Train Trivia 9/22/05 (ANSWERED)

[Anonymous]

John Henry worked for the C&O railroad, his famous race against the drilling machine took place in 1872 at a tunnel called the Big Bend near Tallcot, West Virgina.

[rrinker]

I'm thinking that's a really easy one, then I see what other people have voted after I posted my vote. I dunno, I still think I'm right.

[Rotorranch]

I know, I know, I know!

But I ain't tellin! [(-D][:-,]

Rotor

[JohnT14808]

Sheesh....guess away!!!!!......Ok I'm done...
.....
.....
.....(waiting for tomorrow.....)

[rexhea]

I think you will be surprised at the REAL answer to this debated event in history.

REX

[Anonymous]

hey Rrinker, you can see the poll results first then vote if you want to. Didn't help me this time, since it was about one all for all four of them!!!!;p

Lotus098,(James right?) when you post the final true answer, can you also put in a bit of who he was. ;-DD

[dgwinup]

A hint? That answer would be SOOOOO old (hint, hint) that it should be ORIGINAL (hint, hint). (No, no, not the S & O, but CLOSE!?)

Did I guess right?

Tomorow.....

Darrell, smartly quiet...for now

[dehusman]

According to about 10" of searching the web the answer is NONE OF THE ABOVE. The sources I found listed a different raiload than the choices provided.

Lemme ask a question back.

Why would a railroad name a premier engine after an employee of another railroad?

If John Henry worked for the C&O, B&O, UP or PRR it would be like GM naming an auto plant for Lee Iaacoca.

Dave H.

[rrinker]

Yeah but now you're bringing all sorts of research into it [:D] The tall tale as told is pretty specific. Kinda like what the tall tale of Casey Jones says vs. what really happened.

Of course that goes back to your question - if he did work for a different railroad, why DID they name that loco after him?

Good thing you said GM, too, I don't THINK Lee ever worked there. BTW, his family owns the best hotdog palce around, Yocco's. None of the PA Dutch around here could pronouce the Italian name correctly so they made it Yocco's.

[Train 284]

But I know the answer! I wont tell anyone though I promise!

[Anonymous]

John Henry worked for the C&O railroad, his famous race against the machine took place in 1872 at a tunnel called the Big Bend near Tallcot, West Virgina.

[rexhea]

So the legend goes...however, this is an interesting counter-view to where this spectacular feat took place. http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/alabama.html

[:)] REX [:)]

[rrinker]

That was what Dave was referring to. But if it WASN'T C&O, why would C&O name their big steam turbine the Jawn Henry?

[cjcrescent]

Randy;

The N&W named their turbine the Jawn Henry, not the C&O

[DavidJ611]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjcrescent

Randy;

The N&W named their turbine the Jawn Henry, not the C&O

Absolutely right! (Don't know why, though...) Anyone know???

BTW, James, you are right. John Henry died digging Big Bend Tunnel on the Greenbrier Div. of the C&O Ry. I've been there and seen the monument; of all things, I stumbled upon it during a long Saturday afternoon joyride during my college days at Virginia Tech. I'm pretty certain I even have a picture, but I haven't any idea where it is.

-Dave