We are scheduled to leave here at midnight, and conclude to remain up till we start. There is usually an entertaining time in the smoker and the hours pass quickly away. We start promptly at 2.01 A. M. Eastern (12.01 A. M. Mountain) time over the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, known as the “Burlington Route,” with B. & M. engine 317, Engineer W. Fuller, Fireman C. Babcock, Conductor C. W. Bronson, Brakeman E. Q. Robie. As guests we have with us leaving Denver Trainmaster J. F. Kenyon and Traveling Engineer C. A. Dickson. It is now past midnight; we have said goodbye to the kind friends who remained with us till the start, and as we leave the great city of Denver behind us we feel both glad and sorry; glad that we are once more speeding toward our Eastern homes, but sorry to lose sight of the matchless Colorado scenery and part with our kind and generous Colorado friends. The efforts made to show us a good time by the kind people of Denver and by the railway officials of the various lines are highly appreciated by each member of the party. Charlie Hooper will be remembered so long as memory of the trip shall last; may his appetite never grow less nor his shadow ever shrink.
Got up this morning about seven o’clock and found we were approaching McCook, Neb., having crossed the line from Colorado into Nebraska during the night at a point about 80 miles west of McCook. Conductor Bronson and Brakeman Robie are members of Harvey Division No. 95, of McCook. They have intimated that we may expect a reception from the members of that division on our arrival at McCook; this information having been given out last evening, the most of our people are up when the train stops in McCook at ten minutes past seven, and we are met by a large delegation of brothers of Division 95 with their wives and daughters, who give us a cordial, happy greeting. The McCook Band is on hand and renders delightful music, and the hour allowed us here passes quickly away. B. & M. engine 232, in charge of Engineer J. E. Sanborn and fired by Charlie Williams, has been selected to draw us from McCook to Hastings, a distance of 132 miles. Engineer Sanborn is a member of Harvey Division 95, having at one time been a conductor, and has the 232 handsomely decorated with flags and flowers in honor of the occasion. On each side of the cab beneath the windows are the letters “O. R. C.,” surrounded by the emblem of the order. The engine is much admired by the members of our party, and snap-shots are taken by Brothers Restein and Foster.