Ping Pong
The "Farmers Friend" railroad line was opened in 1911 and the people dubbed it the "Ping Pong" because it had a bell which made an unusual noise to keep animals away from the tracks. The stubby little train that traveled back and forth between Paris, Ovid, Montpelier and McCammon developed a distinctive personality that endeared it to the hears of the people. It was not so much that they utilized the train, but it was theirs and the little bell seemed to signal something special to the people young and old.
It was 1907 when the railroad first agreed to placate the west side communities by agreeing to construct the spur line through to Paris, with eventual plans to go on down that side of the valley into Utah and it was a great day when the construction was actually begun.
Railroad economists were reluctant to build the line being unable to see a satisfactory return, but the constant delegations led by J R Shepherd and others convinced the company comply. But with the stipulation that locations for stockyards at Paris and Ovid be provided free to the company. Because of its location, Ovid suddenly found itself as a stock shipping center, with large holding pens and a railroad depot of its own.
Because the area through which the train would run was mostly open grazing land, a need for a warning device of some type to divert the loose cattle back away from the tracks was installed. At first a regular rail whistle was tried but the animals soon grew accustomed to it and refused to move. Then the shrill little intermittent bell was used which gave the route its popular name, Ping Pong.
Richard Olmstead, the Western Oregon Short Line superintendent, did not like the nickname and as it grew in popularity, he became somewhat irritated over the issue. One night in a saloon, an argument ensued and Olmstead ended up with a black eye. Three days later, the Ping Pong closed after only 52 days of service. Of course the local rumor was that Olmstead shut the line down because of the black eye. But that was not true. From the beginning the Ping Pong had been an economic failure. The people loved and coveted the train, but they did not ride it.
For three years the line did not operate. Then an agreement to operate for one year was launched. By then the population in the valley had increased. There were greater herds of cattle to be shipped and more land was under cultivation and more freight could be moved.
Re-opening day was set for July 24, 1914 during a huge Pioneer Day celebration. Over 1000 people were on hand to greet the train when it pulled into the Paris station. On board were an array of railroad dignitaries and civic officials. The Paris community band burst forth with appropriate music as the Ping Pong pulled to a stop and a cheer resounded.
The first crew to operate the train were Clarence Vance-engineer; Bob Hack-fireman; F N Sands-conductor; and Bill Hughart-assistant. People got the opportunity to view the best of conditions that the railroad had to offer when they were allowed to tour through the private car of A B Stevenson, Superintendent of the Idaho Division of the Short Line who had been accompanied by Joel Gray, Salt Lake area coordinator and D R Priest of the Wyoming Short Line division. Local dignitaries were headed by President J R Shepherd of the Bear Lake Stake, Judge Alfred Budge and Paris Mayor, Amasa Rich.
Enough money was made the first day to operate
for three months and the year continued to be good. For the next five
years the train made its own way. But things began to change. The
automobile was coming into its own; Montpelier High School became a top high
school and students stopped going to the Field Academy in Paris. The
depression hit and in 1929 the Fielding Academy building burned down. It
had been converted into a high school after the LDS church no longer supported
an academy program.
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The Montpelier Examiner, February 27, 1936
Last week a branch line to Paris became so thoroughly blocked with snow at a point about a mile this side of Paris that the Short Line hired about all idle men in town who could handle a pick and shovel and sent them over to shovel out the snow, the railroad plows being unable to move it.
The track was cleared Saturday after four days work during which time no trains reached Paris. The highway was blocked for a period of eight days despite the night and day efforts of the snowplow crews. As fast as the road was cleared the high winds immediately filled it up again.
A huge tractor plow was brought from Preston to
open it with the aid of a large WPA crew. It is the longest period the
branch as ever been blocked.
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With the completion of the hospital in Montpelier, people no longer had to go to Pocatello or Salt Lake. As the Ping Pong started to lose money, it began to run only once a day. Dec 1, 1943 the last official trip of the Ping Pong was made. People turned out in record numbers to say goodbye. The engineer who made the last trip was George Gooch; Harry Severn, the conductor, William Bournes and Don Stephens served as the brakemen. And over 20 Paris boys "rode the rails" that night and no effort was made to stop them. Within the week demolition crews took out the tracks.