For the first time in more than a century, trains now will go through the Route 66 town of Flagstaff, Ariz., without sounding their warning horns, reported the Arizona Daily Sun. On Tuesday, trains went through Flagstaff for the first time without blasting their horns. It took several years and hundreds of thousands of dollars, … Continue reading The silence of the trains — for real
Category: Towns
Notes from the road
The "East Meets West" sculpture at the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza at Riverside Drive and Southwest Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Tulsa is inching closer to being installed. Dennis Whitaker at the city of Tulsa gave me this update, via e-mail: [T]he artist is finished with the car group and the foundry has already cast … Continue reading Notes from the road
Kingman as a jumping-off point
An article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the Route 66 town of Kingman, Ariz., contains a lot of interesting material about tourism attractions in the town and in the surrounding area. Not only does the article mention usual attractions such as Route 66 and the Route 66 Museum in the city's Powerhouse Museum Center, … Continue reading Kingman as a jumping-off point
Rialto will spruce up part of Route 66
The City Council of Rialto, Calif., voted Tuesday to make $3.8 million in improvements in a stretch along Foothill Boulevard, aka Route 66, reported the Contra Costa Times. The work will include repaving the road's surface, but also other improvements: The city is looking at enhancing the pavement at Riverside Avenue and Foothill Boulevard with … Continue reading Rialto will spruce up part of Route 66
Notes from the road
I've tried to glean a deeper look at the crisis in Needles, Calif., over the possible loss of its only grocery store, Bashas'. The grocer chain filed bankruptcy a few months ago, and it is set to close 10 stores in response, including Needles'. This recent story in the Mohave Daily News provides additional information … Continue reading Notes from the road
Devil’s Elbow Bridge gets stabilization grant
This historic but deteriorating Devil's Elbow Bridge that carries an older alignment of Route 66 into Devil's Elbow, Mo., got good news recently. The bridge will receive a grant to help stabilize the structure until more funds can be found to fully repair it. According to the Pulaski County Daily: The historic Devil’s Elbow bridge … Continue reading Devil’s Elbow Bridge gets stabilization grant
The silence of the trains
James Chilton of the Kingman Daily Miner takes a look at a railroad "quiet zone" that soon will take effect in the fellow Route 66 town of Flagstaff, Ariz. The rule will require train engineers to put a sock in their whistles when going through town. "The hotel guys are the ones who are most … Continue reading The silence of the trains
Four-wheeled flourishes
The Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., has come up with a novel way to decorate its downtown, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph: The Pontiac City Council voted Monday to spend about $8,000 to purchase nine fiberglass models of 1957 convertibles, three of 1930s-era pickup trucks and artist supplies. The cars will be about 5½ feet … Continue reading Four-wheeled flourishes
Needles’ only grocery likely will close
This is a fairly catastrophic situation for the Route 66 town of Needles, Calif. I'll let an excerpt of a report from the Whittier Daily News explain: Bashas', the only grocery store in this tiny Colorado River town on old Route 66 is closing for good in six weeks. Its owners made the announcement this … Continue reading Needles’ only grocery likely will close
Waynesville is hopping
This story in the Pulaski County Daily contains several interesting items that indicate the Route 66 town of Wayneville, Mo., is on the verge of an economic revival, if it isn't already. The city’s sales-tax revenue rose 7 percent last year -- a big contrast to many area towns that are seeing double-digit decreases. And … Continue reading Waynesville is hopping