“Doodlebug” was the nickname given to gas-electric self-propelled rail cars that had a passenger seating area, a baggage or freight area, and engineer controls at the motor end. The car pictured above, a later version of the one that inaugurated service in the Lykens Valley in 1928, is one of only two remaining “Doodlebugs”. It was built in 1930 by the Brill Company and has controls at both ends of the car, eliminating the need for a turntable at the end point of the run.
It is an example of the type of conveyance provided by the Pennsylvania Railroad on its Lykens Valley Branch line between Lykens and Millersburg and on the line from Millersburg to Harrisburg from about 1928.
The gas propelled vehicle was not without controversy as riders who protested for its removal claimed that the fumes sickened them.
The story begins with a notice in the Elizabethville Echo, June 7, 1928:
GAS-ELECTRIC TRAIN MAKES FIRST RUN
Last Friday evening, a Gasoline Electric train made the run as the Lykens Valley Accommodation, instead of the regular steam locomotive-drawn train, which arrives here at 7:06. The gas-electric train consisted of a combination baggage-passenger coach, in which the motor is located at the front end, similar to the electric trains operated in metropolitan centers, and a full passenger-type coach.
As the tooting whistle and clanging bell with the purr of the motor itself was heard, scores of local residents rushed to the railroad tracks and station, to get a glimpse of the type of train, new in this branch. It is probable, a circus unloading at a local siding, would draw no larger crowd, than the gas-electric train did. Since Friday evening, the train made a number of runs on the branch to and from Harrisburg. But yesterday morning the train reached that city forty minutes late due to a breakdown in the electrical section. Last week the train was delayed and passengers were taken to Harrisburg on the Express from Buffalo. Yesterday morning the breakdown occurred near Inglenook, where they were held until repairs were made.
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Almost immediately after these trains were put into service, the commuters using them petitioned to restore the former steam locomotive service. From the Elizabethville Echo, June 14, 1928:
OBJECT TO GAS ELECTRIC TRAIN
COMMUTERS PETITION RESTORATION OF FORMER SERVICE
CITE ILLNESS OF FELLOW PASSENGERS FROM GAS FUMES
In a petition signed by more than a hundred commuters, patrons of the Lykens Valley Accommodation train of the Pennsylvania Railroad, restoration of former service and dependable steam trains is asked of the railroad.
Within recent weeks, the Railroad Company has been experimenting by placing a gasoline-electric train in service on the branch. In their request tot the railroad company, the commuters state that such service has not been dependable, and because of frequent failure of the mechanism and “breakdowns” they have arrived late to their work on several occasions. Most of the commuters are employed in offices and other Harrisburg business firms. Comfortable riding qualities are absent in the gas-electric type coach, it is also said, and the petitioners further claim that the carbon-monoxide fumes from the gasoline motor are nauseating and disagreeable, and that several train passengers have become ill and as a result unable to work, because of the fumes. Several, the petition states, have been hospital patients, as the result. The signers of the petition asked that the steam drawn train and service be restored as having rendered the most desirable type of accommodation and service.
Petitions were circulated from Dauphin along the Main Line to Millersburg and then in Lykens and other Upper End towns. But because the petition was submitted to the Railroad officials Friday, a large number of Wiconisco and Williamstown residents could not be given ample opportunity to join with other petitioners, resulting in only a few signers in that district. The following shows the number of signers from towns patronizing the Valley Accommodation: Dauphin, 23; Halifax, 38; McClellan, 1; Millersburg, 19; Elizabethville, 22; Lykens, 17; Wiconisco, 2; Williamstown, 5; Total, 127.
Although the steam-drawn train has been in service during the past week, it is not known as yet, what action the Railroad officials will take in regards to the petitions of their patrons.
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After the railroad heard complaints, the Elizabethville Echo of June 21, 1928 reported the arrival of the gas-electrics as an “experiment.”
TRYING GAS-ELECTRIC ENGINE UP-STATE
After receiving a petition signed by more than a hundred commuters receiving daily service by the Lykens Valley Accommodation to and from Harrisburg, officials of the Williamsport Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, have arranged to have tests conducted with gas-electric train on another division, farther up-State. After hearing of the discomforts and delays occasioned by this type of train Mr. H. H. Russell, Superintendent of the Williamsport Division, it is said announced this change in plans. Whether further experiments with the “gas” train will be conducted on the Lykens Valley Branch, is not known.
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By July, the railroad decided to return the gas-electrics to service, but with some modifications. The Elizabethville Echo of July 5, 1928 gave the following explanation:
RETURN GAS TRAINS TO SERVICE
The gas-electric train which had run on schedule of the Lykens Valley Accommodation steam train between Lykens and Harrisburg, and removed for a short time, was placed in service again last week.
Following a petition which was signed by nearly 150 patrons of the train service accorded by the Accommodation, the gas train was removed to be sent to the Renovo Shops where the top deck ventilators were installed in both motor and trailer. Patrons had complained in their petition that the monoxide gas fumes were very obnoxious and made several riders ill. The ventilators are expected to remove this objection.
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The “doodlebug” experiment continued after 1928, but ridership began to fall because the population preferred driving their own cars which gave more flexible options. Less than ten years later, on October 31, 1937, passenger service on the Lykens Valley Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad ended. The trains were replaced with buses which were not limited to the old tracks and stations of the railroad so more communities ended up being served.
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Doodlebug photo: YouTube.
News article from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.