Stories wanted from area old-timers

By the Standard Staff - 05/03/2006

ANACONDA — Rarus Railway’s search for old-timers with yarns about bygone work days is under way.

Former employees of the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway or Anaconda Co. operations, the Butte mines or the Anaconda smelter who share a story may still claim their free train ride aboard the Copper King Express on May 24. That’s before the inaugural run during the Blast from the Past event Memorial Day weekend.

Those historical narratives will be videotaped in Butte or Anaconda by appointment, and then later shared with train passengers via monitor screens mounted in the aisles of the passenger cars.

The video tapings are informal, and will take about 15 minutes, said Rarus Railway spokesman Paul McCarthy. Even so, employees who shy away from the video process may opt to have their memoirs tape-recorded and transcribed for posterity.

Anyone interested in telling a story or two may call 563-5458 or e-mail rarusrailway@yahoo.com.

The Blast from the Past festival May 27-28 features historic speakers, music, exhibits, food and beverages. For details, call 563-5458, or visit on the Web: visit www.copperkingexpress.com — Vera Haffey of The Montana Standard