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Lumber ls His BusinessRqilroqding ls His Hobby
Don Bufkin, Southern California sales representative for Hobbs Wall l-umber Company, and a rnember of the National Chapter Raihvay and Locomotive Historical Society of Boston, Massachusetts, became interested in railroads several years ago up around the Madera Sugar Pine country riding logging trains aboard the Minarets & Western Railn'ay Co. He spent many vacation rveeks at his interesting hobby of "getting the logs to market via rai1."
row gauge line in California, the Southern Pacific, operating from Keeler near Owens Lake to Laws, Califorina, in Owens Valley. This is the only "slim gauge" railway this side of Durango, Colorado, where Don and his r'vife Helerr made the trip to Silverton, Colorado,, while enroute to the 1952 Hoo-Hoo Convention held in Denver.
Don informed a representative of The California Lurnber Merchant that one of the most colorful rail trips available to lumbermen who enjoy the "unusual" is via the California Western Railway operated by the Union Lumber Company of Fort Bragg, California. Originally :r logging road exclusively, this line is norv a pultlic carrier and makes the trip each day from Willits to Fort Bragg and return, through the beautiful Redrvood countrv. The motor rail car making this daily trip is namecl "The Skunk" iry its many patrons.
When business calls Don Bufkin to Willits, and the Northern California production mills, he can l)e founrl riding "The Skunk" wiren time permits. An interesting hobby for a lumberman whose first love is Reclr,vood, because that is the species his firm distributes in tlte \\'rest, \tiddle \\rest, Texas and the eastern United States.
lumbermon's Wife Keeps Busy Schedule
Mrs. C. E. Roberts, wife of the general manager of Benson l-umber Company, San Diego, donates hottrs of 'olunteer time to the Red Cross. Y.\\I.C.A. and Church rvork in the city on San Diego Bay.
"Few people realize holv rapidly the Iron llorse, driven by steam, is vanishing from the American scene, and interested rail fans are instrumental in preserving various selected types of eqtlipment," stated Don. "The \Mestern Pacific, and many railroads throughout the country, have presented out-of-date rolling stock to Travel Town in Los Angeles to be preserved for posterity at Griffith Park, and similar public parks in various sections of the United States," he continued.
Doctors, lawyers, professional men, as well as lumbermen, form a large percentage of rail fan groups. They join in arranging numerous excursions each year, such as the recent "Last Steam" trip on the only remaining nar- tholesrle to Lumber lards
Windows, Doors, Plywood, Moulding
We have - Flush DoorsBuilr Up With Screen ond Bolonce In Stock\f\fssfgrn $i2sg ilAtEY BnoS. r SillrA itolllGA
Phones: Iiil: fi::ll, exr,oor, 4-s2oe
Dorothy Roberts is a former secretary, but today, she is a life member in the "Y", serves as a member of thc irouse committee and plans many luncheons for the various civic and charitable organizations to rvhich she belongs. Recreational activity is shared with her husband on hunting and fishing expeditions throughout the west and she manages to keep a very busy and active schedule, rvhich was once a problem follorving her retirement some time ago.
"f get a kick out of volunteer work and the companionship, not to mention the pleasure it affords me in doing things for others," said Mrs. Roberts in an intervien' rvith one of the local newspapers in her city. She is well known for many recipes she has originated and the delicious menus she prepares both at home and in connection with the civic activities.
