Autos Expressed to Roanoke by Rail, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/autoexpress.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: William Fischer, Jr. ============================================= December 2001 A CAR OF AUTOS EXPRESSED HERE ---------------------------- Dr. D. M. YATES, the pioneer automobile man of this section, has proven himself the pioneer also in that he is the first dealer to ship in a [rail]car load of automobiles by express. The [rail]car, which was built of steel, contained three automobiles already set up. It arrived Saturday [20 May 1916]. The express charges on it from the factory at Toledo, Ohio, to Roanoke were $260. Two of the cars were rush orders for a special occasion -- the GAY--BOULWARE marriage -- hence the reason for expressing them. One was a blue “Cloverleaf” Overland Six for Dr. GAY and one a Willys-Knight for Milda BOULWARE. The arrival of these cars created quite a ripple of interest, the incident being a very unusual one. The credit for this arrangement is largely due to Mr. J. A. JEFFERS, the local agent of the Southern Express Company, one of the most efficient and popular men in the service. [From The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 24 May 1916, p.1] ------- Most railroad freight cars were still of wood construction, which made the steel railcar of added interest and worthy of mention in the article.