27. Barstow, California is named for William Barstow Strong. Which railroad, honored in song, was he the president of from 1881 until he retired in 1889?
From Quiz Towns on Route 66 Named After Historic People
Answer:
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" was composed for the 1946 film, "The Harvey Girls", and originally sung by Judy Garland. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was chartered in 1859. Many cars and locomotives have been restored and are located in several US cities.
William Barstow Strong was born in Vermont and graduated from Bell's Business College in Chicago. His first job was as a railroad station agent. In 1881 he succeeded T. Jefferson Coolidge as president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and expanded the railway over 7,000 miles, making it the longest railroad of the time.
Barstow was a popular stop for tourists along Route 66 and the home of one of the longest running outdoor theaters, the Skyline Drive-In.
The Central Pacific Railroad was formed after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act authorizing a trans-continental railroad. The Union Pacific met the Central Pacific at Promontory Point, Utah, and united the nation's railway system in 1869. "The Chattanooga Choo Choo" was a popular song from the 1941 movie "Sun Valley Serenade".