magickmaker
New member
Hey guys, thought I'd post this here also in the hopes I can validate this story. It's been passed down through the family for AGES, and well I think a good portion of it's true but I'm not certain.
Back in the early part of the 20th century, my Great Grandfather, Jesse Wrenn, was a section foreman for the L&N Railroad. He served primarily in the area around Berea Kentucky, though he also was responsible for Wilde Kentucky. Great Grandpa Jesse was, according to all accounts and records I have found, known by the engineers and crews to have the BEST track in the whole line. That's not an exaggeration by any standards either. His track and crews were so well known that they were featured in newspapers, of which I have one clipping that shows him and his crew. The track is pristine.
Great Grampa died sometime in the seventies, maybe 75 or 76, but I don't remember when. Sadly, he was murdered. Prior to that however, family tradition tells that he had a passenger car named after him. According to my Grandmother, his daughter, Grampa Jesse was honored in this way for his years of faithful service to the railroad, as well as the condition his section was kept in. Problem is, after all the research I have done, I've not turned up anything that backs this up.
A couple years ago I contacted CSX about this, since they now own the line. CSX actually sent me an interesting letter back saying that while they don't have any exact record that shows such a car DID exist, by the same token the don't have any record that shows it DID NOT exist. The letter goes on to say that it was not uncommon for the L&N to name cars after employees or famous names, but it wasn't a regular practice. So it's possible (according to CSX) that such a car did exist, but that since they weren't kept perfect track of, that it could have been sold or repainted at a later date and the name changed or lost.
Here's where I turn to you.
First: Does anyone know if what CSX is saying is true, and if so do you know if there was ever a Jesse Wrenn passenger car?
Second: Stupid as it seems, anyone feel like creating it? Probably a heavy weight, in L&N colors, but as we don't know much, that's about it.
Back in the early part of the 20th century, my Great Grandfather, Jesse Wrenn, was a section foreman for the L&N Railroad. He served primarily in the area around Berea Kentucky, though he also was responsible for Wilde Kentucky. Great Grandpa Jesse was, according to all accounts and records I have found, known by the engineers and crews to have the BEST track in the whole line. That's not an exaggeration by any standards either. His track and crews were so well known that they were featured in newspapers, of which I have one clipping that shows him and his crew. The track is pristine.
Great Grampa died sometime in the seventies, maybe 75 or 76, but I don't remember when. Sadly, he was murdered. Prior to that however, family tradition tells that he had a passenger car named after him. According to my Grandmother, his daughter, Grampa Jesse was honored in this way for his years of faithful service to the railroad, as well as the condition his section was kept in. Problem is, after all the research I have done, I've not turned up anything that backs this up.
A couple years ago I contacted CSX about this, since they now own the line. CSX actually sent me an interesting letter back saying that while they don't have any exact record that shows such a car DID exist, by the same token the don't have any record that shows it DID NOT exist. The letter goes on to say that it was not uncommon for the L&N to name cars after employees or famous names, but it wasn't a regular practice. So it's possible (according to CSX) that such a car did exist, but that since they weren't kept perfect track of, that it could have been sold or repainted at a later date and the name changed or lost.
Here's where I turn to you.
First: Does anyone know if what CSX is saying is true, and if so do you know if there was ever a Jesse Wrenn passenger car?
Second: Stupid as it seems, anyone feel like creating it? Probably a heavy weight, in L&N colors, but as we don't know much, that's about it.
