M.E. Sundt
Engineer: J. Dickman
Fireman: H.B. Monesmith
Train Two Crews
Cascade Division
1013, E-14
Conductor: J.T. Fransen
Brakemen: C.W. Baker, W.F. Moloney
Engineer: A.W. Kinghorn
Fireman: V.W. Case
3310, O-5 (Helper)
Conductor: W.T. Brady
Brakemen: R.H. Snider, L.J. Agnew
Engineer: John Imberg
Fireman: E.W. Berger
5000, 5001, 5002 5003, B-B, Electrics
Conductor: H. Burns
Brakeman: B.J. Nowak
Engineer: Sidney Stauffer, Jake Beattinger
Fireman: B. Lang, S. Antio, I.E Johnson
Spokane Division
2509, P-2
Conductor: G.A. Bunch
Brakemen: C.E. Jones, J.E MacDorin, Floyd Yates
Engineer: D.H. Laughlin
Fireman: John Hardman
1451, H-4
Conductor: R.N. Hill
Brakemen: P.A. Carter, G.J. Maloney
Engineer: F.W. Whitmore
Fireman: Conner D. Brown
Kalispell Division
1459, H-4
Conductor: G.C. Bowen
Brakemen: S.A. Gunderson, E.A. Bronson
Engineer: Walter Grimm
Fireman: L.H. Stanton
1000, E-10 (Helper)
Engineer: Jesse Swee
Fireman: F. Richter
2505, P-2
Conductor: E.F. Costich
Brakemen: J.H. Knights, L.F. Holme
Engineer: Chas. Jacobson
Fireman: Ole Wing
1713, H-6 (Helper)
Engineer: A.L. Wright
Fireman: Roy Bethel
Montana Division
1452, H-5
Conductor: Wm. Hartland
Brakemen: B.A. Spaulding, J.H. Ruetten
Engineer: Alex. McDonald
Fireman: W.V. Jones
1707, K-1s
Conductor: Max Jordan
Brakemen: A. Floren, F.W. Teela
Engineer: Mike McMahon
Fireman: Pete Brovick
1446, H-4
Conductor: Roy Stover
Brakemen: M.S. Funk, Otto Norenberg
Engineer: Frank Kaluza
Fireman: Earl F. Merryman
Minot Division
2519, P-2
Conductor: F.B. Papendick
Brakemen: Chas. Feury, H.E. Cardell
Engineer: J. Hill
Fireman: R. Molesberry
Breckenridge Division
1448, H-4 (Crew One)
Conductor: F.A. Bauer
Brakemen: J.L. McManus, R.L. Stanley
Engineer: Ben Fisher
Fireman: J.L. Maupin
Crew change at New Rockford
1449, H-4 (Crew Two)
Conductor: I.L. Kellogg
Brakemen: Geo. M. Crowder, R.M. McConn
Engineer: E.L. Carleton
Fireman: H.L. Devine
Willmar Division to Twin Cities Terminal
1473, H-4 (Crew One)
Conductor: J.P. Cleary
Brakemen: O.A. Olson, A.G. Mullen
Engineer: A. Patchell
Fireman: B. Horntvedt
1473, H-4 (Crew Two)
Conductor: H. Hanson
Brakemen: R.F. Pfau, Alfred Hansen
Engineer: E.F. Hoefs
Fireman: E.M. Carlin
The source of information concerning crews and equipment assignment:
Great Northern Railway Historical Society, Reference Sheet No, 264, September 1998, Contributor: Robert H. Shober, Assistance: Dr, Gordon L. Iseminger, Portions of text: Martin Evoy III