Birth place and nickname sent by Tom Jacobs ( 47386400)
**********************
Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
#16308
Rain, William
born: Nov. 21, 1856, Ohio
died: Dec. 10, 1920
residence: 521 Lake
buried: Dec. 13, 1920
cause of death: Myocarditis
relative: Nellie Rain, wife
Lot 16, Section 46, VN3
lot owner: Lewis Rain
undertaker: LMP (Penwell)
Home in 1900: Topeka Ward 2, Shawnee, Kansas
William Rain 42, born in Ohio, a locomotive engineer
Nellie Rain 37
Topeka Daily Capital, Monday, Dec. 13, 1920, page 8:
Rain --William Rain, 64, died Saturday at 521 Lake street. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Monday from Penwell's chapel. Burial will be in Topeka cemetery.
He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Lucile, San Diego, Cal.; one brother, John Rain, Shawnee, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Biser, St. Josepg, Mo., and Mrs. C.W. Avery, Blackwell, Okla.
Topeka State Journal, Saturday, Dec. 18, 1920, page 5:
Veteran Engineer Dies
William Rain Began Service With Santa Fe in 1872
William Rain, retired Santa Fe engineer, who died last week at the age of 64 years, was one of the real veterans of the road, having served the Santa Fe continuously from August 13, 1872, when he entered the service as a fireman, to April 1, 1912, when he was retired on a pension. He was promoted to the position of engineer in 1879.
Legend has it that Rain pulled the first pay car on the Kansas division, that he pulled mail trains across the western plains in the days when it was necessary to carry armed guards in the engine on account of hostile Indians, and that his task frequently included the making of test runs with new or outlaw engines.
*******************************
And now we shall deal with William "Bill" Rain, than who is no more famous engineer in Kansas. There is only one Bill Rain, and anyone who has ever had the good fortune to make his acquaintance never will forget him. He is every an inch of engineer. You could spot him as one even had you never heard of him. While he has that happy go lucky disposition, is fearless and self-confident., with the experience of three or four lifetimes crowded into his career and yet as game as ever, he is an excellent engineer. He has to step aside for no man, when it comes to competent handling of a locomotive.
It is said you always can tell a workman by his tools. You can tell Bill Rain by his locomotive. No racehorse ever received more tender care than he has given to old #36, which for twenty years has pulled the "Plug" between Topeka and Kansas City (Argentine). A man to be an adept, must like his work, and a man likes his work gives evidence of it in the attention he pays to it, even at the sacrifice of self. So it is evident that Mr. rain likes his work-he'd sooner feel the vibration of a locomotive beneath his feet than be president of the road-and it naturally follows that he is good workman. Every day when the "Plug" reaches Kansas City out comes the polish and sometimes for two hours its engineer will be shining to a nicety the big brass star he has on front of the window and the brass handrails of the locomotive. In the headlight one sees a "Santa Fe All the Way" on it. That shows the sentiment of the engineer and the interest he takes in the road as well as in his work.
But did you ever hear him tell any of the experiences of himself or other old timers? If not, the loss is yours. There is no bravado in his conversation and in most instances his talk refers to other people, but his appreciation of the ludicrous and his ability in his dry, drawling nonchalant way, to squeeze from every narrative all the humor in it have given him the title of the champion story teller ever heard around the Topeka station.
The subject of the foregoing commentary did his first day's work for the Santa Fe on August 13, 1871, so that to date he has been over forty years in the service.
When Mr. Rain went to work in the Topeka yards firing engine #15, names the Colonel Holliday, H. V. Ferris was master mechanic, the first on the system. He was made an engineer on October 11, 1879 and was sent to Nickerson, Reno, Kansas. Returning to Topeka he again took his seat in old #15, with J. H. (Dad) Griffith and Dan Einn. The three men worked in relays, firing and running, for they were pulling W. B. Strong, the president and C. C. Wheeler, the general manager and at that time it had not become customary to change crews on specials over the different divisions. So Bill would run one division to let Dad rest, and then would fire one division to let Dan rest and then he himself rested. The other two men did similar service. Mr. Rain for two years pulled the pay car for Paymaster James Moore across the great state of Kansas which necessitated the using of armed guards because of the presence of robbers and hostile Indians. Later he took a run from Topeka to Kingman, Kingman, Kansas, via Wichita, 207 miles each day. After several other changes he was given the Denver Flyer. In the meantime he had piloted the first passenger train west of Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, running as far as Granada, Prowers, Colorado, which was the end of the line in 1873.
Engineer Rain at times with his employment with the Santa Fe was engaged in the testing of new equipment including secret outlaw "high speed" locomotives, which were instrumental in the establishment of better and faster service throughout the system. One of the results was the creation of the record breaking run of the 1905 "Scott Special", which ran from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois in 44 hours and 54 minutes. This secret service also resulted in the establishment of the "Super Chief" and "California Limited", runs that were the bell weather of Santa Fe's excellent and reliable passenger service.
Four years ago on October 02, 1907, , Engineer Rain finally landed on the Kansas City Plug, where ever since he has held away, the most familiar and characteristic runner between the Missouri river and the capitol of the Sunflower state.
Mr. Rain has in his possession two letters which he prizes most highly, for they are evidence of his ability as an engineman and his appreciated service as an employee. One is from A. A. Robinson, general manager, when he left the service to become president of the Mexican Central Railway and the other is from H. R. Nickerson, then a superintendent, who wrote Mr. Rain what would be called a "fine" letter when the former was transferred.
Our one regret, in thus presenting a resume of the useful life of an esteemed employee, is the necessity of here stating that for several months Mr. Rain has been feeling so poorly as to necessitate his remaining at home most of the time.
We trust he soon again will be seen on the old "thirty six" and that his face will be familiar to the service for many years to come.
The Topeka Daily Capital, October 14, 1911
Contributor: Tom Jacobs (47386400)
**********************
Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
#16308
Rain, William
born: Nov. 21, 1856, Ohio
died: Dec. 10, 1920
residence: 521 Lake
buried: Dec. 13, 1920
cause of death: Myocarditis
relative: Nellie Rain, wife
Lot 16, Section 46, VN3
lot owner: Lewis Rain
undertaker: LMP (Penwell)
Home in 1900: Topeka Ward 2, Shawnee, Kansas
William Rain 42, born in Ohio, a locomotive engineer
Nellie Rain 37
Topeka Daily Capital, Monday, Dec. 13, 1920, page 8:
Rain --William Rain, 64, died Saturday at 521 Lake street. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Monday from Penwell's chapel. Burial will be in Topeka cemetery.
He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Lucile, San Diego, Cal.; one brother, John Rain, Shawnee, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Biser, St. Josepg, Mo., and Mrs. C.W. Avery, Blackwell, Okla.
Topeka State Journal, Saturday, Dec. 18, 1920, page 5:
Veteran Engineer Dies
William Rain Began Service With Santa Fe in 1872
William Rain, retired Santa Fe engineer, who died last week at the age of 64 years, was one of the real veterans of the road, having served the Santa Fe continuously from August 13, 1872, when he entered the service as a fireman, to April 1, 1912, when he was retired on a pension. He was promoted to the position of engineer in 1879.
Legend has it that Rain pulled the first pay car on the Kansas division, that he pulled mail trains across the western plains in the days when it was necessary to carry armed guards in the engine on account of hostile Indians, and that his task frequently included the making of test runs with new or outlaw engines.
*******************************
And now we shall deal with William "Bill" Rain, than who is no more famous engineer in Kansas. There is only one Bill Rain, and anyone who has ever had the good fortune to make his acquaintance never will forget him. He is every an inch of engineer. You could spot him as one even had you never heard of him. While he has that happy go lucky disposition, is fearless and self-confident., with the experience of three or four lifetimes crowded into his career and yet as game as ever, he is an excellent engineer. He has to step aside for no man, when it comes to competent handling of a locomotive.
It is said you always can tell a workman by his tools. You can tell Bill Rain by his locomotive. No racehorse ever received more tender care than he has given to old #36, which for twenty years has pulled the "Plug" between Topeka and Kansas City (Argentine). A man to be an adept, must like his work, and a man likes his work gives evidence of it in the attention he pays to it, even at the sacrifice of self. So it is evident that Mr. rain likes his work-he'd sooner feel the vibration of a locomotive beneath his feet than be president of the road-and it naturally follows that he is good workman. Every day when the "Plug" reaches Kansas City out comes the polish and sometimes for two hours its engineer will be shining to a nicety the big brass star he has on front of the window and the brass handrails of the locomotive. In the headlight one sees a "Santa Fe All the Way" on it. That shows the sentiment of the engineer and the interest he takes in the road as well as in his work.
But did you ever hear him tell any of the experiences of himself or other old timers? If not, the loss is yours. There is no bravado in his conversation and in most instances his talk refers to other people, but his appreciation of the ludicrous and his ability in his dry, drawling nonchalant way, to squeeze from every narrative all the humor in it have given him the title of the champion story teller ever heard around the Topeka station.
The subject of the foregoing commentary did his first day's work for the Santa Fe on August 13, 1871, so that to date he has been over forty years in the service.
When Mr. Rain went to work in the Topeka yards firing engine #15, names the Colonel Holliday, H. V. Ferris was master mechanic, the first on the system. He was made an engineer on October 11, 1879 and was sent to Nickerson, Reno, Kansas. Returning to Topeka he again took his seat in old #15, with J. H. (Dad) Griffith and Dan Einn. The three men worked in relays, firing and running, for they were pulling W. B. Strong, the president and C. C. Wheeler, the general manager and at that time it had not become customary to change crews on specials over the different divisions. So Bill would run one division to let Dad rest, and then would fire one division to let Dan rest and then he himself rested. The other two men did similar service. Mr. Rain for two years pulled the pay car for Paymaster James Moore across the great state of Kansas which necessitated the using of armed guards because of the presence of robbers and hostile Indians. Later he took a run from Topeka to Kingman, Kingman, Kansas, via Wichita, 207 miles each day. After several other changes he was given the Denver Flyer. In the meantime he had piloted the first passenger train west of Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, running as far as Granada, Prowers, Colorado, which was the end of the line in 1873.
Engineer Rain at times with his employment with the Santa Fe was engaged in the testing of new equipment including secret outlaw "high speed" locomotives, which were instrumental in the establishment of better and faster service throughout the system. One of the results was the creation of the record breaking run of the 1905 "Scott Special", which ran from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois in 44 hours and 54 minutes. This secret service also resulted in the establishment of the "Super Chief" and "California Limited", runs that were the bell weather of Santa Fe's excellent and reliable passenger service.
Four years ago on October 02, 1907, , Engineer Rain finally landed on the Kansas City Plug, where ever since he has held away, the most familiar and characteristic runner between the Missouri river and the capitol of the Sunflower state.
Mr. Rain has in his possession two letters which he prizes most highly, for they are evidence of his ability as an engineman and his appreciated service as an employee. One is from A. A. Robinson, general manager, when he left the service to become president of the Mexican Central Railway and the other is from H. R. Nickerson, then a superintendent, who wrote Mr. Rain what would be called a "fine" letter when the former was transferred.
Our one regret, in thus presenting a resume of the useful life of an esteemed employee, is the necessity of here stating that for several months Mr. Rain has been feeling so poorly as to necessitate his remaining at home most of the time.
We trust he soon again will be seen on the old "thirty six" and that his face will be familiar to the service for many years to come.
The Topeka Daily Capital, October 14, 1911
Contributor: Tom Jacobs (47386400)
Birth place and nickname sent by Tom Jacobs ( 47386400)
**********************
Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
#16308
Rain, William
born: Nov. 21, 1856, Ohio
died: Dec. 10, 1920
residence: 521 Lake
buried: Dec. 13, 1920
cause of death: Myocarditis
relative: Nellie Rain, wife
Lot 16, Section 46, VN3
lot owner: Lewis Rain
undertaker: LMP (Penwell)
Home in 1900: Topeka Ward 2, Shawnee, Kansas
William Rain 42, born in Ohio, a locomotive engineer
Nellie Rain 37
Topeka Daily Capital, Monday, Dec. 13, 1920, page 8:
Rain --William Rain, 64, died Saturday at 521 Lake street. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Monday from Penwell's chapel. Burial will be in Topeka cemetery.
He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Lucile, San Diego, Cal.; one brother, John Rain, Shawnee, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Biser, St. Josepg, Mo., and Mrs. C.W. Avery, Blackwell, Okla.
Topeka State Journal, Saturday, Dec. 18, 1920, page 5:
Veteran Engineer Dies
William Rain Began Service With Santa Fe in 1872
William Rain, retired Santa Fe engineer, who died last week at the age of 64 years, was one of the real veterans of the road, having served the Santa Fe continuously from August 13, 1872, when he entered the service as a fireman, to April 1, 1912, when he was retired on a pension. He was promoted to the position of engineer in 1879.
Legend has it that Rain pulled the first pay car on the Kansas division, that he pulled mail trains across the western plains in the days when it was necessary to carry armed guards in the engine on account of hostile Indians, and that his task frequently included the making of test runs with new or outlaw engines.
*******************************
And now we shall deal with William "Bill" Rain, than who is no more famous engineer in Kansas. There is only one Bill Rain, and anyone who has ever had the good fortune to make his acquaintance never will forget him. He is every an inch of engineer. You could spot him as one even had you never heard of him. While he has that happy go lucky disposition, is fearless and self-confident., with the experience of three or four lifetimes crowded into his career and yet as game as ever, he is an excellent engineer. He has to step aside for no man, when it comes to competent handling of a locomotive.
It is said you always can tell a workman by his tools. You can tell Bill Rain by his locomotive. No racehorse ever received more tender care than he has given to old #36, which for twenty years has pulled the "Plug" between Topeka and Kansas City (Argentine). A man to be an adept, must like his work, and a man likes his work gives evidence of it in the attention he pays to it, even at the sacrifice of self. So it is evident that Mr. rain likes his work-he'd sooner feel the vibration of a locomotive beneath his feet than be president of the road-and it naturally follows that he is good workman. Every day when the "Plug" reaches Kansas City out comes the polish and sometimes for two hours its engineer will be shining to a nicety the big brass star he has on front of the window and the brass handrails of the locomotive. In the headlight one sees a "Santa Fe All the Way" on it. That shows the sentiment of the engineer and the interest he takes in the road as well as in his work.
But did you ever hear him tell any of the experiences of himself or other old timers? If not, the loss is yours. There is no bravado in his conversation and in most instances his talk refers to other people, but his appreciation of the ludicrous and his ability in his dry, drawling nonchalant way, to squeeze from every narrative all the humor in it have given him the title of the champion story teller ever heard around the Topeka station.
The subject of the foregoing commentary did his first day's work for the Santa Fe on August 13, 1871, so that to date he has been over forty years in the service.
When Mr. Rain went to work in the Topeka yards firing engine #15, names the Colonel Holliday, H. V. Ferris was master mechanic, the first on the system. He was made an engineer on October 11, 1879 and was sent to Nickerson, Reno, Kansas. Returning to Topeka he again took his seat in old #15, with J. H. (Dad) Griffith and Dan Einn. The three men worked in relays, firing and running, for they were pulling W. B. Strong, the president and C. C. Wheeler, the general manager and at that time it had not become customary to change crews on specials over the different divisions. So Bill would run one division to let Dad rest, and then would fire one division to let Dan rest and then he himself rested. The other two men did similar service. Mr. Rain for two years pulled the pay car for Paymaster James Moore across the great state of Kansas which necessitated the using of armed guards because of the presence of robbers and hostile Indians. Later he took a run from Topeka to Kingman, Kingman, Kansas, via Wichita, 207 miles each day. After several other changes he was given the Denver Flyer. In the meantime he had piloted the first passenger train west of Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, running as far as Granada, Prowers, Colorado, which was the end of the line in 1873.
Engineer Rain at times with his employment with the Santa Fe was engaged in the testing of new equipment including secret outlaw "high speed" locomotives, which were instrumental in the establishment of better and faster service throughout the system. One of the results was the creation of the record breaking run of the 1905 "Scott Special", which ran from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois in 44 hours and 54 minutes. This secret service also resulted in the establishment of the "Super Chief" and "California Limited", runs that were the bell weather of Santa Fe's excellent and reliable passenger service.
Four years ago on October 02, 1907, , Engineer Rain finally landed on the Kansas City Plug, where ever since he has held away, the most familiar and characteristic runner between the Missouri river and the capitol of the Sunflower state.
Mr. Rain has in his possession two letters which he prizes most highly, for they are evidence of his ability as an engineman and his appreciated service as an employee. One is from A. A. Robinson, general manager, when he left the service to become president of the Mexican Central Railway and the other is from H. R. Nickerson, then a superintendent, who wrote Mr. Rain what would be called a "fine" letter when the former was transferred.
Our one regret, in thus presenting a resume of the useful life of an esteemed employee, is the necessity of here stating that for several months Mr. Rain has been feeling so poorly as to necessitate his remaining at home most of the time.
We trust he soon again will be seen on the old "thirty six" and that his face will be familiar to the service for many years to come.
The Topeka Daily Capital, October 14, 1911
Contributor: Tom Jacobs (47386400)
**********************
Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
#16308
Rain, William
born: Nov. 21, 1856, Ohio
died: Dec. 10, 1920
residence: 521 Lake
buried: Dec. 13, 1920
cause of death: Myocarditis
relative: Nellie Rain, wife
Lot 16, Section 46, VN3
lot owner: Lewis Rain
undertaker: LMP (Penwell)
Home in 1900: Topeka Ward 2, Shawnee, Kansas
William Rain 42, born in Ohio, a locomotive engineer
Nellie Rain 37
Topeka Daily Capital, Monday, Dec. 13, 1920, page 8:
Rain --William Rain, 64, died Saturday at 521 Lake street. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Monday from Penwell's chapel. Burial will be in Topeka cemetery.
He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Lucile, San Diego, Cal.; one brother, John Rain, Shawnee, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Biser, St. Josepg, Mo., and Mrs. C.W. Avery, Blackwell, Okla.
Topeka State Journal, Saturday, Dec. 18, 1920, page 5:
Veteran Engineer Dies
William Rain Began Service With Santa Fe in 1872
William Rain, retired Santa Fe engineer, who died last week at the age of 64 years, was one of the real veterans of the road, having served the Santa Fe continuously from August 13, 1872, when he entered the service as a fireman, to April 1, 1912, when he was retired on a pension. He was promoted to the position of engineer in 1879.
Legend has it that Rain pulled the first pay car on the Kansas division, that he pulled mail trains across the western plains in the days when it was necessary to carry armed guards in the engine on account of hostile Indians, and that his task frequently included the making of test runs with new or outlaw engines.
*******************************
And now we shall deal with William "Bill" Rain, than who is no more famous engineer in Kansas. There is only one Bill Rain, and anyone who has ever had the good fortune to make his acquaintance never will forget him. He is every an inch of engineer. You could spot him as one even had you never heard of him. While he has that happy go lucky disposition, is fearless and self-confident., with the experience of three or four lifetimes crowded into his career and yet as game as ever, he is an excellent engineer. He has to step aside for no man, when it comes to competent handling of a locomotive.
It is said you always can tell a workman by his tools. You can tell Bill Rain by his locomotive. No racehorse ever received more tender care than he has given to old #36, which for twenty years has pulled the "Plug" between Topeka and Kansas City (Argentine). A man to be an adept, must like his work, and a man likes his work gives evidence of it in the attention he pays to it, even at the sacrifice of self. So it is evident that Mr. rain likes his work-he'd sooner feel the vibration of a locomotive beneath his feet than be president of the road-and it naturally follows that he is good workman. Every day when the "Plug" reaches Kansas City out comes the polish and sometimes for two hours its engineer will be shining to a nicety the big brass star he has on front of the window and the brass handrails of the locomotive. In the headlight one sees a "Santa Fe All the Way" on it. That shows the sentiment of the engineer and the interest he takes in the road as well as in his work.
But did you ever hear him tell any of the experiences of himself or other old timers? If not, the loss is yours. There is no bravado in his conversation and in most instances his talk refers to other people, but his appreciation of the ludicrous and his ability in his dry, drawling nonchalant way, to squeeze from every narrative all the humor in it have given him the title of the champion story teller ever heard around the Topeka station.
The subject of the foregoing commentary did his first day's work for the Santa Fe on August 13, 1871, so that to date he has been over forty years in the service.
When Mr. Rain went to work in the Topeka yards firing engine #15, names the Colonel Holliday, H. V. Ferris was master mechanic, the first on the system. He was made an engineer on October 11, 1879 and was sent to Nickerson, Reno, Kansas. Returning to Topeka he again took his seat in old #15, with J. H. (Dad) Griffith and Dan Einn. The three men worked in relays, firing and running, for they were pulling W. B. Strong, the president and C. C. Wheeler, the general manager and at that time it had not become customary to change crews on specials over the different divisions. So Bill would run one division to let Dad rest, and then would fire one division to let Dan rest and then he himself rested. The other two men did similar service. Mr. Rain for two years pulled the pay car for Paymaster James Moore across the great state of Kansas which necessitated the using of armed guards because of the presence of robbers and hostile Indians. Later he took a run from Topeka to Kingman, Kingman, Kansas, via Wichita, 207 miles each day. After several other changes he was given the Denver Flyer. In the meantime he had piloted the first passenger train west of Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, running as far as Granada, Prowers, Colorado, which was the end of the line in 1873.
Engineer Rain at times with his employment with the Santa Fe was engaged in the testing of new equipment including secret outlaw "high speed" locomotives, which were instrumental in the establishment of better and faster service throughout the system. One of the results was the creation of the record breaking run of the 1905 "Scott Special", which ran from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois in 44 hours and 54 minutes. This secret service also resulted in the establishment of the "Super Chief" and "California Limited", runs that were the bell weather of Santa Fe's excellent and reliable passenger service.
Four years ago on October 02, 1907, , Engineer Rain finally landed on the Kansas City Plug, where ever since he has held away, the most familiar and characteristic runner between the Missouri river and the capitol of the Sunflower state.
Mr. Rain has in his possession two letters which he prizes most highly, for they are evidence of his ability as an engineman and his appreciated service as an employee. One is from A. A. Robinson, general manager, when he left the service to become president of the Mexican Central Railway and the other is from H. R. Nickerson, then a superintendent, who wrote Mr. Rain what would be called a "fine" letter when the former was transferred.
Our one regret, in thus presenting a resume of the useful life of an esteemed employee, is the necessity of here stating that for several months Mr. Rain has been feeling so poorly as to necessitate his remaining at home most of the time.
We trust he soon again will be seen on the old "thirty six" and that his face will be familiar to the service for many years to come.
The Topeka Daily Capital, October 14, 1911
Contributor: Tom Jacobs (47386400)
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