The Rails Reach Ione
Tracklayers beat their deadline, a first freight train rolls in, and a new passenger schedule is set for Nov. 8.
The tracklaying gang of the Idaho Washington Northern reached Ione Sunday, Oct. 31, making good the prediction last fall of President F. A. Blackwell that the road would have a train into Ione by Nov. 1, 1909. The first local freight train was run into Ione on Monday. The work of ballasting the track has been seriously hampered by the heavy rains of the past week, but it is hoped to have the new passenger schedule start next Monday, Nov. 8.
Work has been started on the construction of a temporary depot and yards at Ione. A four-stall round house will be built to house the engines, as there will be a passenger and freight lay-over at Ione.
The newly fitted up mail, baggage and express car on the I. W. N. is now in service, and railway mail service on the line will be started with the placing in effect of the passenger schedule to Ione on Nov. 8.
No. 31, the new engine of the I. W. N., was given a trial run on Sunday and placed in active service on the passenger runs Monday. She has 73-inch drivers, 12 inches larger diameter than the other passenger engines of the road. On the trial run she made a mile in 53 seconds with ease.
““The tracklaying gang of the Idaho Washington Northern reached Ione Sunday, Oct. 31, making good the prediction last fall of President F. A. Blackwell that the road would have a train into Ione by Nov. 1, 1909.””
A new rail line was once the difference between a town with a future and a town left behind. The I.W.N.’s arrival at Ione promised freight, mail and passengers—the same kind of infrastructure bet rural communities still argue over today.
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