A Question - Shomo/Vardo

[NW Mailing List]

The name "Shomo" comes from the name of an official with the construction
company which built the yard. The source for this information is the N&W
Employee magazine, (about year 1960 I believe). A retiring N&W employee was
passing along this in his remembrances. As for "Vardo",  N&W had a train
order station at Downsville Pike. Nothing fancy, not much more than a
(shack). F.Y.I. the map of the yard in the N&W Archives shows a retired
boxcar at this location. Anyway PRR administered the yard in those days.
PRR/PC crews called the yard "Shomo", N&W crews always called it "Vardo".

Mason Cooper

 

From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 8:53 AM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject: Fwd: A Question - Shomo/Vardo

 





----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Abram Burnett"  
To: "fmnut FREY"  
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 5:35:33 PM
Subject: Re: A Question for You - Shomo/Vardo

Well, I can answer half the question for you, and\\\but the other half is
still wrapped in the shrouds of mystery.

Shomo is from one of the land owners... the railroad probably bought
property from him.  One old map I saw showed his lands west of the yard.
Name was probably "Schomau,"  "-au" being a characteristic Austrian ending
that often got transformed into "-o" by the dumb Enklisch speakers in this
country (e.g. Rambo, Balko, &c.)

As for "Vardo," I haven't a clue.  Have had my eye out for any hints for
years, but without luck.  Someday I may run down to the county historical
society there and snoop in the records a bit.

Is 50% a passing score?  You have never returned a 50% answer to me, but
that's the best I can do.

--adb

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 

----- "fmnut FREY" wrote: 

Abe,  

 

For a change, I'll ask a question.

 

What is the origin of the names Shomo and Vardo for the two yards at
Hagerstown (PRR and N&W respectivily, IIRC)?

 

Rich

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