Nickel, Philip 1969, 1977
Philip Nickel discusses his career with the Santa Fe Railroad, his various jobs on the train, the Depression years and particularly the slaughtering of cattle.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Philip Nickel
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: April 10, 1969; September 2, 1977
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Jimmy Skaggs, Gerry and J. C. Burton
Length: 1 hour 50 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Biographical information,
Indian incident,
First postmaster of Shamrock, Texas,
Naming of Shamrock,
Father’s biography,
Railroad career (1917),
Santa Fe service—track labor,
Bridge work,
Brakeman,
Train accidents,
Lubbock assignment,
World War II and railroad work,
Killing cattle during Depression (1935),
Reasons for killings,
Number of killings and places,
Origin of cattle,
Pasture condition,
Area of slaughter,
Reason for killing near railroad,
Length of time for killing and ditch digging,
Stopping train to watch slaughter,
Reaction and attitude toward killings,
Railroad water supply (San Angelo to Presidio),
Water supply—deep drilling,
Fort Stockton water supply,
Depression conditions in town,
Depression gardens,
Railroad situation and wages.
Tape 1, Side 2: Blank
Tape 2, Side 1: Life on caboose,
Cooking,
Signal lights,
Eating on caboose,
Coaches,
Passenger,
Baggage,
The "doodlebug",
Travel time,
Conductor,
Traveling through dust storms,
Hot boxes,
Reasons for leaving caboose,
Repair requirements,
Cat walk.
Tape 2, Side 2: Mile posts,
Cabooses assigned,
Railroad nostalgia,
Passenger trains,
Amtrak,
Attending people,
Loading cattle,
Washout at Presidio, Texas.
Range Dates: 1917-1940s
Bulk Dates: 1917-1940s
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
