The trainmen were required to stop three times a day for food. If the passengers could run fast enough they could get to a local store for supplies. If not they would beg from someone who had taken food from home, or go hungry. Usually it was the latter. Some railway stations had restaurants, but were too small to feed the great numbers of hungry men. If the men went to a near—by store, the men would not be allowed into the store, but would order what was needed from a make—shift counter placed across the entrance to the store. Previous experience — where stores had actually been looted by the excursioners — had taught store-keepers a lesson which

was not soon forgotten.

Another story is told of some of our local men going to a near-by store and the train whistle began to blow. As the men hurried back with their tea and food supplies two of them fell into an old cellar. Here the food supplies were lost as they returned empty—handed to face the next leg of their journey. At another stop the men purchased pics from a young boy who came aboard the train to sell them for his own pocket money.

Tales of Travel

Many humorous anecdotes have been told of the train adventurers which must have tried the patience of the trainmen. One such incident was when someone would pull the train whistle three times. The engineer would grind the train to a complete halt. Then the trainmen tried to find out who pulled the cord while all aboard looked innocent. Another story is told that some sheep were taken aboard one of the cars and set off at the next station stop.

At a stop for water — ‘somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Quebec’ - a young boy was spot- ted with a full bucket of blueberries. Some of the men got off and helped themselves to the berries (no mention was made of payment), while others picked some for themselves. The train was so long that when it was moving slowly a person could get off the front car, pick berries,

and have time to get back on the last car.

Other stories included removing boots, jackets, train tickets, or other items which would come loose, from passengers, if one happened to fall asleep during the trip. The conductor then became the mediator in order to retrieve belongings. This he did by threatening to have the mischief—makers put off the train. The stories from these travellers are endless. However, all

was not mischief on these ventures. One of the story—tellers relates the following happening somewhere in Northern Ontario.

“We saw a [one man cutting grain in afield near-by so decided to give him a helping hand.

We got the train stopped, no doubt someone pulled the whistle cord three times. The train emp- tied of all men and while the frustrated lrainman blew the whistle for the men to return to the train, each one proceeded to wear 0]?" his excess energy by helping to stook a complete 20 acre field. The speechless man could only stand and watch us although he likely wondered whether

these men were actually bent on doing good or performing some notorious deed.

Arrival in the West

Upon their arrival in the West, the men were met at the various stations by perspective employ- ers, however, some men had been told where they would be going before they left Prince Edward Island. The first assignment was to fill the “ticks” with straw for the bunkbeds in the bunkhouse. Some men chose to sleep under the wagons, rather than sleep in the bunkhouses. They were fed excellent meals although they were in the fields by 6:00 A.M. and worked until 7:00 PM. Breakfast was served in the main house early enough so that the men would not be late in starting the day’s work. There was a lunch at 9:00 A.M. — dinner at noon — lunch at 3:00 RM. - supper at 7:00 PM. and lights out at 9:00 PM. The latter was evidently quite acceptable

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