Editor’s Note: This article was written by early Pocatello settler Ira W. Davis, a Civil War veteran who worked for the railroad and as a school janitor. The article first appeared in the Pocatello Tribune on June 20, 1896. It was edited and adapted for use here by retired Idaho State University history professor Jo Ann Ruckman.

The first improvements made upon what is now the Pocatello townsite were by the Utah Northern railway company in 1879, when it built its rail line across it.

The original bed crossed a little north of the east side school house. The Oregon Short Line crossed the townsite in the spring and summer of 1882, at which time the Utah Northern was consolidated with the Oregon Short Line (in the interest of the Union Pacific system) and abandoned the old road bed near the school and came directly into town.

In May of the same year Charles Nopper and William Barnhart opened the first eating house. Soon after Keeney and Hansen opened another house to supply the wants physical, and Charles Nopper became... (more)

BY BILL RYAN

Anytime I read about railroads, I am reminded of the great adventures I had as a teenager going on the train with my Uncle Jim.

James Patrick Ryan and his wife Lola lived at the small Union Pacific junction town of Minidoka. That's where trains headed for Burley and Twin Falls and Buhl left the main line and headed for Rupert. That's also where there was a depot, a huge coal chute which hung over the tracks and a water tank’s spout. These serviced the steam locomotives of the many passenger and freight trains that passed through Minidoka each day.

The exception was the City of Portland streamliner. 

For a while Jim was conductor of the Motor Car. It was a single unit operated by the motorman, with a small baggage and freight room behind him and a passenger section at the rear.

The Motor Car, also called the Galloping Goose, left Minidoka at mid-morning after connecting with the westbound Portland Rose, ran to  Buhl, and returned in the afternoon to meet the... (more)