Western Railroad Discussion > Two survivors and an historic waypoint ...

Date: September 10, 2023
Images 1-2: Rawlins Sub, MP 756.4
Well-weathered and re-purposed at East Bitter Creek, Wyoming.
Image 3: This was the first time that I had come across one of these signs along a railroad
right of way. Has anyone else?
More to follow ...

---

---

---

George Adams Wyman (July 3, 1877 – November 15, 1959) was the first person
to make a transcontinental crossing of the United States by motor vehicle.
In 1903, Wyman rode his 1902 California Motor Company motor bicycle from
San Francisco to New York City in 51 days, covering some 3,800 miles. As the
dirt trails and wagon tracks of the day were often impassable, Wyman rode
the railroad tracks for over half of his journey.

Wyman departed from Lotta's Fountain at the corner of Market and Kearny
streets in San Francisco at 2:30 PM on May 16, 1903. It was known as
"Newspaper Square" at the time. Wyman’s transcontinental attempt was being
underwritten by The Goodman Company, NYC, to help launch their new publication
"The Motorcycle Magazine."

On Sunday, May 31, 1903 Wyman reached Bitter Creek, Wyoming.

In his own words: "Bitter Creek might well be called Bitter Disappointment. I do
not mean the stream of water that the road follows, but the station of the same
name ... The "hotel" there is an old boxcar ... The boxcar is fitted-up as a
restaurant and reminds one faintly of the all-night hasheries on wheels that are
found in the streets of big cities. The boxcar restaurant at Bitter Creek, however,
has none of the gaudiness of the coffee wagons. Still, I got a very good meal there.
When I cast about for a place to sleep it was different, but I finally found a bed
in a section house. This experience was one of the inevitable ones of transcontinental
touring. It was 7:15 o'clock when I reached Bitter Creek Station and it is 69 miles
from there to Rawlins, the first place where I could have obtained good accommodations."

On Monday, July 6, 1903 Wyman arrived at the finish of his historic journey a little
after 6 PM in New York City. He finished the ride at the New York Motor Cycle Club's
rooms at 1904 Broadway.

Source material: 

THE GEORGE A. WYMAN MEMORIAL GRAND TOUR
"Points Along the Way" Rider’s Guide
By The George A. Wyman Memorial Project

Wikipedia

Image 4: Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This image is in the public domain.

---

His ride is what we now call a "Moped", with foot pedals to augment the smallish gasoline engine.
Not uncommon in places with high fuel prices or poor economies.
I remember (barely) a neigbor kid in the 1950s who had an attachment to his bike with a really small gas engine.
In the next 24 (?) hours I'll probably recall the name of the manufacturer.
Does anyone else remember these?

railstiesballast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> His ride is what we now call a "Moped", with foot
> pedals to augment the smallish gasoline engine.
> Not uncommon in places with high fuel prices or
> poor economies.
> I remember (barely) a neigbor kid in the 1950s who
> had an attachment to his bike with a really small
> gas engine.
> In the next 24 (?) hours I'll probably recall the
> name of the manufacturer.
> Does anyone else remember these?

Whizzer.

Pig-Mauler Wrote:
> Whizzer.
Usually mounted on a Schwinn frame post-WWII
 

Thanks for the "Whizzer" ID.