MEMORIES OF THE KATE SHELLEY "400"

     Oh my, where do I begin?

     Thanks to my contributor, Michael Loehrer, BHS-64, and Adam Burns, who did all of the actual writing of the events that I, the Kornerman, will attempt to "pass on" to Korner viewers. 

     And the subject? Boone, of course, has always had a "railroad town" reputation and in the following paragraphs, an attempt will be made to "relive" some of Boone's railroad history that is still coveted by those who actually "lived it" and/or the families of those who have often learned of it.

     Specificially, we will explore the history of the Kate Shelley "400," which was a late edition to the Chicago and Northwestern's family of streamliners.

     Named after well known Boone area heroine, Kate Shelley, the "400" provided service along its main Omaha line as far as Boone when it first entered service. Unfortunately, that service was short-lived due to cutbacks. However, it did remain on the timetable until the start of Amtrak in 1971.

    The sleek new streamliner was followed by an entire fleet, famous for its names.....the City of Los Angeles, the City of San Francisco and the City of Denver, which all continued until 1955.

    Known to the locals as "Katy," the "400" featured reclining seats, a diner, lounges and a parlor and covered the 340 miles from Chicago to Boone. At its peak, it was listed on the C and NW timetable as train number one westbound and train number two eastbound.

    In 1956, it was "cutback" Chicago to Cedar Rapids and a year later, the 137 miles to Clinton.

    By 1961, the Kate Shelley "400" was the last named train still providing service on the Chicago and Northwestern Omaha line and after July 23, 1963, that name was quietly dropped from the timetable.

    Now unnamed, it still continued to operate as a local coach only streamliner until the start of Amtrak in 1971.

    Seeing a July, 1969, timetable was interesting. Leaving Chicago at 5 p.m. it was on to Oak Park, Wheaton, Geneva, DeKalb, Rochelle, Dixon, Sterling, Morrison in Illinois and at 8 p.m., arrival in Clinton. Three hours and 137.1 miles.

    EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Mike and, particularly, a shoutout to Adam Burns who did the research and writing of the "400" that I, the Kornerman, has borrowed for our viewers memory. Some, much more detailed information about the Kate Shelley event was provided and will be saved for, perhaps, a later  edition of the Korner. Although the Shelley story has been around for a long time and is surely well known by at least many of the older Boone area clan, there may still be a nugget or two that has been generally overlooked and we can provide.

K-----K

    BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

    Charles (Ted) Hora, 96, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-43. After overseas military service, returned to Boone in 1946. Married Patricia Jean Nickerson in 1948. Worked on the railroad and at Kruse Clothing. Then, back to the service with the Iowa National Guard. Retired as a Master Sergeant in 1985. Totaled 42 years of military service. Four sons survive, including Charles (Ted) Hora II of Boone.

    Doug McLeod, 81, Lakeside/Marana, AZ. BHS-58. Survivors include his wife, Linda.

    Carolyn (Carol) Erickson, 91, Boone. Born in Carroll. Formerly of Shenandoah. SHS/Simpson/B.A. National College of Kansas City. Worked as a social worker and was Director of Christian Education at the Methodist Church in Perry. Married LaVerne Erickson in 1957 and the couple farmed, started L and C Homes in 1968 and, eventually, built Country Aire Home Park. After retirement she worked at Genesis for 17 years. Survivors are three sons, including Clair and Curt Erickson, both of Boone.

    LeAnne Joyce Reynoldson Lewiston, 76, Ida Grove. Formerly of Ogden. Born in Boone. BHS-64. In 1965, she married Bernie Lewiston. They farmed south of Ogden and she worked at Bourns and as a waitress. They divorced. She worked in daycare services, at the Ogden Maid-Rite, HyVee Bakery and at Walmart. In 2017, she moved to Ida Grove. Survivors include a son, two daughters, three sisters, including Helen Mattson and Carolyn Webb of Boone and three brothers, including Roger Reynoldson, of Boone. 

    Vernon (Vern) Millard, 69, Boone. Formerly of Jefferson and Glenrock, WY. Jefferson HS-71. Earned a certificate in welding from the Denison Job Corps. Married Rose Tilley in 1973 and they divorced in 1978. Married Pamela (Pam) Elliott in 1986. Vern was an avid hunter and fisherman. His last job, 1998 to retirement in  2016, was as a groundskeeper at Linwood Park Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Pam, of Boone, two daughters, two sons, Jason and Mark Millard, of Boone and a sister, Barb Richardson, of Boone.

K-----K

    Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments/death notices.....

kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.