50 replies to this topic

[ski3pin]

This is an ongoing endeavor of ours, searching for what remains of the lighted transcontinental airway route between Fernley and Beowawe - remote country. If you are into history or an early aviation buff, this may be of interest to you. The adventure - up to this point - is now posted to our blog and can be found here -

 

U.S. Air Mail Beacons Across Nevada - Fernley to Beowawe

 

Caution, this is long with much detail. Start your engines!

[Vic Harder]

Wow, just wow.

[LuckyDan]

Beowawe, now there’s a place that kinda falls into the “Can’t get there from here” category. Spent a New Years Eve in Crescent Valley many years ago. Thanks for jogging up the memories for me, and sharing your trip/story.

Edited by LuckyDan, 08 May 2021 - 08:00 AM.

[Foy]

Trying to figure out where these mostly small installations are is an enjoyable map study project.  Much like what we had to do in mineral exploration field work: Job #1 is locate and sample old production.  

 

To add a bit of historical background, my wife's maternal grandfather was a flyer so much from the old school that his initial flight training was in balloons during WWI.  He shifted to fixed wing piloting and flew the mail across the West for some years in the 1920s. He had a number of forced landings and was reported missing for several days on 3 different occasions. In 1928 he was hired to fly Ford Trimotors for the predecessor to TWA, an erstwhile operator named Transcontinental Air Transport.  Starting in 1929, TAT had an odd New York to Los Angeles passenger flight plan:  a 48 hour trip with flights by day connecting to trains by night.  TAT was derisively called "Take A Train". A merger formed what was later renamed TWA in 1930 and all-flight transcontinental scheduled passenger service began in that year. Captain Earl Fleet flew for TAT and TWA until the late 1950s, the last few years assigned to the over-the-pole San Francisco to London route in 4-engine Constellations, one of which he emergency-landed (engine afire) at a former bomber base in Cut Bank, Montana very late in his career. Captain Fleet was one of those guys who combined flair and fearlessness with daring which he exhibited by always driving Cadillacs and driving 100 mph pretty much everywhere he went, even in retirement.

[ski3pin]

Foy, what a story and what a character! Thanks for the story!

[smlobx]

Great story Foy and Ski!

[goinoregon]

thx for sharing.  great country and an excellent reason to poke around and explore

[ski3pin]

Wow, just wow.

Yup, and we can't wait to get on the search! It will be awhile, though.

[ski3pin]

Beowawe, now there’s a place that kinda falls into the “Can’t get there from here” category. Spent a New Years Eve in Crescent Valley many years ago. Thanks for jogging up the memories for me, and sharing your trip/story.

LuckyDan, thanks for the comment! We love to try and step back and imagine what these places like Beowawe were like prior to be passed by with the alignment of Interstate 80. Thanks for the share of memories.

[ski3pin]

Great story Foy and Ski!

You are most welcome! It is so much fun for us to get out and touch what remains of history.