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


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#31 ski3pin

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Posted 30 May 2021 - 03:14 PM

clikrf8, thanks for the great story! Yes, that beacon site is along the discontinued (in 1931) route along the Humboldt River. I expect that you found either

 

Beacon 35 SF-SL

 

or

 

Beacon 36A SF-SL

 

I had not heard of either of these beacons pads and arrows being painted bright orange but I have heard or others having been painted. Although (maybe) well intentioned, painting is defacing a historic structure.


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#32 clikrf8

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Posted 30 May 2021 - 07:38 PM

Yes, the paint job looked recent as in the hot Nevada sun it would fade. Here are two photos from that trip. I didn't take more as we were concerned we would get stuck. No winch and nothing to winch to. 

 

https://www.wanderth...ada-wanderings/

 

Valmy power plant in background. 


Edited by clikrf8, 30 May 2021 - 07:39 PM.

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#33 ski3pin

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Posted 02 June 2021 - 11:54 PM

Very nice photos! Thanks for sharing them. That is Beacon 36A on the discontinued Humboldt River route. Most of the remaining beacon sites (and arrows) can be driven to or just a short walk.


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#34 DavidGraves

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Posted 05 June 2021 - 01:30 AM

Howdy

 

Unsure if it has been mentioned but I just noticed a Beacon, very similar in appearance, at an old truck stop alongside Rt I-80 in Green River, Wyoming.......

 

It has been elevated I think, and perhaps formed a "billboard" for the old motel, garage and, later, fuel stop.....

 

Of course, I80 lies concurrent with old Rt 30 and likely older stage routes and the short lived Pony Express mail route here.

 

David Graves 


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#35 ski3pin

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Posted 05 June 2021 - 01:59 AM

Howdy

 

Unsure if it has been mentioned but I just noticed a Beacon, very similar in appearance, at an old truck stop alongside Rt I-80 in Green River, Wyoming.......

 

It has been elevated I think, and perhaps formed a "billboard" for the old motel, garage and, later, fuel stop.....

 

Of course, I80 lies concurrent with old Rt 30 and likely older stage routes and the short lived Pony Express mail route here.

 

David Graves 

 

This it?

 

link

 

if so, the concrete pad and arrow are about a half mile away on a hill. The beacon tower was moved down to its current location. Good eye, Mr. Graves! Interstate 80 has numerous airway beacon sites close by.


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#36 DavidGraves

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Posted 05 June 2021 - 03:58 AM

That's the one....even at speed and lots of trucks , it was obvious.

 

Funny, but that particular route thru the hills has been a passage for millenia ...even likely for migrating animals.

 

Maybe the airmail needed to follow land routes to get to the same places.....

 

or places to land in a pinch.

 

DG 


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#37 DavidGraves

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Posted 05 June 2021 - 04:11 AM

Oh BTW Goggle says it is located in Point of Rocks, WY.

 

My 1854.5 miles in three days from Kansas were a bit of a blur.

 

DG


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#38 ski3pin

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Posted 07 June 2021 - 07:02 PM

For those of you traveling Interstate 15 in Idaho, there is a restored beacon site on the Salt Lake - Great Falls airway at the site of the Dubois Department of Commerce Intermediate Landing Field (now Dubois Municipal Airport). The location is 44° 10.131'N 112° 13.461'W.

 

 

 

 

 


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#39 Elken

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Posted 08 June 2021 - 02:01 PM

I'll look for that next time I'm on I15.

 

Thanks


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#40 Foy

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Posted 08 June 2021 - 07:01 PM

For those of you traveling Interstate 15 in Idaho, there is a restored beacon site on the Salt Lake - Great Falls airway at the site of the Dubois Department of Commerce Intermediate Landing Field (now Dubois Municipal Airport). The location is 44° 10.131'N 112° 13.461'W.

 

 

 

 

 

That's way cool to see the route map in an area one is very familiar with.  Dubois, ID is on I-15 just south of the MT-ID border at Monida, MT (clever name, eh?  On the ID side there's a community of Idamon).  

 

The Continental Divide is the state line at Monida Pass and with an elevation around 6,800' it's the high point between SLC and Great Falls, MT.  From Monida Pass to Great Falls, the route "flies the river" down the Missouri feeders Red Rock River, Beaverhead River, Jefferson River, to Three Forks and the Missouri River. I can readily envision intrepid flyers in open-cockpit Jennys winging it north out of SLC, keeping the Wasatch, Tetons, and the Centennials on their right wingtip, shooting the gap at Monida Pass, and flying the rivers (and the railroads) all the way to GF.

 

Foy


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