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Railroad Stories: Passenger Train Travel Was Popular

By Capper's Staff
Published on August 5, 2011

Passenger train travel was popular when I was a child. When I was 4 years old, my parents took me on my first train trip. We traveled to Oregon to visit relatives.

On the trip home, there were soldiers on the train with us. One nice, young soldier sat in the seat across the aisle. He found a feather, picked it up and blew it across the aisle at me. I picked it up and blew it back at him. We blew that feather back and forth until either the feather was worn out, or we were.

The soldier told me that the duffle bag beside him was filled with feathers. I suppose I believed him. That is one memory that has stayed with me all these years.

Mrs. John McGowin
Jerico Springs, Mo.


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.