February 2, 2006Doon TrainThe following appeared in the Rock County Herald on February 1, 1918:OPERATION OF DOON TRAIN IS REVERSEDHeadquarters Moved to Luverne; Train to Make Round Trip from This City in the Afternoon.Commencing with next Monday the Doon train will make its headquarters in Luverne and members of the train crew and their families will reside here instead of at Doon, Ia., according to reports emanating from the office of Supt. Welch, of this division of the Omaha road.The proposed change is said to enable the railroad company to eliminate the payment of overtime to members of the train crew. Eight hours constitute a day’s service for the train crew, but with the waits for the almost daily belated west-bound evening passenger it has not been possible for the crew to complete their run within the time specified, and the overtime charges are said to reach such substantial sums that railroad officials feel compelled to readjust the running schedule.While no time card has been announced, it is expected that the Doon branch train will leave for Doon shortly after the arrival of the 12:37 train from the west, and return to Luverne in time to make connections with the west-bound evening passenger, which is due to leave at 5:37 o’clock.While this arrangement would unquestionably do away with the necessity of paying the train crew overtime, it will also greatly depreciate the service given patrons in towns on the Doon branch, for it will not allow Rock Rapids and Ashcreek shoppers to come to Luverne and return the same day, nor can shoppers from Doon and Lakewood go to Rock Rapids without remaining over night.Donations to the Historical Endowment Fund may be sent to the Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
